A Love Letter To Soca

Dear Soul of Calypso, 
 
I write this letter to you from the living room of my cold apartment located on the edge of the Wichita State University. I just want to thank you, thank you for everything you’ve done for me during my first month and change in a new country and an unfamiliar city. Every morning I stick my Sint Maarten flag scarf in my waist and press the play on either my SoundCloud playlist or the one on the music app on my phone and get energized from the various riddims you’ve allowed to shine. Is this a coping mechanism for home sickness? It is, but the words of my favorite artists allow me to remember that home isn’t that far away. Thank you for all the times I’ve yelled “A catching feelings,” well knowing that the feeling is foreign to me. Thank you, the times, where I have to brace myself from yelling “A HORN IS A HORN ONLY IF YOU TAKE IT ON,” on the very white American campus. Thank you for the opportunity to show my two friends why we must “wuk ya waist like a meter” and how we can Celebrate. To the ones that grace my comfort playlist, Destra, Nadia Batson, Kes The Band, Machel Montano, Erphaan Alves, Alison Hinds, Fimba, Fireman, Infusion Band, ExodusHD, XP Band, King Rumer, DJ King Kembe, King Vers, Kenyo, ODD Brothers, No Limit Band and the Red Eye Crew, thank you. Thank you for the craft that you present to us. Thank you for allowing me to cherish in one of my first love, soca. 
 
Regards, 
A Soca Warrior 
Kamilah. 

Author's note: 

Welcome back to the updated IslandGalTing. Thank you for being patient during the brief hiatus as I relocated to Wichita Kansas for school. I know you are probably wondering why in the world am I in the middle of no where? Don't worry, I'll explain sometime soon. Make sure to follow the blog on twitter and instagram @islandgalting and turn on the notification bell so you know a new post has dropped. 

I'm excited and I hope you are as well. 

One Love, 
Kamilah Gumbs 

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