Those who know me know when I'm asked where I'm from a certain expression shows up on my face. One that shows contemplation and a little questioning. I shrug my shoulders and tend to respond with "the word From is a fun one." Why? Because it really depends on various factors. Google Dictionary defines From as:
"From: preposition
1.indicating the point in space at which a journey, motion, or action starts."she began to walk away from him"
2.indicating the point in time at which a particular process, event, or activity starts."the show will run from 10 to 2"
My life was started in Florida, but my family moved when I was about to enter 2nd Grade, I lived in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, from Year 3 (Second Grade in America) to Year 11 (Sophmore year), and moved back to the United States about 5 years ago, long enough to get my second High School Diploma (yes, I graduated High School twice). Thus I tend to say I'm Florida Born, Caymanian Raised, and Kentucky Educated. So with all the stress in America lately following the Presidential Election, I'd like to take my readers on a little look see into what Island life is like, because surely it's a lot more than just going to the beach every day.
Which is a lot of what people think when they hear the islands. Yes, there is a beach and the island is surrounded by the ocean, but just like any modern country, the civilians have work and school to attend. Then after that, homework and various other time commitments. If the islanders are going out to the beach, it's traditionally the weekend. In Cayman it is a tradition for some islanders to take their boat out to the Rum Point area. Adults and children are able to socialise and have fun in the water. For me, the Ocean is dark and full of terrors, so it takes a certain level of friendship to get in the water.
People are genuinely shocked when they learn I was fairly bored from the island living. Something they don't understand however when I shrug and say "it's okay. A pretty chill place to grow up" is that I lived there for 8 years. When your island is 76 square miles long, certain mysteries of the island disappear. Just like living anywhere else, life becomes very routine. Now that I've moved, there's some excitement of discovering what is new and seeing old friends, but back then the novelty was lost a few years in.
Think of Belle or Ariel, two Disney princesses who desired "more". In the Reprise of the song Belle, the female ends with the lyrics "And for once it might be grand, to have someone understand, I want so much more than they've got planned." That's exactly how it was for me. I'd happily admit to having what I call "Disney Princess Syndrome". It's so easy to get stuck in this stagnant state of life, and that's the same anywhere. People have romanticised ideas about places that are not their home because of the stories they hear. For example, even in Lexington Kentucky (vastly different from Cayman), I still fantasise about being able to get baguettes every morning for breakfast from a local boulangere in France, travelling by metro to work at a museum, mundane activities, but romanticised for now.
Romanticism or not, I can't help but find myself sometimes proud to call it home. I don't always agree with them legally (homosexuality being illegal and various other LGBT rights being denied) but it's seeming things are beginning to change for the better. From ages 7 to 16 , I lived in a place where I was the minority. My two best friends being a Honduran-American and a Filipino-Caymanian, my neighbours coming from places like South Africa and Romanian. Every year my family meets with our good friends Karoly and Ibolya and have a small dinner. The couple makes stuffed cabbage rolls and everything is right in the world. Every day I was reminded of how Cayman is known to have some of the kindest people in the world.
So for the next few weeks, I invite readers to learn about this Island through my Cayman Series. Next week's article shall be a little lesson on Caymanian history and how it influences the island in modern day.
