Cotton Flowers, Who Knew?
October 25, 2010 Posted by: ERIN
A couple days ago Tom and I were in a corner of the field station that I don't often frequent, and I was startled to come across these very pretty flowers. They're a deep pink when they first emerge from their bud, and then fade to a pale yellow, almost white as they open. Were they some kind of rose? Or hibiscus?? But then Tom pointed out that they're on the cotton plants that I have definitely seen before. Of course! I've admired the cotton many times during its "harvestable" phase, when it's heavy with little clumps of stringy, white fibers, but never when it was in flower. And I had no idea the blooms were so delightful.
I've heard that there are species of cotton that are native to this region, but there are also species that are artifacts of the Loyalist cotton plantations that existed in The Bahamas in the 1800s. I don't know which these plants are. There were plantations on San Sal, so who knows?
And just so you're aware, I went to great lengths to bring you these pictures. See that tiny guy hanging out on the flower?
While he was using the lovely cotton flowers to distract me, all his fire ant buddies were stealthily crawling up my feet and ankles. The lousy, little jerks got me good.
Yay, cotton flowers! Boo, fire ants!
Glossary of Bahamianisms That I Enjoy
October 22, 2010 Posted by: ERIN
Part of living in a foreign land is learning and incorporating the local vernacular. Here's a selection of terms we've picked up over the last few years ...
CARRY
Bahamian Definition: to bring with, to take; specifically in reference to transporting a person or thing by car
Example 1: I carried Tom to the airport so he could catch his flight.
Example 2: Will you carry these letters to the post office for me?
Personal Anecdote: The first time Alexis asked me to "carry her home" I was downright confused. The thought of me piggy-backing her a mile and a half down the road actually crossed my mind. Luckily, she just needed a ride.
MOMMY
BahaDef: informal term for mother
Example: Mommy made dinner last night.
Anecdote: Of course, this is also common in the U.S., but the thing that makes it stand out in the Bahamas is that people of ALL ages refer to their mother this way. It took me quite a while not to crack a smile when a tough, burly, grown man would talk about his "mommy".
TINGUM
BahaDef: thingy; used to refer to a thing or person whose name one cannot recall
Example: Hand me that tingum!
Anecdote: Tom really loves this word. He began using it immediately. He uses it even when he hasn't forgotten the name of what he's referring to.
GOOD NIGHT
BahaDef: expressing good wishes upon meeting during the evening
Example: Good night! It's so nice to see you. How are things?
Anecdote: The major difference here is that Bahamians say "good night" when greeting each other in the evening, not when parting. I really, really love this usage. I mean, we say "good morning" and "good afternoon" and "good evening" when greeting someone. So why not "good night"? It just seems classy. Tom laughs at me because I work it in whenever I can.
PEPPER
BahaDef: spicy, in reference to food
Example 1: This conch salad is too pepper for me.
Example 2: Tom likes his food on the pepper side.
Anecdote: The main things to remember here is that it's an adjective.
FRESH
BahaDef: bland, in reference to food; specifically used to describe a dish that needs salt
Example: Please pass the salt ... this sauce is fresh.
Anecdote: This is another one that really confused me at first. I didn't understand why someone would criticize food for being "fresh", when to me "fresh" food is a good thing. I've hypothosized that the usage comes from fresh water being the opposite of salt water. I'm a budding linguist, no?
JOKEY
BahaDef: silly, goofy, funny, or foolish in an over-the-top manner
Example: Jim Carey is so jokey in the Ace Ventura movies.
Anecdote: The teenagers throw this one around a lot. Where an American teen might declare something to be "lame", a Bahamian may describe it as "jokey". The tricky part is that is doesn't always mean silly in a bad, annoying, or embarassing way. Sometimes it can just mean ridiculously funny.
MONKEY FOOT
BahaDef: an exclamation expressing anger, surprise, or frustration
Example: Monkey foot!
Anecdote: This term is basically used to swear-but-not-swear, similar to "shoot" and "darn". I use it liberally.
HAIL
BahaDef: to greet; ranging from a drive-by honk or wave to stopping in for a sit-down chat
Example 1: I was in the neighborhood, so I thought I'd come by and hail you.
Example 2: Pedro didn't see me hailing him for the car as I drove by.
Anecdote: I saved my most favorite for last. I think I like it so much because it has that old-timey vibe. It's disrespectful not to hail someone you know when you see them. And there's a lot of hailing that goes on when cars pass each other on the road. Zipper runs into the bedroom to hail me every morning after he and Tom get back from their early morning walk. It's such a great word!
So to review, if someone were to say...
"Good night. If you're on your way to hail my mommy, would you carry this tingum to her? Monkey foot! I hope I didn't make it too pepper or fresh for her. And don't be jokey when you drop it off. She hates that."
... it could be translated as...
"Hey. If you're going to stop by my mom's house, would you bring her this soup? Shoot! I hope I didn't make it too spicy or bland for her. And don't try to be funny when you drop it off. She hates that."
Hail ya later!
New Growth in the Veggie Patch
October 18, 2010 Posted by: ERIN
A Day in the Life
October 6, 2010 Posted by: ERIN
Today Tom and I were taking the dogs for a quick walk after lunch, when I suddenly had a horribly itchy, tickly sensation in my nose. I mean, waaaaaay up in there. I asked Tom if I could blow my nose on his (already very dirty) shirt, but he said no. Can you believe that? But anyway, since there weren't any suitable leaves around, I sniffled and snuffled and snorted all the way home.
When I got here, I started blowing my nose like crazy, which induced some serious sneezing fits, but the tickle persisted. Until finally I gave it one last whale of honk, and out into the tissue comes ...... a mosquito.
Gross, but true. This is the glamorous life I lead.