As a more mature individual, appreciation is the word I use to describe how I feel about my homeland. Growing up, I can remember people saying to me and around me that one should appreciate what they have. Yes, as a kid, we know the definition of the word, we say we understand it, but to appreciate something is to be able to feel it.
Tourism is an experience they say. Well then I suppose I will always be a tourist when it comes to Dominica because I will experience nature every day that I have breath.
As I sit here writing this article, I am also chatting on msn with my good buddy, who resides in the United States of America. We’re discussing the seasons and all the various weather forecasts that come with them; pollen count, smog and humidity forecasts during spring and summer as well as the brutal cold that accompanies winter. What do we have to look forward to in Dominica? Rain and sun, wet and dry; only two seasons. This is the sweet simplicity of island life. I can appreciate not having to always be in air conditioning due to the excessive heat and humidity. I can appreciate not having to drive five hours to get to the beach to get away from the smog of the city. I can appreciate driving to the nearest river on this 290 sq mile island to bathe in a basin (pronounce bah-sen) to ‘cool out’.
We all know what it’s like to be yanked out of our beds early in the morning for something. My early morning self-inflicted yanks are to go hiking. With the mere act of waking up, I am greeted by the twittering of the birds on the outside and the crowing of the roosters, alerting me that morning has indeed arrived. As I step out of the house, the cool morning air is like a cup of coffee. It’s as if it almost forces you to open up your eyes and senses even more. Ah yes, my second cup of much needed coffee to brace me for my hike. Don’t you believe me? I dare you to try it!
Of all the awe striking things I have been able to appreciate during my monthly hikes is one of Dominica’s little talked about marvels – Morne Diablotin, 4747 feet of sheer wonder. It’s not that I haven’t been to The Boiling Lake, as I can assure you I was on all fours towards the end of my destination, the first time I made it past the Valley of Desolation.
I mean, how many people stop to look at a map and then look at the surrounding landscape and can actually see the correlation between the two. Well, I did when I climbed that mountain. If you ever thought that the outlines of a map could lie to you, then climb Diablotin, and tell me you did not see the curvature of Prince Rupert’s Bay and “The Cabrits, the headland of which is made up of the remains of a volcanic crater on the north-west coast of Dominica that protects Prince Rupert’s bay, the best anchorage on the island” (www.lennoxhonychurch.com). These are just two of the many wonders my nature isle has to offer.
I write this article not as an outsider looking in, but as a typical Dominican who is appreciating more and more what my Dominica has to offer. Whether you are taking in the sunset after a long 6 hour hike to the Boiling Lake or an 8 hour hike up Morne Diablotin, you’ll be happy to sit on your verandah sipping a Kubuli Beer, Dominica’s very own lager, and enjoy the rich sunset the west coast of the island has to offer.
There are things to do here, you just have to open your eyes. Dominica is but a canvas to the imagination.
I know, I am Dominica. What about you?
Abbey that is such a lovely piece. When you mentioned waking up early to go on your hikes it brought back memories of waking up at cock crow to return to Roseau after spening the summer holday in Goodhope. What lovely times that were. When I come back home hopefully you might be going on one of your hikes and I can come along!!! I think of D/A all the time I love my country! I am Dominica.
LOVE THAT!!!!!!!WELL SAID, WE ALL AT SOME POINT OR THE OTHER FEEL EXACTLY THE WAY YOU FELT WRITING THIS WONDERFUL COMPLEMENTARY OF DOMINICA. I ALSO LIVE AWAY WHICH IF I HAD A CHOICE I WOULD BE IN MY COUNTRY,I DONT LIKE IT HERE MY HEART HURT EVERY TIME I HEAR OR READ SOMETHING ABOUT DOMINICA, I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE DAY WHEN I HAVE TO MOVE BACK HOME, NO MATTER WHAT CONDITION I WILL ACCEPT IT WITH OPEN ARMS, MY HEART BELONGS TO DOMINICA.
Ah Lovey Dominica…
“We all know what it’s like to be yanked out of our beds early in the morning for something”
I say shut the door draw the curtains and let the bids sing me back to sleep.
One of the few places where I’m are not awaken by the sounds of the neighborhood coming to life at 4am to beat the morning rush, or the constant sounds of an ambulance or police sirens.
Lovely Article Abigail…..Lovely Dominica
O lovely Dominica the land of beauty and splendor. By the grace of God and if the lords will I will be coming back home to invest in business and help in the creation of more jobs. Im Dominica.
I love this article. Though I live outside of DA I make an effort to come home twice, yearly. On every trip I load up two buses of family and friends just to tour the island. More and more I am getting to appreciate my country. You spoke about the curvature of Prince Rupert’s Bay; the 1st time I saw this brought tears to my eyes. Simply amazing! Apres BonDieu ce Dominique!
Correction: I pray that local citizens preserve what nature has generously blessed the island with and protect it from those who want to destroy it. Love you Dominica, and yes I am Dominica.
The writer is living my dream! Wow I ache for a moment like that. Dominica has a special place in my heart – A place where my first love has inhabited for many years. Although I left the island as a young child and yet after 35+ years I am still missing this beautiful island that I remembered. Do I feel cheated from living a life so free, peaceful and luxurious in nature? Yes I do. With hope, I will be back to my birth land soon, not only to enjoy what it has to offer, but to contribute back for the opportunity of my birth. In the meantime, I pray that local citizens preserve what nature has generally blessed the island with and protect it from those who want to destroy it. Love you Dominica, and yes I am Dominica.
This piece brought smiles
to my cheeks. I am homesick….. I love you DA!!!
I pray that every future generation of Dominican children are able to enjoy and appreciate these things…. lets be good fore fathers and caretakers of our children inheritance.
Abigail,
I respect you. You talk fondly of Dominica and you chose to make it your home. That is unlike 99% of people here who gust about Dominica, but would not give up a penny of their income to make Dominica their home. All nostalgia, not courage.
abigail is Dominican, She is a very soft spoken quiet girl. she, unlike many, was not eager to RUN AWAY to the U.S… and still continues to pursue her studies at the Dominica state college. this girl has been taking college courses since 2000 when it was the sixth form college. as a classmate there is not much I can say about her other than “she is one cool girl”. Abigail this piece is very well put together, I would expect nothing less from a former sifocol student…. well done, BRAVO.
never new you drank beer….
next time we bounce up drinks are on me!
*KNEW* correction
U that writer i love hate u.
Love u for this peice.
Hate for making me feel the way i feel rite now.
piece correction
Nice article. God bless the Nature Isle. I love you Dominica and will continue to pray over you.
Nice, thanks for this picturesque tour, I Love Dominica.
Well I couldn’t agree with you more I myself travel a lot,I work in the U.S.A but do come to Dominica twice a year and I know how the weather can be and all that congestion all over the world cause I get the opportunity to travel to many other countries and islands because of the work I do. I always say there is no place like home and it’s just a shame that we the citizens take it for granted and then goes around sayiny{I AM DOMINICAN ARE YOU}.What are we doing for our precious Island Dominica what a pity