25 March 2010

I'll take that as a compliment...

One of our house guests commented this week that I seemed to be half-Turks Islander already.

"Because I only shower half the time?" I asked.

They laughed. I decided I'll take that as a compliment.

I do feel very at home here. When people ask me how long it took me to get adjusted I say "about 3 days". It was probably more like 3 hours. This is very much the pace of life I was born for.

I've been spoiled here. Few people. Good weather most of the year. Most of it.

The seas calmed down after the 6 weeks of "winter" and we've been doing a lot of swimming this week. Yesterday was the BEST. First thing out I found a turtle. For once he wasn't spooked. He made swam in wide circles and let me keep time. I think he was checking out what I was up to. Then we passed a coral head and I remembered why I was out here - it's lion fishing season. Fortunately, my friend the turtle brought me right to a big one. I paused for a moment and mentally marked the location. Unfortunately, when I looked up, the turtle had swam on. Bummer. That was a fun swim - I think I can say I had the attention of that turtle for a full two minutes.

That was only the beginning. I had a trunk fish swim up to me to see what I was about. Straight towards my outstretched hands with his little fish mouth testing out the waters. If you didn't know by now, trunk fish are my favorite, so getting attention from one was pretty cool. And that little baby one is still on it's coral head, growing up nicely. Lots of intermediate french angel fish.

Then an eagle ray swam by really close.

The seas were so alive yesterday! If you looked out into the distance you could see schools of fish gleaming in the afternoon sun as far as visibility allowed. While chasing down a cow fish, I dove about 10 feet down and tried to touch him - not really, just for the joy of diving. When I came up Neal was there. He surprised the heck out of me - I'd been alone and way out: where did he come from!

"Did you see that nurse shark you just swam over?!"

"uhm... no."

He pointed it out: resting in between a group of rocks was a 4.5 foot shark. Hm, didn't notice that. I looked around the shark: the coral was teeming with fish. You know my rule: If the fish aren't worried, I'm not worried. So I dove down for a closer look. Pretty cool.

Ten minutes later, I saw a group of fish scatter like their lives depended on it. Worried fish! I looked up fast, searching for the danger. Baraccuda! He was hunting, you could tell by the evil gleam in his eye (and the scattering fish). I started motioning to Neal, who was carrying the lion fish net, but I realized I was wiggling my fingers to get his attention. Eesh, why don't I just wrap them in a bow as appetizers for our hungry friend? Trying a different tactic, I tugged on Neal's flipper, probably scaring the heck out of him and pointed, then quickly put him and the net between me and the menace.

That was exciting. The barracuda swam off, but I was sure he'd be back to exact his revenge on those who had interrupted his dinner, so I spent the rest of the swim looking over my shoulder. He didn't show. The turtle didn't show up again either.

3 lion fish. We made sushi. Tasty.

Tonight is Moroccan night at the Bohio. I'm so excited - tangine! After dinner: espresso. I'm telling you, this life style is easy to get used to.

18 March 2010

Successes and Failures

I had a new student today. As I normally do, I was lenient since this was his first visit to my program. Many of the students have used the museum offices to do work before and they aren't aware there is a new sheriff in town. I'm a mean teacher, as my little sister can attest, but fair. I ease them in with a fair warning:

  • Rule #1: Nothing gets printed without proper citations.
  • Unofficial Rule #1A: If I've seen you more than twice, you write your own homework - none of this copying/pasting off Wikipedia stuff. I've seen the assignment - it says "write one paragraph" not "copy one paragraph".
  • Rule #2: Sign up for computers in advance or wait your turn. We only have 3 available computers. If you come crying the day before an assignment is due, you maybe out of luck. Plan ahead.
  • Rule #3: Whatever Miss Jessica says goes. This is not verbalized unless someone crosses the line. I try not to use my "most serious voice" except on necessary occasions.
  • Unofficial Rule #4: No Loitering. If you aren't doing work, you are volunteering for the museum.
The kids that have been using the program for months were chiming in as I rattled off the familiar speeches. "Oh good," I thought, "I'm getting through."

The poor new kid, however, looked horrified at the thought that he might have to extend the effort to rub two brain cells together.

"But the teacher doesn't care, just gives the same grade."

I used my secret weapon:

"Well, do you want to be the same as everybody else, or better than everybody else?"

"Better!" chimed my peanut gallery.

"The same." chimed the new kid.

Shoot. That backfired, didn't it? Maybe I should form a different approach for the children who look at me with big scared eyes. Or maybe it's better that they go to the library where (as I understand it) they charge 10 cents per page but don't bother you about what work you are doing. My program is geared toward one-on-one education so I'm willing to help anyone who will put in the effort to think about assignments ahead of time. If my new friend comes back after hearing my stipulations he'll be greeted as the prodigal son. I'm pretty sure I lost him forever after the bit about "no copying".

* * *

This week was the first week without our front staff, Judette. She's gone on maternity leave. That leaves me and the maintenance guy to run the show, with Lina working when her class schedule allows. It's interesting to work the shop without a second staff member (technically Joseph doesn't count. Tours are not his job.) When one bus driver looks at me horrified that I can't do his tour right now because I have ten minutes left with the first group, I can do nothing except remind him we're all on the same team. You guys doubled the tours, we asked for 30 minutes in between groups. Keep to the schedule man!


Since I had to be in the shop all week, I declared it renovation week. Amazing how useful my time at H&M has become. Not only can I create a strategic plan and manage projects, but with a few flicks of the wrist, I can whip up a mean display!

As with the H&M Modern Classic ladies line, which works to portray a chic, yet stylish, image, I went with the clean look in the shop: all books together, all mugs together, all Where is Simon, Sandy? items together, etc. While cleaning out the storage shelves I came across and area that looked surprisingly like the Visual's Room.
Stealing a leftover stand-alone shelf, I finally conquered the never ending shelf-against-the-back-wall by breaking up the space and making our shop look fuller and creating a nice little showcase area.
The next area of attack is the signage. I'm using that oh-so-impressive signage we created for the Spring 2 Collections events and highlighting some local artists. Turns out almost everything in the shop is made by local masters in all kinds of media - handmade necklaces, baskets, pottery, local coffee roasters, photographers, writers, watercolorists.... I feel guilty that I have to be selective, but for the sake of the tourists, I'll keep it simple.

There are a few leftover projects - creating proper display cases for one - that will not fit into my one week plan. But it's going to look significantly more polished. Maybe my display can work as a micro-metaphor for the country: We'll see how long it lasts.
* * *

I've been learning more about the political situation here. It's truly frustrating to hear about. Especially when I see the proof of the stories reflected in my small and various projects. That's how apparent it is: even with limited interaction outside the office, I have a grasp of the major issues. My inner engineer is having a difficult time just sitting by while the political turmoil unfolds. I'm genetically programed to try and fix the problem, analyze the weaknesses, hypothesis solutions, and put the best one into practice. This is such a beautiful little place with so much potential, why can't they see it all like I do?

But the reality is I have no influence over anything except the few kids that straggle through my door. Even to them I'm just an outsider - no better than the British in local eyes. I wonder if the solution seems so far away because I'm an outsider. Am I just stuck in the American/European thought process? The one that says complete sentences are important? If everyone has the the same poor writing style across the board, does that really impact daily business? Maybe it's just a foreign language that I don't understand but they get perfectly...?

I guess that doesn't matter much. The real problem, of course, is that the core issue is a learned skill. People expect to get something for nothing - like when they expect to study in UK universities while handing in sub-par work to the TCI Community College. How long will it take these folks to realize that they can't rely on government for food/shelter/water/education if no one is working for it. Where will the tax money come from to pay for all those benefits if the citizens don't put in a little elbow grease? Canada is setting up the hospital because no one here is qualified.

The cruise center, then? A big corporation like Carnival must have oodles of money. Why not just sell the entire TCI to Carnival and have done. Carnival: the first business to officially own and operate a country better than the current residents.

It's possible that's in their long term plans - maybe I should buy shares.

12 March 2010

Share a little!

I think I crossed a barrier today. I became a little more like a true Turks Islander.

The last time I was in the TCI I wrote an article describing how the islands where being held back by an overwhelming feeling of entitlement. Today I looked across from the other side of the table. I've been to some of the restaurants, bars, and private homes here on Provo, but today is the first time I'm sampling resort life.

Remember in Knocked Up when they are going on about the extravagance of the Las Vagas hotel room? "There are seven types of chairs in this room!" This place only 5 different types, but the view makes up for the missing 2 chairs.

And there are fountains all over the place. And two pools just ten steps from the beach. On an island that, just like Grand Turk, catches rain water and is constantly in shortage, there are no signs anywhere indicating that water use should be limited. OK, so the fountains are probably salt water pulled up from the beach (well, then again, in the TCI - maybe not). Either way, it's certainly a show of wealth on these dry little islands.

It put in mind of the palaces of Morocco. It's an old tradition there for wealthy homes to have huge fountains. In the desert, where evaporation is a constant process, showing off useless pools of water was equivalent to the British habit of having extra, useless windows during the Window Tax days of the 1700's. Today, the shmancy Moroccan resorts still continue the tradition.

The difference between modern Morocco and the TCI is that the water shortages are uniform across economic classes. Or across more economic classes, anyway. A friend and I stayed in a very cozy and lush bed and breakfast in Essouria on the coast. The host and hostess warned us that water was rationed in the town and a late morning shower would end in soapy tears. We confirmed this the hard way.

In the TCI, it's completely different. The "less elegant" places post signage that water is scarce, but essentially, if you are visitor here, you don't have to deal with the local worries. Here in Provo, it seems to not effect people at all. Nothing interferes with the play of the rich.

Without thinking, I crossed the line: I stocked my bag with complimentary cotton balls, extra shampoo bottles, q-tips. I took an extra long shower. They can afford it here on Provo. Anything I use can be replaced by someone with pockets much deeper than mine. On Grand Turk, we don't have benefactors. What's the harm in Provo sharing the wealth with us poor non-profit folk? After all, we have to go back to a little desert island far from all of this. Aren't we entitled?

It wasn't until later that I realized how easily I fell into the Turks Islander thought process. It's not like we want for the necessities on Grand Turk, but our choices are scarce, if at all present. Today, surrounded by all the plenty of Provo, I went on a small shopping spree: a new fancy toothbrush with the bristles just the way I like, and my special face soap I didn't think I would be able to get here. And now I've laced my pockets with quality shampoo. I'm practically rich.

Tomorrow I'll go back to Grand Turk. It really is a different world there. Provo is a beautiful place with the second best beaches in the world. Popular ways to pass the time include kayaking and para-sailing followed by an evening trip to the movie theater or the book store. All that is well and good, but I find that Grace Bay holds no interest for me today.

I can't wait to go back to Grand Turk with our quiet little beaches. First thing I'm going to do? Take a walk on the beach with the dog and enjoy the solitude and the sound of the waves.




...but I am enjoying the fancy wine glasses. This is the kind of luxury I never get tired of: a lounge chair and a cold beverage.

window image from: http://thumb16.webshots.net/s/thumb4/3/90/97/179639097QnQbXP_th.jpg

Progress!


Things are happening around here. Work things. The archival supplies have come in so there are great projects to work on between guiding tours and planning events. The archives is soon to be acid-free, and the library will be officially complete once the spine labels are in place.

The exhibit in the picture is a digestible quick view of TCI history. One of the signs I made for our Spring 2 Collection event series was the inspiration for the signage - which is now the official standard signage for the museum. It's just a small project I worked on, but it is also the most public. I get a real feeling of accomplishment when people comment on how professional everything looks. And it's something I learned at Simmons in my multimedia class. There are so many applications for this degree!

Some other goings ons:

Library update on Museum Blog:
http://tcmuseumblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/library.html

Archives update on Museum Blog:
http://tcmuseumblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/archives.html

Neal's latest projects:
http://hitch-n-tci.blogspot.com/2010/03/these-are-images-of-two-projects-that.html


We are on Provo today for various reasons. There is a fundraiser in a few weeks so preparations must be made!

05 March 2010

The Glory of Household Supplies

Don't underestimate the common sponge. A new sponge with a fancy scrub brush on the back is a beautiful thing. Trying to properly clean the dishes with a piece of mush hasn't been easy.

Tonight we scored big at the grocery store. A big shipment came in and the shelves were filled to the brim! I felt like we'd hit the lottery. I made the usual trip round to the cleaning supplies section to see if they had sponges. I've made the same trip almost daily for 7 1/2 weeks and been disappointed every time. Tonight was different. Tonight the dishes were cleaned to perfection.

Skype Skype Revolution

I think we have created a new market for Skype. This morning was spent helping a new Skype account. This the third one and probably not the last. It wouldn't be such a big deal except for all the security measures Skype has to prove that you are who you say you are if you want to put money on an account. Which is a great way for them to operate their business. That's not the issue. The issue is the small town mentality here.

People here work on a first name basis only - or by adjective: works at Dizzy Donkey/used to work at Margaritaville/plays the ripsaw. Addresses are given by neighborhood designation: "Nurse Burton's apartments in Palm Grove". How do you figure out a mailing address from that?! You have to ask the bank. But you can't sign onto the online website unless you can answer the questions.

"Last 4 digits of your account... No, just the last four.... Ok, nevermind. Write you account number for me...."

Ok, next:

"Mother's maiden name...."

"Maria."

"No, a woman changes her name when she gets married, right? So what was your mother's name before she got married?"

"Maria."

Oh boy.

Ok, I give up. I'm having the young man find a ride to the bank at the far end of the island to answer this simple question. If he comes back with the proper billing address then we'll just have to worry about the payment verification process. This process takes about a week.

01 March 2010

175 hours...

... the number of hours put in between me, Rory and Neal last week at the museum. Not counting the weekend. On Sunday we were only going to work a few hours in the afternoon. We left at 7:30.

Rory left us on Saturday - working till the last minute. He talked to the kids at the Children's Club program minutes before we put him on the plane. We've been missing Rory here the last couple of days. He was a really good sport about all this work, and just fun to have around besides. One of the staff told me he missed him, "he always make you feel good" he said in his broken English. It is so true.

As Neal so astutely pointed out, just because Rory is gone doesn't mean the work load lessens. Last week was pretty extreme though. We complete two grant proposals on top of the normal work, which included assembling a new exhibit display for Provo, preparing for the Children's Club and Spring 2 Collection events, and hosting 7 cruise ships through the museum.

At least Rory was around last week to help with tours, among other things. This week my pace of work has slowed. The tours are fun, but they do take time. The archives conservation supplies are in though, so it's time to sit down and create a plan to manage all these projects.

The most fun project of the week was a new accession - a turn of the century spyglass! Too cool!

The grants are very exciting. The first was actually a submission to the second and final round of the British Library's Endangered Archives Project. The project would allow the museum to hire an archivist to seek out and preserve pre-1900 government records. The fun part of pulling this packet together was tracking down a letter of support from the Governor's office. It's such a novel thing to have access to the highest political power in the country. I don't get tired of it.

I also have to send a public thank you to my professor at Simmons who agreed to be a referee at the last minute. That was a great moment for me because my last minute contact came through before the museum's, which felt like a personal victory: HA, National Museum! My network works better than yours! Seriously though, it was very kind, in the middle of the semester, for my professor to take the time to extend assistance.

The second proposal, submitted just Monday, was a nomination to the American Association of State and Local History's Leader in History Award for Where is Simon, Sandy?, a children's book self published by the museum. The publication of Simon, Sandy and its proceeds have led to the promotion of Turks and Caicos culture and history to international audiences, the acquisition of donkey-related items for the museum collections, and it provides funding for the Children's Program. Certainly a project like this is worthy of recognition!

Moral of the story: there is a lot going on.