Monday, October 8, 2012

"Richmond We Reach!" by Jezelle Charles 2012-2013 HHH Fellow (Trinidad and Tobago)

*NOTE:  READ USING YOUR BEST TRINIDADIAN ACCENT ;-)

August
Richmond we reach!!!!!!!! We number seven and we are anxious but even more than that……..excited about the next ten months of our professional lives! What a great group!!!!!!!!!!!!! An opthamologist, a psychiatrist, not one but two social workers, a police officer, a teacher and a toxicologist. Nice mix 'ent?!?!!!!
Most of us got here on August 7th and spent two weeks with Crystal, who by the way should be the campaign person for the energizer battery, in a hectic orientation program aimed in getting us settled in and equipped with the basic needs to live in a foreign country with habits and customs different from our own cultures.

Week 1
We shopped!!!!!!!, turned generic apartments into homes, opened bank accounts, learnt the transportation system, got our office spaces and VCU ID’s, shopped some more, toured the campus and yes people we………………activated our gym memberships ……… I guess Fitness should be one of our personal goals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cary Street Gym Facilities
Fellows being given a tour of the Cary Street Gym



Will We Ever Climb This Wall??????

The highlight of that week...a welcome pool party!!! We got to put faces with names we have only seen on paper and met the who's who of the VCU Humphrey Fellowship Program.

Poolside at our Welcome Bar B Que

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts was our first taste of Richmond culture.

Waterfall at VMFA

Week 2
Ok so we had more orientation sessions covering the expectations of Humphrey fellows, academic courses, meetings with individual advisors, everything we need to know about remaining healthy and the assistance that can be provided by the GEO office.

We visited the State Capitol and learnt the history of the Commonwealth of Virginia.  Now honestly, I’m not a history buff but that tour guide was so passionate and his delivery was so great even I learnt something.

On our tour of the Virginia State Capitol just steps away from our offices
For the rest of August we got deeper into our professional activities aided by field visits to institutions with the aim to increase our knowledge base and make professional connections.

The General Assembly

Visiting the General Assembly

Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Alliance (SAARA) Center Virginia’s only statewide Recovery Community Organization

Field Trip at the SAARA Center



Virginia State University
This University is meant to be our collaborative institution.  This collaboration gives us an opportunity for us to pass on our knowledge to other graduate students, expose them about our individual countries, traditions, customs, culture and language.

Initial meeting at VSU

Dr. Mary Loos and Fellows discussing our collaboration this year

As I write there is so much we did in such a short space of time, wow!!!! So we did have some fun as well it wasn’t ALL WORK!!!!! 

D best way to do this is a Picture Gallery!!!!!!

Let's se we………………Danced – ‘Balia Baila’
Leslie, took us dancing people!!!!!!!!!! Boy did we have fun. Thanks Leslie
Suzan and Bola cutting a rug

Leslie and Kouame stayed in step

Cruised the Richmond Canal...............................................................................


Had a TRINI LIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
"Cause we Trinis like we belly and show love with food"

Trini Lime!

D bartender (togo) and D cook from Trinidad and Tobago!!!

Suzan enjoying the Trini feast

Rosie enjoying the Trini Lime, in the style of Mynmar!

D bellyful Fellows!
SEPTEMBER
So when you hear Pony Pasture what do you think?????? Check it out………….No Ponies, horses or anything of the sort, at least not any more.  Now it’s just the most gorgeous view of the James River and an opportunity to just get in a tire and relax in the water.
Marcel, Bola and Kouame at Pony Pasture!

Diane at the James River with us

The beautiful James River

Sunset Hills Vineyard -- Wine anyone?!?!?!?!

Our group with the Winemaker himself; a VCU alumnus!

Some of us enjoyed a 'tasting'!
Maymont Park - It was a gorgeous day!!!!!!!!

The Duck Pond at Maymont Park

Friends strolling in the park

There is always time for a photo op!

...and another.

...and another! :-)

The mansion at Maymont Park

And finally, "Happy Birthday to you (pretend we singing) to Aunty Diane!!!" Randy helped us make sure it was a surprise. It was a nice way to end the very busy and eventful first two months here in Richmond, VA.

Birthday Presentation to Aunty Diane!

Our card, signed by the group of course.
A token of our appreciation