English is the language spoken in Grenada. In the school guide, they describe it as having a “slightly lilting Caribbean accent”. I disagree. This is like describing a Southern accent to someone from Scotland as being “slightly slower”. It is not just slower, it drawls. Just as the Southern accent changes from Texas to Louisiana to Tennessee, the accent in Grenada varies by its rhythms and inflections, which can make it really hard to eavesdrop when you first arrive. Do not feel bad if you have to ask for things to be repeated; it is a normal part of learning to listen.
With some patience and a healthy sense of humor, you will handle the differences in Caribbean living in stride. First off, if you go to a restaurant and read the menu, do not kid yourself and think that what is on the menu is always available. Living on an island often means fresher fruits and vegetables but it also means that supplies may not arrive on time. A restaurant may make a great steak, but if the beef does not arrive that week then their hands are tied. So instead of getting frustrated, order something else with a smile.
Second, the Grenadian culture is big on courtesy and not greeting people is viewed as disrespectful. This politeness extends to every facet of life, including business. For example, if you are at a bar and order a drink, the bartender will make it for you. If you get all fussy about having to wait, this is like asking your friend for a ride and then throwing a fit when he stops to talk to someone on the way to the car. In Grenada, these courtesies extend to everyone, regardless if it is a favor from your best friend or a drink order for your server. This comes as a shock to many, but I think we could all benefit from a little more of it.
Third, the easy-going style of the islands is why people come here for relaxing vacations and you, my fellow medical students, will benefit from this environment during the stress that is medical school. This also means that things may not happen at three o’clock, but instead three o’clock-ish. For example, when my moped broke down, I found a guy that could fix it and we scheduled a time to meet. He was an hour late because he did not own a car and had trouble catching a ride that day. He wanted to do the job and he wanted to be on time, so what sense is there in getting mad about it? This might have thrown the rest of my day off, but I knew enough not to schedule deadlines within two hours of each other. Being in a hurry all the time is no way to handle stress and no way to live on an island. Try to remember that there is no hurry and life will be a lot easier on you.
February 23, 2007 at 12:58 pm
[...] that’s where I am, pissed and moaning and giving in. You can see the original here and compare with what’s below. Please, tell me that the differences aren’t important so [...]
June 22, 2007 at 8:18 am
How did you get a moped? Did you rent it, buy it in the island, ship it from home? Would you recommend getting some sort of vehicle?
November 20, 2007 at 9:30 am
lol. The differences are pretty keen, but I am sure that our colleagues will have the pleasure of googling and finding your wonderfully informative site with the original version in tact :-)