Small Islant Reality

The water from the tap is not safe to drink, wash veggies, or cook with, or brush your teeth.

You have to buy bottled water to brush your teeth and remember not to turn on the tap to rinse your mouth.

That means bleach becomes your best friend and your hands begin to look like that of a housewife without the privelege of hired help.

You are working in a place in which the air is set on default to "slumber" and "vacation" modes.

You are likely to offend a native female bartender if you ask her when she opened the bottle of wine from which you have ordered a glass.

If you get a ride from someone, or are seen out with someone, you are dating, or unno deh.

You have to cook because what is available is either not palatable or rather expensive. Which means you have to eat your own fabulous meals alone most of the time. Which also means that the likelihood of getting back into shape is a lil iffy.

There is no burglar bar. Except for one bar at one of the two hotels on the islant.
That means that you have to say prayers to go asleep and repeat them every moment the wind blows something and you think it could be that big hurling burglar coming to get his share of your stuff and you.

You have to be wearing the same clothes for one week because your shipping hasn't arrived and no one can tell you where it is, and the person who shipped it from back home refuses to answer his phone, but the only person who notices is you.

You apply for a landline and ADSL and you have to buy a modem in addition to a USD$270 deposit. Wired= additional $100. Wireless = Additional $200 and you have to pay down the money (ALL of it) BEFORE you get either landline or ADSL and you are only guaranteed service in 14 days.

Utility forms ask you your landlord's name and your nearest neighbour because there are few named streets and house numbers are non-existent.

You are known to be a foreigner the moment you step off the plane not because you have some distinguishing features but because everybody knows everybody.

So you ask how I am adapting?

Just fine.

Honestly.

It's a blessing to live outside my country.

I certainly think that NWC is da bomb right about now!!!

Now where did I put the gallon bottles of bleach?