Day Five – She’s Carib·BEING
Wooohhhh Chile! Last night owes me nothing!
UPDATE: The store found my keys! If you have no clue what I’m talking about, read Day Four’s blog. That day did not end as expected to say the least.
Of course, we’ve been living out a theme here in Saint Martin/Sint Maarten (SXM), “something gone wrong” EVERY day. Day 5 would be no different. This time it was the three hour call with Verizon and their bogus “You’ve exceeded the limit for International data” messages they’ve been sending, as if I did not pay for the international plan. Oh, and one rep told me the charges are valid because the phone is sending me the message, but he couldn’t explain to me how a person exceeds 5 GB in less that 48 hours when they’re on Wi-Fi all day!
The second rep had a little more sense, and said my international plan had not been activated yet. Why, I don’t know, but I thought we had resolved the situation until I found myself at midnight sitting out in the middle of nowhere with no GPS service because I supposedly exceeded the $1,000 international data plan so my data had been blocked. WTF?!!!
This is what I tell myself when I want to scream and flip out like A Diary of a Mad Woman. What’s the focus Monique?! (Shameless plug for our new WTF t-shirt line. Get you one!). I have to let you know that my friend manifested this situation. When we were on the phone earlier in the day, I was being what they like to call, dramatic, about my near homeless experience on day 4 and said something about being scared when I thought I felt lost in the middle of nowhere. She said “Get lost then!”
Welp…that’s exactly what happened. I got lost, on some dark back road, but once again those ghetto survival techniques kicked it. I prepared myself to handle my business if I had to (don’t ask), and I sat in the car with the lights off talking to yet another Verizon representative for 40 minutes doing all I can not to cuss her out – cus I’m a Christian. LMBO!
But girlfriend, a white crop top and white pleated skirt snugged my Hershey chocolate skin, and I had on white strappy heels and a red lip, so I persevered! SN: In the summer I used to avoid going outside because I didn’t want to get darker, but baby…I have learned to embrace Tupac’s “The blacker the berry the sweeter the juice,” even though my brother used to say I wasn’t a berry as a come back to my come back when he used to crack on my dark skin. Now that I think about it, it’s kind of hilarious.
Anywho, I powered my phone off and on to get the data working and headed 20 minutes to District 721. It’s like a night club that has an open outdoor space with neon signs, palm trees, and gravel with different types of seating – section couches and some low and high tables. There is a bar and restaurants all around the perimeter with an indoor club in the back. Two different DJ’s play music – one in and one out.
It’s my kind of scenery, but I didn’t know what to expect. I just needed music and some spirits, yet I ENDED UP HAVING A BALL!! The DJs did their thang. I met a few people, including a cop, and he taught me some Caribbean moves that included hand dancing while gyrating your hips. You know that requires some slight knee bending, so my thighs were burning, and I sweat A LOT! Does that count as my work out for the day?! LOL
At 3 am you thought it would be time to call it a night, but the J’ouvert Jump Up was happening for the first time in two years. It’s an early morning jam, and everybody meets up at a spot and walks behind trucks that blast music and sprays people with hoses and paint. Sounded like a good time to me! Yep…even though I had on all white. I told you I’m here for it all.
I’m so thankful for my adaptability because when the wind kept trying to give me a Marilyn Monroe moment, I tied that little skirt into a knot in between my legs and made shorts. I also came prepared with my flats. People flooded the streets with white shirts that said “Splash.” The speakers belled out, “Good morning!” The crowd said, “Good morning!” They whinded and booty clapped down the street following behind the trucks. I whinded with them!
My people, our people, freely celebrating who they are – a sight to see. The Caribbean vibe is unmatched.
SN: In the summer I used to avoid going outside because I didn’t want to get darker, but baby…I have learned to embrace Tupac’s “The blacker the berry the sweeter the juice,” even though my brother used to say I wasn’t a berry as a come back to my come back when he used to crack on my dark skin. Now that I think about it, it’s kind of hilarious.
Anywho, I powered my phone off and on and headed to get data working again and 20 minutes away to District 721. It’s like a night club that has an open outdoor space with neon signs, palm trees, and gravel with different types of seating – section couches and some low and high tables. There is a bar and restaurants all around the perimeter with an indoor club in the back. Two different DJ’s play music – one in and one out.
It’s my kind of scenery, but I didn’t know what to expect. I just needed music and some spirits, yet I ENDED UP HAVING A BALL!! The DJs did their thang. I met a few people, including a cop, and he taught me some Caribbean moves that included hand dancing while gyrating your hips. You know that requires some slight knee bending, so my thighs were burning, and I sweat A LOT! Does that count as my work out for the day?! LOL
At 3 am you thought it would be time to call it a night, but the J’ouvert Jump Up was happening for the first time in two years. It’s an early morning jam, and everybody meets up at a spot and walk behind trucks that blast music, and spray people with hoses and paint. Sounded like a good time to me! Yep…even though I had on all white. I told you I’m here for it all.
I’m so thankful for my adaptability because when the wind kept trying to give me a Marilyn Monroe moment, I tied that little skirt into a knot in between my legs and made shorts. I also came prepared with my flats. People flooded the streets with white shirts that said “Splash.” The speakers belled out, “Good morning!” The crowd said, “Good morning!” They winded and booty clapped down the street following behind the trucks. I winded with them!
My people, our people, freely celebrating who they are – a sight to see. The Caribbean vibe is unmatched.
The roosters crowed as I drove in to the apartment, and I made myself some breakfast as the sun set. It was truly a night to remember.
Check out our reel on IG to see some pics and videos.