PZ5TW – Suriname

Ren, PY8WW will serve as PZ5TW from Suriname from April 29 to May 4, 2024.
He will be operating on 80 – 10m, CW, SSB, FT8.
Nearest DX Point PZ5T
QSL by PY8WW.
Direct QSL advertising:
Renato Araujo, PSG Ademar de Barros, 68 Bairro Fatima, BELEM-PA, PA 66060-65, Brazil.

Surinam

Suriname is a country of beautiful landscapes, rich traditions and turbulent history. Over the years, this small country has experienced conquests, colonizations and periods of calm. But despite the hardships, the locals have always maintained their cheerful nature and kind disposition. This is what attracts tourists from all over the world, and thousands of travelers heading to South America will definitely include Suriname in their travel plans.

Zeelandia Fortress in Paramaribo, Suriname. Author – Andrey Sulitskiy.

A small country

If you look at a map of South America, in the northeast, just off the Atlantic coast, you can (albeit with some difficulty) make out the outlines of this country. Suriname is sandwiched between Guyana, Guyana and Brazil. It is almost invisible on the world map, which is not surprising, since its area is only about 164,000 square kilometers. This country is small by world standards, and it is small by South American standards: of all the countries in South America, Suriname occupies the last place of honor. And this despite the fact that 90% of the territory is uninhabited!

Nine-tenths of the country is forest. Forests are almost everywhere. Suriname is roughly divided into two parts, north and south (although there is no official division like this). The south has nine districts: almost all of them are located near the coast, only Para and Brokopondo are inland. These districts have a good infrastructure, with roads, airports (as many as fifty!), shops, schools, universities – in general, everything a person might need in life. On the territory of Sipaliwini, the tenth district, there is a forest. Only forest. That’s it.

The pristine rainforest is the symbol of Suriname: an immutable part of the local landscape, a sacred symbol (for the indigenous population) and a source of strength. The effects of industrialization have reached this mysterious symbol, and deforestation is sweeping Suriname. Despite this process, the tropical region remains indestructible and still occupies 90% of the area it was many years ago.

Therefore, if you plan to travel to this South American country, please consider the local specifics. For those who love tropical places, pristine wildlife and richness, Suriname is worth a visit.

White-faced Saki from Suriname. Author – Johnny El-Rady.

Like a cornucopia

Suriname may be a small country, but it’s a diverse one. There’s always something here. What kind of things? Let’s start with the most obvious: rain.

The rain pours down 200 days a year. The remaining 165 days, the sun is relentless. Locals have adapted to the weather and are happy to walk in the downpour, only occasionally covering their heads with wide-brimmed hats on sunny afternoons. But if you’re not used to the weather, it can be uncomfortable, to put it mildly.

However, it also has its advantages. For example, the local soil is incredibly fertile. A large number of fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers grow in the country. Locals squeeze juice from fruits and berries and offer them to tourists – not for sale, but for fun. A cafe owner, a shopkeeper or a passerby you talk to can offer you a drink. It is impolite to refuse the treat – you may seriously offend the friendly Surinamese people and be considered as a person with bad manners and rudeness. Therefore, if you plan to go to the city, it is better to be prepared to drink several liters of juice beforehand.

When you visit, you should bring a bouquet of flowers. This is a sign of respect for the host and a way of expressing your joy at the visit. Likewise, be ready to receive flowers from visiting guests. Even if the visit does not last more than a minute, locals will not forget to send a bouquet. In some houses, windows and tables are filled with flowers.

The famous rainforest is not only rich in plants, but also in animals. The deepest parts of the forest hide the rarest animals. The Suriname Pipa lives on the shores of lakes and rivers, a magical frog that carries its young on its back. The Suriname Amazon is a green, broad-winged parrot that sings in the treetops. It imitates the colors of leaves, the human voice, the calls of animals and the sounds of musical instruments. There are also Suriname cockroaches, Suriname flour mills – and of course many other Suriname things. No one knows exactly how many species of creatures live in this ancient forest. Scientists discover new animal species every year, both unknown to science and those that were thought to have long disappeared from the face of the earth.

The country still retains many ethnic groups. The history of Suriname began with the exploitation of the river of the same name by nomadic tribes Arawak, Wallau and Carib. Representatives of these three tribes lived here until the arrival of the conquerors at the end of the 16th century. The Spanish conqueror Diego Lepe mapped Suriname and gave the country its current name, but the territory belonged to Spain only nominally. It was not until the 17th century that the British came to the coast of South America. They occupied nominally Spanish territory and landed in the port. Until the 18th century, the territory was considered British territory, and then it was assigned to the Netherlands. From then on, until Suriname gained independence in 1975, it was called Dutch Guiana. The Dutch authorities turned the country into a major sugarcane plantation. Before the abolition of slavery, the local population worked in the sugarcane fields, after which Indonesian, Chinese and Arab immigrants were brought into the country. This is how the modern population of Suriname was formed, and tolerance for new immigrants also developed.

It is thanks to the Dutch policy that another richness has been formed on the territory of the country – linguistic richness. The official language of Suriname is Dutch, but Acurio, Waiwai, Wayana, Arawak, Hindustani, Teli, Portuguese, English, Korean and even Arabic dialects are also widely spoken. Locals are also truly interested in other cultures and try to elicit and remember at least a few words of a foreign language from their guests.

Generally speaking, you can communicate with Surinamese people as long as you know a little bit of the language. Even if you don’t understand, they will try to understand you. Hospitality and respect for other people’s culture are part of Surinamese culture. However, they expect the same attitude from tourists. So it’s best to be prepared for unusual situations in advance. Because the traditions and customs here are definitely not simple.

Suriname. Author – Matthijs Kuijpers.

It’s hard to be Surinamese

Ever since Europeans came to mainland Suriname and were forced to live with them, Suriname has been divided into two camps. In one camp are the British, Dutch and those locals who prefer European life. We are unlikely to feel uncomfortable with their traditions and customs. In the other camp are those who wish to preserve their culture (luckily, the Dutch government is not too opposed to this). And these traditions are the most difficult things for visitors to Suriname to get used to.

The most impressive thing is the distribution of gender roles. In some Caribbean tribes there is a completely matriarchal society, while in others the dominance of women is not so pronounced, but still noticeable. Marriage itself does not exist at all, but family ties are still very strong. For example, there are whole “family” villages, where mothers live next door to their children, and all members of a small community have a common family. By the way, the tribe welcomes tourists, so you can freely enter the village (do not forget the traditional bouquet) and admire the way of life. But please note that you have to speak in one of the Caribbean languages ​​- well, or with gestures and a smile.

The local tribes have preserved ancient rituals. One of these is the coming of age ceremony. Teenagers must prove themselves worthy of being called adults, and to do this they must demonstrate their willpower and endurance. A common tradition is to test oneself with the sting of ants or wasps. In general, it is not surprising that the Surinamese people have acquired amazing endurance after such exercises.

Their restraint is evident everywhere. For example, a well-mannered Surinamese never gets rude to anyone. Even raising the voice is considered unacceptable. They are not in a hurry, indignant or indignant (even at injustice). A common sight is a line several meters long, where all participants wait patiently and without conflict for the store to open. Then they let a grandmother at the end of the line go first.

Another native value of the Surinamese is friendship. Friendly, almost brotherly relations have long been the key to the tribe’s survival in the limited territory between the forest and the sea. Today, it is more of a tribute to tradition and an expression of good morals. The relationship between friends is considered unbreakable and almost as solid a foundation of society as the family. Even before the arrival of Europeans on the continent, friendly relations between members of different tribes were considered normal and even obligatory, but now the boundaries between tribes have disappeared and kindness towards everyone is the rule.

It is traditions and customs that form such a good psychological atmosphere in Suriname. People can spend a month, a week or even a lifetime here without rushing and enjoying the magnificence of nature.

PZ5TW. Where is Suriname located. Map.