Nutmeg Nation with Carlene Humphrey
Nutmeg Nation is a show devoted to the Grenadian experience. It is a show that educates Grenadians on the issues they are facing everyday. Life, relationships, family, work and all the relationships we have with people who are in our direct circle. What are people talking about in Grenada? What is the culture like?
Nutmeg Nation: "Listen, learn and be apart of Grenada"!
Nutmeg Nation with Carlene Humphrey
Discovering the Heartbeat of Grenada's Islands with Kerron Episode 2
https://www.facebook.com/Diivaontheradio/
https://twitter.com/diivaontheradio
https://www.instagram.com/diivaontheradio/
Email us at divaontheradio@gmail.com
hi, I'm Carlene and this is Nutmeg Nation. We are continuing the conversation about carriacou and you know this is not where I thought the conversation would go, but I think it's important that we discuss it because, in terms of Grenada and everything that's happened within the last year, it's been a year of a lot of crazy. Things have happened, like in terms of natural disasters and just hurricane at a category three. I don't think this has happened in a very, very long time.
Kerron:In carriacou, like Grenada's, had more hurricanes right yeah, yeah, apparently Grenada is more of the one of the more well well prepared countries for hurricanes, um, even when, even when they have them, they've got a strong enough infrastructure for it. So if usually they're, they're in good shape, apparently, especially for stuff like marinas, like boats and stuff, because a lot of people in the Caribbean dock their boats in Grenada for hurricanes, right In good shape in terms of that.
Carlene:Yeah, yeah, you're right. I mean they've had a few hurricanes. I mean the last one was in 2005, where it was a Category 1. And then, even before, it was Category 3, 2004. And then even before, it was category three 2004. So I mean they're better prepared, as you said. But even the season itself, like hurricanes usually happen from June to November, and the fact that even Karakou itself had such an impactful like in terms of category, like destroying the entire island, like where they can't even like revamp from it, like they're just starting over, I think it's historical in itself, like you know. With that being said, we are talking about Grenada and the beautiful island of Grenada, your home, st Andrews. So St Andrews is known for what? Like? I mean, you know how Guave is the fishing town. Grand Anse is known for their beach. You know Grand Anse Beach because it's the city and you know what do people like to do in St Andrew.
Kerron:I don't even remember.
Carlene:I left I don't even remember. Yeah.
Kerron:Woodman. That's what we're known for, woodman. I don't even remember.
Carlene:Yeah, woodman, that's what we're known for, woodman. Oh my gosh, what is that? Tell me, it's a rum. Okay, okay, okay. And how?
Kerron:much alcohol is in that 63, I think I can't remember 67. I can't remember.
Carlene:Wow, okay, so that's even more than like Ray and Nephew, I have to say, because I got a lot of people asking me about Ray and Nephew's Jamaican rum, which is 40%. Is that maybe a little bit more than 40? What?
Kerron:a man. Wait a minute. Am I wrong, ray and Nephew? I think is like 59 or 50, something like that. Yeah, it's a crazy amount of alcohol, but yeah I think woodman, let me see woodman, let me double check I can. I can quickly look. So woodman is no, woodman is 57 according to the internet what?
Carlene:that's. A lot of alcohol in there, boy, like I mean I think one little shot will get you going like that's a lot yeah, I think what is it to do?
Kerron:to do? To do rea nephew, I think is 63. I want to say rea nephew 63. Let me double check yeah, rea nephew 63. I think clocks courtroom is more like because you yeah yeah, rea, nephew 63 yeah, because you get yeah, yeah, right, right, enough, you're 63. Yeah. Cause you get different, different clock scores Cause I think one of the other clock scores no one. Jack iron is 69 from green Jack.
Carlene:Right, right Right.
Kerron:And and there's a clock score run that 69 as well.
Carlene:Right.
Kerron:And then you have have to go throughout the rest of the Caribbean for the next the strongest. The next strongest one would be punching in Trinidad, which is 75.
Carlene:We're talking about the serious rum there.
Kerron:Yes, yeah, yeah and then I think it's the strongest is sunset Vinci rum is I think that's, I think that's 80 you know your rum, then yeah, so you're drinking rum when you're down there on the rum runner.
Carlene:Have you been on the rum runner? Yeah, okay, so did you grow up in Grenada?
Kerron:Yeah, for the most part yeah.
Carlene:So tell me about your upbringing. Do you remember growing up in Grenada?
Kerron:Do I remember growing up? Yeah, for the most part.
Carlene:Yeah.
Kerron:I want to say yeah.
Carlene:Okay, so what do you remember, like what's, what's something that sticks out in your mind now that you're older.
Kerron:Man, it's, it's, it's different, like just because I get. I think mainly because I did a lot of schooling there. I was like the beginning of the school years Cause I did standard two to standard five, yeah, two to five, yeah, so it's like, and I did my common entrance and whatnot.
Carlene:And what is common entrance? For those of us who don't know what common entrance is, I know what it is.
Kerron:Yeah, yeah, yeah. Common entrance is an exam you do in the equivalent here of grade five and six to go to high school or secondary school down there. So you basically do an exam that pushes you over to high school or secondary school down there. So you basically do an exam that pushes you over to high school and then you, if you pass, and if you don't pass you you stay in the elementary slash, primary school, which is called down there, and then you go on to about, I think, the equivalent of grade seven and eight and then you go into another school after that, for which is basically, I guess, the equivalent of what a college-ish education versus, like a university-ish education. It's sort of different. It is different in that sense, right.
Carlene:Do you find, like Grenada's education is a lot harder than Canadian? Like, when you left, like from your experience with Grenada versus here in Canada, I didn't even realize you did a lot of schooling in Grenada. Like, did you see the difference? Did you notice it from? Like?
Kerron:Yeah, I mean like I was supposed to skip two grades when I came up here. So it's a different, it's a different, it's a different, it's a different, it's a different, it's a different. The way they do education down there is way different, like we, for example, here you use calculators, there we don't Right, sort of a thing, right.
Carlene:You're just so easy with doing math in your head is what you're saying In a lot of ways.
Kerron:Well, you have to think more. I don't know if it's like easy, I wouldn't say it's I can do math in my head.
Carlene:I'm just saying yeah, yeah, yeah, wow, that's interesting, I didn't know that. You skipped to wow, okay. And then the school that you went to in Grenada like do you think it prepared you for life here in Canada in a way? And like your dreams and your goals when you were a kid. What did you want to be?
Kerron:I don't really have any idea much. I think I maybe wanted to be a pilot, but that was it.
Carlene:Oh, you did oh.
Kerron:Yeah, that was it, but other than that it's not like yeah, nothing, nothing super concrete, Okay.
Carlene:But what? Why did you? Okay, so you work in full time. I won't say the name of the company unless you want to say it, but your passion is acting. So what inspired you to get into that? What was was there? Was there someone who was your role model Like? Who inspired that?
Kerron:No one, actually, I think maybe I got most like no. Like, yeah, mainly mainly got inspired in Grenada because I did my first play in Grenada, so it sort of just brought out. And then I was like when I came to Canada I was like why not give it a shot? And it just happened. I got the opportunity randomly by walking in the mall. Walking in the mall and then some guys like hey, come audition. And then I did and didn't get the role, but I learned and I moved on and and then got more into it from there so what play?
Carlene:okay, but speaking of your influence in Grenada, what play was it? Do you remember?
Kerron:No, I don't remember the name of it.
Carlene:Oh, ok, no, no, but how old were you when you?
Kerron:I was grade five.
Carlene:I think it's safe to say that our influences is from, like, our upbringing back home, in every sense of the word. For me, obviously, I left Grenada when I was six and so here in Canada my influence was that. But here you talk about it. I didn't even know that, that you did a play in Grenada, that's so interesting. And so was there anyone in your family that that did any, acting or no?
Kerron:yeah, well, extended family. I got family members who are directors and actors in the US and stuff like that but what about your parents?
Carlene:no, no, and did they? Did they back you, like when you wanted to get into it? I mean, you've, you've been doing modeling.
Kerron:They're just musicians in my family, that's all.
Carlene:Oh, okay, so your mom and dad are they?
Kerron:banking. My dad's in music, no, my dad's in music.
Carlene:Oh okay, oh wow. And so, like now that you've been at it for a long time, like what do you think keeps you at it? I think the arts is always hard, obviously, but what, yeah, keeps you going, you know?
Kerron:I guess it's a. It's not. I guess it's a. It's a joy you feel while doing the. It's just the process of doing it. I like exploring new characters when I get the scripts and and putting together something fun and creative and and putting your own twist on things. You know, yeah, it's, it's not. It's not easy. Like you said, it takes a lot of patience and and you get. You get told no a lot more times than you get told yes, especially, I think, especially in Canada, because I think Canada is very cliquey and niche, you know so. But it's it's. It's just a love of of doing it and and just developing your craft and finding new ways, finding new things about yourself in the process too, I think yeah, I feel like you know, from when I've known you till like now you've you've managed to get a lot more commercials, like even that mcdonald's commercial right.
Carlene:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Kerron:Yeah, Commercials come across. They tend to come across a bit easier. But the crazy part is I do well for the other roles. It's just that I think the commercials are more. Maybe I got a commercial face, I don't know.
Carlene:Yeah, maybe it is.
Kerron:It is. You know what I mean.
Carlene:You have like a face for it and like I was like, oh my gosh, you're doing that McDonald's commercial, you know, and how was that? You know for you.
Kerron:I was good that was the second McDonald's commercial. But yeah, oh my gosh, that was your second one. Oh, I didn't know that. Oh, okay, so there've been a couple.
Carlene:I know I haven't followed everything, but you know, just hearing you say that, like obviously the impact is something that got you to where you are now and do you feel like, did your parents help you with your passion? Because there's always the passion side, like the arts is always something that I find doesn't come as quickly as we want it to, especially here in Canada, but did you have a little like did your parents support you with that?
Kerron:Yeah, my mom was pretty supportive.
Carlene:Okay, that's good, but overall I mean getting back to Grenada and what we talk about here. So a few things about your little parish, st Andrews. I didn't even know this. So it is the largest parish. St Andrews is the largest, yeah and Andrews I didn't even know this. So it is the largest parish, St Andrews is the largest, yeah, and then tourist attractions, so including oh I didn't even know this Granatang National Park.
Kerron:The Granville.
Carlene:NAPA yeah.
Kerron:And Prozac. Seven Sisters Falls is there, yeah, granatang Park.
Carlene:No, granatang is great. I love that place. Um, it's beautiful. So you had a great time and you got a really cheap flight, like oh my goodness, I don't even think I've seen those numbers. It's been a long time since I've seen a flight that price, you know, especially for grenada. Yeah, yeah, oh. I do have a question, though what did you get?
Carlene:when you were on the plane, like I feel like now you don't even get what you normally do. Have a question, though what did you get when you were on the plane? Like I feel like now you don't even get what you normally do, because a flight to Grenada is like five hours and before you used to get food, but now it's like.
Kerron:Well, food is not included. You got to pay extra for that.
Carlene:Yeah, but did they give you like appetizer or anything Like what? Did they give you Peanuts, anything?
Kerron:I think it was peanuts or cookie. I can't remember what, to be honest, because it was like nothing.
Carlene:Oh my gosh.
Kerron:And you get like that is so crazy. And you get a drink, popper or water, or orange juice or whatever you know. Yeah, orange juice, or whatever you know.
Kerron:Oh my gosh, that is just too time to change, you know whereas if you fly with Caribbean Airlines, they will give you food oh, fun fact, I didn't know that yeah, they will give you food fun fact, good stuff. So the highlight of your trip was just hanging out with family that were like your age group yeah, closer to my age and getting to see the island or relive some parts like granite and wake and other places like that where I went when I was a kid granite tag like.
Carlene:So I mean, what did you do when you got there? Like did you just walk around, take pictures, like walk around take some pictures.
Kerron:yeah, just see it, because it's like, unless you're going to go on the hike up the up the mountain, there's not much you can do there, right.
Carlene:Yeah.
Kerron:Yeah, I've never seen. I've never seen anybody go on the water there, so I mean I wouldn't, but I've never seen anybody do it.
Carlene:Oh my gosh, that was a little scary, exactly, you know. Would you stay longer? I think, like I mean, most people don't stay for just a week while they're in Grenada, like they try to stay longer. But I mean, obviously you stayed for a week, would you? Was it quick, like, did you feel like, oh my gosh, like you were just, you just got here, right.
Kerron:Yeah, I had a little bit of that sensation, but it is what it is. Obviously, I'll go back.
Carlene:So I'm not, you know I'm not too concerned. No, I know you're not too concerned with that. And yeah, question for you you know, when you like, because we're born in grenada and we grew up there and like we're always like going to see family would you ever go down and stay like on the resort or like off on your own, like just to have that experience too?
Kerron:I would, but grand is LA expensive for that stuff.
Carlene:I know that's the thing Like I my sister told me to like. If you're staying by the grand and speech, it's way more expensive. Yeah, I haven't seen. I mean I haven't looked at prices, but it's just one of those things where you could do like an Airbnb down there, like you, like you did in Bahamas.
Kerron:You could do that.
Carlene:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Kerron:And there are other little. I guess you can call them boutique or local hotels, so Island, and there's a new one that actually opened up in St David's I forgot the name of it, but there are hotels and stuff down there you can stay in, but again it's, they're pricey for the most part right exactly, and with the dollar the way it is like, is it still strong, like I find?
Carlene:like Canadian dollar in Grenada is a lot more than you know, in comparison to the US. Like our money, canadian dollar is worth more in Grenada well, what is it? It's two to one yeah, it's always yeah, yeah, that's what it was right for the EC dollar, but when you got down there, though, were you able to like how much was that KFC? Now, oh my gosh. Last time I went, it was expensive. Like how much was it.
Kerron:I want to say it was about 30, 30 c, I think okay okay, it hasn't gone up too too much, but like a two-piece meal or three-piece meal.
Carlene:Yeah, yeah, so yeah, oh my gosh, I love kfc, though in granada. That's the thing. Like I always tell my aunts, I'm like let's go there first, let's not go home, let's pass by first, you know, but obviously the food and everything. Did you have some rum, ice cream? Was it rum and raisin? Yeah, yeah, I did yeah yeah, I find it's always so good.
Kerron:But I had some really good like uh, what is it not smoothies? Yeah, like the freshly squeezed drinks like I had, because you know you don't get obviously the good like sour soap and all those other ones up here. So I had some of that, which was good, because it's been a while since I've had that right, it's always good.
Carlene:Yeah, it sounds like you had like a well-rounded trip and like everything was somewhat, you know, like there's highlights and lowlights and and things are still moving at a slower pace, right With certain things. But how was Granddad's Beach Like? How was it? Did you have a nice time when you were there?
Kerron:Yeah, yeah Wasn't busy, which was interesting because I thought it would be really busy, but it wasn't super busy.
Carlene:Why do you think that was so like? I mean, you went during a busy time, didn't you like christmas? Oh yeah, it's december, I guess yeah, like holiday time, like a lot of people are down, like, did you go to any clubs? Did you go to fantasia or no?
Kerron:you didn't go to any club I was going to, but the day I was going to or the night I was going to, um, it started to rain, so. So I was like eh, forget that.
Carlene:Yeah, yeah, and you didn't feel like going, or going another day, no, nah, okay, it seems like you're getting up there then, like we're at that point now where you don't really have to go to the club. Right, it felt like you know, like it wasn't like a thing that you had to do.
Kerron:Well, no, like for me, because I've never, I've never really done any much, a lot of clubbing or anything down there, so for me it didn't, didn't matter yeah, yeah, yeah, no, because it's a family.
Carlene:It's a family affair, like you're going to see family that you haven't seen in a while. And oh you, like you said, your mom went down too right.
Kerron:So yeah, yeah, you guys got to. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Carlene:Yeah.
Kerron:Not in there for, not not there for for that stuff.
Carlene:Right, right, yeah, yeah, definitely. So if anyone decides to go down to Grenada this year, what do you think? What's when's the best time? Obviously, carnival is always the best time to go, but other than Carnival, when would you suggest going?
Kerron:like, personally speaking or suggestions, yeah, I would say, obviously don't go down in rainy season, because around the time I went it was still rainy season right.
Carlene:Yeah, that's the thing that we don't talk about, okay, so I think it's december and january is rainy season, right?
Kerron:I think rainy season is from. It's like our summer. Here is the rainy season down there. Yeah, yeah, and it goes and it goes all the way to like December.
Carlene:Right, right, right, yeah, lots of rain. You know what, though? It's not the same kind of rain like here, like I don't know, it's not fun when it's raining, raining, but there's some kind of calm about it. I don't know if it's still the same now. But another thing I want to ask you did you find, was it really hot? Like the humidity? Like my sister said to me, it's so humid that, like she couldn't sleep well, like no, no.
Kerron:I have no problems with that at all. I love it okay.
Carlene:I don't know, I guess if you, if you've lived in Canada a long time, like my sister, didn't grow up in Grenada or whatever, but she's Canadian all the way. But she said it was so humid when she went, but she went in November, like last time she went.
Kerron:Yeah, that's still rainy season, because rainy season, I'm pretty sure rainy season from like June to December, december, which is also like hurricane, hurricane season mainly around.
Carlene:Yeah, june, june, august, july, august, september, that's, but you don't, you don't mind the heat, like for you, like you don't, like there's no. Is there AC where you stay, like when you go down there?
Kerron:no, oh, okay, okay, no AC and I don't care, I love it you're like like I love it, I'm good, I'm good, that's good, though.
Carlene:I mean, I think I think it's great that you got some rum while you were down there and you had a good time and customs wasn't too bad. Do you find like, okay, one more thing, do you have a great Indian password?
Kerron:I do.
Carlene:Did you renew it?
Kerron:Nah, I got to get that done.
Carlene:Oh, ok, ok, OK. So as someone who is Canadian, like we have both right. Would you do you think that if you went down there with your Grenadian passport, that they're going to treat you a little bit different?
Kerron:It's easier because you have the machines now. Like, how are we doing Canada when you check in? Yeah, yeah, yeah, you can do it to go through the machines. That's another, I guess, advancement.
Carlene:I guess, um, yeah, it is because I find like I was just like wait a minute, when are we gonna get with the times? Because I don't know. There's a little bit of that like too. But I think I like the fact that they still do it old school because you get that human connection. But it seems like even with the human connection there's a disconnect from what your last experience was like, because I find, like when here in Canada now, like there's less people, like you got to do self check your luggage yourself, you got to do everything through the machine, I'm like where is everybody? There's no people here at the airport. Like there's some people to help you. But that's the way we're going, right, yeah.
Kerron:Well, obviously they want to save money, so they're going to do whatever is possible the so-called save money.
Carlene:But since COVID oh, that's another thing, Cause I haven't flown but since COVID, what was that experience like for you?
Kerron:Like, were you wearing a mask on the plane? Like what's? No, no, I've flown more a lot since COVID.
Carlene:But yeah, no, no man. Okay, so it was a good experience nonetheless, but don't go to Grenada during great rainy season and definitely visit St Andrews, right? Yeah, yeah there we go. Well, I'm Carlene and this is Nutmeg Nation. Thank you, caron, for giving me your experience. I've learned so much about you. Like you know a little bit more than I knew before, and it's interesting. I hope that this year is amazing in terms of like your passion and that you get to do a lot more Right.
Kerron:Thank you, thanks for having me.
Carlene:Yeah, it's been great, thank you. Thank you for listening to Nutmeg Nation with Carlene Humphrey.
