After I don't know how many years, I spent almost two months in Suriname for the first time. This was not planned at all. What I had planned was to be there in September because my father would really be bigi jari, 80! However, because of my sister's illness, I went much earlier and stayed longer. When I look back now, I am also and especially grateful to her for this time.
I consider Suriname my home. I am and will remain Surinamese, wherever I go. Yet it always takes some getting used to when I am back there. It is just like when you have a long vacation behind you. Just checking if everything is still the same as when you left. Since, despite all the reports, I also did not know what to expect from my sister's sickbed, it took some extra getting used to.
Especially the idea that she would no longer be there, never again, certainly did not enter my mind. I tried to imagine it, hoping that if it were so, the blow would be less hard. Not really a nice idea to go home. Still, being home is always nice. The Surinamese warmth, the warmth of my father and the family almost always makes up for everything.
From day one, even after I had just landed, I went to the hospital, RKZ. Fortunately, I was allowed to stay with my dear cousin Heidy, who lives in Noord. From her house it was a taxi ride of no more than 15 minutes or 7 SRD. That was doable. Twice a day, I went to my Tineke. At first it was of course a big shock, but once I got over the worst shock, it may sound strange, I really went there with pleasure. I was grateful that she was still there, didn't know how much longer she had and wanted to be with her as much as possible. That's how I got to know friends of hers, people of her faith and that's how I was able to reconnect with cousins I hadn't seen for so long. It was always a close togetherness. Good to start and end my day.
Visiting hours were from 10 to 11 and from 6 to 7. I always went a little earlier and often stayed a little longer, which was fortunately allowed. The rest of the time I walked a lot. If possible I left the taxi for a walk back home or just through the city. Nice to try to get your confused thoughts in order, which of course helps, but does not always work that well. What always works is to meet nice people, enjoy the surroundings and eat well. That is Suriname!
Surinamese breakfast; nothing and nowhere tastier!
This is how the morning usually started. The most luxurious, delicious and healthiest breakfast ever: fresh papaya with young coconut finely ground in the blender. For those who don't know, I've been eating gluten-free for years. That mainly means no flour, so no bread. When I first heard it, I thought oh, another one of those fads, but after personal advice I started trying it. For a year I only ate casava bread. What we noticed then is that for the first time in YEARS, I didn't suffer from allergies in the summer. I couldn't really reconcile it, but then I went to a food advisor and that's how I officially started eating gluten-free. As you can see, I eat much tastier now!
Nurse Ritfeld at work
I really have deep admiration for nurses. And every time I see them at work it grows. This nurse happily made beautiful hairstyles for patients. She also braided Tineke's hair a few times, with that same smile.
Every other day my father came to greet Tineke. He had just had an operation for a new hip. One day we walked together to Soep Oso after visiting hours. Short walks were good for him. He loved that peanut soup and I enjoyed a nice Bangbang salad.
Imro the taxi driver
One day I was picked up by Imro, a taxi driver. I don't remember exactly how we got on the subject of frizzy hair, but at one point he said: Yes, that lady Mireille Tjon a knew about frizzy hair. I said, do you mean Mireille Liong-A-Kong? Yes, he said. But that's me, I said then. While he was driving he turned around three times, yes, I thought so, I thought so, he said then. It's a great honor for me. "What you do for the Black woman is great". I liked it so much that I asked if I could take a picture of him and luckily I was allowed. If you meet him, say hello and let him know that he is now also on kroeshaar.com.
I met Danitsia in the city on the Herenstraat. She recognized me, said she was proud of her frizzy hair and asked if I would be doing any activities. I had already been asked this several times and because the demonstration with the Going Natural Hair Products was planned at Dio , I said yes, keep watching. It is always fun to meet members of kroeshaar.com in real life. Especially when they also say that they are proud of their hair partly because of the site!
Ayfarah San-A-Jong, interviewed for Naturals of Su; My fear was that a short curly haircut would not suit me . She came to me to introduce herself, because we had never met in person. Hi she said, I am Ayfarah San-A-Jong, niece of Cliff San a Jong, who is on your site. She is not only beautiful, but also sweet and very smart. Ayfarah teaches and is also studying speech therapy.
Nzinga Blankendal, who lives in Lausanne, Switzerland, is the newest addition to the organization Sofisa, formerly UMA! Empowerment & Awareness Initiative . After a long time, she was back in Suriname on vacation and that was the ultimate opportunity to meet each other in person. Together with Erna Aviankoi, who lives in Suriname, we went for a meal at 't Vat. Of course, the conversation was also about her. I just can't avoid that. I then recommended Clean Start and Silky Shea Hair Butter to Nzinga. Her email afterwards:
I love your Detox treatment! My hair is happy 
With my cousins in Dio to get the Going Natural Hair Products .
Spending time with Tineke's grandchildren was always a pleasure!
Not only at Dio Suriname, but also at M. Oemar where the Going Natural Hair Products are available, I was allowed to give a training. These ladies are therefore trained and can answer questions about frizzy hair and the products very well. So if you have any questions, you know where to go.
Surinamese vegetables
Walking out of M. Oemar, I saw two ladies with delicious vegetables. I immediately bought kouseband and sopropo for my dad and my niece, four of each. The lady next to me who also sold vegetables asked, Ie no wan tomatie, don't you want tomatoes madam? I said no, thank you. Whereupon the lady from whom I did buy said: yes, will you also have tomatoes while she put a bag of tomatoes from the sales lady next to her with the rest of my vegetables. Five SRD. When I paid she immediately passed it on to that lady.
This is what I saw so often in Suriname, how people help each other. It is often said, "Black people do not help each other", but this was not an exception that confirms the rule. Black people, Surinamese do help each other. Especially where it is needed. It also depends on where you look of course, but this has been my experience, more than once.
Morning walk in Paramaribo North. Just before the sun rises. I was not the only one on my feet. You see mainly women walking, enjoying the cool fresh morning. When you get home you feel reborn and ready for the day!
That pomecitar tree in my dad's Feng Shui garden , keeps bearing. Wonderful!
An afternoon at Colakreek; Marnix, the partner of my cousin with whom I stayed, celebrated his birthday in a nice and cozy way at Colakreek. So I also went outside the city for a while.
Eric Aikman, sports teacher and my volleyball coach when my sister and I were still playing at Condor, I also ran into in the city, right in front of the hospital. We had some really nice times. There were also old teammates present at Tineke's funeral.
This beautiful seed necklace was a gift from my cousin. What compliments I received. Do you see why I love my family?
I had arranged to have a drink with my old mate from the AMS, the hard-working Jerry A-kum who is now Director of Tourism. That is always fun and pleasant. This time it was no different.
Also from the AMS Robert. He had some nice words for me, don't you think?
Finally I was able to get my hands on the book Suriname Bekend(t) for my father. You know the book by Raoul Neijhorst see:I am a proud Surinamer and I am in Suriname Beken(d)t
With my 80 year old father
After my sister's funeral, my father didn't feel like celebrating at all. A dinner was still possible, but partying, that was really not. We were all deeply sad, but the loss of a child is the worst thing that can happen to a person. With that realization and the fact that you can't just let an 80th anniversary day pass by, my brother and I got to work. My father's "list" included 75 people. Family members and good friends. But then again, my dad played football his whole life, was in the SVB, ASFA, Rotary and so on. My brother had also invited some people and so at least twice as many guests came to the Feng Shui Garden to congratulate my dad.
His partner Es Attaoellah had asked to make a slide show for him and on the advice of my cousin we hired Humprey and Friends to sing. It is a band with members who use their voice as an instrument. They sing beautifully! Also Powl Ameerali who you probably know from Suri Pop, sang especially for my dad. The highlight was when the cake arrived and all his mates stood around him and sang for him: Adi mi jere ….
With amazement he watched the singing crowd. It was literally a beautiful sight, in the beautiful candlelight. Yes, Tineke was not there in person, but that moment was so magical that I could not imagine that she and my mother Hertha were not there. The next day he said to us: it was one of the most beautiful days of my life. For Jeff, my brother and I, it was “Mission accomplished.” Despite the deep sorrow, the loss of my sister, his daughter, the hustle and bustle surrounding the organization of the funeral and the funeral itself, we managed to give my father one of the most beautiful days of his life. The sorrow will remain, but in this way we at least pulled him out of a dip and gave him some spirit again. I have the feeling that we, all three children, were able to achieve this.
