Village dispatch: St. Martin With tracy La Ville

It has been ages since I have done one of these Village Dispatch posts. In case you are new here, the Village Dispatch series is where I share interviews with various Caribbean creatives who divulge a bit about themselves and their respective islands. These are some of my favourite blog posts to do because they provide an insider’s view of Caribbean life as well a glimpse of what being a creative person in the Caribbean looks like.

After the hiatus, I am excited to pick things back up with a visit to St. Martin with Tracy La Ville. I came across Tracy’s Instagram page last year and was instantly smitten with her smile, laughter and all around sunny disposition. Then there are her escapades around St. Martin. Her posts make me look forward to spending quality time in SXM. We might not be able to be physically there right now but we have the next best thing. Today, Tracy is taking us on a mini virtual tour of her island home.

Ancestral Memory: What do you do as a creative entrepreneur?

Tracy La Ville : I'm a community manager for the Tourism Office of the French Side. I'm in charge of creating social media content (photos and videos). I collaborate with local brands as an influencer and I plan events so women can have a space where they meet and uplift each other.

AM: How does being a mother affect how you approach your career?

TL: Being a mother changed me in a very positive way. Before I was going with the flow. (Read letting people decide for me and calling it going with the flow). Now that I'm a mother, I want my son to see me as a woman who decides. A woman who has a voice. Dreams really matter to me. I have big dreams. Right now, I'm busy turning them into reality one by one so when my son will be old enough, he'll realise dreams do come true. You just need to put in the work, trust the process and let God take the wheel.

AM:What do you enjoy about your career?

TL: My favourite part is meeting people. Those who know me know, I talk to everybody. I love hearing people's stories. When I do my events, at the beginning we are all a bit shy and at the end we are like besties. We don't want to leave each other.

AM: How does your island influence your creativity?

TL: I love my island and my island really inspires me. The bright colours, the Creole architecture. The flowers. My favourites are bougainvillea, by the way. Last but not the least, there is something about the island vibe. For instance, if I find a place beautiful and ask the owners their permission to take a picture, most of the time they'll say yes and they'll even help me realise my vision.

AM: What are 3 things you love most about St. Martin?

TL: I love the fact we are so multicultural. I mean there are over 160 nationalities living on the island. Also, we are one island divided into two: French and Dutch but we live as one. This is a richness. I love how easy it is to travel. Covid complicated things but before (and I hope we'll get back to normal soon) we could easily go to Saba, Anguilla, Saint-Barths for a day trip or a weekend by boat. We can also travel to Martinique and Guadeloupe easily and other places as well since we have an international airport and a regional airport. The last thing I love about my island, it will sound cliché but I love the crystal blue waters and the sunset.

AM: Which local beaches or other outdoor places are most special to you?

TL: Petite Plage is my favourite beach, the sunset is A-MA-ZING. You can find me in Mullet Bay as well. I love Rainbow on a Sunday evening.

AM:Where on your island do you go to feel rejuvenated?

TL: My favourite place on the island will always be Coralita. I don't go as much as I used to but it is my favourite place.

AM: What are your favourite self-care practices?

TL: My number one self-care practice is getting my nails done and then it would be lying on a beach chair, turning off my phone and listening to the sound of the waves.

AM: How does your lifestyle shape the way you dress?

TL: To be honest. I don't dress according to my lifestyle lol. Very often, I find myself too dressed up but I don't care. I wear what I feel like wearing and I make it work with what I do.

AM: Who are your favourite St. Martin designers?

TL: I love one of two. They are two sisters, Demi and Cher and they design St.Martin necklaces, anklets and bracelets.

AM: What local events or traditional festivals are you looking forward to experiencing again after the pandemic has subsided?

TL: I'm looking forward to Carnival. I love the Carnival vibe. The Carnival Village is the place to be. You meet a lot of people.

AM: What’s on your playlist currently?

TL: Currently I'm listening to Leave The Door Open by Bruno Mars on repeat. There is also that singer from Martinique I love: Maureen, especially her song Tic.

AM: What are the traditional dishes that you think a visitor to St. Martin has to try and what are your favourite places for eating them?

TL: If you visit St.Martin and you leave without eating a Johnny Cake, have you really visited the island ? To me the best place to have a Johny Cake is Sky Is The Limit, in Grand Case. There is also a place I have to try called the Johnny Caker .