July 4th and Eclipse Adventures

Happy Late 4^th

I’m not a huge fan of July 4^th; I never really understood the need to light explosives. Halloween is much better. But you can imagine that a gaggle of students stranded in a 3^rd world country for the fourth were a bit hungry for some camaraderie. I grabbed my new vetprep friend and threw together some 7 layer dip and headed over to a party. The dip was a hit. And there were sparklers, which made me smile. Supposedly there were other fireworks around the island.

Also, went to Eclipse opening night recently. There was some serious dedication on behalf of the 600 female students here in the form of matching Tshirts, “twi-gating” for 6 hours, and a theater full of Rossies alone. I arrived at 6:15 for a 6:40 showing with tickets pre-purchased and friends saving seats, which was apparently a massacre. This was amusing. Then I went again on Tuesday, which is the discounted night at the theater (10EC or $4US instead of the usual 15EC). I’ve never done this before and it is the locals’ night out. Approaching the ticket counter I was yelled at, grabbed, and given multiple look-overs. Please be reminded that it is important to dress up for the movies, when you intend to sit in a darkened room where no one can see your outfit for 2-3 hours.  Time to get out your fishnets, your neon colored leggings that are 3 sizes too small, and your fake rocks. So the token white girl in linen pants and a Tshirt finally makes it inside a mass of at least 200 people to the anteroom of the theater.

I have promptly capitulated in these situations, knowing that my biting attitude that usually keeps texting and phone conversations in check at the Terminator: Salvation premiere in the states falls on deaf ears here. So I take a deep breath and embrace the throng of bodies and sweat. Luckily I have navigated this before, and I end up at the snack counter behind a woman that just ordered 14 small popcorns and 9 drinks. I scoop some nachos and tuck myself in line, or rather mass of people. Lines don’t exist here, you simply elbow your way in front of other people until you get served first. And if you try to be polite, be prepared to stand there nicely for hours while they walk all over you. Eventually I end up with my friends in the theater, who somehow despite being in 7^th semester and therefore veterans to this island are white with shock realizing that we won’t be seeing the movie, we’ll be listening to babies crying (bring them to the 9pm showing) cell phones ringing, and constant chatter. I continue to see the hilarity of this event and am happily chomping away as the lights fail to dim but the film begins. I decide to see if I can yell or whistle louder than the locals, who like to talk back to the actors.

  “Liaaaahhhh! BITCH!”

“Busta dont F*#% with Edward!!!!!”

After the movie, it is key to reach  your car quickly since there is only one way exit from the parking lot. Kittitians don’t move anywhere fast, so bee-lining to your car is simple. Upon arrival, someone has parked so close to my car that I can’t even slide a finger in between, never-mind squeeze my body through the nonexistent crack. How the two have not made contact and how the other people exited remains a mystery. I pry open my passenger window and climb in from the wrong side in order to reach my driver’s seat. The things we take for granted in the states… Being relatively civil to one another is a gift.

Right. Back to studying.

~ lkc