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ABOUT WEMag
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Woman’s Essence Magazine (For & About
Claire K.Guerre, Editor-In-Chief
Powerful Women) connects with women
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Libby Kane, Writer
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VondraTay, Writer
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APRIL 2019 | WOMAN’S ESSENCE 3
LE T TE R FR OM T H E E DITOR
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he only way to make sure it gets done is by believing in yourself but when you go through challenges, you may find it hard to do. Sometimes this bad word called “doubt” creeps in your mind and you have to destroy it by recognizing and accepting the challenge. When you believe in yourself there is nothing you cannot do. It is a great feeling to know whatever comes your way, you can take it on. Believing in yourself eliminates the fear, anxiety and worry that comes with doubt. As you are focusing on the task at hand, you know you got this! Take time to think back when you were struggling with a challenge and how you overcame it. Remember how you felt and what drove you to face the problem head on and win. Always keep that in mind, whenever you face a difficult challenge you can say to your-self “It’s handled” because I believe in myself like many times before. You have to understand life will never be perfect. There will always be an obstacle you will have to face. It could be personal or business. But know when you keep believing in
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As a woman, you have so much to accomplish and overcome. yourself it will always come out good at the end. Never walk away from a personal or business challenge. Do not allow “doubt” to take over. Believe in yourself and see it through. The problem is never resolved when you walk away from it. You resolve it by believing in yourself.
Claire Guerre
Editor-in-Chief
APRIL 2019 | WOMAN’S ESSENCE 5
WOMAN’S ESSENCE
WHAT’S INSIDE 8 Business
After unexpectedly losing her job, one woman built a business that earned nearly $500,000 this year
10 Health
7 nutrients you need for optimal health + & how to get more of them
12 Fashion & Beauty Is bleaching your skin the new fashion trend
20 Women of Strength Melba Moore her story about triumph & how knowing God helped her through
24 Relationship
14 Entertainment
Cheating .... Did I do something wrong?
Cuisine 26 The food draws influences from
CW’s “In the Dark” Premieres April 4th
French and West
30 Travel
My first girls trip
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APRIL 2019 | WOMAN’S ESSENCE 7
After unexpectedly losing her job, one woman built a business that earned nearly
$500,000 this year
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n 2013, Jenn Scalia was working for a casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, doing social media and marketing. “I came into work after New Year’s Eve and found out I was laid off,” she remembers. “That was the start of a downward spiral — I got laid off, and I got pissed off.” At the same time, Scalia was going through a divorce. Her husband moved out of state, leaving her a single mom to their now 5-year-old son. “It was pretty tough for me personally,” she says. “I took that and was like, ‘I’m going to create something different. I’m going to be the creator of my own life.’ I decided I wanted to do my own thing — I wasn’t sure what, but I was tired of getting laid off and letting someone else dictate if I would have money or have a job.” 8
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At first, she took on freelance jobs helping small businesses with social media and marketing. But soon, she realized she wasn’t getting the kind of traction she needed to grow her business. In all of 2013, she remembers, she only earned about $35,000. Scalia moved back in with her parents (” … they thought I was going to be there forever,” she told Farnoosh Torabi in an episode of the podcast So Money), setting a goal to move back out a year later. “I was clueless,” she says. “I didn’t know what to do to get my message out there, to get people on my site, or to actually get clivisit WOMANS-ESSENCE.com
ents.” She had been taking smaller-scale professional development courses, but mid-2014 decided to invest in B-School, an eight-week online course that teaches online marketing strategies. According to its website, in 2014, the program cost $1,999. says. When she hired her own coach, Scalia says, that’s when things really started to take off. Having undergone multiple courses and training to launch her own online business, she became a business consultant and visibility strategist. “The visibility part is what sets me apart from everyone else,” she says. “For 18 months, I was invisible.” Now, Scalia works with clients — specifically, women who are starting online businesses — for about four months at a time each.
ing emails and the hours she spends reviewing her clients’ business plans and websites. In 2016, she plans to raise her rates and focus on fewer clients.
“The biggest thing is to change your mind around what you think is possible,” After living with her parents for a year and three months, she moved out to her own home, where she pre-paid the rent a year in advance with the hope of buying it at the end of the year. Scalia says most clients who come to her have a deep fear of putting themselves out there.
“First, we work on mindset and confidence, then we dive into strategy,” she says. “Typically that includes visibility online, social media presence, doing guest posts, becoming experts, writing books … whatever feels good for them to get that message out there. Some people like to do videos or podcasts. My work is about helping them understand their gifts and how they can best utilize them to make an impact.” In her most popular product, one-on-one mentoring, she charges $10,000 for 12-15 coaching calls and unlimited email access. She also offers a Mastermind group for entrepreneurs who are more established, as well as courses, programs, and a subscription service for $30 a month where she offers tips to 200 members who can’t afford higher fees. In 2015, her business earned about $500,000 in sales, of which she brings home over 50% in profit.
she says. “If you told me 14 months ago I was going to have a half-million dollar business, I wouldn’t have believed you. It’s really about changing your belief around what you think you deserve and what you’re worth, and realizing how quickly your life and career can change if you believe in something.”
She estimates that she spends 15-20 hours a week on the phone with clients, without count-
By Libby Kane Photo credit: Caroline White
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APRIL 2019 | WOMAN’S ESSENCE 9
5 Nutrients You Need for Optimal Health + & How to Get More of Them
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s a nutritionist, I’ve noticed that many of my patients overlook the importance of minerals when considering a healthy diet. Of course, they understand that calcium helps with bone health, and they recognize the perils of excess sodium … but what about the others? From iodine to zinc, there are a number of essential minerals that are crucial for our overall health. They’re found in abundant amounts in whole foods, but are largely depleted from processed foods. Here is a rundown of some of the best natural food sources for seven of these minerals:
pulses. If you’re deficient, symptoms include muscle cramps and an irregular heartbeat. People with GI problems (like celiac and Crohn’s disease) are more at risk of being deficient in this crucial mineral. Best sources: Spinach, black beans, nuts, soy milk, yogurt, and seafood.
2. Potassium
Potassium is essential for maintaining a steady heartbeat and helping your muscles
1. Magnesium
Like calcium, magnesium is also needed to support bone health and is quite critical for normal muscle function and transmission of nerve im10
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function of your thyroid. Profound iodine deficiency is commonly associated with goiter, or an enlarged thyroid gland. Thyroid hormones are critical regulators of our metabolic rate — which is why a deficiency in iodine is commonly associated with weight gain, fatigue, sensitivity to cold, muscle pain and weakness, and reduced heart rate (among a slew of other symptoms). Best sources: Iodized table salt, seafood, and sea vegetables like kelp.
4. Iron
Iron is a critical component of hemoglobin, which is found in red blood cells. Hemoglobin carries oxygen from the lungs to tissues throughout the body. It is also a key component of myoglobin, a protein that holds and stores oxygen in muscles for later use. Iron deficiency is associated with anemia and symptoms like weakness, fatigue, and headaches. Best sources: Red meat, poultry, tofu, greens such as spinach and Swiss chard, and shellfish.
5. Zinc contract. It also assists chemical reactions and promotes nerve cell function. A drop in your potassium level can lead to heart palpitations, fatigue, or feeling faint. Best sources: Orange juice, bananas, potatoes, honeydew melon, and avocados.
3. Iodine
Iodine is a component of the thyroid hormone thyroxine and is crucial for normal
Zinc is required for the function of many enzymes, which are the workhorses of all cells. Some of these critical activities include digestion, insulin function, and nutrient metabolism. It also helps boost the body’s immune system and is required for normal development in children. Vegetarians tend to be more at risk of zinc deficiency since meat is high in bioavailable zinc. Find out the signs that may indicate you’re not getting enough zinc. Best sources: Oysters, beef, pork, and yogurt Source: mindbodygreen.com APRIL 2019 | WOMAN’S ESSENCE 11
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here are some popular people who are being accused of bleaching their skin to appease their fan and to be more acceptable to their targeted audience.
I was surprised to see pictures of dark or brown skin celebrities’ transition to light skin. Why are 12
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they bleaching their skin? Is this a Fashion Trend? I remember growing up as a pre-teen and teenager in the 80’s and a popular bleach skin “Venus De Milo” was sold in every pharmacy or supermarket. I am ashamed I did invest my allowance money on “Venus De Milo” bleach cream. I used it for 1 year and I saw visit WOMANS-ESSENCE.com
the West Indies Culture since they are so stuck on the color class system. I am not sure if it is a good or bad Fashion Trend. People who bleach their skin do it to look prettier and to feel confident about their appearance. The same way people have plastic surgery to look prettier and feel good about their look. In today’s world women and men get so caught up on what are the latest Fashion Trends and what will make them look good. When you read magazines, go to the movies, or watch television all you see are illusions of the perfect bodies and the perfect complexion. We buy into the craze of spending so much money on trying to be exactly what we see on television, movies, and magazines.
that I became lighter. My Haitian relatives told me how prettier I was now that I became light skinned. I took offense to their words and that same day I stopped using the bleach cream and I threw it in the garbage. I was lucky that I was able to get my beautiful dark skin back by sun bathing. My good friend in High School used it for many years and she became very light. I guess that was becoming popular in the West Indies Culture since they are so stuck on the color class system. I am not sure if it is a good or bad Fashion Trend. People who bleach their skin do it to look prettier and to feel confident about their appearance. The same way people have plastic surgery to look prettier and feel good about their look. In today’s world women and men get so caught up on what are the latest Fashion Trends and what will make them look good. When you read magazines, go to the movies, or popular in visit WOMANS-ESSENCE.com
The younger generations are watching television every day and half of them will probably be brain washed to bleach their skin. If they see one of their favorite celebrities look dark skinned one day and the next day look lighter, the younger generations will want to do it as well. Their role models are doing it so it must be a good thing to do. A few months ago I finally read an article on a celebrity who is being accused of bleaching her skin. I was surprised to see a picture of the celebrity because she is a natural beauty. She was dark skinned as a teenager and now as an adult she is very light. As I was reading the article, I was hoping she was wearing bad make-up that made her look lighter. I guess bleaching your skin is a Fashion Trend that has been around for a very long time.It will never end because there are some people who struggle to find and have the perfect image. It is their choice, their body, and their money. They have the right to do what will make them happy and feel good about themselves. APRIL 2019 | WOMAN’S ESSENCE 13
CW’s “In the Premieres Dark” April 4th
I have always been a performer at heart. Ever since I was a little girl I used to love to sing and dance along with any of the artist who came on television during the Grammy awards or the American music Awards.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LELUND DUROND THOMPSON
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When did you discover acting? I was born in Atlanta Georgia to an American mother and a Liberian father. My dad would play high life music and my mother would play soul music and that’s when I knew that entertainment would be a huge part of my life. Watchingmovies on television and going to the Blockbuster rental to choose a movie was always my biggest treat for the week! My mom always let me choose my favorite movies! I loved movies and glamour!
Sadly my parents divorced when I was young so my life back-and-forth between them was somewhat complicated.
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I have always been a performer at heart. Ever since I was a little girl I used to love to sing and dance along with any of the artist who came on television during the Grammy awards or the American music Awards. I knew that entertainment was a passion even as a kid. What steps did you take to become an actress? My parents let me take ballet classes as a kid but I eventually stopped because I complained that my feet would hurt sometimes. I wish they made me stay in class
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because I love dance so much and it would make me a much better dancer but singing and acting has always been my strong point so I focused on that. I attended Tri-Cities performing arts high school and studied acting also in a theater group called the Youth Ensemble of Atlanta, under the direction of Freddie Hendricks. What were some of the challenges you faced in the industry? The schedule of acting is very challenging. People only see the finished product the television show or the performance on stage. It’s kind of like seeing a finished house but no one sees the digging of the dirt, the laying of the foundation, the concrete mix, the bricks, the metal, and the wood, no one sees all of the inner workings and frame that it takes to make a house that’s sort of what acting is. Taking classes and training, auditioning for strangers traveling all over the city and other places to present yourself as a candidate for every single role. Teaching yourself to being very responsible with how you eat and take care of yourself maintaining your skin being organized and memorizing your lines making it to your auditions and performances on time. This week for example I have had five auditions already and it is only Wednesday, three of them were on location at a casting directors office and at the TV network and two of them I had to have myself put on video tape for my audition to be sent to LA and to Spain for producers to see my performance. Then later on Monday night I performed at a concert. These are a lot of steps to be taken yet I do it all the time... many people are taking the steps and into town Street and it is a lot of wear and tear on your body, mind, and spirit. Many of our biggest superstar celebrities did not make it to be 50 years old, I think a lot of it has to do with how hard they work to entertain the public and to present perfection. Life presents to you many opportunitiesat various times and often times at the same time and now with life being so complicated with all the distractions of social media it makes it even harder. Growing up in a Liberian household and culture, what were your parents reaction when you told them
you wanted to pursue an acting career? Surprisingly my parents were very supportive of my decision to be in the entertainment business. My father was very proud and happy to tell his friends that his daughter had done acting! Sadly my parents divorced when I was young so my life back-and-forth between them was somewhat complicated. Especially after the war started my father traveled backand-forth between Monrovia, New Jersey, and Atlanta to help to secure various family members his business is etc. I was 19 years old when he died but I have been in several plays and musicals and had just found my first movie role at that time. Was your family affected by the First Liberian Civil War from 1989-1997? The first war started after my parents divorced at one point my dad had to go back to Liberia to try to
help bring my family back with him. This was a very difficult time of course, I was a child, and I did not understand what Civil War truly was growing up in Atlanta I only knew the Civil War was something that happened 100 years ago in the United States before. But for it to be happening in modern times, in Liberia, in my father’s home country was shocking to me and to my spirit What did they do to survive? My older sister had to go to Ghana to survive and my dad eventually was able to bring her back to the US again as well. I was in the US during that time and I was young so I did not understand everything but now that I do I would prefer that she discuss her experiences and personal details, it is not for me to say. The one thing I do know is that war affects a lot of people in many different ways and all of my friends and family from Liberia have been affected by this war from their parents their siblings cousins etc. no one went untouched no one was unaffected even those of us living here in the United States who lost loved ones whose family connections are extremely strained and distant. How has that experience shaped you to be the woman you are today? Growing up in a household with an African-American parent and an African immigrant parent, I have a great deal of empathy for the immigrant experience for people who come here to make a way, people who come to America to start businesses to get education and I also have an extreme appreciation for good African food, culture, music, laughter and joy. I have never been afraid of African music there is a surge in and Afro beat music and there is a surge in African style and fashion but to me it was always the best! Before Wakanda. What movie and actress inspired you to follow your dreams in acting? I am a big fan of Angela Bassett as an actress I love her beauty class in the talent also love Halle Berry and I always root for her and wish for the best for
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her in her career I am excited about Genevieve Nnaji as well and I’m excited when I hear her name listed in the movie. Dakore Egbuson-Akande is also an inspiration she has so much going on for herself and yet she’s so very grounded and kind hearted the few times I run into her on the scene she is a wonderful actress and a lovely person. What was your first role that finally gave you recognition? I’ve been acting for a very long time since I was in high school. But I believe what really made people respect my work was when I played wife number one in eclipse on Broadway. I was starring alongside Lupita Nyong’o, Akosua Busia, Pascale Armand, and Zainab Jah. People got to see me perform. That is also when I received my Tony award nomination. What was going through your mind and heart when you learned of your nomination for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in Eclipsed? How did you prepare for the role of Helena? I was very pleased to receive that nomination because I have been doing a lot of Broadway since 2003 and I was happy to be of knowledge from my work in 2016. My friend and acting coach Lelund Thompson called me early that morning to congratulate me because he heard the nominations listed and I was still asleep it was very early that morning and I was warm and bubbly inside and very excited. The women in the show got nominations and we did a lot of events during that month leading up to the award show and we got to dress up and spend a lot of time together we were exhausted but we were full of joy and excitement. We were happy because an African story was being told on Broadway. And that Is very rare. It was the first play to have an entirely black cast producers and director and writer. Representing Liberian, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, Haiti, and Ghana, also South Africa, and African-Americans based in the United States! What are some of the projects you are working on today?
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This spring you can see me on a television series called The Passage for fox I played Jeanette Bellafonte the mother of Amy Bellafonte the little girl who is the center of the story. Also I will be heavily featured on a new show for The CW network called “In The Dark,” I play a cop, Jules Becker. Later this spring you will see me in the Secret Life of Bees off Broadway at the Atlantic theater this musical is based on the book by Sue Monk Kidd which was also made into a feature film a few years ago. What advise would you give to women and girls who are striving for a career in acting? I would advise any young girl to be very realistic about who she is and how hard she is willing to work and to be very realistic about the level of work and time she would like to put into anything she decides to do in life I do not advise everyone to go into acting or entertainment, only if you’re passionate about it because it is not for the faint of heart… You’ll be faced with a lot of criticism and judgment but you will also bring people a lot of joy through your entertainment. I hope that I have brought people a lot of joy and happiness and I hope that I continue to have a lot of joy and happiness in my own personal and professional life as well as health and wellness for all of my family and friends.
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G
rowing up in the 70’s and 80’s I listened to Melba Moore’s songs and watched a few of her music videos. I remember hearing about the Tony award she won for her role as Lutiebelle in the Broadway Show “Purlie.” She kept a low key for a while then resurfaced in the 80’s with R&B hits like “Love’s Comin’ At Ya,” “Keepin’ My lover Satisfied,” and “Love Me Right.” However, with all the success she accomplished she also had some challenges.
know her new brothers and sisters. She finally had siblings to keep her company. Melba was so grateful to have Clement as her father. It was Clement who taught Melba how to play the piano. She recalled when they had family time it would be all about music. It was not till the age of 10 years old Melba became aware of her mother’s success as a singer. Melba’s mother and stepfather discouraged her to get into the
Melba Moore was born on October 29, 1945 as Beatrice Melba Hill to Gertrude Smith (Bonnie Davis) and Teddy Hill. Her parents were musicians. Her mother Bonnie Davis was a singer and who had a No. 1 R & B hit “Don’t Stop Now” before Melba was born. Melba’s biological father was Teddy Hill who was a Big Band leader. Unfortunately, Melba never knew her biological father. She only met him 3 times in her life. She was raised by her mother in Harlem New York. Her mother later remarried to jazz pianist Clement Leroy Moorman when Melba was 9 years old. This would be the first time in Melba’s life she would have a sense of family. Clement already had children. Melba was eager to get to
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APRIL 2019 | WOMAN’S ESSENCE 21
music business. They pushed her to be a teacher. She applied to Newark Arts High School in Newark, New Jersey while her stepfather wanted her to attend the public high school he attended. But Melba’s heart wanted to pursue music. She was accepted and graduated from Newark Arts High School. She wanted to make her parents proud of her so she went to Montclair State University and majored in music. She graduated and became a music teacher. She taught music for only 2 years and left the field to pursue her music career. Her first role was in the musical Hair in 1967 with Diane Keaton. Melba later replaced Diane Keaton in the role of Shelia. Then in 1970 Melba landed the leading role of Lutiebelle in Purlie. She loved performing in Broadway. She won a Tony Award for her portrayal of Lutiebelle. When she heard her name, she did not believe it. She was shocked. She did not expect to win. After her success she went on to star in 2 big-screen film roles and released 2 successful albums. She also launched a television series variety show with her then partner Clifton Davis. When their relationship ended the show ended as well. At this time Melba became ill and had to move back home to New Jersey for her mother to take care of her. Melba’s stepfather and mother also divorced at this time.When she moved back to New Jersey her managers and accountants also ended their business relationship with Melba. This was a challenging time for Melba. Her fans did not know what was going on with her so they decided to listen to the rumors that she was on drugs and crack. The rumors were false. She was recovering from a terrible illness that could have been fatal. As soon as she healed she went back in the spot light. She did not allow
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the rumors to keep her down. She performed at the Apollo where she met Charles Huggins and later married him. They had a daughter. Melba balanced being a mother, actress, singer, and wife with grace. While married to Charles Huggins, they started Hush Productions and well-known artists and writers were signed to their production company such as Freddie Jackson and Meli’sa Morgan. Melba was married to Charles Huggins for 15 years. The 14th year was a struggle. Melba shared with me the hardest part of the last year of her marriage was to see how her daughter was having a tough time dealing with their bickering. While she was having challenges in her personal life, she made a choice to go back to the church to talk about her problems to God. She became a born-again Christian. She received counsel from the church and God. He guided her to have the courage to overcome the problems she was facing at that particular time in her life.Melba is back again in the spot light doing what she loves which is performing. She is working on her album titled “Forever Moore” and she is going on the road performing with other artist. Melba is also getting ready to go back to acting. She is starring in her own show “Still Standing.” She grew up in a broken home but later learned the true meaning of family at the age of 9. She encountered many more challenges in her career and personal life but never gave up. She returned back to the church and allowed God to show her how to service him. I asked Melba what advise can you give to women who are making their way in the music industry. She stated: “Get formal training. Have a relationship with the church. The church will nurture you. Don’t worry about getting paid. Learn about the relationships that comes out of it.”
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APRIL 2019 | WOMAN’S ESSENCE 23
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C hea i n g heating on someone is one of the worst (I repeat – WORST) things you can ever do to someone. To you, it might have been all a game, but to them, it might have meant every-
WOMAN’S ESSENCE | APRIL 2019
thing. Whether or not you’re doing it to fill a void or just for the thrill of it, when you cheat on someone, you’re doing more than just hurting them. You might be unaware of the consequences of your actions, but let me tell you,
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for someone who has been cheated on, it will always be some sort of reminder to them – it will always haunt them. It is a concoction of heartbreak, anger, regret, anxiety, and shame all rolled into one. When you cheat on someone, you’re telling them they’re not good enough for you. That you never loved them. You may beg to differ, but how can you put someone you truly love in such a position? To make them doubt their self-worth? To make them question everything they thought they knew about you? To make them believe that their trust was completely misplaced? “Did I do something wrong?” “What could I have done to prevent it?” “Why did this happen?” “Am I not good enough?” “Why did you do it?” – are questions you’ll ask yourself over and over again when you’ve been cheated on. You don’t cheat on someone you love. Period. When you cheat on someone, they’ll always be emotionally scarred. They’ll have their walls up because they don’t want to ever be hurt that way again. To feel like your world is crumbling, to believe that things like that happened, but just not to you. You see it in movies all the time, but we all know what happens in the movies and what happens in real life are two completely different ball games altogether. They won’t let just anyone in; and even when they do let someone in eventually, they’ll always be guarded. They’ll be paranoid, and you can’t blame them for it. Even if they’re in a new happy relationship, they’ll carry the hurt and the emotional baggage from the previous relationship into their new
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relationship – whether it be conscious or not – and it can’t be helped. They’ll always be suspicious, but don’t blame them for it; they’re just afraid that the same thing will happen to them again, and they can’t go through something as painful as that ever again. They’ll want to trust again, but it’ll be difficult for them. They would take forever to learn how to trust, and how to be okay. Even if they’ve come to the rational conclusion that their cheating ex is a horrible person, you’ll somehow still fear that every future partner has or is cheating on you. Congratulations, you’re now an emotional wreck and a mess inside, and you’re going to spend every waking moment trying not to imagine the worst because you believe you’re completely broken. When you cheat on someone, what you really mean to tell them is this: “I don’t love you. I don’t respect you, and I don’t care for/about you. I didn’t think about us, and how this would affect us. I was only thinking about myself.” Is just one person not enough for us anymore? Aren’t we supposed to just find one person whom we think is worth it, and always stick by them through the good, the bad and the ugly? When you love your partner, it means you respect them. And when you cheat on them, you’re betraying all of that. Isn’t it absolutely apparent that loyalty is fundamental in any relationship? We don’t need a Guide Book for Dummies for that, do we? So please, leave if you must, but don’t cheat on someone you love, because that is the worst kind of damage you can do to someone who loves you. Written by: VondraTay
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CUISINE
Haitian cuisine is varied: The food draws influences from French and West African traditions and Caribbean ingredients. These six dishes — from stews to fried meats — serve as a good introduction to the culinary offerings of the Haitian community in Miami.
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Pate
Pate are Haitian puff pastries with savory fillings. In Miami, pate is one of the few Haitian food names that is often Anglicized in English conversation, even among Haitians. Instead of pate, it’s frequently called a patty, usually with the qualifier of Haitian or Creole to distinguish them from Jamaican patties, which are better known to the greater population.
Fritay Fritay refers to fried foods. Certain fritay, like the seasoned grated malanga fritters called akra, can trace their lineage directly back to West Africa, where similar preparations exist with the same name. Perhaps the simplest fritay is patat, slices of deep fried white sweet potatoes typically served as a snack or side dish. Bannann peze — fried slices of green plantain that are
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Diri ak djon djon Diri ak djon djon is one of the most extravagant and unique dishes in Haitian cuisine. Often translated as “black rice” or “black mushroom rice,” diri means rice in Kreyòl, and djon djon is the Kreyòl word for fungus, referring to a variety of mushrooms found in northern Haiti. Similar mushrooms are found throughout the Caribbean.
Vegetable stews Haitian vegetable stews make use of European, native Caribbean, and West African vegetables, sometimes cooked together. The vegetables themselves characterize each dish; meats can vary and are sometimes omitted entirely. Beef is the most common protein in vegetable stews, though pork, goat, oxtail, crab, shrimp, and other meats are also used.
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Soup joumou On January 1, 1804, Haiti not only became the second nation in the Americas to gain its independence from European rule but also the first free Black republic. Haiti’s freedom came after a long, violent slave revolt — the first successful one since the initiation of the trans-Atlantic slave trade nearly two centuries earlier. Cabbage, pasta, carrots, plantains are included.
Lambi Haiti’s position in the Caribbean Sea means seafood has an important role in the Haitian diet. Haitians often prepare foods like red snapper and spiny lobster on the grill with a simple squeeze of lime and a side of bannann peze (twice-fried green plantains) and pikliz (spicy cabbage slaw). Caribbean queen conch, called lambi in Kreyòl, is a large mollusc unique to the region. By Carlos C. Olaechea Photos by Rolando Diaz
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APRIL 2019 | WOMAN’S ESSENCE 29
M
y good friend Linda Lawson initiated the idea for the three of us to take a vacation to Jamaica in 1996. At first I was nervous and scared. I never traveled out of the country except when I was 2 years to come to the United States from Haiti. At the age of 26 I
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decided to go along with Linda and her brother’s ex-girlfriend to the beautiful Jamaica. I remember being in the plane praying that the pilots and the man who controls the traffic had a good night rest and prepared to do a good job in flying us to Ocho Rios Jamaica. God answered my prayers. We arrived safely
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and the weather was perfect for me. Nice and very hot. The sun was shining and the workers at the airport were layback and happy. They offered to carry our luggage to our taxi service. Everyone in n the airport we’re friendly. We took in the reggae music they played to greet and welcome people to their island. I was unable to stand still. I danced to the beat of “Don’t Worry About a Thing” I also tried to sing along but I was so off tone. Linda teased me telling me I am “tone deaf.” We laughed and focused on getting in the taxi to our destination Jamaica Grand Resort which is renamed Moon Palace Jamaica Resort and Spa. It is an All -inclusive resort. When we arrived, all I can think about was how happy I
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came and grateful Linda invited me to come. She helped me break my fear of flying and to be open minded about a different culture. In the lobby, we were greeted with rum punch and of course more reggae music. We were all dancing our way to our beautiful room. Before unpacking, I jumped in the shower and changed into one of my cute vacation outfits. While Linda and her brother’s ex- girlfriend were getting ready, I unpacked my bags and shouted to them “I will be in the lobby waiting for you guys.” As I waited in the lobby I looked with excitement to see all the different restaurants to dine at for breakfast, lunch, dinner and midnight
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snacks. I was impressed. I love to eat when I travel. To be surrounded by food is perfect for a great vacation. Moon -Palace offers a variety of restaurants. When the girls came down to meet me, our first thing to do on our list was to have lunch. We ate at Buccaneers Reef. The waiter was very friendly. I ordered the jerk chicken burger with fries. I remember how delicious it was to my tummy. The drinks were on point. I think I was feeling very nice from the alcohol. The waiter became our tour guide after we had lunch. He clocked out and we got into his car. He drove us around Ocho Rios.
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We were amazed of the beauty the island offers. He took us to the market to shop and he introduced us to a few of the people he knew who owned the shops. I purchased a lot of Arts & Crafts with a few paintings detailing the true essence of Jamaica. As the evening was approaching, he drove us back to the resort to be on time for dinner. We rushed to our room to put what we purchased away. I took another shower and dressed up for the evening for dinner and clubbing. I was the first to get ready. We had dinner at LA Gondola. It was Italian. Yes. Italian in Jamaica. I had the Penne Pasta. The bread was so good with the pasta. I was too full to drink. We com-
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pleted our dinner and danced the night away at Loud Bar. Everyday was an adventure. The waiter took us to Dunn’s River Falls which is a famous waterfall close to Ocho Rios. It is a major tourist attraction. Linda and I climbed up the falls. We were scared but we did it. The water made the rocks very slippery to climb. We decided to take the steps to go back down. We did not want to risk getting hurt. We had a great time there. The time was flying quickly. We were leaving back to the United States in a few days. We made time for horseback riding with Courtney Taylor Tours. They made us feel safe.my horse was calm and the leader of the pack like me. We ended the
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evening with a few drinks and we went back to our room to pack to get ready for to say goodbye Ocho Rios. On the plane I felt so good and safe. I kept thinking about the wonderful places I visited and the people I met. Ocho Rios Moon Palace Jamaica Resort formerly Jamaica Grand Resort is a vacation location for everyone. We were appreciative of the hospitality they gave to us. The waiter was very good to us by taking us out of the resort to explore Ocho Rios. We made sure to give a great tip! My first girls trip was the best trip.
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