Blue Basin Boy

AS TOLD TO BC PIRES

My name is James Leid and sometimes I don’t feel like a Trinidadian.

I would say I come from Blue Basin, Diego Martin. My family is maybe larger than some: mother Lisa, father Sean, sister Ariel, older brother Tristan, younger brother Daniel and myself. And I have nine uncles and aunts. I hope to have a family of my own one day. We lost our grandmother on our father's side, who we lived with, a while back and also an uncle about a year ago now, which was very sad.

I grew up in a two-bedroom apartment next to a bakery – we ended up having a cockroach problem – on the St Ann's main road, where the six of us lived until I was seven. Then we moved to live with my grandmother, where we still live today, even after she passed away. Blue Basin is quieter than St Ann's and it’s up in the bush so we see a lot more wildlife.

My girlfriend Felisha Mohammed is my best friend and partner.

My great-great-great-grandfather, named James Leid, came from Scotland to Grenada. Where he had a son named Samuel. Which is also my middle name.

I went to Holy Name Prep. For every kind of celebration, they would hand out lollies. They must have them stockpiled somewhere there.

It was only after I left Fatima College that I really appreciated teachers that cared and students that looked out for each other. Hearing stories from other schools, I realised I really had it good at Fatima. I believe that the name-calling from other schools is just misplaced anger and envy. It’s terrible that not all students can have that same experience I did. I made a lot of great friends there.

I did not do any sports, apart from fond memories of the Fatima Sea Scouts. I was disappointed my time in it was shortened by lockdown. I tried to watch a few football games but it never stuck to me.

For the most part, I liked school and was good at it mostly. At CXC I got all ones and twos except add math, which I got a four in. But I wasn't a fan of that anyway so no tears were shed. My favourite subjects were math and technical drawing.

I was raised into Catholicism and still believe in heaven, hell and purgatory. I used to go to church with my family up until covid. Although we still practise from home through TV and online masses.

I'm not sure why a loving, omnipotent God could allow his children to suffer but I think that the easiest explanation is that there is a “bigger plan.” It could be more that God leads people down a path and, when someone goes off path, it’s corrected. So this “bad thing happening to a good person” might just mean that God's plans are different from theirs and this “bad thing” might lead them to something more fulfilling. I'm not completely sure about this and I feel like saying any more about what I don't know enough about will just get me in trouble.

I like to listen to music and zone out. I don’t mean becoming mindless. More so I find myself just thinking deeply. I recall fondly early memories of whatever rock or metal my father had playing around the house. My favourite band right now is Nirvana.

I've never smoked weed or cigarettes and I wouldn’t even consider it. I had pneumonia when I was about eight that left scar tissue in my lungs. And no, I don't think this is something that makes me feel like less of a Trinidadian.

I do like Carnival but not nearly as much as most. Not really my scene. And I don't like modern soca at all. I do like calypso, Lord Kitchener and Sparrow. I also like Jointpop. I don't really have a favourite Trini performer.

I think my favourite movie I have ever seen would be The Big Lebowski. I love Breaking Bad. Better Call Saul burns a lot slower but is almost as good.

I wouldn’t say that I feel like I don’t fit in or feel alienated. I got into Kiddies Carnival. They used to have a jump-up thing and you had to make your own costume. I remember having fun with that.

I never read newspapers. At all.

My mother manages an art gallery so I see a lot of local art and meet a lot of artists. I definitely do connect to both.. I have a lot of admiration for their work.

I went away once, when I was five, to Canada, for my aunt’s wedding. I barely remember anything of it.

I don’t think I’ve ever catch taxi. Not even from Bayshore to West Mall. But I would walk that distance.

I went to Las Cuevas for the first time recently.

I’ve always been “the white boy”. That’s just something I’ve accepted. There are plenty white boys in Trinidad. Not all of them are imported.

I’ve had judgements made about me based on my physical appearance but I think EVERYBODY would have experienced that at some point. Regardless of colour. Stupid people come in all varieties as well but I don’t let that bother me.

Doubles is essential. I tried my hand at fry bake recently and it came out pretty well.

I think the real reason I don’t feel like a Trinidadian sometimes is because of the ignorance. I feel like being a Trinidadian means having a certain ignorance and that isn’t something I relate myself to.

Since I am still deciding on what direction I want to take in education and life and whatnot, I have some time at home to catch up on movies and series. Spend time with Felisha. Try to build skills. And generally ponder life. I’m thinking of starting a university course this year. Not sure what kind of course yet, but I am being encouraged by my family to start something sooner rather than later. Which I understand the point of.

Sometimes it feels like the world of work does beckon to me. But I think I need to decide what I really enjoy before I settle into a job.

There is too little time in life.

A Trini is someone who walks the streets of Trinidad. And eats its food.

Trinidad and Tobago means home to me, its just about everything I know. For better or worse, I will take a little piece of it with me if I ever leave the country again.

Read the full version of this feature on Friday evening at www.BCPires.com