Today marks two full months in Suriname. Since arriving I've written some observations about the things I've noticed that are unique to life in Suriname. I thought I'd start sharing them. SO here is my first installment of:
Suriname Quirks
Work Wear
Generally people will wear the same thing to work two-days in a row. I find it fascinating….and everyone seems to do it. They wear the same thing for two days and then on the third day they come in wearing a change of clothes. I wonder how this began or how people know the unwritten rule of wearing the same thing for two days?
Plastic Chairs in Twos
Everyone knows about those plastic white or green outdoor chairs. Here in Suriname they are VERY common. Everyone and every place uses them - offices, restaurants, in people homes, you name it. They are the chair of choice really. The difference is here, they are usually stacked in two and you sit on two chairs. I find it so odd. From what I can gather, they stack two together to give them more stability and strength – I'm not sure if it's because the ones they get here are cheaper quality or if it's because many people here are carrying a little more on their backsides!
Clothing of Choice
I’ve decided that the clothing of choice in many neighbourhoods in Suriname is a towel. At first I thought it was just my former host family. They were always walking around in just a towel – and not just inside the house, outside too! Then I saw someone walking down the road in a towel and one morning I was sitting in the car and the neighbour walks up wearing a towel. Really, you wandered out of your house and down the road in not more than a towel?!?! I could just see it back in Manitoba. I walk over to Mr. & Mrs. Smith for a cup of tea in my towel or across the yard to have a beer with Kim and Dave in my towel and them in theirs. I want to tell people hey, you forgot something – CLOTHES. Maybe it’s because people are in towels so much anyway showering three times a day that towels as clothing is just a natural progression. I’m not sure if I’ll pick it up myself, but if I do, neighbours, consider yourself notified where it came from.
The rainy season has started here (yes, the temps have finally dropped). I'm looking forward to seeing what interesting things I take note of in the rain. Until next time....
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3 comments:
Excellent blog, Tricia. These are the types of details other's want to hear and yet few travelers concentrate on.
Today in Manitoba,a towel might not be a wise choice of clothing as the balmy -18c temp might find you a little froze up out in the yard for all passers by to take note of your new found method of dress or at least until the spring thaw....ha ha hee hee!!!!
Thanks Kolby. Please stay tuned as I think you're going to enjoy the many 'Suriname Quirks' installments to come. I've written lots of them, but thought it might be nice to have pictures to go along with them so now I'm working on getting pictures to illustrate. Coming soon....Behind Bars, The Parking Guys, Raking the Yard and much more...
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