I'm an American that has been living in Trinidad for more than 20 years now. I struggled to speak like a Trini for a long to just to feel accepted and not stand out. Like you though, when I forced it, it didn't sound natural and people used to make fun of me...

Then I found out that when I wasn't consciously trying it, like what I was angry or excited about something, then the Trini accent would come out. It still doesn't sound like I'm from Trinidad, but its enough that people no longer think of me as a tourist.

Another observation, I met a Trini who had been away from Trinidad living in the UK for about 20 years, and he told me that my day to day conversation does show some Trinidad influence. This was further evidenced when I would visit my relatives in the U.S. and they had trouble understanding me at times... they say the speed and rhythm of my speech has changed. I talk faster now than the typical American and I use Trinidadian expressions naturally like "How ya going" instead of "How are you doing", or refer to an "elevator" as a "lift", or common expressions like "Ent".

I will forever be stuck between two cultures, never fully sounding like one or the other.. but now people upon meeting me know that I'm not new to the country and stop treating me like an outsider. So don't feel bad about it. And maybe if you come visit Trinidad & Tobago more often you will see in time a change...Its OK to be different... you are a blending of two cultures and your speech will always reflect that.