I don't think I've written much about buying food here, maybe because I don't cook much, or because my idea of a meal is cereal while standing in the kitchen when I'm so hungry I could throw up.
There are grocery stores, much like the ones we're accustomed to, but there are some major differences.
They may be out of things like bananas, carrots (except expensive baby carrots), bread, yogurt, real butter (but they have tons of fake butter), or--like the other day--chicken (I waited while they reshelved it) or other meats (wanna buy hamburg meat? good luck, and it's called "mince meat").
The potatoes are usually soft from sitting in the humidity, there may be nasty, bruised tomatoes or wet bananas (when they're available).
Milk is rarely found fresh...it's all powdered milk (but I drink Soymilk and have no problems).
There is lots of local produce like pumpkin ("punkin"), patchoy (patchoi or bok choy), sweet potatoes (that are really ugly and dark), plantain, ochre, chive ("sive"), celery (which is very small), fig (small, green bananas), bodi (really long green beans), bananas, mangoes (there are to Julie Mango trees at work), papaya (Paw Paw), grapes, watermelon, and others I can't think of. Most people seem to go to the market to buy their produce, but I don't know how to do that, and I don't know if I'll get fair prices being a foreigner, and I try to stay away from crowded places where I can be "marked".
You can also go to small places where you can buy chicken all cut up, and cook all the parts (feet and all).
A good thing about the grocery stores is that it is very vegetarian friendly. There are many Hindus in the country, so the amount of meat-less meat and soy products you can buy is wonderful.
Other produce like lettuce, apples (being from the Northeast, I am really a snob about these, and take forever going through them), strawberries, and the like are the same we get over in the US, only it's taken an extra week to get to us so they aren't as fresh, and they are very expensive. I paid about $7 (US) for a container of strawberries, and I rarely see them.
Most produce is packaged, and you can't choose your own (broccoli, apples, grapes, tomatoes).
Food prices are very high here, especially for the amount of money the average person gets paid, and there is a lot of unrest about the recent increases in eggs, bread, and rice. There have been some robberies of food delivery trucks lately because of this. Also, the road food prices have gone up, causing a lot of anger. For example, there are things called "doubles" and it's chickpeas (called "channa" here) curried and folded into a soft pita-bread-like thing. It's wicked good, but prices have just gone to $4 (TT...divide by 6 to get the US price of things), and people were in disbelief...it's the only thing that was talked about on the radio for a week.
I spend about the same amount on food that I did when I lived in Florida, and there is a lot less to choose from. I miss cereal mostly, and Fluff, and Hummus (which I've seen for $6 US), but I do pretty well with everything here.
09 August 2008
Onliest
Another word they use is "onliest" instead of the word only. It's quite interesting to hear the way that the English language is adjusted (by our standards).
07 August 2008
Medical Stuff
Many patients, when asked, have no idea what happened in their medical histories, if they had a procedure (everything is surgery), when it was done ("some time ago"), and what medications they were given ("some tablets"). It can be very frustrating when trying to obtain a clear medical history.
Going to the pharmacy is quite interesting. There's one big chain "SuperPharm" where you can shop around and get stuff you want like a Walgreens, but if go to a mom and pop store, or if you want "some tablets," you're gonna have to ask. First, the pharmacist is going to ask you what you want/need/symptoms/etc., and you're not going to have any privacy because the next person in line is breathing down your neck. Many Trinidadians are "Fast" (should've introduced this term much earlier...it means that they are all up in your business. They eavesdrop, spy, snoop, "maco" meaning all of those things. It's just a cultural thing. Maybe it's because the country is so small, you're going to know the person ordering drugs or their mother/aunt/sister/uncle/cousin, and it's always interesting to know what's going on with a person medically. It relates back to the personal space that doesn't exist here), and it's difficult to speak with a pharmacist over a 7 foot counter if you have anything that is embarrassing (also, being a "snobby" northeasterner, everything is embarrassing. I want my privacy!!!) that you want treatment for. And no matter what, you're gonna have to say it. And being the only white person in my area, it's easy to spot me out. I'm waiting for someone to go by whispering, "she's the one with the [fill in horrible condition that you want to keep private here]!"
One good thing about the pharmacy is you can get almost anything without a prescription, and the pharmacists know what to give you if you tell them your symptoms. You do need a 'script for antibiotics, however, and I haven't tried to get any other "good" medications, so I don't know what's really behind that counter. Also, forget about getting a bottle of tablets, you can just get one. Yesterday, at my friendly neighborhood pharmacy, a woman asked for Ambien...and bought just 2! I don't understand...either you have a sleep disorder or you don't. Whatever; guess I'm just being fast myself with all this wondering.
Going to the pharmacy is quite interesting. There's one big chain "SuperPharm" where you can shop around and get stuff you want like a Walgreens, but if go to a mom and pop store, or if you want "some tablets," you're gonna have to ask. First, the pharmacist is going to ask you what you want/need/symptoms/etc., and you're not going to have any privacy because the next person in line is breathing down your neck. Many Trinidadians are "Fast" (should've introduced this term much earlier...it means that they are all up in your business. They eavesdrop, spy, snoop, "maco" meaning all of those things. It's just a cultural thing. Maybe it's because the country is so small, you're going to know the person ordering drugs or their mother/aunt/sister/uncle/cousin, and it's always interesting to know what's going on with a person medically. It relates back to the personal space that doesn't exist here), and it's difficult to speak with a pharmacist over a 7 foot counter if you have anything that is embarrassing (also, being a "snobby" northeasterner, everything is embarrassing. I want my privacy!!!) that you want treatment for. And no matter what, you're gonna have to say it. And being the only white person in my area, it's easy to spot me out. I'm waiting for someone to go by whispering, "she's the one with the [fill in horrible condition that you want to keep private here]!"
One good thing about the pharmacy is you can get almost anything without a prescription, and the pharmacists know what to give you if you tell them your symptoms. You do need a 'script for antibiotics, however, and I haven't tried to get any other "good" medications, so I don't know what's really behind that counter. Also, forget about getting a bottle of tablets, you can just get one. Yesterday, at my friendly neighborhood pharmacy, a woman asked for Ambien...and bought just 2! I don't understand...either you have a sleep disorder or you don't. Whatever; guess I'm just being fast myself with all this wondering.
Trinisms
There are so many things that Trinidadians, or Trinbagonians say that takes a bit of time to get used to, but I can never think of them when I'm ready to write about them.
"Again"--anymore. "You were so late coming to the party, I didn't think you were coming again."
"Short pants"--shorts
"Ears"--one or two ears, it doesn't matter. Like, "I'm hearing better in my right ears."
"Van"--pick-up truck
Luckily, there really are no vans here, and VERY LUCKILY, there are no minivans!!! That has been a wonderful thing here. However, they have the same stereotype here that women can't drive. It's funny, though, because all the motor vehicle deaths are from male drivers.
"Slippers"--flip-flops
One thing that has been really strange is the cultural "acceptance" of infidelity. It is very obvious in the vocabulary they use to describe this, and it is very different to the American way of describing cheating, all using negative words. Here are a few:
Horner man/woman--the man or woman you are cheating with
Horned--to get cheated on
Outside man/woman--ditto
One day, while stuck in traffic in my car (surprise!), a man, who was sitting in the back of a truck with a group of men, asked, "are you married?" I replied, as always here, "yes," and he asked, "do you need an outside man?" I said, "No, thanks." The whole concept of cheating is kinda like that...it's almost expected and accepted. I say, "No, thanks."
"Again"--anymore. "You were so late coming to the party, I didn't think you were coming again."
"Short pants"--shorts
"Ears"--one or two ears, it doesn't matter. Like, "I'm hearing better in my right ears."
"Van"--pick-up truck
Luckily, there really are no vans here, and VERY LUCKILY, there are no minivans!!! That has been a wonderful thing here. However, they have the same stereotype here that women can't drive. It's funny, though, because all the motor vehicle deaths are from male drivers.
"Slippers"--flip-flops
One thing that has been really strange is the cultural "acceptance" of infidelity. It is very obvious in the vocabulary they use to describe this, and it is very different to the American way of describing cheating, all using negative words. Here are a few:
Horner man/woman--the man or woman you are cheating with
Horned--to get cheated on
Outside man/woman--ditto
One day, while stuck in traffic in my car (surprise!), a man, who was sitting in the back of a truck with a group of men, asked, "are you married?" I replied, as always here, "yes," and he asked, "do you need an outside man?" I said, "No, thanks." The whole concept of cheating is kinda like that...it's almost expected and accepted. I say, "No, thanks."
30 July 2008
Patient's [patience] Stories
I told one woman, "we're going to start the hearing test now," and she responded, "The urine test?" She seemed like she would have consented to anything.
Another woman asked, when learning where I was from, "Why are people from Boston so snobby?" I had to explain to her that it's not that we're snobs, but that we have a different way of relating to people, and that it's just how we are. I was certainly offended at first, as any New Englander would be when asked to defend your personality, but I had to remind myself that it's been hard for me to adjust to being touched by all of my patients and been told, "God bless you," by most of them mostly due to my "Snobby" New England upbringing.
Another woman asked, when learning where I was from, "Why are people from Boston so snobby?" I had to explain to her that it's not that we're snobs, but that we have a different way of relating to people, and that it's just how we are. I was certainly offended at first, as any New Englander would be when asked to defend your personality, but I had to remind myself that it's been hard for me to adjust to being touched by all of my patients and been told, "God bless you," by most of them mostly due to my "Snobby" New England upbringing.
Still waiting
I'm on my second week of a "forced" vacation. My work permit expired last week, as well as my contract as a student extern. I have been told that I could work as a volunteer, but I refuse to work without a contract. Of course, personally, I feel awful letting these patients, who have been waiting 6-8 months for an appointment, wait longer for services, but I want everything done "above board" in regards to working in the country. Also, the board has been aware of my position on continuing with them for about 6 months, and I believe it is a little disingenuous of them to wait until my contract expires to try and resolve this problem. I was told last week, "Brandy, in the world of work, sometimes this happens," by a board member. Maybe in Trinidad, but it is not the way to do business properly, and it is not a way to treat a professional (they only one) that you depend upon to provide services to the population.
I received a copy of the contract on Monday, but there are some changes that need to be made. There are many things they have left out, and I don't want any holes. I have legal counsel here, and I like the proposed changes they have suggested. I will be returning my revised draft by next week.
Meanwhile, I am trying to enjoy my time off, but it's very stressful not knowing what's gonna happen, and I'm not able to make any money while I'm not working, so I'm not able to do too much on my time off.
BTW, I am negotiating a 2-year contract so, if I want to renew/renegotiate, I won't have to do this process again for at least 1 1/2 years.
I received a copy of the contract on Monday, but there are some changes that need to be made. There are many things they have left out, and I don't want any holes. I have legal counsel here, and I like the proposed changes they have suggested. I will be returning my revised draft by next week.
Meanwhile, I am trying to enjoy my time off, but it's very stressful not knowing what's gonna happen, and I'm not able to make any money while I'm not working, so I'm not able to do too much on my time off.
BTW, I am negotiating a 2-year contract so, if I want to renew/renegotiate, I won't have to do this process again for at least 1 1/2 years.
17 July 2008
Back , Online
Finally have internet at my new place. Dial-up at work was killing me!
Update: Still in negotiations for a new contract...working on Trini time. My current contract is up on the 22nd of this month (4 days from now), so I may have to take some time off from work while the board meets my demands. In reality, they haven't even given me a draft of their contract, and I honestly think they will present it to me at the 11th hour in hopes that I'll sign.
Tried to finance a car, but after 3 weeks of whatever they do here, they told me that they can't finance a loan for longer than the length of the contract, and I can't afford to pay off a new car in 2 years (which is the length of time they would like me to sign for).
So, I'm now looking for a used car. Banks do not finance cars older than 5 years, so I'd just have to do a personal loan.
This car stuff is very discouraging and frustrating after coming from the very easy process that exists in America. Also, you don't know who to trust when dealing with used cars, and there's no such thing as a Kelly Blue Book here. Also, it's really amazing how expensive new cars especially are. You add on at least $10,000 more than a US listed price. Talk about sticker shock! And, if you want to test drive a car, you have to schedule it because they have only one model that they test.
Update: Still in negotiations for a new contract...working on Trini time. My current contract is up on the 22nd of this month (4 days from now), so I may have to take some time off from work while the board meets my demands. In reality, they haven't even given me a draft of their contract, and I honestly think they will present it to me at the 11th hour in hopes that I'll sign.
Tried to finance a car, but after 3 weeks of whatever they do here, they told me that they can't finance a loan for longer than the length of the contract, and I can't afford to pay off a new car in 2 years (which is the length of time they would like me to sign for).
So, I'm now looking for a used car. Banks do not finance cars older than 5 years, so I'd just have to do a personal loan.
This car stuff is very discouraging and frustrating after coming from the very easy process that exists in America. Also, you don't know who to trust when dealing with used cars, and there's no such thing as a Kelly Blue Book here. Also, it's really amazing how expensive new cars especially are. You add on at least $10,000 more than a US listed price. Talk about sticker shock! And, if you want to test drive a car, you have to schedule it because they have only one model that they test.
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