A Charmer called Charimr – Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

Features

20 minutes ago

AS PIRES PK

My name is Charimr Spencer and I volunteer with the Salvation Army for Christmas.

I am often asked about the spelling of my name. My parents intentionally left out the “a” in Charimar. So I am Charimr. People say it is unique especially for spelling etc. I don’t mind.

I am from Arima. I lived in La Horquetta, Malabar, various parts. I grew up with good people. I stay in Cumuto, but at this time I stay in San Juan.

I came from a small family. My immediate family. I am single. IM 19 years old. I’m not a club guy. So I don’t feel the downside of looking younger. I am currently studying at the University of Trinidad and Tobago.

Both my parents are Jamaican. I was born in Jamaica but raised in Trinidad and am more Trinidadian than Jamaican. I have never been back to Jamaica. I tried to listen to dancehall and it was good, but it’s not my kind of music. I listen to gospel, calypso, soca. I don’t just listen to church music. I listen to a mix of alternative, pop, indie music a good amount. Different genres. But not the dance hall.

I went to Arima Boys Government and El Dorado East Secondary. And then I finished high school in St Lucia. My whole family moved to Saint Lucia for four years because of my father’s employment.

I say I’m shy, but I’m not sure I am. Whenever I’m asked to do something in public, I initially feel a little apprehensive. But I’ve been doing things publicly since I was seven. I play the snare, the drums, and you do it in front of people. In high school in St Lucia I played piano in the choir and we performed in front of people. I feel a bit anxious before anything I have to do, play a football match, anything, and I find it embarrassing. But I really think it’s anxiety.

I played cricket for my primary school. I started playing U-15, I think, zonal cricket, eastern zone. I started football in St Lucia but Covid came and I had to stop. But it’s something I want to take seriously. I played for a club B1 FC in St Lucia. I think the possibilities would be easier here. I play for the UTT men’s team. I want to play professionally.

I don’t like school but it has to be done so I will do it as long as it takes. At UTT, I am studying criminology and public safety.

I was raised in a Christian faith and I believe in a powerful God capable of intervening in our lives. I believe that the suffering in the world is the work of the enemy [who] he gives temporary pleasure to some people to make them become his slaves.

I believe that God is the almighty creator and caretaker of the universe who will make everything right in the end. If BC Pires asks, “So why doesn’t he just defeat the enemy?” – Actually, I don’t know the answer. In fact, it would make our lives simple.

I think God wants us to experience life with all the suffering. We learn lessons every day. No one likes pain and suffering, but it builds character. So we have to go through it. Because we wouldn’t be who we are without a little pain. If you go to the gym, you won’t get muscle without feeling pain in your arms.

I have many gay and bisexual friends. I am not against. I don’t hate my friends, they are good people. It’s just their lifestyle that is different from his [some allegedly Christian] teaches doctrine. So I personally am not worried.

I want to become a lawyer. It’s more about the family, they wanted me to go into that field. I wanted to major in kinesiology because I love sports/all things body. But the law seems better to enter. [Maybe] next i will jump into kinesiology. It must be done. This is my first year.

I would probably like to pursue my masters in law and then go into the field. Because I’m not sure if I can jump right into being a lawyer from doing criminology.

I don’t necessarily read, but right now I’m trying to read Rich Dad Poor Dad. So it’s a habit I’m trying to build. I read Hardy Boys and many different fiction books as a child. To Kill a Mockingbird was good.

In Saint Lucia, my family made some friends and they happened to be part of the Salvation Army. So when this time of year came around, I signed up for the volunteer thing. And now that I’m back in Trinidad I want to say why not? I worked for two weeks. My last day is probably Christmas Eve.

The thing is, I ask people for funds for the Salvation Army. I ring the bell and ask. Sometimes I’m loud and sometimes I just use the ringtone. There are a good number of people who give, but also a good amount of people who don’t. So it’s hard to say how many people give. I would say that fewer people give than don’t. You will receive 20 people who pass before a donation. Some give really, really well and others give what they can. I have seen people who say they will come back and they keep their word and come back and deliver.

All I actually do is stand and ring the bell and ask for donations. And I get yes or no. Or “Let me see what I have in the car.” More people leave than give.

I don’t know exactly how many cents on the dollar actually go to the job. But I believe that most of it will go. But I’m not sure. [Editor’s note: 80 per cent.]

No, BC Pires, I don’t tell strangers “Jesus wants your money”. I would say more, “Hello, good day, would you like to make a donation to the Salvation Army?”

The best part about it is meeting people. Sometimes you meet some people and just have a good time talking to people. No, I don’t regret meeting you, BC Pires. The bad part is the hours. I’m here from 9am to 6pm. Every day. I get the lunch money.

Crime is bad. I don’t see many crimes happening in front of me. But I heard about it on the news.

I have never voted before and I don’t think I will. The whole red/yellow thing is not very interesting to me.

Trini is the life of the party. Wherever a Trinidadian goes there is life, it is fun. Anywhere in the world, once people hear you’re from Trinidad, someone wants to be your friend. “Let me hear yuh accent!”

Trinidad and Tobago is home. More than Jamaica and St. Lucia, this is where I grew up. I made most of my friends here. I have a family here that is not even related to me, but I call them family because I am very close to them.

Read the full version of this feature Friday evening at www.BCPires.com