My name is Sophia Bacchus and I’m the manager of a condominium complex.
Bacchus is a good Trinidadian Carnival name but I don’t play mas. No bacchanal with this Bacchus! Maybe next year! But I say that every year.
I’m originally from the Morvant area but my mother moved a lot of places. My favourite was Belmont— because that was when I start to come out my shell!
Every little piece of (certificate) paper helps but I don’t have “DP” in there: I’ve got my learner’s permit twice. Passed the written test twice. And have now promised my employers that, third time, I’ll actually go through with the driving exam! I chicken out every time. I’m afraid of the road: every time I see one of those big trailer trucks, I panic.
Roger Kirton and I have been together for 11 years but he’s still my boyfriend: we not married yet. After 11 years, I don’t like to say, “boyfriend” so I told him we’re going to start over: from now on, I’m saying we’re together one year. But I ent rushing anybody!
I want one child, two for the most, hopefully twins. But, if I don’t have, I still have my nieces and nephews to love up!
I do believe in God but I wouldn’t call myself either religious or churchgoing. I believe in love: that is my religion. Not to bring down anyone’s religion, but you’re fighting to prove your own is the best – and you’re hurting other believers! That makes absolutely no sense to me.
I travelled to New York for the first time last year and (got) a tattoo saying, “Faith (in) Love”. I came to (that belief) on my own. No matter what, I approach everything with love. I will always have faith in love. Yeah.
I love horror movies but the gaps between the really good ones are far and few! The last good scary movie I had was the first, first Paranormal Activity! They needed to stop after the first one, though.
Monday to Friday, I’m supposed to work from 7 am-4 pm. But I’m in office from 6 am sometimes until 6 pm. A lot of people my boss, too—find I extend myself a bit too much. But I love my job and it is what it is and I am what I am. Better to do too much than too little.
With 67 units and over 150 people on the compound, you often don’t see people! It’s kind of hypocritical of me to say it because where I live is also a gated community, and I keep to myself, don’t even know what my neighbour looks like! But I find there should be more camaraderie on the compound. We tried to have a social evening but that didn’t work out. People are afraid to be friendly and kind now. People rather text you than call you—I’m guilty of that, too!
The best part of my job is working alone: none of my bosses breathe down my back. There’s no bad part, with the exception of some people having really foolish demands. Lately I find my tolerance for foolish requests being low.
God forgive me but I don’t like animals. Walking down the hill the other day, a dog tried to bite me. That was it: all dogs gone through now!
To avoid facing the facts, we like to say that most likely the young man who got murdered was in something or had to do something. Yes, a lot of times their parents say, “Oh, he was a good boy!” — and he really wasn’t! But there are the cases where they really were good boys. But we just sweep it and say, “Oh, probably gang-related”. To comfort ourselves. Until it hits home.
A Trini is a happy, warm person. Who loves to lime!
Liming on my friend’s stoop in Brooklyn, I’m saying good night to people passing. And my friend says, “Sophia, do NOT do that!” You get in trouble for being friendly in New York. If something fall from someone, you can’t pick it up and hand it to them, because is fight. Here, even with the fear of crime, we still look out for one another. That kindness makes me love my Trinidad.
Read a longer version of this feature at wwwBCPires.com