BRILLIANT Caribbean Man Knows Provinces BETTER than most Canadians!

If you ever take a Caribbean cruise, you may find yourself stopping at the breathtakingly beautiful island of Saint Martin (Sint Maarten), which is about 300 km (190 miles) east of Puerto Rico. This spectacular island has two distinct sides to it - two distinct populations. It is split roughly 60:40 between the French side and the Dutch side. The population of the whole island is around 80,000 and the two parts are roughly equal in population.

My daughter and I got caught in a hard rain one afternoon, when a handsome stranger invited us to stay dry inside his organic food restaurant. His name was Tafari Johnson Hodge and he was full of fun. He guided us to many great attractions, showed us where to find a bank machine, and then wished us on our way.

Tafari casually asked us where we were from and when we told him we were from Canada, he instantly and smoothly rhymed off all of Canada’s provinces and territories - AND in perfect west-to-east order! I’m not sure I could do that!!

And now I wonder, if we were from another country – say, the United States – would Tafari be able to rhyme off all 50 states as well? I bet he could! And how many other countries does he know just as well? I’m sure his business is even more successful when he impresses us easily-impressionable tourists with his mental prowess!

Tafari Johnson Hodge – man of renown.