Growing up in the Caribbean, I got used to hurricanes and thunderstorms—they were just part of the rhythm of life, and I never saw them as real threats. But dust storms? Although I’ve never experienced one firsthand, they’re different. They blot out the sun, choke the air, and feel relentless. To me, they’re the perfect metaphor for the tough times we all face. Thunderstorms might bring cleansing rains, but the dust lingers, clinging to everything in its path.

I’m reminded of a scene from Karen Hesse’s Out of the Dust, which beautifully captures hope amid a dust storm. During the Great Depression, after months of drought and dust storms, a pregnant woman stands naked in a “quarter inch of rain,” savoring a brief respite. Her daughter, Billie Jo, watches and reflects, “That quarter inch of rain did wonders for Ma, too, who is ripe as a melon these days. She has nothing to say to anyone anymore, except how she aches for rain…Today, she stood out in the drizzle hidden from the road…bare as a pear, raindrops sliding down her skin, leaving traces of mud on her face and her long back, trickling dark and light paths, slow tracks of wet dust down the bulge of her belly. My dazzling ma, round and ripe and striped like a melon.” It’s a tender and raw moment, capturing the beauty of finding hope in unlikely places.

I’ve weathered my own dust storms—moments when I felt alone, scared, and desperately yearning for that kind of hopeful rain. Yet, no matter how heavy things felt, I kept showing up in every part of my life, protected by an armor shaped by my Caribbean roots and the struggle of feeling like the “other,” especially in educational spaces. Over time, I’ve learned to soften that armor, making it resilient yet gentle enough to protect the tender parts of myself that I hold dear.

This space is a window into my journey as a Caribbean expat, navigating life’s dust storms and gradually shedding that armor. I’m here to share the stories, insights, and lessons I’ve gathered along the way, hoping they resonate with you and perhaps inspire you on your path. We’re all making our way through the dust, one step at a time, and I’m honored to share this journey with you.

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