carolineislands' profile

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Hometown

Where ever I am

Places I've been

Have visited most of the Southern, Midwestern and Western States, lived in a little shack on the Atchafalaya River between Lafayette and Baton Rouge, Louisiana (Deep Bayou), lived in many states as a kid (military father), including Kansas, Missouri, Louisiana, Tennessee, Minnesota.... Spend a few months studying in Costa Rica and Panama and lived in Haiti where my husband and I are now building a Community Center.

More about me

I grew up in a military family and moving around is in my blood. I wasn't quite old enough to go to Woodstock but the movement formed my way of thinking and allowed me to be who I am today.

I am an anthropologist because I am forever fascinated by humans. I am a humanitarian because I am forever in love with humans. I am a singer because the spoken word is insufficient to express my feelings about life. I am a writer because I have too much to say about life to keep quiet. I am a follower of Jesus because I believe in his message (even though the fascist right has hijacked and subverted this message for their own gain). I am presently studying grant writing and nonprofit project development in order to have something I can do to continue making a difference into my retirement years.

I studied cultural anthropology and Haitian studies in school and went off to live in Haiti after my last child left home. I loved the place and the people and ended up working in an orphanage there for a couple of years and am now building a community project with my husband (who just happens to be Haitian). We have also purchased a small piece of land by the shore and are building a simple home where I hope to retire writing grants to help as many worthy causes as I can before I leave here.

I have twin daughters and a son who are my best friends. Also 10 grandchildren (yes that picture of me is recent!) LOL. All of my children are activists and very conscientious environmentalists. My daughter is studying network security (she's a big hack! :), and my son is a magnificent musician studying to be a Kung Fu master.

I am married to the most gentle, kind, faithful and beautiful man in the world and I am so grateful to have him as a partner in this journey.

Growing up during the Cold War, I am amazed at how smoothly the United States has shifted into fascism and am doing what I can to change things. I'm an Obama supporter and have some hope for the US, but just in case, my retirement home on the island will be waiting for me.

Peace Out

Activities

I sing Black Gospel, play keyboards and am otherwise very active in my church. I am studying grant writing and nonprofit project development. I love cultural anthropology, humanitarian work, social justice activism, travel, playing the piano and singing, spending time with my kids, Afro-Caribbean dance and drum, current events research (shudder), and spending time with my husband (see pix!). Lately I've been getting into KRUMP dancing -- just bought a DVD and am doing it as my exercise routine (fun stuff). I love film and film writing and do write screen plays, but don't have enough to time to do it as much as I'd like.

Favorite Charities

Haitian to Haitian Coalition for LaGonave (my husband's grass roots community project in Haiti) Lavalas (Aristide's project in Haiti -- don't believe the smear you hear about him the media... its mostly lies from the Bush campaign) Doctors Without Borders Anything truly grassroots, culturally appropriate and sustainable

Favorite Music

Afro-Caribbean, Black Gospel, African, Stomp/Krump, Folk/Appalachian, Blues.

Favorite TV Shows

I hate TV. Its owned by Rupert Murdock. The only thing I really watch is c-span occasionally (but it keeps me up at night). I used to like to watch MASH but nowadays the only mainstream tv I will watch is Dr. Phil. Or National Geographic. I won't watch Animal Planet any more because they showed a baby hippo getting eaten by an alligator and is scarred me.

Favorite Movies

Out of Africa. The Fisher King. Nell. I Am Sam. Shawshank Redeption. A Beautiful Mind. Pay It Forward. Rainman. Brokeback Mountain, Million Dollar Baby. Philadelphia. K-Pax. Girl Interrupted. Lord of War. Chocolat, Like Water For Chocolate. Amistad. Hotel Rwanda. Beaches. The Color Purple. 7 Years in Tabet. The Yayas. End of the Spear. Many others...

Favorite Books

Too many to count. I'd read anything -- the back of a cereal box... I love learning about any of the interests I've listed -- cultural studies, etc. But for fun reading I like scary stuff. Stephen King and all that.

Favorite Quotes

Haitian proverbs are my favorites, other than some quotes by Mandella. One of my favorite Haitian proverbs says, "Si ou montre makak voye wouch, premye tet l ap kase se pa ou menm." -- 'if you teach a monkey to throw rocks, the first head he's gonna break will be your own.' "Ti tig, se tig." -- even a small tiger is still a tiger. "Apre dans, tanmbou lou." -- after the dance, the drum is heavy.

Favorite People

My husband. My kids. Nelson Mandela. Barack Obama. Jean Bertrand-Aristide. Martin Luther King Jr.. Bishop Marvin E. Donaldson. Pastor Keith Newton. Albert Schweitzer. Mother Theresa. Che Guevara. Alvena Henderson. Luther Vandross.

Favorite Places

Tropical islands and wetlands. Love the south Louisiana bayou country (will miss it till I die), the rain forests of Costa Rica, my husband's little Caribbean island off the cost of Haiti, my bed.

Favorite Animals

Dugongs, capybaras, hippos, shar peis, great danes, hump backs, warthogs, pandas, koalas, ... many others.

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