Stories about U.S.A. from June, 2006
A conversation about US foreign policy
Trinidad-based Jeremy Taylor and his American friend “Roger” continue their cordial but rigorous e-mail exchanges about the state of US foreign policy.
Appreciating Caribbean writing
A New York Times article about a new anthology of Jamaican writing published by a US press gets Geoffrey Philp thinking about why North Americans may not be as open to Caribbean writing as their British counterparts: “The reader has to be willing to shed notions of what is and...
Global Food Blog Report #22
#1: Klephblog, no doubt over-caffeinated, writes "How Coffee changed the Modern World," a great essay about this fruit of the Gods: This wondrous plant is a native of the new world and was sprung on an unsuspecting European public as these shores became colonized in the 15th century. By the...
Jamaica, USA: The making of a poet
Jamaican writer Geoffrey Philp recalls his early days in Miami and his rise from supermarket bag boy to community college student and — eventually — winner of a college poetry prize.
Caribbean Heritage Month
“I have to admit that I find myself wondering what took them so long,” says Karen Walrond, discussing the US government's designation of June 2006 as Caribbean Heritage Month.
India, US: In the 1980s
US for the Indian in the 1980s. Ramesh Madhavan, a veteran online writer kicks off with this amazing post on culture, food and the immigrant experience.
From the Kingdom of Cambodia to the United States of America
In July, Somongkol Teng will leave Cambodia for the United States to pursue a master's degree in Higher Education Administration. Under the US State Department's Fulbright grant Somongkol plans to earn his graduate degree from Boston College of Massachusetts. Formerly an undergraduate of Royal University of Phnom Penh, he later...
Haiti: Banking in 1946
From Haiti, Marcel Salnave of Parlons Peu posts an article written by his father, also Marcel Salnave, in 1946 on the Haitian banking system. Excerpt (Fr): “Banks have become very demanding and ask for each loan a guaranty that surpasses the amount borrowed. Banks in Haiti … have completely suppressed...
La Reunion: Living on a Volcano
Reunion-USA2 writes (Fr): “When I lived in La Reunion, some wondered whether I was frightened of living so close to a volcano. Well, actually no, you never think about it just like, I think, Californians never think of the ‘Big One’ (gigantic earthquake) that might happen any minute.”
Philippines: National Flag, U.S. Connection
Manila Rat finds that Philippines national flag has design elements that pays homage to the US flag.
Jamaica, USA: The US and the post-national writer
As he works on his second novel, Jamaican writer Marlon James ponders the obstacles the US publishing establishment puts in the way of writers like himself, but concludes that “I have to hold to the belief that book and reader have an almost cosmic destiny to meet. And when they...
Jamaica, USA: Imagine Miami
Florida-based Jamaican writer Geoffrey Philp discusses some of the ideas he plans to incorporate into his presentation for the “Imagine Miami” lecture series, which addresses issues of identity. Among the things he plans touch upon are “a reflection on Miami’s geographical location as a port/frontier city and as a Latin/Hispanic/Caribbean...
Global Food Blog Report #21
#1: After almost a month her blog vanished without reasonable explanation, Chef Ines Peña from Caracas, Venezuela is back with her brand new and improved creation: Apuntes de Cocina. Lets head over to her blog and cheer her up a little for her perseverance and the love to share her...
Bahamas: Comparing immigration policies
Larry Smith compares the immigration policies of the US and the Bahamas: “Although the Bush Administration can be blamed for many things, the immigration plan it rolled out two and a half years ago was a far-reaching reform that should become a model for our own efforts to deal with...
Global Food Blog Report # 20
We keep a database of delicious food blogs from all over the world, and make sure to follow their creations and stories every week. Being the blogoholic I am, I spend endless hours searching and blog-hopping trying to find new and interesting blogs to feature. We love to learn about...
Caribbean: Marking the start of the hurricane season
“What is it about us that loves to celebrate everything?” asks Florida-based Jamaican writer Geoffrey Philp, who uploads a podcast of a poem to mark the June 1 start of the hurricane season. Simon T posts a photo of a perfect Cayman Islands sunset at Flickr, giving it the title...