Weight is one of the many things that is seen differently here. It is very common for people, including men, to comment on women’s weight to their face. For instance one may say “oh I see you’re gaining size” or even more bluntly “you’re getting fat.” Yavett has told me several times to cool it on the mayonnaise or I will gain size. It’s hard for me to explain to Grenadians my love for condiments, so I just let it go.
A few weeks ago Leanne and I were at a bbq talking to some men and they asked us “so do you have any kids.” And both of us instinctively laughed, because to us at this point in our lives, as 23 year old single women, in the Peace Corps, financially unstable, even the thought of having kids is funny. The man who asked was confused by our laughter. Another man explained, “See here having kids is different. Similar to how you think of your weight. When I was in American,” he continues “ I was at a restaurant and our women was curvy and I told her she was fat. She was extremely offended and stormed off! But here we like size!! So I thought I was giving her a compliment.” I tried to imagine a random man calling me fat, and it definitely would end in me crying, which if you know me, really isn’t saying much.
Anyway, while I have heard stories, I have not experienced it for myself until yesterday. Yavett and I were in the Supermarket and as we were checking out Yavett says to the Checker
“Hey, why you getting fat? Why is your bum spreading?”
The checker remains silent, so Yavett repeats herself.
“Hey, why you getting fat? Why is your bum spreading?”
“I would rather not answer that.” The checker says, as calmly as ever.
I couldn’t help but laugh, so I had to excuse myself.
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