or: Can You Call Yourself A Local When…?

I’ve stayed in a mix of accommodation types this year. Quite a few places have been on streets with dogs and / or chickens. I don’t mind the dogs so much but as you may remember, I’m a little nervous about chickens.

Where I am staying at the moment has both dogs and chickens. The dogs are a furry neighbourhood watch system, alerting residents to strangers in the area. They start at one end of the street, and like a musical round, the next dog takes over as the one in the house next door has emitted the requisite three barks. Sometimes that dog continues for the whole time the stranger is in the street.

While this doesn’t start too early, it does happen until fairly late at night. It doesn’t matter so much during the day as no-one is home to hear them anyway but the night ones can make conversation difficult. They then reach a point where they are tired of singing and have a sleep instead.

The chickens on the other hand have little regard for the time and the roosters even less. Whoever said they crow when the sun comes up has not really been around many roosters.

Living in this close proximity though has helped me somewhat lessen my chicken freakoutedness. Yes, that is a word.

So what has this to do with being a local?

This morning I walked the entire street and not a single dog barked, chicken chooked or rooster crowed.

I even had one of the dogs follow me to the dive centre.

I am one of the neighbourhood.

Not sure what the people think though!

* Thanks to the Baha Men for the title to this post.