Chicken eating chicken

When it comes to chickens, Cayman is very much like Bermuda, in the sense that dem chickens run around free like no body's business. I'm used to it by now, but I can't ever get used to the American tourists when they voice their delight in their southern twang: OH look y'all, they've got chickens running around free.

When it comes to KFC, Bermuda's got nothing on Cayman. The KFC in Bermuda is NOT KFC grade chicken. Not that I know WHAT type of chicken KFC uses - I have heard horror stories. Bermuda's KFC is probably the only fast food franchise that was allowed to stay on island (McDonald's was kicked out a long time ago). Unfortunately, Bermuda's KFC chicken had a different non KFC batter altogether, and don't get me started on their fries. They use McCain's fries!!! The Canadians will know what I'm talking about here. And not that McCain's fries are bad...they're frozen fries that you cook up and are actually quite good, but here's my thing: If I'm going to go into KFC I'd want to eat authentic KFC fries, and not some substitute, even if that substitute is Canadian.

Cayman here, has the authentic KFC, which in a way can be bad, because after years of staying away from fast food, we're finding it all too hard not to resist the urge of the drive thru. And getting back to the free running chickens, we often spot them running around the KFC joint in town. Ok, so they can't read but man all I can think of saying to those chickens is RUNNNNNNNN!

So what brought on this clucking of a post? I was exiting Foster's today and in the parking lot was a young chicken, OBLIVIOUS to the reversing cars that was within inches of making it a pureed mess, all because this chicken was pecking away at a thrown away chicken bone. And I was all like: Dude, that's just wrong. It's like Mad Cow, but only Mad Chicken disease. Ok, so at least this chicken was eating its 'cooked' counterpart, but that's still wrong!!! Everyone knows chickens don't need protein, they need grains.

Weaver stamps

Stamps that are far too pretty to be separated to put to use. Each row of stamps that, as a whole, tell about the Cayman tradition of weaving. Remember weaving? I've talked about this before...

I'm posting this here so you can see what this set looked like as a whole and the story it told, just in case you happen to get an individual one like say...the boy in the third column, and have no idea as to what he's doing. Yeah, I'm helpful like that! :-)

365

I can't believe it's been a year already for me here in Cayman! How did this happen? I remember my Cayman landing like it was yesterday, and sheesh not only was it exhausting, it was daunting, because I moved here alone, while Hubby was wrapping up things in Bermuda. And while here during those first initial months, I would not have made it without my good friends, local & expat...so, THANK YOU!

By the way, it's a public holiday here in Cayman, and what better way to celebrate than hitting the beach...Cayman style!

Smoke

Earlier in the day I had updated the Weather Buttons on the blog to now feature weather from Toronto, Dubai and Bombay, especially since I frequently seem to write about all three of my former places of residence. It's now a quiet Saturday night. I was just looking at the weather comparitively and just about did a double take when I saw Mumbai (Bombay)'s description. Take a look! They way we're running this planet into the ground, pretty soon this will be the forecast for all cities all over the world.

Pies in your face

While maneuvering around the Cayman Immigration website I stumbled upon these little gem of a couple of pies. Often I am asked what the make up of the expat population is here in Cayman and lo and behold, I can now provide you with visuals. I customised the pie charts a little and while they are from March 2008, it is going to be so very interesting to see what the March 2009 updated version is going to look like. I will hold off on further commenting for now until they're up, but I for one am going to be waiting...and watching.

Soon come

Not even in Bermuda did the newspapers use local lingo that made up a news article headline (unelss it was in quote). But Cayman did. Take a look here at one such article, where such is the evidence of how local lingo makes the headline. 'Soon Come'! Only in Cayman!

I think it's endearing.

Hungry like the wolf

Have you noticed the men have been acting little crazed the past day or so, a little out of the ordinary, just not like their normal selves. Why are they going all bonkers at work? They're not going bonkers at the women, they daren't do that. They're going bonkers at each other. Like a pack of werewolves, howling and barking. It always takes one a moment to stop and ask...Is it a full moon? And lo and behold, it IS. More than that it's also the days leading up to Friday the 13th. So it's a double whammy. It's the male equivalent of PMSing. And it's true. When I brought up the whole Full Moon thing at work just now, one of my male co-workers howled like a werewolf, as to drive my point further. I was not able to catch it in time on my camera (which I seem to carry around with me these days). I'm sure this Full Moon behaviour is not just exclusive to Cayman and that men all over are behaving like werewolves. And you could make your own observations...Do their teeth seem sharper today than compared to yesterday? Their arms a little hairier? Take a closer look and come and tell me what you find.

Weather wise

My former Bermuda landlady, Ms Stop Your Noise, emailed me today asking me how the weather was down here. Has it been cold? Is it damp like Bermuda? Does it get humid like Bermuda during the summer?

I was pleased to tell her that although we had a couple of days of a cold spell, Cayman was back on track with the hot weather. And thank Goodness! People here in Cayman are often surprised when we tell them that Bermuda is normally cold in the winter. And compared to Cayman it IS cold. And damp. I often tell them that during the winter in Bermuda we HAD to run the heater while at home to get rid of the dampness. And looking back I can't believe that we did this for three winters. We had no idea that we would be doing so when we first moved to Bermuda. The website sure didn't mention Bermuda's version of winter weather. Sure the cold was not comparable to Canada but that dampness sure was a pain to deal with.

So, I am thankful that Cayman is not damp in the winter, nor any other time and that most places here have central AC, which let me tell you, is a nice comfort to have during those hot humid months. Not to mention it regulates your home quite well, that one need not worry about clothes getting mildewy no matter what one did (like in Bermuda). Those days are long gone behind us.

Caribbean Twist

I love how my Caribbean co-workers put their Caribbean spin on things. Like this morning my Brit-Jamaican co-worker was trying to recall that recent movie that Ben Stiller, Robert Downy Jr and Tom Cruise were in, and in a moment of epiphany called it TROPICAL THUNDER. Didn’t stop him from still calling it that, in spite of me giving him the correct name.

Blunders like these would have been very appreciated by my maternal grandmother, who would have celebrated her 85th today.

And speaking of birthdays, my cricket obsessed paternal grandfather is celebrating his 87th birthday today!

A frozen nose

You know that cold front that's been hitting Florida the past few days. Yeah, well it's also managed to hit us here in Cayman as well. So it's been UNUSUALLY cold the past three days. Now when I say cold I mean cold Cayman style. Perhaps COOL would be the right word to use. Anyway, most Caymanians tend to enjoy a cooler spot of weather here and there but when it gets anywhere below 23 deg Celsius. You can't really blame them (or me), when all they've known is hot 25+ deg Cel weather all their lives. I had to double up on my layers at work because with the a/c running even at a moderate temperature, it was freezing.

As we're walking to our cars today, one of my Caymanian co-workers says to me: Man it's cold, I can feel my nose burning. (!?!?!)

And it was about 23 deg Celsius. Welcome to the Caribbean.

I think the building across the street heard my laugh.

A fine balance

It is often difficult to stay away from saying things that are stereotypical. Or thinking it, for that matter. Especially when it comes to a particular race. Growing up in Dubai, I'd often hear my parents talk about workplace politics that involved a particular race (let's call them Race X from now on) and try as they might to avoid it, the inevitable common thread always revealed itself. Years later I now find myself working with Race X and so far I have been great at keeping the stereotypical thoughts at bay, especially considering I myself belong to a particular race. Until recently, that is. That common thread with Race X has not only revealed itself, but it has begun to fray, making it very difficult to keep an open mind while I work with this particular group of people. While from their perspective it may seem that this particular trait might be harmless, it is one that seems to be creating obstacles at work and negatively affecting workplace efficiency. I can now understand the government’s motives on placing restrictions on whichever expatriate race it is that is found on any given island in large numbers all in the name of wanting to promote a social balance.

Under the weather

Seems like everyone got this viral flu/cold/cough that's been going around. And I mean EVERYONE! Family & friends in Canada & the Middle East seem to be sick just as much as friends and co-workers here in Cayman. How do I know this? Well, there's Facebook that lets you know the intricate minute little details of one's health status, it's easy not to keep track of how every one's feeling.

Which makes me wonder...would you rather be sick on a Caribbean island, a desert or a freezing, wintry, snowy climate like Canada. Bear in mind that with today's Global Warming kicking up a scream, the desert's climate is much like a cross between the Caribbean and Canada. It may not snow but it definitely has been raining and it definitely has been chilly. Would you get better faster in a warmer Caribbean climate, bearing in mind that your recuperation environment is kept stable with the a/c running OR would you get better faster in a Canadian climate, with the heat running constantly that you feel like you're in a sauna. OR would it depend on motivating factors like: Caribbean climate = beaches = wanting to get better faster so you can hit the beach; or Canadian climate = -20 deg C temperatures coupled with snow = making you NOT wanting to lug your butt to work, giving you an excuse to stay in longer?

Which is it?

Go sip

Living on a small island you are bound to come across people who may know people you know, especially with those networking sites out where information flows like it's a free for all. It is only natural that once you find out the connections between your friends or acquaintances that you'd want to mention of this fact, but beware because on such a small island, this can run interference. I've learned from living in Bermuda, to keep quiet about certain things and to let things run their course. I find that it works out better this way because what happens when you start talking about knowing so and so? People start talking & gossiping. Now I'm not adverse to gossip. Heck my mother and I gossip every so often - life's little pleasures. But it's different on a small island. What's weird is that at times, I come across a decent amount of information about people I know here, that I tend to be ignorant if I am asked about so and so's specifics. I find that works out better too. It's just best to stay away and play the I haven't a clue card. Perhaps the only person I gossip with about island life & folk is Hubby, and that doesn't even count because he got that 'need to know' status. It's like gathering up intel to later make the best decision or to avoid an awkward situation, when you're at a crossroad. Intel gathering is important - you never know when any sort of information may come in handy.

On the same note, ever wonder where the word Gossip originated from? Well here's how and where:

Early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what was considered important to the people. Since there were no telephones, TV's or radios, the politicians sent their assistants to local taverns, pubs and bars who were told to "go sip some ale" and listen to people's conversations and political concerns. Many assistants were dispatched at different times. "you go sip here" and "you go sip there." The two words "go sip" were eventually combined when referring to the local opinion and thus, we have the term "gossip."