Month: August 2016

Monday was the start of the new term and for children all over the island that meant smart new school uniforms and bags of supplies. 

Parents take school very seriously and there is a real sense that school is valued and that teachers are to be respected.  Central to all of this is religion and prayer. It was humbling to go into class and say good morning and have the children reply ‘Good morning sir and God bless you’, voiced with total sincerity.  

Each child arrived for the day carrying a box or bag with their school books, pencils, soap, paper towels and an assortment of other supplies ready for the school year. Not one parent complained about having to provide, they all took a quiet pride in the fact they were doing their bit.

The day started with the children heading to class, many parents stayed to help their children settle and then joined Assembly or Devotion. It was lovely to see the children looking so smart and ready for school. My homework is to learn the National Song:

Cayman’s national song, “Beloved Isle Cayman”, was written by the late Mrs. Leila Ross Shier in 1930. Regarded as the unofficial national song for many years, it became the official national song when the Cayman Islands Coat of Arms, Flag and National Song Law was passed in 1993.

As a British Overseas Territory, the national anthem is “God Save the Queen”.

Beloved Isle Cayman as composed by Leila Ross-Shier, June, 1930.

1. O land of soft, fresh breezes,

Of verdant trees so fair

With the Creator’s glory reflected ev’rywhere.

O sea of palest em’rald,

Merging to darkest blue,

When ‘ere my thoughts fly Godward,

I always think of you.
Chorus: Dear, verdant island, set

In blue Caribbean sea,

I’m coming, coming very soon,

O beauteous isle, to thee.

Although I’ve wandered far,

My heart enshrines thee yet.

Homeland! Fair Cayman Isle

I cannot thee forget
2. Away from noise of cities,

Their fret and carking care,

With moonbeams’ soft caresses,

Unchecked by garish glare,

Thy fruit and rarest juices,

Abundant, rich and free,

When sweet church bells are chiming,

My fond heart yearns for thee.

(Chorus)

3. When tired of all excitement,

And glam’rous worldly care,

How sweet thy shores to reach,

And find a welcome there,

And when comes on the season,

Of peace, good will to man,

‘Tis then I love thee best of all,

Beloved Isle, Cayman!

(Chorus)

The song is sung at all Devotions and at the school flag raising. We have two flag poles one with the Union Flag one with the Cayman Flag.

Behaviour around the school was excellent all day and there was a lovely calm atmosphere in every class. The children where polite and eager to learn about their new Principal.  Apart from a Canadian Speach and language teacher and behaviour support teacher, both part time, I am the only Caucasian on staff so I am easier to spot than ever! My teachers are a mix of Caribbean nationalities and they find me endlessly amusing for being ‘so British’ and take great joy in talking very fast in the thickest accents just to confuse me, having said that they are a real team and have welcomed me with open arms.

The school PTA are amazing they have been in school every weekend manning the uniform shop and for the first day of term they decorated the staff room and put on breakfast and gave each member of staff a jar of sweets, they also put out coffee and tea!  It made all the staff feel special and really appreciated.

The one downer of the day was the number of children collected late at the end of the day, one child nearly three hours late! I spoke to every one of the late parents personally and told them it was unacceptable! They were a bit surprised to be told off by the new Principal on day one, my first job will be to tackle this little issue. I feel an after school club coming on, a chat with the YMCA is on the cards for Tuesday…

James and Poppy have their orientation morning today Victoria is taking them into school so they can officially meet their teachers and learn the lay of the land. I think they are both looking forward to school and getting back into a routine.

Oh and Thursday is Happy Hour at the Blue Parrot. The Blue Parrot is literally a tin roof over a bar overlooking the sea, its fab, my new local and a great place to unwind. Two rum and cokes CY$5 and they free pour. So now we have Sunset House and the Blue Parrot. Cheers.

We have been here two weeks tonight and I really can’t believe what we have managed to achieve.

The Tour

As part of our induction the department took us on a cultural tour of the island. We started the day by heading up to the Turtle Farm.

https://www.caymancompass.com/2016/09/05/new-public-school-teachers-take-in-turtle-farm/

Sea Turtles play an important part in Cayman culture, history and heritage, when the islands were first discovered the sea around them was so thick them that they were initially mistaken for reefs. The name for the Islands was originally Las Tortougas, the turtles, only later did they get named the Caymans after their native alligators.

The Cayman Green Sea Turtle are big 50 year adults easily 4 to 5 feet long, the ony turtle bigger are the much rarer local leather backs which can grow to the size of a VW beetle.

The green turtle was a staple food source for the islanders and as a result was hunted and became endangered so the farm was set up to breed and release turtles and to provide turtle meat. As a result of the conservation and education work the farm does green turtle numbers are recovering. The farm has 350 adult turtles and any number of young.

From the farm we headed on to the National Museum. The islands were initially discovered by Christopher Columbus and fell under the Spanish sphere of influence but they gave them to the British as part of the Jamaica settlement.

Slaves were settled on the island to try to start-up plantations but it was not a success so the islands were pretty much left to themselves with the locals making a living from the sea through fishing and turtles, rope making and weaving and harvesting the island mahogany trees to make boats. The isolated nature of life bred a very independent minded population that blended free slaves and white settlers into the people now recognised as the Cayman.

In part because of the need to pull together to survive and in part from the deeply religious nature of the community Caymanian society is very warm and open. The people we have met so far have been amazing, open friendly and helpful.They are also serious-minded, highly ambitious and driven, determined to make something special of their islands.

One example of this is the education system here it may be small but it aims to be world-class and the caliber of people they are recruiting and developing is proof of this. The work being done here would put a lot of local authorities to shame! Having had a week working in the system I feel immensely privileged to have been invited out here to be part of the project.

We also visited Pedro St James the oldest building on the island and learnt about its place in the islands story.

All in all a really interesting day.

Moving in

On Saturday we moved into our house. As I said a few days ago we found it on the internet and just went for it. A great call from Victoria, the house is huge! The house is a short walk from James and Poppy’s school and nicely placed for Victoria and I to get to work. A short walk away is Smith’s Cove and our beach. It has only been a week but we feel quite at home really! We have begun making new friends and contacts.

Lucky and Marcel arrived this week and settled straight in, none the worse from their stay in the UK or journey here. Its lovely having them with us and really helps complete the family unit!

This week our wi-fi was installed so we feel connected with wider world once more and can Skype or Face time once again. Remember the UK is six hours ahead of us so about 2pm is good on a Saturday or Sunday to talk.

I put my bike back together and have been out for a ride, a little warm but a great way to explore locally.

Chickens

They are everywhere! I love chickens so I don’t mind, the island has a huge feral / wild chicken population to compete with the iguanas. Both thrive and both are as tame as anything allowing you to get right up to them.  No need for an alarm clock we are as James’s Godfather John would no doubt say ‘up with the cock‘, I believe this is what his jolly old song refers to…

Work

Victoria and I have been undergoing our induction and getting ready for the start of term. Victoria is supporting two schools on Grand Cayman (K-man) and two on Cayman Brac or The Brac, so once a month she will be flying out there on the government plane!

I got into my school for the first time yesterday and met Miss Kathy my Executive Officer (school admin, secretary, PA etc) she really knows her stuff and is a huge resource.

I met my new Vice Principal Kimberly Litrico (also new to Prospect), a local Caymanian who trained at Rohampton she is really great, hugely capable and we clicked. She popped in for a cup of tea with her 4 year old daughter Naomi (who loved the cats!) and met Victoria and the kids. I think we are going to be a good team.

I also met Miss Bravo my Curriculum Coordinator another real star who talked us through the staff, the school and helped us find where everything was.

With these three ladies and what I am told about the rest of my team (who I meet Monday) I feel we are in a really strong position to develop the school and deliver for the Prospect community.

The school itself is lovely a bright and airy building, a really child friendly place. It is well resourced and kitted out in a way that makes UK schools seems like poor relations. The system here really values schools and education and it shows in the way they prioritise it. Take note UK!

They are everywhere I think only the chickens out number them. The biggest we have seen was an iguana that was easily 4 feet long and this little chap is not the smallest but he was super cute and friendly.

Here in the Cayman Islands (pronounced K-man) they have a saying ‘Cayman Kind’ this is the idea that we are all in it together we all have to look out for one another, be kind, be courteous but most of all be caring.

So far everyone we have met has really tried to live up to this, nothing is too much trouble everyone smiles and everyone stops and talks to you. They are interested and try to make a connection. People go out of their way to help you.

Driving may be erratic but they stop to let you out and wave at you if you stop for them. 

The island has a real community feel and a nod and smile really make your day, people here also laugh easily and the laughter and smiles are infectious. Cayman Kind is not a surface thing it is deep rooted in the people and culture and it is catching.

Cayman Kind also promotes a level of trust people give and expect the best of each other not a bad ethos really so remember be Cayman Kind.

Did I mention it is beautiful here? It is not just beautiful it is breathtaking but paradise has
another side the reality of life here is that you have to have a plan for hurricanes and earthquakes!

Really they don’t occur every year but they are a fact of life and you have to be prepared. So part of our induction has been to learn about what we need to do to be ready.

This weekend we have to get our house kitted out with our supplies of water, dried food, torches and waterproof containers…

We already have our ESTAs prepared if we have to leave the island in a  hurry…

And it might be a million degrees in the shade but wellingtons are a must have fashion item, did I say fashion I meant essential bit of kit.

Last minute panic. Poppy realised as we sat down on the plane that she had left her blanket (Blankie knitted by Maddie) somewhere in the airport! 

Quivering lips! Fears of it being blown up or causing a security incident ensued.

Blanket scare at Heathrow!

How handy is it that our friend Ali works in duty free in T5, a quick text and she went in search…

Two minutes after we texted her she texted back to say…

Crisis averted Blankie has been found! 

All be it will have to find its way back to Poppy in slow time!