Friday, 11 April 2014

Final Post: A Reflection On The Fast-Paced Urban Lifestyle


The city of Port-of-Spain has grown and developed economically over the years and has with it, encouraged a high population density. The economic opportunities offered by the city along with the high population had fostered an environment where everything is fast-paced. Persons of all demographic groups, social classes and walks of life have become roped into this fast-paced life and become akin to the city’s lifestyle. In the blog ‘Increasing Urban 
Congestion’, Anamika Roopnarine specifically discusses in her 8th blog post, the life of street vendors in the city of Port-of-Spain. This directly relates to the 8th post of my blog as well, where I talk about the hectic life of street vendors. Anamika highlights that street vending has been and continues to be a part of the culture and society of Trinidad. It has increased in Port-of-Spain where vendors even sell illegally and cause their competitors such as the established businesses to lose sales. These street vendors are therefore forced to adopt fast-paced lifestyles in order to make a living while also constantly on the lookout for police officers who may force them to relocate or stop sales for illegal vending.

City life is not just fast-paced during the day, but it also translates into the night. There is so much hustle and bustle at night in the city of Port-of-Spain from street vendors selling DVDs and clothes to nightclubs bursting open with young people. The blog “our City that Never Sleeps,’ created by Stephon Ramoutar, lends credence to this reality. In his first post he states that urban areas are continuously lively, even at night, because of the services such as night jobs and entertainment that the city has to offer. The restaurants and clubs are especially booming at night and never cease to entertain.

The fast-paced urban lifestyle poses serious problems and has detrimental effects on persons in urban areas. One such impact is the change in diets of city dwellers, as exemplified in the blog, ‘Urbanization, Today's Dietitian: Trinidad’ by Aria Laidlow. She alludes to the fact that the eating habits and diets of persons in the city have changed from traditional home cooked meals. She explains that persons are increasingly adopting a fast food diet due to their hectic urban lifestyles. As discussed in the 7th post of my blog, this fast food diet is facilitated by the large number of fast food restaurants located in Port-of-Spain, providing accessibility to unhealthy foods. The unhealthy diets may pose severe health implications for city dwellers as well as individuals commuting to the city. This is just one of the many negative impacts of the fast-paced urban lifestyle.

The fast-paced life of the city thus seems unending, and exemplifies a cycle, moving from the hustle and bustle at the start of the day to the very end. The hectic city life for some is exhilarating and full of excitement. However, apart from these positive aspects, the lifestyle has its associated drawbacks for many, posing serious health impacts resulting from stress and unhealthy diets.



The video below shows a typical day in the City of Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.





References

Laidlow, Aria. 2014. How Has Our Urban Diet Changed Our Urban Form? Urbanization, Today's Dietitian: Trinidad. http://anurbandiet.blogspot.com/

Ramoutar, Stephon. 2014. First Post. Our City Never Sleeps.  http://ourcitiesneversleep.blogspot.com/


Roopnarine, Anamika. 2014. Increasing Urban Congestion. The Congested Urban Life. http://culthecongestedurbanlife.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, 8 April 2014

De-stressing in the city that never sleeps


Embracing the city night life in Carnival Village, Port-of-Spain


According to the article ‘Stressed in the City: How City Life May Change Your Brain,’ city life may cause increased levels of stress which was revealed after conducting multiple tests on the brains of city dwellers. The article stated that persons currently living in the city showed higher activity in the amygdala; the brain region that regulates emotions such as anxiety. City dwellers therefore have to balance the high-energy hum of city activity with more downtime. These results suggest the need to keep things in balance “so after a period of working hard, you balance that with a period of off-time as well.” This is illustrated in the picture above. Most of these persons would have worked hard on their jobs during the day and to relieve that overbearing level of stress, they come alive at night. 

The lifestyle in the city even in the night seems to be fast-paced with people wanting to relieve stress from a hard day at work to young adults experimenting with the fun side of city life. As depicted in the picture above, persons of all ages assemble by the hundreds at night in the Carnival Village in the heart of Port of Spain, at Carnival time. The stress of work was alleviated as some older folks were seen drinking at one of the stalls, while the younger teenagers paraded with gigantic helium balloons, accompanied by their parents taking in the live show, with corn soup in hand.

Indeed, Port-of-Spain is the city that never sleeps! There seems to be no age barrier when it comes to night life as every age is catered for. From night clubs to theatres, no person is excluded. The fatigue of persons during the day is counteracted by the pull of the nightlife, reviving city dwellers yet again.





References


Stressed in the City: How Urban Life May Change Your Brain. (2011). Retrieved March 30, 2014, from http://healthland.time.com/2011/06/22/stressed-in-the-city-how-urban-life-may-change-your-brain/#ixzz2u5ktsjRi.

Monday, 7 April 2014

The exhaustion of the urban hustle

A long and tiring day in the City

Winding down to yet another day in the city, exhausted business professionals, shoppers, and children alike, relax while patiently awaiting their preferred mode of transport to take them home. Life in the city understandably leaves persons tired and in need of some form of relaxation.

After disembarking the buses and water taxi, these persons who entered the city along with city dwellers, have come to accept the rigors of a typical day in the city. The school children become accustomed to the rush in the morning to reach the bus stop in order to get a ride to school. Their attention span is constrained, thereby severely limiting their output. The business professionals overtime become somewhat resigned to the ‘eight to five’ lifestyle of having to awake before dawn to be punctual at work. For them, spending at times up to two hours in traffic has become the norm. A long dreary day in most cases at their places of employment follows, then having to trudge their way to their cars or await transport to go home. In comparison, city life for the shopper differs from that of the average person as it is filled with excitement and thrill. Nevertheless, the end of their day is as any other; mired in exhaustion and fatigue.

One of the most daunting tasks of urban life is subjecting oneself to spending hours in traffic to reach the city. Hall and Barrett (2012) lend support to this by stating that city life is affected by the increasing dominance of the car. Additionally, urban researchers, Harriet, Poku and Emmanuel (2013), also put forward the view that economic activity and quality of life is severely hindered by an ineffective urban transport system in terms of scarce transport facilities such as, road space, effective management and sufficient parking space.  Weisbod et al, (2003) state that traffic congestion impairs the productivity of b0th the business person and shopper, through reduced access to job sites and stores, respectively. This monotonous activity also significantly impresses upon persons in the city, a dreary feeling lasting throughout the day, which makes working more difficult, and leaves them feeling more drawn out towards the end of the day.
Each person in the city, be it the business person, the shopper, the salesperson or even the school child; each has their own experience, but for the majority, each day in the city culminates with a sense of relief, only to be subjected to the repetitive motions continuing from the previous day.





References

Harriet, Takyi, Poku, Kofi, & Anin, Emmanuel. (2013). An Assessment of Traffic Congestion and Its Effect on Productivity in Urban Ghana [Electronic Version]. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 4, 225-234.

Weisbrod, G. Vary, D. and Treyz, G (2003). Measuring the Economic Costs of Urban Traffic Congestion to Business. Journal of the Transportation Research Board. Retrieved March 29, 2014, from Transportation Research Record, #1839.

Hall, Tim. and Heather Barrett. 2012. Urban Geography 4th edition. London and New York: Routledge.

Fast pace, fast food


The value placed on fast food in Port-of-Spain

Life on the go has fostered an environment, particularly in cities, where nutritious diets and proper eating habits are neglected in favour of the less nutritious foods. This unhealthy lifestyle is facilitated by globalization whereby multinational corporations such as KFC, Wendy’s, Burger King, Subway,and others, were invited to set base in countries around the world. One such country, is the developing country of Trinidad which currently houses a large number of fast food restaurants especially in Port-of-Spain.


 While hustling to work on mornings with minimal time, the opportunity cost of cooking a nutritious meal before leaving home, is having to purchase unhealthy food at a fast food restaurant to satisfy ones energy requirements and palate. In the pictures above, it is evident that these unhealthy eating choices driven by busy lifestyles, is impacting all demographic groups from young people to working class adults. A recent article in the Trinidad Express Newspaper highlights the health implications of a fast food diet stating that “our teeth are digging our graves.” Between 13-15% of the population of Trinidad currently suffer from diabetes which is linked to an unhealthy lifestyle. According to the article, we are increasingly becoming more Americanized in our eating habits and cooking less meals at home. This is due to the hectic lifestyles of persons particularly in cities, with less time devoted to cooking a nutritious home-made meal. Not only do hectic lifestyles cause health problems, but also the associated stress levels resulting from a hectic lifestyle. The video below delves into  the health implications of a busy urban lifestyle. Our diets are becoming increasingly representative of our busy lifestyles.


         How Stress Caused By An Urban Lifestyle May Affect Ones Health




McDonald's fast food restaurant

The picture above shows one of the mutinationals dominating the fast food market with its affordable prices and accessible locations. This establishment in the picture is situated along the Arapeter Avenure where multible restaurants with healtheir food choices line the narrow two-way street on either side. It is so conventiently located to defer the competition by enticing customers. A recent article suggests that fast food restaurants proliferate in cities worldwide. To curb the deleterious effects, an aticle in a US theguardian Newspaper states that cities need better planning for health. Land use planners should take into consideration the development of parks and gyms to encourage physical activity and healthy lifestyles. Additionally, new establishments offering healthy food choices would certainly go a long way in helping customers with busy lives to adopt a healthy lfestyle and to rethink their food preferences. The city of Port-of-Spain contains little green space for recreation or physical activity, thus enhancing the negative effects of fast food restaurants located at almost every corner.



References

Castillo, Kimberly. (2014, February 2). Breaking the cycle...sedentary lifestyle, poor eating habits. Trinidad Express. Retrieved March 28, 2014, from http://www.trinidadexpress.com/featured-news/Breaking-the-cycle-243265941.html.

Boseley, Sarah. (2014, February 26). Sick cities: how to beat pandemics that spread like we live in one big metropolis. Theguardian. Retrieved March 29, 2014, from http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/feb/26/sick-cities-pandemics-spread-metropolis.

The double sided coin of the urban shopper and salesperson



The urban lifestyle of the 'shopaholic'
A shopper withdrawing money from an ATM

The hectic life of the city envelops everyone including the shopper. Life for a shopper in the city is filled with excitement, hustle and satisfaction after having met ones wants and needs. For bargain hunters coming to the city to shop, the fast service represents the catalyst for shopping activities. The life of even the shopper in the city is thus, facilitated though globalization. Globalization has given rise to banks being established along key motorways so that busy individuals can have quick access to banking facilities in the city. With adequate money, urban life for the shopper is quite the opposite to that of the average person with errands to run. The carefree shopper may actually enjoy the fast-paced life, having to run to the fast service to withdraw money, then scurrying from one shop to the next hoping to capitalize on the apparent bargains. In any city, shopping is a definite activity taking place and is woven into the fabric of the city.

For a more informative depiction of shopping, feel free to view the video below of shopping in the city of Hong Kong.




The urban lifestyle of the street vendor
Street vendor in Port-of-Spain

On the other side of the coin, entrepreneurs particularly street vendors in the city as seen in the picture above,  also experience fast-paced lives but from a different perspective. Their lives in the city revolve around anticipating sales and attending to the needs of every customer. Similar to the business person, time is also money for them, and at times their receipts certainly do not reflect their effort. The hazards faced are many since the majority of street vendors are illegally vending. As such, they are forced to be always on the look out for police officers patrolling the city streets. Those vending in front of established business places, oftentimes incur the wrath of their competitors. According to newspaper articles, Illegal vendors in Port-of-Spain especially on Frederick, Queen and Henry Street, are constantly threatened with forced removal from officials (Clyne, 2014). This exacerbates the rush of urban street vending. 



References:

Clyne, Kalifa. (2014, April 2). Crackdown on illegal vending. Trinidad Guardian. Retrieved April 1, 2014, from http://www.guardian.co.tt

Friday, 28 March 2014

Technology puts the 'fast' in fast-paced 




Conducting business activity via a cellular phone in Town Centre Mall 

At midday the food court is a crowded place but in the midst of all the people buying food, this businessman has to conduct business activity on his phone, quite oblivious to his surroundings. He even ignores his lunch companion.  According to an article in the international journal of weekly science "Cities are social accelerators," says mathematician Luis Bettencourt. "Everything's speeding up." Cities like Port-of-Spain are becoming increasingly globalized with the rapid technological advancements in communication technologies. This phenomenon is now beginning to put the fast in fast-paced. Not only are people’s daily movements on fast forward but it is now enhanced by technology. Urban theorists Amin and Graham (1997) term this the Multiplex City which comprises “a set of spaces where diverse relational webs coalesce, interconnect and fragment”. They further state that this is facilitated by globalization through the inventiveness of persons worldwide. Technology has become so interwoven into our daily lives in the city that it oftentimes adds to this fast-paced lifestyle.

Urban theorist, Lewis Mumford lends credence to this point by stating that, “the clock is not merely a means of keeping track of the hours, but of synchronizing the actions of men.” For the gentleman in the picture above, time is highly valued and seen as an opportunity to interact with business associates since to him, “time is money.” The 21st century is characterized by a speeding up of communication and rapid circulation of data, knowledge and ideas which has served to decrease time delays in communication (Hall and Barrett, 2012). Technology has therefore enhanced the fast-paced lifestyle of persons in the city by offering a means of increasing the level of productivity achieved in a given space of time. Time coupled with technology such as cell phones, laptop computers and most telecommunication devices have enhanced the pace at which city-dwellers previously conducted daily activities and have thus given the fast-paced life a new face.



References


Amin, Ash and Graham, Stephen. (1997). The Ordinary City. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 22, 411-429.

Big cities need a fast-paced life to grow. (2007). Retrieved February 20, 2014, from http://www.nature.com/news/2007/070416/full/news070416-2.html.

Mumford, Lewis. (2010). Technics and Civilization. University of Chicago Press.

Hall, Tim. and Heather Barrett. 2012. Urban Geography 4th edition. London and New York: Routledge.

Monday, 24 March 2014


Placecheck of the Central Business District (CBD) and the suburban development of Belmont


In this post I take a moment to delve into the history of Trinidad and zero in on one particular area in the City of Port-of-Spain known as Belmont, from its conception to present day development.

The city of Port-of-Spain, the capital of Trinidad, reflects the epitome of cultural diversity in Trinidad. There are many forces operating in Port-of-Spain that seek to foster a place of functionality and life!  People from all walks of life and all demographic groups assemble in POS particularly, on the Promanade.  The picture below embodies the utilization of space in the CBD, from degradation to creativity. Space in the City is functional as it encompasses the varied activities in operation by different groups in society. Vagrancy,’ liming’, musical art, recreation and leisure are all depicted in the collage below. Walking around and taking these pictures, I gradually found myself developing a sense of pride in my country. The different activities going on simultaneously in one place, made me think about the uniqueness of the people in Trinidad and amidst all the hustle and bustle, I felt a sense of belonging. Where else would one find a woman plaiting another woman’s hair in the center of the City oblivious to passers-by!


Collage 1: Use of Space In the Promenade, Port-of-Spain.



The downside to being in the CBD of Port-of-Spain however, was the continual fear of being attacked or shouted at by one of the many vagrants parading the streets. Associated with this, was the fear of walking past a street corner next to seeming drug lords, as seen in the collage above. The CBD also stinks of pollution at the intersection of almost every street. However, these issues could be improved with careful planning and consideration. More bins could be established along with an increasing number of police officers managing every block to ensure safety.

Towards the periphery of the City lies the community of Belmont, a suburban area whose development and present day structure and extent were influenced by the history of Trinidad.

Trinidad in the Pre-emancipation era went through a series of events beginning with the arrival of the Amerindians to the island. These native people developed their culture and way of live which are evident through the architectural remains. Shortly after, driven by the quest for power, the Europeans came upon the island of Trinidad and meeting with the Amerindians, eventually led to their decimation with small groups surviving and establishing communities. The global North then became interested in the resources such as spice and sugar offered by the island and in their greed, they developed treaties for the ownership of the island. This hunger for power then continued when slavery was introduced whereby people of African descent were shipped from West Africa into Trinidad to work on the sugar plantations owned and run by European overlords. Fast forward to 1838 to the abolition of slavery, Indentureship commenced whereby Indians, Chinese, and Portuguese, migrated to Trinidad to work as contract workers on the sugar plantations. This later led to the development of a multi-cultural society, a melting pot of cultures from all over the world.

The village of Belmont in the outskirts of Port-of-Spain is the first emancipation village in Trinidad. Belmont is prized for its historical, cultural and architectural heritage. With a past rooted in forced labour on plantations, it is home to people of varied races and ethnic groups. It is however, one of the more underdeveloped areas in Port-of-Spain. Following Indentureship, people began to build houses and communities with no sense of planned development. This created a host of problems in Belmont specifically crime and flooding. Belmont is generally a low income area and with both parents working two and three jobs, the children are left at home after school. This has fostered the development of criminal activity due to these idle children with time on their hands. Gangs have developed at lonely street corners further degrading the reputation of Belmont. Secondly, flooding is a major problem due to the lack of proper drainage with culverts and also because of the lack of planned development.
Belmont has however, experienced some degree of development from its colonial buildings and famous "Wash Out Bride" to a place of cultural significance along with the development of the Saint Jude's Home for Girls, displayed in the collage below.

Collage 2: The suburb of Belmont from its historic background to present state

Belmont is home to the rich creative cultural art form of Trinidad with extremely important places such as the Ken Morris Mas Camp; the traditional mas band of Trinidad, which set the foundation for our Carnival culture (see collage above). The village is also laden with colonial style houses of architectural significance around every corner which were built following the conception of Belmont. Additionally, the Trinidad Theatre Workshop which resides in Belmont, was established in 1959, and set the foundation for the theatre arts in Trinidad, with live performances, captivating audiences from all strata of society.
However, the village is in a stage of development and could be enhanced and revitalized with the establishment of parks and community centers, to boost further growth in the area. Also, some of the depressed and dilapidated buildings could be demolished or renovated in order to preserve their historical value.



Urban writer and activist, Jane Jacobs, wrote about different places in the city being centered around the community. She held an optimistic view of the city and saw it as a place of celebration. Jacobs proposed four main principles of good neighbourhoods which can be applied to both the CBD of Port-of-Spain as well as, Belmont. Firstly, the principle of mixed use is related to the CBD in that space is seen as a functional entity, with the operation of various activities simultaneously. This is depicted In collage 1 above whereby space is utilized by people of all demographic groups and economic classes to conduct business activity and recreation. Place is also used for politics, industry, architectural, cultural and historical uses in the CBD. The first principle of functionality does not apply to Belmont to a large extent as the space is mainly utilized for cultural activities such as the Mas Camp and the Trinidad Theatre Workshop. The second principle of mixed buildings with different buildings of different ages and conditions, applies specifically to Belmont where colonial style houses line most of the narrow streets, opposite recently constructed buildings, across the street. this is also evident in the CBD with the 'magnificent seven'.  The third principle she proposes, street with short blocks and numerous corners, is specific to Belmont. The lack of proper land use planning following independence, allowed for the construction of relatively short blocks where people in the community can meet and intermingle. This has served to enhance the strong ties developed among community members.  The fourth principle, a dense population is more related to the CBD of Port-of-Spain due the wide functionality of this space. The different activities in operation within the CBD have fostered the concentration of a dense population involved in these activities. as such, based on her four proposed principles of a good neighborhood, the CBD is ranked higher than Belmont as it is a place of celebration, functionality and dense populations.
In my opinion, a successful neighborhood encompasses, provisional services and functionality in addition to historic monuments, along with the preservation of culture through the art form of a country in terms of music, food, dance and heritage. Additionally, a successful neighborhood should have open spaces in the form of parks or recreational areas where people can interact and enjoy other activities.

For further information on Jane Jacobs, feel free to view the video below.

Jane Jacobs: Neighborhoods in Action






Sunday, 16 March 2014

Patience Is Tested In The City!


Business professionals impatiently awaiting the arrival of their business associates


While life in the urban continues apace, time seems to stand still for these persons who wait at the Water Taxi Terminal for their business associates to arrive. The visibly agitated woman on the left stands erect with her arms folded and phone in hand ready to call a business associate  who, by the disposition of the woman, appears to be late for an important meeting or possibly an interview. Likewise, the man on the right clutches his personal documents as he anxiously awaits the arrival of his business partner. He impatiently scratches his forehead as for him time is of the essence. For these two persons the opportunity cost of having to wait for someone, is the lost business ventures or productivity which cannot be recovered. Undoubtedly, patience is tested in the city!


In their book, “One Way Urban Theory,” urban theorists Noreen Mallory and Kurt Boone, state that “One thing is for sure time moves on and waits for no one” (Mallory and Boone, 2007). Our daily lives in the city consist of joggling our time and trying to scavenge enough time to accomplish the goals we set out to achieve for each day. As plainly stated by Albert Einstein, ‘time is of the essence’, even in the seemingly relaxed Caribbean island of Trinidad. Once gone, we can never get it back and the lost time means lost productivity and hence, lost returns. Urban theorist Lewis Mumford, states that, “the bells of the clock tower almost defined urban existence,” emphasizing the enormous power time has over human beings especially in the city (Mumford, 2010). It determines our actions and experiences as our lives begin to revolve around time. 



REFERENCES

Mallory, Noreen and Boone, Kurt. (2007). One Way Urban Theory. Kurt Boone Books.
Mumford, Lewis. (2010). Technics and Civilization. University of Chicago Press.

Wednesday, 5 March 2014

The Never-ending Life Of The Single Mother In The City


   Mother and son struggling to keep up
  




This picture portrays the life of a single mother in the city. It tells the story of a woman caught in a balancing act. On the one hand, she has to ensure that she completes her household chores to get to work on time while on the other hand, simultaneously attending to her motherly duties of dropping her son to school. After descending the staircase from her apartment, she swiftly makes her way across the adjacent field with her son by her side, to catch the 8am bus. City life for the single mother is more daunting and laborious than it is for the average person. The sacrifices seem endless. But to her, her goal is greater than her sacrifice. The sole purpose of ensuring her son a bright and secure future means working twice as hard as there is no male figure by her side to lend support. In addition, according to recent articles in the United States Express Newspaper, women in society today, particularly those with children are seen as a liability to their employers and are usually worth less than their male counterparts. Reaching to work on time is therefore necessary and failure to do so could well result in loss of employment. This is especially so in Trinidad, a country where labor cost is inexpensive and the rate of unemployment high. Such is the reality for most working women in the city. However, this inescapable reality makes the challenge more profound for the single mother in the city, who is forced to joggle life’s responsibilities, in many cases, on her own.

The phenomenon of female employees in the City becomes a serious case in point. Most women are underpaid and usually susceptible to abuse in the workplace. These women however, are forced to keep quiet in an effort to preserve their jobs and sole source of income. Their lifestyles become not only hectic, but stressful. Recent studies also reveal that this level of stress may be transferred to the child of those parents and increase the child’s susceptibility to ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). This is supported by the previous post where children are open to stressful hectic lifestyles and also stress conferred on them from parents, which may result in life-threatening, irreversible disorders.

For further reading feel free to peruse the following newspaper article links:



REFERENCES

Matthews, Jane. (2014, January 20). Working women who have children are 'worth less' to their employers than men, says Farage. Express Newspaper. Retrieved March 1, 2014, from http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/


Dixon, Bobie-lee. (2009, September 10). Single mothers doing double time. Trinidad Guardian. Retrieved March 1, 2014, from http://www.guardian.co.tt

Monday, 24 February 2014

The Rush Faced By The School Child In The City



The  rush  of  the  school  child

The fast-paced life of the urban does not solely seek out the adults and working class people in society; it engulfs even the children. With its wide selection of renowned prestige school, parents and children are beckoned into facing the rush every morning to attend a school in the city.  These school children as seen in the pictures above become roped into the web of the seeming chaos which pervades the city. They are forced to embrace the fast-paced lifestyle along with adults. The boy on the left, darts to the bus stop with minutes to spare before the school bell rings. His bag and lunch kit appearing to be the equivalent of his size, make the trek even harder. Similarly, the school children on the right, with little time to spare, purchase the quickest most affordable breakfast they could locate. Their lifestyles exemplify the tale of many a school child in the city. A meal on the go seems to be the new trend as life becomes too hectic to enjoy a healthy breakfast in the comfort of one’s home. This poses severe implications to one’s health and physiological development.

Abraham Maslow (1943) proposed the Hierarchy of Needs theory, whereby every human being has a hierarchy of 5 levels of needs which must be met in order to reach self-actualization. These include, physiological, safety, social, esteem and self-actualization, all aligned in a hierarchical structure in ascending order from the most basic to the highest growth need. He argues that in order to advance to higher level needs, one must first satisfy lower level needs such as, the need for food which is physiological in nature. He even goes on to discuss the retarding effect that life experiences may have on one’s ability to elevate to a higher level if lower level needs are not met.  This directly relates to the school children in the pictures above. Their busy lives may result in failure to consume a healthy and satisfactory meal before arriving at school. As suggested by Maslow’s theory, this lifestyle threatens their development and impairs their ability to reach the higher level needs , mandatory to excel in school.  

The link below provides a thorough explanation of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory



References


McLeod, S. A. (2007). Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Retrieved February 23, 2014, from http://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html

Tuesday, 18 February 2014

Time Waits For No Man



Business woman purchasing a newspaper before going to work



Upon disembarking the water taxi, this business woman hurriedly purchases newspapers from the adjacent newspaper stand before heading to work. While searching for money in one of her many bags, she glances the headlines with limited time to leisurely read the newspapers.  This sight baffled me, revealing that people so consumed with their daily routine in the city, are forced to squeeze in time in order to keep pace with current events in the country and by extension the world. Their lives in the city become so overwhelmingly hectic that they don’t have the time to even peruse current news-worthy events in their country. Such is the life of many a working person in the City.


Businessman  hurrying  to  work  with  no  time  to  spare  
The picture on the left is synonymous with the picture above. This businessman runs with envelope in hand to catch a ride to work. Leisurely walking is not affordable with his time schedule of having to arrive to work before a specified time.  With no time to spare, he hurriedly hops a ride with a friend, bearing in mind his report for the Boss due at 11:00a.m. sharp! Most professionals in the city are subjected to this fast-paced, demanding, monotonous nightmare! “More and more it feels like our lives have turned into a grueling race toward a finish line we never reach. No matter how fast we go, no matter how many comforts we forgo in order to quicken our pace, there never seems to be enough time.” Time is evidently a factor of major concern in the City.





References


Life In The Fast Lane Fails To Fulfil Us. It’s time to go with the slow. (2009). Retrieved February 21, 2014, from http://www.jaywalljasper.com/articles/life-in-the-fast-lane.html.

Saturday, 8 February 2014

Life In The Fast Lane Begins    

The video below depicts the fast-paced life in the city of Singapore





The city of Port-of-Spain, the capital of Trinidad, is the hub of commerce and trade, similar to Singapore in the video above. With increasing globalization, the city has attracted international companies to set base. It's increasing investment in multinational companies such as BP, Repsol and the Hyatt Hotel, in addition to fast food chains including KFC and Subway, has created an environment attractive to residents from all corners of the country. This agglomeration of people has fostered a lifestyle quite different from the peripheral regions: a lifestyle on fast- forward, driven by business, commerce and a quest for power (Abbott, 2012). This has induced implications for stress, bad eating habits and an overall degradation in health.

The Water Taxi in Port-of-Spain


As passengers make their way off the Water Taxi, life in the urban begins. They are greeted with a torrential downpour and are forced to seek shelter among the host of people at the nearby bus stop and water taxi terminal. This sets the pace for the hectic day ahead. The urban lifestyle for commuters as well as, people residing in the city, is filled with the hustle and bustle of people from all demographic groups. The urban life is fast-paced for the single mother, the businessman, the elderly woman, and even the school children. It excludes no one. As an individual steps foot in the city, their experience may differ from that of another and as stated by Hall and Barrett (2012, 13), "this personal experience forms an important foundation from which to research and theorize about cities." As such, the fast-paced lifestyle differs with each individual and may raise particular problems of city life in relation to human lifestyles.



References




Abbott, Alison. (2012). Stress and the city: Urban decay [Electronic Version]. International weekly journal of science, 490, 162-164.

Hall, Tim. and Heather Barrett. (2012).  Urban Geography 4th edition. London and New York: Routledge.


How the city hurts your brain…And what you can do about it. (2009). Retrieved January 20, 2014, from http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2009/01/04/how_the_city_hurts_your_brain/