Behind Every Cloud

By Gertrude R. Shotte

Forced migration has always brought about untold psychological effects on its victims. Interestingly, trying to settle in the host country is not the beginning of the mental anguishnegative emotional effects begin in the very environment where the troubles that compelled out-migration developed. Beyond the Clouds reveals a similar pattern. It utilizes various poems to chronicle the authors experiences from July 18, 1995 (when the Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat, rumbled to life), to present and to provide a framework for understanding the forced-migrant experience. Most relocated Montserratian migrants have found the transition rather difficult. The book purposes to give encouragement and hope to all forced migrants, especially relocated Montserratian students whose achievement motivation levels nose-dived to distressing levels very soon after arriving in England. It has significant educational value and can function as a supplementary text to enhance lessons across the curriculum at preprimary, secondary, and secondary+ levels.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Oct 2, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477231029

Gertrude R. Shotte

Dr. Gertrude Shotte is a lecturer in the School of Arts and Education at Middlesex University. She holds an MA and a PhD in education (Lifelong Education and International Development and Education Foundation and Policy Studies) from the Institute of Education, University of London. She has a teaching career that spans primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. Migration, identity, achievement, inclusion, exclusion, teacher education, home-school-community collaboration, and lifelong learning are her research interests. She has presented several of these research papers in national, regional, and international conferences, including the 2010 XIV World Congress of Comparative Education Societies (WCCES) International Conference in Istanbul, Turkey.

Book preview

AuthorHouse™

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2012 by Gertrude R. Shotte. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 09/27/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4772-3101-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-3103-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-3102-9 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Acknowledgement

Foreword

1 Introduction and Context

2 Volcano Verses

3 A Season of Change

4 In Name and Nature

5 ‘Minding the Gaps’

6 Vulnerabilities, Disappointments and Challenges

7 Life Goes On

8 Inspiration and Determination

9 Keeping Hope Alive

10 Beyond ‘Poetry for Appreciation’

References

Appendix

Endnotes

For Zamo, Zeju, Zsamito, Zoe Martina, Maria, all the colleagues, students and relocated Montserratian migrants on whichever ‘piece of rock’ that they reside in the wake of the Soufriere Hills eruption

Acknowledgement

I give praise and thanks to Jehovah for His goodness and loving kindness (Ezra 3:11; Psalms 107:8) and for providing endurance and comfort (Romans 15:5—NWT).

My commitment to publish this book was encouraged and sustained by the interest of family, friends and colleagues, especially Professor Paul Miller, who believed in my vision. Shared concern and the strong belief that life-stories should be told, were common denominators. Sincerest gratitude is due to all those who made the completion of this book possible, but it would be remiss of me not to make mention of those named below:

To Stephen Adolphus who constantly reminded me of the ‘work I had to do’, willingly read the drafts and offered practical suggestions and useful comments.

To poets Lennox Carty, Tom ‘Eze Bongo’ Hussey and Witfield Felix who injected bouts of confidence in me, and led by example.

To all the members of the Alliouagana Singers for their encouraging words, ‘choral’ inspiration and enduring support.

To all the students (primary, secondary and secondary plus) who provided the stimulation for the songs and many of the poems.

To the Woodley’s, the Mahmout’s, the Lahrishi’s, the Solomon’s, the Spence’s, the Romain’s, the Gafoor’s, the Enemuwe’s, the Essien’s, Olu Cole, Sevilla Tondo, Jenny Fredricks, Teresa Fredricks, Agatha Fairbairn, Cecelia Mitchell, Joni Innis, Michael Durham, Bernard and Alice Clarke, Brian and Mary Maskell, Sharon Gaynes, Frank Zakers, Eustace Herbert, Elroy Benjamin, Margaret Roth, Celestine Matthew, Claire Pillai and Helen Skerritt, who inspired the writing of ‘Good Friends’.

And finally, to The Gardener’s who opened their hearts and their home whenever I needed that extra drive and vitality to keep me ‘on top of things’. Special thanks to Natalie whose musical prowess and mini performances heightened and nourished my desire to write.

Foreword

Writing and reading about migration, whether forced or voluntary can provoke a torrent of emotions organised around issues such as power, motive, in/justice, racism, loss of social status and general insecurity. Yet, writing and reading about migration can also be an invaluable activity providing insights to be the writer and readers alike, of the motives, anxieties, challenges and opportunities brought on by and within the migratory act itself. Only very few individuals across the globe can truly appreciate, if not understand the impact of forced migration. Being separated from home in terms of space and place is a challenge, more for some than others (Miller, 2012)¹.

The Soufriere Hills volcanic eruptions devastated the physical infrastructure of Montserrat. Many lives were lost; houses destroyed; businesses engulfed and also the hope, pride and dignity of many Montserratians. The end result of the volcanic eruptions created a situation where many people were forced to leave Montserrat and to seek the help and refuge of the Mother land, England. But life in England was not going to be ‘easy’ for many in several respects.

Four key themes runs throughout Dr Shotte’s book:

(a) Home is a happy place and the grass is not always greener elsewhere; (b) Migration can rob persons of their dignity;

(c) Migration can improve people’s social, material and cultural positions and (d) The act of migration can change a person’s worldview of self, community and others.

Through this book of poems, interspersed with the author’s very personal and sombre reflections and characterisations of life and events in Montserrat before the volcanic eruption, and in England, after the volcanic eruptions, Dr Shotte provides a compelling narrative of life in two lands. In a Long, Long Way From Home, she writes:

Remember we survived Hugo

The same resilience we must show

To cold England I am not prepared to go

I do not like the cold weather

But I will go to Antigua

St. Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla or Jamaica

At various other junctures, Dr Shotte also speaks of a new host society-England-that must cope with the inflow of migrants. The climatic conditions are spotlighted and the argument around ‘longing for home’ is extended to show how moving to England has not necessarily been a smooth enterprise, nor has the move resulted in individuals finding the proverbial greener pastures, prompting several questions among Montserratians who debunk the greener grass theory. A powerful message in this powerful tale of sadness and hope is that despite the economic challenges and obvious risk factors associated with living in Montserrat after a volcanic eruption-Montserratians generally believed they