CULTURAMA CONTINUED

On Tuesday, August 2nd, in true Nevisian style, a parade went through the streets of Charlestown.  Not at 12pm like they had told everyone, but 4pm when they finally managed to get everyone organized!

A week ago, a patient at the dental office had approached me and asked if I would like to get involved in the parade.  She was entering a "troupe" and needed more people.  I thought it would be a great opportunity to get involved and learn more about the culture of the people here.  So I said "yes" and signed my friend Daniella up with me.

Sian(the local lady that asked me to join her troupe) called me on Friday last week and told me I could stop by her work to pick up my costume.  I had assumed that we would be dressed in tradional Nevisian colors; Red, Black, Yellow and Green.

This is an example of a folk dance troupe, they perform traditional dances ranging from the French-derived kwadril to African war dances.  The term kwadril is a Creole term referring to a folk dance.  There were several groups in the parade dressed like this with participants of all ages. 

So I stopped to pick up our costumes and this is what I got.............

 

Go ahead and laugh!!! Laughing was all that Daniela and I could do because at this point it would have been so rude to back out.  Oh and just wait, it gets worse!!!

 I should know better than to assume anything on this island!

The idea of our troupe was that we were supposed to depicte a peom that they teach elementary kids in school, about a flying fish and a shark.  I guess we were supposed to be the ocean????