Jambo, Irie, Hola, Aloha, Anansi!

Date log: Jan-Feb: 2018  It's storytelling time and I'm having a fabulous time telling stories at the Tobago Library Services in the lovely Children's Storytelling Room! The after school children arrive from various nearby schools. Ages range from toddlers with their mom's, dad's to teens and grannies. 

I love telling to the children in Tobago. The youth are actively involved and great listeners. Engaging these little scholars require quick ad libs, fun interaction, call and response, rapid questions answered and a silly sing along song or two.

 My favorite little girl listener is Kai...the same name as one of my grandson's back in the states. Kai is a joy to see and she remembered me from my freshman visit, last year. Kai's mother works at the library and today she is bubbling up to see me again and enjoy our storytelling hour. 

Kai hugging me tightly, sparkling wide eyes and pearly white smile as she listens to me introduce LOL4REAL! for children...she laughs and exclaims "I love to laugh." 

Kai's quick wit and creative thinking makes her a perfect candidate as an assistant. She is just as happy to learn about Laughter Yoga as she is to sit and listen to a story. You can see Kai holding one of her little friends in the photo gallery and she is the creator of the "fashion pose" Laughter Yoga exercise on my You Tube channel...cuttin' style...as a true Tobagoian!

Tobago has a rich history of folktales, legends and "old talk" as the locals call it. To learn about Tobago, googling it or watch episode of "Let's Talk Tobago" on You Tube. 

When I first visited Tobago on our honeymoon 37 years ago, the main library was damaged by a earthquake. I was warned not to venture to the damaged site in downtown Scarborough. As eager as I was to learn about the culture and local life, way before the internet, I purchased books and read like the bookworm, I am.  

Since then, we built a home in Tobago and I've learned to love Tobago culture, food, the people and of course the warm weather, first hand. It is my home now and I love the "vibes" as I feel the energy and generous spirit, from the friends who I "lime" (hang out) with in my personal life and now at the library during storytelling time!  

So if you ever visit Trinidad....you must go to Tobago and drop in on the state of the arts library, Tobago Library Services in the heart of Scarborough. The capital of green and serene Tobago...as her motto declares and you will discover why....

"She becomes more beautiful!"