When it comes to fun vibes and recreation, Trinidad has a number of options.Like my blog says, "Lime" is our name, so if you are into
"liming" Trinidad is it. Trinidad is so "it" that we lime for absolutely no reason at all. The strangest predicaments could encourage a lime, for example:
Scene 1: You are on your merry way to your destination via the highway when all of a sudden, oops! a tire goes flat.After examining your situation, you stand stranded outside your car and wanting some assistance for a few minutes until a random passer by stops to ask,
"ay you need a start awa?"- you say yes. He tries to assist. While assisting y'all engage in some "old talk" and he just happens to have a cooler with beers and you just happen to have a deck of cards.The lime has started;beer in hand and
all fours started.. In most cases
Trinidadians being the "concerned people that they are, naturally 1 or 2 more cars may pull over to assist. You think I lie?, true story I've witnessed it myself.
Scene 2:You decide to go to the
Savannah to take a sweat .Game is over. Conversation starts.Lime begins and just like that a 2 hour event turns into an entire evening lime with all the
old talk,
bacchanal and
Vibes of a planned recreational gathering
and in some cases even more .
or
Scene 3: your friends just randomly decide to come over, walk into your fridge serve themselves , drinks, snacks and food and invite people over.
This is the life of a Trini. WE lime anywhere, any time, anyhow and with anyone.
Naturally Trinidadians are charismatic individuals.Our unusual slang ,terminology and perspectives make for interesting company and conversation.
Throughout the year we have
multiple seasons that intensify our desire and opportunity to lime so our liming habit changes from the norm of a Tuesday to Sunday,sleep during the days for a few hours to a consistant partying binge,with no sleep.Those significant seasons are Carnival and Christmas.During the Carnival season which usually last for 2 months.We party without better judgement on workdays , business days school days at fetes/ soca concerts hosted by most institutions and willingly blow three hundred-two thousand dollars in one night without remorse.
During Christmas however it is a little different. We go
paranging which is similar to the U.S. carolling where we visit peoples home's singing spanish carols called
or soca parang which is a fusion of indigenous soca music to a parang rhythm and beat all in exchange for a glass of punch de creme or sorrel and a plate of food.
Some may argue that, We lime too much and can't seem to take life seriously but I think that it's a part of our nature that distinguishes us and adds to our charm and ability to adapt to societies,culture,environments and situations.Wherever you go, people who know can always tell if you are a Trini.
Some local terms and words found in this blog:
Liming-The act of hanging out our socializing with peers in any environment
"A start"-
Trinidadians-A person who is from Trinidad or Tobago
All fours-A card game invented in Trinidad
Savannah-Any Community Center or field where sporting activity takes place
"old talk"- Random conversation, about anything.
Bachannal-Confusion
Vibes-A high rate of enjoyment.
Soca-A genre of music highly originating in the Caribbean
Parang-Spanish hymns
Paranging-The act of visiting homes singing Spanish hymns in exchange for food and drinks.
Punch de Creme-A Local beverage made with milk and served especially during the Christmas season.
For more trini translations follow this link
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Truth be told I know nothing about Club Coconuts. I was probably around ten - twelve when it ran things because I'm a nighties baby.But what I do remember is the way my mum (who was an avid party goer, much like the reputation that I have /had) would talk about it.She made it seem like it was the place to be.
The Thursday nights are usually managed by Boom Champions and so their very humorous, down- to-earth DJs and selectors took control of the atmosphere.
