Aroma of home

It usually goes like this... I get home, sometimes undress, most times not, and head to my kitchen. It's a decent size kitchen and usually I've got stuff in my fridge to cook. Lately cooking is becoming a sort of therapy and a way to cure any lingering culture shock. Today I tried, for the second time, making sada roti in a shallow frying pan. It was okay-ish. The loyah was good, if I do say so myself. Put just the right amount of baking powder and kneaded it just the way mom showed me...most times I didn't care to follow her instructions but now, i feel it's more than feeding myself if I don't get this. Rehersing memories. I think about the way the food from different cultures ended up in Trinidad as I get my hands dirty in the kitchen tonight. Perhaps it was similar therapy for those immigrants, indentureds and slaves. It's a worthwhile supposition. Now I'm an expatriate in Japan and my journey home is with my tastebuds. One night I dreamt I flew all the way back home, only to insist I get shadon beni, enough that I could bring back to Japan with me. So I guess I'm gonna be here a little longer than a year...my mind and subconscious seem ready, once I am satisfied with a few home comforts I'll be doing this kitchen ritual until 2012. And if I spoil my dinner, it'll be another homesick night in Japan. Bon appetit.

Politics or poli-tricks

'It's politics time again!'to take the refrain from a Buju Banton song.

After just half of its political term, the People's National Movement in Trinidad and Tobago has announced a 'snap' election. So in a matter of months, citizens will be going to the polls to decide if we'll have an extended stay by Mr Manning and his balisier waving sycophants or whether we'll set into a new phase of governance with the rising sun. Word is that they've managed to form the alliance they claim will give them the victory, and yet I am unsure they'll convince the population that change with the same old people is even possible.

Election time in Trinidad is very entertaining, if nothing else. The first major political 'coming out' party took place yesterday and I wait in anticipation for the cleverness to actually begin. If there's one time there's a battle of wits, or rather to wits end, is when a politician speaks on a platform.

It's also a time when cliches and catchy lyrics from popular tunes will be played at deafening volumes making you wish the day would come when you'd be able to turn off your hearing aid like Dr Williams. Who knows?

All I know is that it's all in a day's dealing when we enter the 'silly season'in T&T.