The Mad Bull’s Blog, Version 3

Yeah, ‘Caliente’ (Caliente is what they call the major ‘Latin Night’ party over here) is on tonight at the Next Level niteclub. I just took a friend to the airport and there was only Reggaeton playing on Vibe FM. Thats because the DJ who spins at ‘Caliente’ works at Vibe FM and so he starts building the latin vibe from early! Now I am not complaining… far from it! I like Reggaeton, for the most part! I don’t understand it very much, but I find myself listening to the lyrics and picking out the odd word or phrase that I remember from the time spent with ‘Mamas’ or ‘Cheeseman’, two Spanish teachers I spent some time with at my high school, St. Georges College.

You know, I have been thinking about it for awhile now and I think I am going to make the effort and learn to speak Spanish! I mean, there are many people over here for whom Spanish is their first language! I will be able to practice it easily! Also, I have a sister who teaches Spanish at one of the high schools here… I won’t even have to pay a cent to learn to speak it! At least, thats what I think! Mi hermana (my sister) might think differently though…

Now I know that Natty will believe that I am learning it to go ‘habla con las senoritas latinas‘. (chat up the latin ladies) Not so, or rather, ‘no por eso solamente‘. (Not for that only)
I remember reading the other day in a discussion on Global Voices that Spanish is the major language used in Central America and the Caribbean region, so if I am indeed an integrationist, as I would like to think of myself, it would behoove me to learn the major language of the region.

Hell, I don’t have any details on how many of us English speakers have been moving to the Latin countries in the Caribbean, but I know that there is a fair amount of migration of the Spanish speakers to the countries of the English speaking Caribbean! Trust me, plenty of them are over here, and I have heard of some of them being in Trinidad and Jamaica… I bet that as the years go by, the Spanish speakers will end up taking over the region altogether! Not violently, but with migration and integration by marriage. Check out how their population is growing in los Estados Unidos (the United States) too! I believe that the rest of the English speaking Caribbean will come to realise this for themselves, and in the not-too-distant future too!! They might as well begin to grapple with this now. I think I shall.

I read a little thing on how the Dominican Republic is trying to build a bridge with the Caricom countries as well. It was an interesting read, though not the usual diet of frivolity that I normally offer up yahso. Go check it out yourselves. Believe me, these are only the initial steps of a deepening of the interconnected-ness of these two groups of people.

I also read some very interesting stuff over by Francis Wade’s other blog, especially this one on living a masterful life. This was an excellent blog post. Do go read it.

In other news, I have to go to Jamaica sometime soon, and I have been thinking that I should time my visit to coincide with one or other of the reggae festivals which are taking place in Jamaica between July and August. I feel like I would just pop down for a night or two of one of these shows, you done know! Reggae Sumfest is taking place in mid July and Reggae Sunsplash is at the beginning of August. I am not sure yet which of the two I want to attend, though Natty pointed out that 50 Cent is performing at Sumfest! (Natty gone 100% into R&B, rasta! She is a 50Cent fan to ra$$!) I guess it will partly depend on the line up that both shows have to offer. Tell you what, why don’t you all help me to decide? Pop on over to the websites of the two shows and have a look at the line ups offered by each and then tell me which of the two you would choose nuh?

Anyway, estoy muy cansado, pues hasta la vista, bebe! (I am very tired, so see you later, baby!)

Tags: General //