O Canada!:)

Today July 1st is Canada Day and everyone is celebrating! Canada is home to so many individuals from all parts of the world including me, who migrated here in 2003, from St Lucia.

What I love most about Canada is the mix of ethnicity, cultures, and languages. With such an amazing mix of diverse individuals, Canada has been touted as one of the most diverse places in the world. I call it one of the coolest places!:)

So this Canada Day I am thankful to be in a country where I can share, learn, feel at home whilst making amazing new friends from different backgrounds. Canada is making great strides in creating opportunities including great places to live and work. It is important to note that as we learn and become a part of the Canadian culture, that we immigrants should also share our culture, who we are and where we come from with others. We should also make a great effort to be a part of the Canadian culture as well.

Canada is beautiful and it’s the people who make up the rich tapestry of colour it is today! We are from many countries, and we may eat different foods and speak different languages, but I’ve realized that we are all connected! So today I say Thank You Canada for being the coolest place in the world!:)

So today as you celebrate Canada Day, reach out and meet someone new, learn something about them and their culture. And as we learn, let us all sing with pride:

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Happy Canada Day all!:)

Karlyn

Toronto Sun Buzzes About the Caribbean’s Hottest Event!

In an article published on March 16th, Toronto Sun’s Tracy McLaughlin recounts her 2010 Jazz experience in St Lucia. Here’s what she had to say about the festival.

A scene on the isle of St. Lucia. Â

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ST. LUCIA — St. Lucians are known to love reggae and country music. So it made me wonder why the little tropical island hosts an International Jazz festival.

But I came back from last year’s three-day event overcome by the variety of world famous artists who took turns making the audience scream, weep, dance, sing or just chill to more soothing sounds.

The festival is a great excuse to visit this charming Caribbean-flavoured island in spring when the hubbub of tourist season has calmed.

First of all a bit of advice to the ladies: If you’ve always been too shy to wear one of those skimpy little sundresses, this is the place to get over it and slip into one. While the venue on adjoining Pigeon Island is casual, it’s hot in St. Lucia and ladies of every shape and size make it sizzle even hotter as they come dressed in strappy sundresses in dazzling colours. Go ahead and do it. You’re going to look gorgeous.

And by the way, this event is not strictly for jazz lovers. The festival rocks with world artists known for not only jazz but also R&B, soul, reggae and hip hop.

I got to do some back stage introductions and was thrilled to chat with the good-natured Grammy award winner Ne-Yo, whose hero Michael Jackson is reflected in the younger hit-maker’s melodic voice and incredible dance moves. It was a show in itself to watch Ne-Yo woo the younger women who dissolved into tears, screams and — at times — absolute hysterics as he handed out roses at the end of his performance.

The audience slipped into a nice easy mood as it listened to the laid-back, sexy sounds of Corinne Bailey Rae, another Grammy winner, with hits like Girl Put Your Records On. The petite performer with the big voice not only sings like an angel, she gives off an aura of being in harmony with the world.

I expected a ho-hum performance when the old timers did their Men of Soul performance, but I was wrong. These famous ’60s, ’70s and ’80s stars — Jeffrey Osborne, Phil Perry, Howard Hewitt and Freddie Jackson — captured the audience and had them swooning.

“You want some more?” howled high-energy R&B artist Osborne as he made some hip-swivelling moves while performing his solo pop hit: Can Ya Woo Woo Woo?

Osborne also sang On The Wings Of Love.

The grand finale of the event was when worldwide reggae wonders Shaggy and Maxi Priest who had the place rocking.

During intermissions it was fun to try the local party food — fish cakes, shark bits, green-banana salad or a cold Piton beer, an island lager named after the stunning Pitons, St. Lucia’s famous dormant volcanoes that rise out of the sea — or just roam the grounds of the 300-year-old ruins of a seaside fort.

I left realizing the friendly people of St. Lucia are not just in love with country, jazz, blues, soul or reggae — this is an island where the people are in love with music.

And it seems they are always up for a good party.

IF YOU GO TO ST. LUCIA

The 2011 St. Lucia Jazz Festival — which is marking its 20th anniversary — takes place April 30 to May. 8. For details, see stluciajazz.org. For travel information, visit the St. Lucia Tourist Board website at stlucianow.ca.

This story was posted on Mon, March 14, 2011

Link to the Article: http://www.canoe.ca/Travel/Caribbean/2011/03/08/17534496.html

I will be hosting the 20th Annual St. Lucia Jazz Festival:)

YAY! I am super excited and super excited (wait I said that already)…LOL

More information on the Jazz Festival can be found here: http://www.stluciajazz.org/

Amazing lineup! Hope you guys can join me!

Karlyn

My European Journey: First up – Paris!:)

Hey guys! I spent my birthday in Europe this year which was absolutely amazing ! From the people, the food, the culture – it was truly an amazing experience!

First stop – Paris! One of my most delightful discoveries was how close french creole or kweyol (my local language spoken in St. Lucia) is to French. I do know that French is the basis for the kweyol we speak, but I was a little surprised how much of our french creole was actually French! I’m a bit off with my pronunciation, but most of what we say is actually legit french words – I understood quite a bit! A wonderful discovery for me!:) Here are a few pics from my trip. Of course first up Champs- Elysees! Had to hit up those pastry shops! It’s so beautiful walking on Champs-Elysees, there’s so much to see, eat and do. The Champs- Elysees is known as the most beautiful & prestigious avenue in the world! From the beautiful buildings to the amazing cafes and of course shopping, it was truly a delight being in Paris (the rain did not dampen my joy & yes it was cold!)…LOL

Of course my first stop was a pastry shop…see how stuffed my mouth is? LOL

Second pic – On Champs-Elysees – we stayed close by at the Mariott, so we were there every day! I walked it from top to bottom! (Oh yes bring proper walking shoes, you will need it!) Yes it rained but I enjoyed it thoroughly:)

Last pic – The famous Arc de Triomphe is a monument for those who fought and died in the French Revolutionary.

I have lots of pics and will update the gallery soon. In the interim, enjoy a few pics from Paris. My post on Milan will be up shortly. Bonsoir!:)

Caribbean Week