Self-Assessment

Blogs are something I have heard about for quite some time, yet I never imagined I would ever be writing not one. Since my first post to the most recent, I believe that they meet the rubric criteria overall, nevertheless there's still room for much improvement. Finding a foundation to write upon isn't too hard for me with the help of research, however I feel that I can still improve my writer's voice to encompass what it means to blog and stray a bit away from the traditional expectations of academia. This is perhaps my greatest worry when writing my posts. I face some internal stress over writing in the correct manner and balancing the way I'm inclined to write with a more appropriate approach to my audience. While my posts aren't necessarily bad, I feel that I haven't truly grasped the writer's voice of a blogger.

Writing is something that comes naturally to me, at least the ideas and what I wish to share, but organizing in a cohesive manner still takes some time. That is why I do put effort into my work -as I do with all my assignments- and always look to improve. Taking that into mind, I am also not the biggest fan of writing so I admit that I could in fact do better and put a greater effort in my writing. Procrastination plays a huge factor in that and has become something I regularly do with almost all my assignments, but I will say that I make sure to turn them in on time, even if right before the deadline. Unfortunately, that also means that I don't spend too much time reviewing and revising my blog posts. In terms of grammar mechanics, and readability I believe they have all been well as it's something I do make sure to fix before submitting, but I believe that something could always be improved or be done better.

Blogs are open to the public and I can see where one can become weary of having our writing exposed to everyone, but I personally don't feel too concerned about the posts we've done so far. Most of them have been informational and they haven't been too opinionated, so I feel okay, and I also don't have major concerns over my writing overall. A helpful discussion in class would be over how to incorporate your voice through writing as best as possible to stem away a bit from the formality of traditional essays and other typical classroom writings. 

I've learned a lot from blogs since the first post and it turns out that I have underestimated how useful blogs can be as well as engaging. There's so much embedded in blogs to make it well-written, credible, and attractive to its readers. A new perspective of blogs has been opened to me and while I'm still new and still learning, they have become very intriguing.

Grenada

The people of Grenada have a rich background and land in the Caribbean. It's for these reasons that brings much interest to this country and its people from different nations. Despite all its beauties and attractions, there are also some conflicts that exist on these islands. These are due to poverty, environmental factors, and cultural differences that bring problems in Grenada's politics, economy, and society.

Grenada's geographical region is home to a paradise-like climate and environment. The soil is also very rich which allows for a vast agricultural use. While it does not often face severe weather, when they do, it often devastates the land and its crops. This can result in a depletion of resources, followed by the large usage of the people and tourists which have polluted the area. Environmental problems may not be the primary problem of Grenada, but it often serves as the catalyst to the political and economic conflicts.

Poverty has stricken Grenada and has created a strain in its society which has led to the rise of health problems, crime, trafficking, and unemployment. The conditions of life have become a major issue which has led to the questioning of how to solve it. Another consequence is the inevitable class differences which can often lead to stereotypes and segregated communities.

A main issue has been the politics of Grenada. Conflicts rose following its independence from the UK -although it still adheres to it- and its first election in 1967. Many political parties rose in opposition to the Prime Minister and so the New Jewel Movement (NJM) staged a bloodless coup in 1979. The new government adopted socialist ideals which were opposed by Western powers, and so another coup occurred in 1983. Shortly after, the US invaded Grenada to restore power and control. Grenada is currently a Commonwealth nation under constitutional monarchy.

Money laundering had become an issue in the islands and was brought to the attention to the world. As a result, many banks were closed and within time "cleared" Grenada. The nation was no longer blacklisted after the passing of anti-money laundering laws, but only five offshore banks were still operating.

While no place is perfect, Grenada has had and continues to have its fair share of ongoing problems. This, however, does not represent the islands as a whole and its people. Taking this into mind, there is still much to improve and existing notions to clear to the world of how life truly is in Grenada.

Citations:

“Grenada.” The Virtual Caribbean Library, ggccaribbean.wpengine.com/listing/grenada/.

“Grenada.” Countries and Their Cultures, www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Grenada.html.

“Grenada.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/place/Grenada.

Saint Barthemely

 

This island was originally occupied by Amerindians, who named this land "Ouanalao", which is thought to refer to the iguanas that live there. It was in 1493 that Christopher Columbus renamed the island "Bartomeo", after his brother. The land proved to be of little interest to the Europeans at first and it was the French who sent a group to begin the establishment of this colony in 1648.

The island continued to hold little interest to the European powers and the people of the island failed to gain the land back. Following numerous attacks from the British and pirates, the island was then turned to the Swedish, who made the island a free port. This brought economic progress and prosperity for some time before once again falling into an economic crisis due to natural disasters.This resulted in the Swedish returning it back to the French in 1878 and becoming part of Guadaloupe. It was in 1946 that the people became French citizens and in 2007 separate from Guadaloupe.

Saint Barthemely has become a luxury destination for many high-class people and celebrities because of its idyllic environment and setting. The culture is mostly influenced by Europeans rather than Afro-Caribbean due to slavery not being common and abolished in 1847. The people and their culture is largely influenced by their European counterparts, however have created their own society and sense of living based on their food, land, and attractions. They enjoy a fine dining, tropical climate full with different crops, plants, and animals. Saint Barthelemy has become a major tourist destination forming an important part of the economy, as well as a large attraction for holidays, festivals, and sports. Even though they have become their own entity, they continue to portray European influence in the way they live.

Countries Adopting: Cuba, Aruba, Virgin Islands

Citations:

Pike, John. “Saint Barthelemy.” Saint Barthelemy - History, www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/caribbean/sb-history.htm.

“History of St. Barths Island.” WIMCO Villas, www.wimco.com/villa-rentals/caribbean/st-barthelemy/history.aspx.

 “Saint Barthélemy.” The Virtual Caribbean Library, ggccaribbean.wpengine.com/listing/saint-barthelemy/.

Bermuda

Bermuda is a breathtaking and intriguing archipelago which has caught the attention of the world. A larger part of this is because of the notoriously fabled “Bermuda Triangle”, however there’s so much looked over from this beautiful land. It’s rich in climate, history, culture, and entertainment. 

This welcoming island chain is home to a diverse population who have origins tracing back to Africa, Europe, and West Indian now mixed. All of which has played a major role in laying the groundwork for the shaping of Bermuda’s society. 

This island chain is composed of about 7 main islands and has a unique geographical location. It's centered in Hurricane Alley which explains the sometimes severe weather nearby, however it receives some protection from its coral reefs. Despite that, it mainly consists of a subtropical climate and is an enjoyable paradise-like environment. Even though it's remotely isolated, Bermuda has associated themselves with the Caribbean community. 

The cuisine of this land is strongly influenced by American, British, and West-Indian gastronomy. This picture depicts just some of the different varieties of foods available, such as fish chowder which is the national dish. Most of the foods contain cooked rice, beans, and seafood. Yum!

Bermuda is a top tourist attraction that has sparked the interest of many across the world and has become a major characteristic of this land. Horseshoe Bay Beach is one of the must-go destinations for relaxation and blissful happiness. Hamilton, the capital, is the center of the history, culture, religion, and arts of this place and displays an energetic and perfect picture of who and what Bermuda is. The Crystal and Fantasy Caves (illustration) are perhaps the greatest place of interest to discover the geographical wonders Bermuda has to offer.

Bermuda is still a British territory, however it has without a doubt become its own "nation" and entity. The people of Bermuda have created their own culture and creole language over time, and are very respectful of others and have a very civil society.While there's a lot to learn about Bermuda, perhaps the best and only way to truly understand and appreciate the beauty it has to offer is to visit this place. So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags!

Citations:

“Bermuda.” The Virtual Caribbean Library, ggccaribbean.wpengine.com/listing/bermuda/.

“15 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Bermuda: PlanetWare.” PlanetWare.com, www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions/bermuda-ber.htm.