When a new year begins, we look hopefully to the future and plan the changes that we could make in our lives to make it a beautiful year. We think of what good habits from the past we wish to pursue and which we will leave behind, in a quest for a better life for ourselves, and even sometimes for our community. Which elements of the past of St.Martin could we wish to bring back? In this episode, Ginette and Mercedes Fleming, Alicia Weinum, Etina and Jeanine Arnell, Frantz and Fabien Gumbs, Olga and Rosette Gumbs reminisce about their childhood in their close knitted community, the respect eve ..read more

School as the main activity of children means that during our interviews, education was one of the main topics. Given that there was no high school on the French side, going abroad was mandatory for students whose parents wanted them to further their education. Having family already living abroad facilitated the move. In this month's episode, you will hear Alicia Weinum, Jeanine and Etina Arnell, Ginette and Mercedes Fleming, Frantz and Fabien Gumbs and Olga and Rosette Gumbs relate their learning experiences with people from abroad and the journeys of St.Martiners out of their village to purs ..read more

The way we see our world today is partly influenced by the way we see yesterday. Sharing a common vision of the past, or at least, some elements, gives us common ground. In a society where the informal occupies so much space, it is no surprise that the family space is a primary place of transmission. Some might already be tired of hearing the same stories of their parents, talking about how St.Martin was in those days, how it used to be back then, others might not have these references. Either way, these testimonies are valuable, I would even say precious, because the lessons of the past can i ..read more

As school is about to start, we sometimes remember our days as school children: the classes, the games, the teachers, the friends and of course, childhood. Although going to school is an experience that many have had through time and space, the organisation, the technology used, the teachings can vary vastly, even for students of the same era. And of course, how we remember school back then is deeply personal and shines a light on what has mattered in our life, from then, to now. In this month's episode, you will hear Alicia Weinum, Jeanine and Etina Arnell, Ginette and Mercedes Fleming, Frant ..read more

What a people eat tells a lot about their personal circumstances, their immediate environment and their cultural background. St.Martin is known as the Caribbean capital of gastronomy, with chefs coming from all over the world, but the cooking traditions of St.Martin are also worthy of celebration. Our traditional food tell a story within the story, of which ingredients were available at a certain time and how it influenced the people's tastebuds. It also informs us on the skills that were developed to obtain nutritious foods and to create flavorful dishes that are still appreciated today. In t ..read more

As you know, February is the month of love! In this episode, you will find testimonies of love beyond its romantic form: Family, God, Friendship, Self love and more! Thank you to Olga and Rosette Gumbs, Fabien and Frantz Gumbs, Alicia Weinum, Ginette and Mercedes Fleming and Etina and Jeanine Arnell for their testimonies, hoping that you are inspired to celebrate all the love you have in your lives! Family Love 1:18 - Olga Gumbs mentions that her brother was her uncle's eyeball 1:33 - Fabien Gumbs counts an anecdote that confirms his sister's words: his uncle carried him on a boat journey acr ..read more

Christmas is often seen as the best time of the year, even on our Caribbean island. From the food, the drinks and even taking care of our homes, it is a time where traditions seem to be particularly strong. While some customs from Back then are still honored, others seem to have disappeared. In this episode, Alicia Weinum, Etina and Jeanine Arnell, Frantz and Fabien Gumbs share memories of Christmas, Back then. Thank you for sharing these stories with us! Thank you Joy for the serenading snippets! In the introduction, you can hear King Timo's Santa Why. 1:00 - Christmas is Alicia Weinum's fav ..read more