Fresh Meat

   

 
    It's a beautiful thing really, to see the diversity of human races that coexist on the island.  Blacks, Whites, Indians, Guayanese all make up a mix that coalesces as a “West Indian.”  Racism doesn’t seem to be a societal boundary dividing the culture, as exists on other islands in the Caribbean and on the planet- although, there will always be those who still carry sentiments of prejudice.  And so, many interracial couples are here and marry and end up birthing beautiful blends of caramel tanned skin, with dark curls and blonde highlighted locks.

     Many a black local female are seen coupled up with their English tourist or expat, which has been given the phrase "rent a weave," and many a white, female tourist are seen donning hand in hand, a black local, "rent a dread."  For many cases, these local, young males advantageously engage in sport, eagerly sniff out their white counterpart, like hounds hunting fox, hoping to land them a rich "wifey," to trophy back to mummy and auntie.  Allow me to set the scene starring these hopeful, hound hunters . . . an exotic beach scene with romantic mountains . . . they sweetly carve a ripe mango and gift their current beloved with decadence, then fill their lap with a fat, freshly cut coconut adorned with a straw.  They offer help with sunscreen application and are given permission to caress the delicate, searing shoulders of their new princess.  The hounds woo their fox with inspired promises of trips to the natural sites of their declared:  most beautiful island in the Caribbean.  Over- roasted in the golden Caribbean sun, and hydrated with the elixir of coconut, the declarations of love begin, and they can see, truly, how “You are different than other girls” . . . chum da bait . . . “special” . . . wait for the bite . . . “You’re real, and girls just aren’t like that here” . . . reel in the prize!  The proclamation gets sealed and signed with a kiss from those generous, plump mass of brown lips.  But like all good, friendly sporting games, we all just want to play and have fun, and so, some soak in this attention. 

   But what the weepy hounds don’t tell their illustrious foxes, is not only do they probably have a history of wooing loads of other bright eyed, party focused tourists, from the pool of consistent vacationers that frequent the island- a.k.a. a country whose predominant economy is funded by tourism- but that they also have another chick in one town that is their girlfriend, and likely another chick from another town that they bang on the side.  That’s the culture, the reputation is known, and its commonality is tolerated by many.

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     For a young girl like me, travelling absolutely solo, I was perfectly categorized for easy bait.  I didn’t have a girlfriend sidekick, I didn’t have a family surrounding me, and there was no man, and no ring on my finger.  Each place I walked the cat- calls cried out, “Eh!  Eh girl!  You so beautiful my princess.  You got an ass like a black girl, ui.”  Walking home along the two- lane road, honks wailed, and the kissy noises did nothing but ignite my gag reflex.  What ever happened to chivalry, and honoring a lady?!

     Even as I started to infiltrate the expat community, I’d still be seen as a vulnerable catch that had to be captured.  Fresh meat was hard to come by, and good meat often had to be imported.  If you think about it, for an island with only 175,000 inhabitants, one couldn’t go out on a Friday without seeing someone you’d slept with once.  Week 1, and I was already on my first dinner date, and week 2 the next suitor began his courtship.  I was assured by new girlfriends, this one was a great catch, and as for status, he came from one of the top families on the island.  For the next month we had some good times, but mostly terrible times, and finally I couldn’t even stand to be around him.  My reliance on outside connections like him, changed into self reliance, into doing what was healthy and best for me, and it was really being around a different man, spiritual, with energy similar to mine, that helped bring about this change in my awareness, and eventually an even bigger change to my heart.