First and Foremost... THINGS.

When I first learned that I’d be living on this small, lesser-known Caribbean island for two years, I did a lot of research. At first, it was just exciting to see so many beautiful pictures of breathtaking sunsets and postcard-like beaches… But then, I got serious. And, to my dismay, I found that there was very little to go on in the way of actual, useful everyday information. At least for someone like me.

***Disclaimers:

- If you’ve reached this post via google search and have never visited this site before, please excuse the occasional language. This is my personal, unedited view of the world complete with salty verbage. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to stay.
- This list is not sanctioned by the government of Grenada, any airline, or any type of recognized authority. My observations and suggestions are based on personal experience, and should not be considered a blanket rule in any case.
- This list is not all-inclusive, being written only a week after my initial arrival as a temporary resident. However, I shall do my best to diligently update the list with any new or helpful information I stumble across. - I absolve myself of any and all liability if by reading any of the following, you as the reader are led to be arrested, run over by a bus, poisoned, lost in the wilderness, robbed, fall down a hillside after drinking too much rum or Carib, or are eaten by a shark. There, I think that covers pretty much everything.
- Oh wait, one more thing. All jokes or snarky comments made about the culture of Grenada, its government, travel organizations, or plant and animal life are meant in the spirit of educational satire and are not meant to be taken seriously. Basically, I would appreciate it if you did not send me angry e-mails or mean comments based on the content of this posting. Angry e-mails and/or mean comments based on the content of all my other postings are to be expected. Enjoy.
Now, on with the ACTUAL list!

THINGS I WISH I’D KNOWN BEFORE MOVING TO GRENADA:

 

I. Lots of “other” blogs I found talked about how easy and accessible everything is here. And I guess, for someone who was expecting a dirt-streeted third-world country sort of setup before they came, it might seem that way. Not that I’m saying Grenada isn’t well-equipped with most modern luxuries. You really can find most necessary items. And if you can’t find them, they probably aren’t necessary.

However, there were some things I really, REALLY wish I’d brought from home. Such as:

1. Bed sheets / pillowcases (blankets are largely unnecessary here): Even though the Caribbean is generally known as a great place to buy cheap linens–tablecloths, napkins, communion gowns, etc.–because compared to the U.S. linens are up to 300% less expensive with the duty-free discount, that discount only applies to TOURISTS.
Not to mention that here in Grenada, 200 thread count is pretty much as luxurious as it gets. So. If you’re moving here from the US for an extended period of time, do yourself a favor and pop down to Wal-Mart, grab a set or two of those $20 Jersey-knit sheets (because they won’t pill, they’ll dry fast on the line and keep you cool at night). The extra weight in your luggage will be worth it, especially after you visit the local “Linens n Tings” and see that a basic set of 200 tc will set you back about $170 EC.

2. OFF. Or Ben’s, or Deet, or whatever you can get your hands on. Yes, they sell it here. (And at a much stronger level of Deet than back home, btw.) But bring a travel-sized bottle with you on the plane. If mosquitos just love to taste you, maybe consider swapping out bug repellant for your usual body spray. (Speaking of which, you might as well leave the Bath & Body stuff at home. No sense making your tasty American skin smell any sweeter than it already does. To the bugs. Don’t be gross.)

3. Tupperware. I know this probably goes without saying, but there are ants. Most houses aren’t very well sealed down here, so the ants get in. To combat this problem and keep your house or apartment from being overrun, you can either keep EVERYTHING in the fridge, or buy some really expensive Glad containers at the IGA. Obviously, you won’t want to fill up your suitcase with them from back home, but if they happen to have a nice big set for under $10 back home and you’ve got the space…why not?

4. Sunblock. Again, I feel I should probably bring up the fact that most of the things on my “wish I’d brought it” list CAN be bought here. But they’re either a lot more expensive or in limited supply, and as my husband will tell you I am SUPER cheap when it comes to spending a lot on things that aren’t Diet Coke or shoes.

Here are some things I DID bring, and I’m glad I did:

5. Cooling pad for my laptop. It’s this neat-o little wedge-shaped contraption with a built in fan. I bought it for about $14 at Wal-mart, and while it probably won’t prevent my gigantic HP laptop from eventually exploding (either from the incessant heat or the SUPER fun new problem I’ve discovered–keyboard ant infestation) it does help to keep it cooler than it would be otherwise.

6. Headbands. I had the amazing foresight to buy like 10 of those skinny little rubber headbands that tennis players wear to keep the flyaways down and sweat away from the face…do you know the ones I mean? They’re great. I love them. Also, I have recently realized that I probably won’t ever be wearing my hair down during the next two years, so a copious amount of hair ties was also a must.

There are also some things I should NOT have bothered bringing. Like:

7. Makeup. Yeah, that was a real surprise for someone who’d worked many long hours in the Caribbean but had never lived here. I used to wear eyeliner, mascara…and yeah it was sometimes pretty smudgy by the end of the day. But I spent enough time in air-conditioned places that my eye makeup and hairstyle didn’t suffer too much damage.

But in Grenada, during the “hotter” season? Fughettaboutit. Mascara? Try tiger stripes on your upper eyelids. Liner? It don’t mattah if you’re using powder, pencil or liquid. It WILL end up making sweat tracks down your face. Plus–and I’m not trying to scare anyone here–it’s not like you really want to attract more attention to the fact that you’re a girl. People will already notice, even if you’re swathed in sweatpants, hair tucked under a baseball cap. (Don’t do this in the “hotter” season, by the way, or you’ll probably die.)

And you won’t be competing with anyone for makeup style, either, since 98% of the girls here are either locals or students who don’t have the time or the inclination to reapply those gooey, sticky substances to their faces every 5 minutes.

8. Heels. If you don’t know me personally, this might not shock you at all. But for those of you who do, it’s horrifying. I was good and brought exactly ONE pair of heels with me to Grenada (for special occasions only). Even then, whenever I step out of the house in them, I feel like I’ve strapped a giant, Hollywood premier-style spotlight onto my back. It’s like “Hey everyone, look at me! I have absolutely NO idea how people dress around here. And/or I am trying to make a poncy impression!”
Other than my dance shoes, I could’ve just as easily done without heels altogether. Flip flops, leather sandals, even fancy ankle strap ones if you want, but sandals all the same. That’s what most people wear, if they’re not wearing sneakers/running shoes/sweet pumped up teenage kicks.

9. Hair dryer. Technically, you could use one, I guess. But it’s going to take forever and the difference will be slight. If your hair has a tendency to go flat, frizzy, or half-curly half-wavy and insane in the humidity (like mine), it’s going to do that no matter how you style it. So just go with it, man. Stock up on leave-in conditioner, pomade and those nifty little tennis-player headbands, and let those flyaways fly.

10. Jeans/Long pants. I brought about 5 pairs of shorts (all knee-length or a few inches above, because again I don’t love getting stared at constantly) and I wear them pretty much every day. The same goes for my floor-length cotton maxi skirt from H&M. LOVE that. Wish I’d bought six more. Jeans, though, unless they’re crops or super loose…don’t really see the point. Maybe if you have a special occasion to go to during the “less hot” season, or if you just really love jeans. Otherwise… meh.

II. How to Shop for Groceries in Grenada.

11. At first, you’ll want to take it slowly and ease yourself into the culture. This is totally understandable. So you’ll probably buy most of your setup stuff at the IGA in Spiceland Mall. It looks pretty much exactly like a US grocery store, only everything is priced in EC. (The current exchange rate is about 2.7 EC per USD–I like to do the math in my head by dividing the price by 2, while my husband divides by 3 because he’s more of an optomist than I am. Which is also why I’m the one in charge of the budget.) The IGA is a tad expensive–like pretty much everywhere–but it’s a great place to shop if you want to buy fresh, local bread for about $2 US, and they also have the biggest selection of produce (but they run out early in the am, so get there quick–especially if you ever want to buy EGGS or lettuce) and frozen foods. Again, these are more expensive, but it’s tailored to people who want a more US-like experience.

At the IGA, you’ll find most brands that you recognize, but I always try to buy generic or off-brand as much as possible. Example: the difference between a can of Starfish Tuna and the local stuff is about $3 EC. That kind of thing adds up. Also, if you’ve got kids (or if you’re like me and you have a lifelong dedication to Diet Coke and the gourmet tastes of a 5-year-old) you might want to know that a six pack of soda at IGA costs about $6 US, and a box of Kraft Mac N Cheese is about $3 US. (If you’re really adventurous, you can DIY and buy a big bag of macaroni noodles for around $1.50 US and a box of Velveeta or similar brand of fake orange cheese. Presto!)

12. After you’ve settled in (or if you have the aforementioned Diet Coke addiction…not that it’s a problem, cause like me you can probably quit whenever you…nevermind), you might want to discover a local gem called CK. It’s kind of like a miniature Costco, where you can–but don’t have to–buy almost anything in bulk. The best things to get here, IMO, are drinks (soda, juice, beer, water bottles in big boxes, etc.) cereal–if you MUST, bc boxed cereal is ceriously expensive (ba-da-bing!) no matter where you go–US delicacies like Oreos (again, very expensive but if you must, you must), and cleaning supplies/detergent, etc. All or most of these items will be cheaper here than at the IGA, and they’ll be even cheaper if you buy them in packs or cases. But here’s the fun part: these items don’t actually COME in the cases, like at Costco. If you want to buy a 24-pack of soda, you’ll have to take four 6-packs and make one yourself. This makes carrying things out of the CK a bit of a challenge. Which is why if you do decide to shop here, you will probably have to hire a taxi. (Because the SGU bus won’t let you get on with anything more than you can carry. They also won’t let you get on if you’re visibly wet or have open food containers, like from KFC or something. For more on the bus situation, see section V.)

III. A Word on Local Foods.

13. Most people probably think coming here will mean that they’ll have to drastically change their diet. Or start one. Though I won’t lie, the extreme heat and overall inconvenience (or non-existence) of fatty snack items and fast food does help quite a bit, you can still nosh on your favorite guilty pleasures once in a while if you’ve got the inclination and the funds. Things like double-stuffed chocolate cream Oreos are still available here, for a price, as well as most popular beer brands (Heineken, Guiness, Corona, etc.).

14. When it comes to dining out, there is exactly ONE fast food chain: KFC–and no, Jazzy, I am not touching that one.

15. There are, however, a whole bunch of local, family owned places that specialize in everything from thin-crust pizza and pasta (The Boulangerie–I did NOT spell that correctly), Sushi (right next to that place I just didn’t spell correctly, across from Spiceland Mall), Hamburgers, Chinese food–use your discretion on this one, though, as there’s a disturbing yet hilarious rumor circulating about the whereabouts of some of the area’s stray animals–and of course, local fish and whatnot.
The best local place I’ve ever eaten at is in Caranege (near the Esplanade Mall), and it’s called BB’s Crabback. But it is EXPENSIVE, despite being a little family-owned hole in the wall. So maybe take your family there when they visit.

16. During national holidays (like Carnival) or in certain parts of town, you might see the occasional food stand selling grilled corn on the cob or various smoked meats. Again, use your discretion, but I’ve personally never been brave enough. After you’ve worked in a hospital, you gain a pretty decent respect for the power of germs.

17. Also, on that note, it’s supposedly considered rude to offer someone you just met a home cooked meal or a treat that you’ve made in your own home. I read that somewhere. Not sure if it’s true, but since no one has at any point offered me a home-cooked treat since I came, it might be. Works for me, though, because I’m not really the “bring cookies to the neighbors” type.

IV. Traveling Into Grenada

18. Island Airlines, yes even good ol American A, will almost definitely lose at least one of your checked bags (more than one if you check extra bags, i.e. more than two). So pack a couple changes of clothes and ANYTHING valuable you’re bringing with you in your carry-on luggage.

19. Also, another FUN FACT I wish someone had shared with me? Most Caribbean airlines (i.e. Liat) have a weight limit of 15 lbs on your carry-on luggage. Yep, you heard me. A lot of people on my flight had to gate check their laptops, purses etc. because they were too heavy. Luckily for me, my laptop case was just under weight and my roll-on carry bag didn’t have anything really valuable in it. (Cause I’m pretty sure that got its fair share of searching.)

20. For SGU significant others: Even if the school says you don’t “really” need it (and no offense to the school, but half the time when you ask someone in “information,” they give you a totally wrong answer, or at least one 100% different from the last person you asked) BRING YOUR PROOF OF DEPARTURE. (i.e. proof that you as a non-student are not planning on staying in Grenada forever.) Even if you have to make one up. (Legal disclaimer: I am NOT suggesting you defraud the government of Grenada or any other Caribbean island, or the US. etc. etc.) You might not get asked, but as I always say, “it’s better to HAVE it and not need it, than NEED it and not have it.”

***Additional note: Please see Buffy's post on (ahem) prohibited items of the "marital" variety.

V. On-Island Transportation

There are three major ways to get around in St. Georges:

21. Walking. Just like any other place in the world, they have sidewalks here. If you’re a girl and you’re alone, don’t walk places by yourself. It’s not a big deal, and I haven’t heard of any problems. But it’s common sense. Depending on where you live, there will most-likely be a few little restaurants, shopping places or gas stations around. We even have a movie theater that shows new-ish movies. I haven’t been, because I have Netflix (and zero desire to see the latest Ice Age: Should’ve Been Extinct by Now movie). But I’ve heard it’s nice enough.

22. SGU buses. One thing that’s AMAZINGLY nice about SGU as a school is that they offer these totally convenient, free shuttles that go all over town. There’s one that goes to the beach, one that goes to Spiceland Mall, one that goes to pretty much every student housing area–check on this before you sign a contract, though–one goes to the airport, and all of them go to the school. Technically, you have to have a student ID to ride, (you can get a special SO pass through security if your spouse/partner is a student) but I’ve never been asked. My landlord said it’s probably because I’m pale, and they just naturally assume I’m a student. Works for me.

23. Taxis / Local “buses” which are basically also taxis. If you’re walking down the street and someone honks at you, there’s a 90% chance it’s a taxi/local bus letting you know that they’re coming and you need to wave your hand and they’ll stop.

Sometimes, they’ll stop even if you don’t wave your hand. Most of the time, there will also be some dude hanging halfway out the van door (yes, the buses are vans, as creepy as it sounds) and yelling “bus!” or “taxi!” As they get closer, they might even try to convince you to get on the bus. It’s not free, but I’ve heard it costs less than a traditional taxi van. Though I’ll probably never know, because I’m not brave enough to climb into one of those things by myself. Plus, the SGU buses will take me pretty much anywhere I need to go.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what I’ve learned about Grenada so far. Stay tuned for updates on the ongoing ant infestation and my upcoming foray into the super secret (and I’m convinced, real) underground fight club of lonely American SGU Housewives. (Note: If it’s not real, I’ll be starting one soon.)

You're welcome.