As someone who was born in Canada to Caribbean parents, the household had a lot of interesting, strict, and eclectic values.

You see Trinidad is a small island, and a small population, just over a million people with big dreams, and hope for a brighter future. Both of my parents come from the island known for one of the biggest carnivals in the world, the food, the rum, scorching weather, the diversity, the friendly people…a Trini, that is short for Trinidadian, or Trinbagonian for Trinidad and Tobago, and of course the adorable sing song accent.

The culture at times is an island of partying and celebration.

Long story short, the whole idea of carnival was to celebrate the emancipation of slavery in Trinidad and Tobago. For such a petite island, the immense impact is stamped in history. The steel pan is an instrument birthed by Trinidad deriving from West African roots long passed over to music genres from Calypso, Soca, Dancehall and Jazz music. Janelle Commissiong was the first ever black women to be crowned Miss Universe in 1977. There are a few female rappers of Trini descent; Nicki Minaj immigrated to the U.S. at five being born in Trinidad. Cardi B’s mother is a Trini so you know we will claim her as a Trini. Actor Winston Duke of Black Panther and last year’s horror flick Us originates from Tobago. Actors Nia Long, Alfonso Ribeiro (aka Carlton) and Tatyana Ali of Fresh Prince of Bell Air both have Trini roots. I read somewhere that Will Smith loves traveling to Trinidad. Coincidence?

Now that you got a little backstory on the big impact the Trinidad and Tobago has created, this coincides with a part of how I was raised.

Here is a  list of how I was raised from my Trini parents:

1. Family always comes first.
2. Music is a must in a household.
3. Perseverance and resiliency will help you go far in this life.
4. Thing or ‘Ting’ meant pretty much anything and you of course either understood what it meant or had to understand the meaning.
5. Nah of nuh basically is directed to you. For example: “Go get the groceries in the car nuh.”
6. You will learn how to eat spicy food and realize that this really is flaming hot sauce; you will cough at first but as someone of Trini descent… you will get used to it. You will get bragging Trini rights if you can handle the sauce.
7. Callaloo is the best dish created on earth in my humble opinion, doubles are right behind and of course macaroni pie along with roti (a pita like dish with any filling like curried chicken, chickpeas, and beef).
8. We always persevere.
9. Creativity is everything.
10. Always having a positive outlook on life.

Whether you know about this country or not, as a first generation Canadian born to immigrants originating from Trinidad, and despite the growing violence occurring there, it always fills a big stamp in the way that I grew up. Wherever I travel a Trini is there with pride behind that word. There is strength behind the flag with colours consisting of red, white, and black with a song or two playing in the background, steel pan following the tune and macaroni pie being baked.

This is what helped to mold me.