BASSETERRE St.Kitts, February 16th, 2012  --  Three Black Hawk College East Campus students not only needed to pack their suitcases to go away to college this year, they also needed to pack their passports.

Basketball players Javed Williams of St. Kitts and Nevis, Gilbert Gyamfi of Canada and Aaron Branch of England are making the Kewanee area their home for two years, sharing their culture while adjusting to life in the Midwest.

Williams comes from St. Kitts and Nevis, a two-island nation in the Caribbean, about 200 miles southeast of Puerto Rico.

Because he lives so close to the ocean, living in the midwest is quite a change for Williams. Snow and hail — as well as the tornado siren he experienced last year – were a culture shock.

St. Kitts was the first English colony in the Caribbean, so on Nov. 5 they celebrate Guy Fawkes Day with fireworks, commemorating the failure of Fawkes and other conspirators to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605.

The islands celebrate their Independence Day on Sept. 19. Easter is celebrated by flying kites and eating dumplings with salt fish and a sweet, but no bunny or Easter eggs. At Christ-mas, families celebrate with a feast but no present exchange, Santa or trees with lights.

Branch's home town is Birmingham, England, the second-largest city in the United Kingdom. He and his parents are British, but his grandparents are from Punjab in northwest India.

The U.K. celebrates most Christian-related holidays, but his family also celebrates Diwali, popularly known as the Festival of Lights. Diwali is celebrated between mid-October and mid-December and for Hindus, is one of the most important festivals of the year.

Branch said he has found things less expensive in the United States and fast food portions bigger. Prior to coming to the U.S., he played on a Canadian basketball showcase team that traveled the U.S. He noted that in England, Belgium and France the game is more team-oriented.

He plans on going into the music industry as a music producer and already has his own business, Just Do It Entertainment.

Gyamfi is from Toronto.
Before he was born, his parents moved from Ghana in West Africa to Canada. He speaks English, a little French and some Twi, the native language of his parents.

Gyamfi has missed his family, friends and mom’s home cooking, such as fufu, a doughy starchy ball that is eaten all over western Africa. It takes the place of bread or rice and is eaten with the hands. A piece of the dough is pinched off, formed slightly with the fingers, and then dipped into the bowl to scoop up soup or stew.

Moving to a rural area after living his entire life in Toronto, the largest city in Canada, was an adjustment. But, the quiet has given Gyamfi time to get in touch with himself and discover who he is and what he wants to do with his life. He hopes to transfer to a larger school to play basketball and pursue practicing law.

   

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