This spring break trip is special, juxtaposed as it is with Kina’s growing independence and all the things happening in places—very much like the one we are in now—that are inhabited with brown folks. I feel immensely aware of the entitlement of America right now, and Laurea and I have taken great pains to point out to Kina the strangeness of empire in this place and this moment. We are lucky to have been able to spend a week in the home of the people of these islands, to float in the water and breathe in the air. Kina’s wistful little murmurs, uttered at the edge of sleep, are gifts from this place, too. Thank you to all the good people of the Turks and Caicos islands—Belongers and those from away (including the 2,000 or so Filipinos here), who have treated us so well. We hope we have been better visitors than most.

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