I Come From Foreign

You guys, I’m bursting with national pride right now. Now I’m always up to pointing out whenever a Trini breaks through the rank and file to make it big. But this time it’s super big.

Davan Maharaj named managing editor of the L.A. Times

(read it here)

Of course, this is close to my heart. I had dreams of such a title back in undergrad days as reporter, assistant news editor, news editor, and managing editor of the Miami Hurricane. Too bad I burned out senior year and decided that I was anti-newspaper journalism.

Yeah, that was around the time I got called out ON MY BIRTHDAY AND WE WERE UNDER HURRICANE WARNING to cover the death of a freshman and interview his family.

Or maybe it was 9/11 when everyone was freaking out and I had to be the insensitive nosy reporter going up to everyone and their mother asking, “How does this make you feel?”

Or maybe it was after I started getting harassing phone calls because we published a story on some dumb frat boys who did something (surprise!) really dumb…

But mostly it was because I just knew I couldn’t keep up that kind of daily pace and make a living out of invading other people’s lives. Academia turned out to be more my thang.

Nonetheless, I will always have the utmost admiration for the journalists out there who have the balls to investigate the big stories and get doors slammed in their faces and fight for the truth.

I believe in the ideals. The reality was just not for me.

Anyway.

So now that I hear a fellow Trini has been named managing editor of one of the most prominent regional newspapers in the country, my cup runneth over with kudos and good will.

Congrats Davan! I can only imagine the blood, sweat, and tears (and talent) it took to get this far.

Maybe I can hit you up for a job someday. We Trinis hadda stick together, right?

Here’s an excerpt from the article announcing the news, showing the Davan’s impressive work trajectory:

Maharaj, 45, has worked as a reporter for The Times in Orange County, Los Angeles and East Africa. His six-part series “Living on Pennies,” in collaboration with Times photographer Francine Orr, won the 2005 Ernie Pyle Award for Human Interest Writing and inspired readers to donate tens of thousands of dollars to aid agencies working in Africa.

Another Maharaj story, an investigative report about a Leisure World attorney who inherited millions of dollars in stock, land and other “gifts” from his clients, led to changes in California probate law.

Maharaj has been an assistant foreign editor and, in Business, served as a deputy editor before assuming leadership of the department last year.

During Maharaj’s tenure, the Business section revamped its coverage to give greater emphasis to consumer issues. It also redesigned its Sunday section to focus on personal finances.

A native of Trinidad, Maharaj holds a political science degree from the University of Tennessee and a master’s degree in law from Yale University.

“Anyone who has worked closely with Davan knows him as a passionate advocate for good stories, and for the people who work hard to produce them,” Stanton said in his memo.

“But what trouble is this?” (BWTIT) can be loosely translated into “Dude. WTF?” except it goes both ways (good and bad).

And I am sooo all dude wtf right now. In the worst way. Grrr.

So.

One of the things I really like about Santa Monica is that there’s a pretty nifty (or so I thought, HMMMPH) public library a few blocks from my apartment.

When I first moved out here I spent most of my days at the library, gleefully borrowing books (I’d never borrowed books before!) and using their internet and searching for jobs.

And I’ve been coming back ever since. You can even borrow books online and they’re all there waiting for you to pick up the next day!

Fantastic concept.

Anyway.

I’m contemplating whether to boycott the Santa Monica Public Library because I went there today to pick up a copy of the The Lonely Londoners to write my review as promised and…

WHAT? NO SELVON?

But what trouble is this? Seriously, dude. WTF?

Not a single book by Samuel Selvon, renowned Trinidadian author, in the whole place.

No Lonely Londoners.

No A Brighter Sun. Dude, I studied that book for two years for CXC. Me and Tiger and Urmilla were like this.

Beyond wrong.

This has nothing to with my being egocentric. I’m really not. The dude is famous.

So, I’ve kind of gotten used to the whole read but don’t buy thing so I’m not sure I’m about to relinquish my library card but I will write a “scathing note” to the librarian demanding me some Selvon pronto.

I suggest you do the same.

P.S. Don’t fear. I promised to write a review and I will. It’ll just be a little longer in coming now that I actually have to go out and buy the book. what trouble indeed…