With apologies to David Attenborough and the BBC Natural History Unit.
(Cue hushed voice) If we observe closely, we can witness a natural phenomenon of the expat life. Preparations for the Great Expat Migration, likened only to the circular migration of the wildebeests through the Serengeti for sheer volume of participants, begin in March or April with bookings on public conveyances. Historically, this meant ships, but now, more likely, airplanes. In the Northern Hemisphere the actual migration begins in early June, as formal institutes of learning close for an extended period through the heat of the summer months.
We can observe the migrants in various states of readiness. The elder females clear out stockpiles of clothing that no longer fit their young and make donations to the local community. Farewell rituals are observed with parting gifts and potlucks. Graduates are feted. Tears are shed and bags, one inside another, are packed with skeleton wardrobes: a few pairs of shorts, shirts and underwear, plus a possible indigenous hostess gift or two, because supplies can and will be purchased along the circular migratory path.
Migrants en route are readily apparent by the almost complete lack of male adults on the initial leg of the journey, as mothers and their young board airplanes to reconnect with their original countrymen and home cultures for the duration of the summer season. We follow the migratory path for the next two months as these wanderers traverse borders, staying a few days or a few weeks at a time with obliging relations and friends, gorging on favorite foods and imbibing excessive libations of a celebratory nature, and, most essentially, stocking up on necessary supplies for the return journey and the nine months before the next migration.
Old friendships are reaffirmed and local dialects are used again. Bewildered offspring are immersed in the culture of their parents’ heritage, which often includes being obliged to kiss aged relations in the matriarchal or patriarchal line and permit the pinching of young cheeks. These family rituals are an attempt to transmit family values, history and culture from one generation to the next. Male adult members often join the migration at some point, upon which the ritual or tradition called Family Holiday (BritE) or Family Vacation (AmE) ensues. This is met by much jubilance among the youngsters and relief from the older females. Varying from family to family, seasonal migration traditions may also include family reunions, with inexplicable matching t-shirts for all participants, adults and children alike. (Which would make a whole 'nother post.)
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| St. George's Island, Florida, circa 2002 |
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| First cousins |
Then finally, with suitcases at capacity and appetites sated, more tears are shed and farewells are exchanged as our travelers complete the migratory circle, returning to their expat homes just in time for the start of the new school year.
According to a United Nations projection, there might well be over 200 million expats in this big world, depending on your exact definition of expat. How many are in the migration circle, even as I type? Are you? Leave me a comment! I finished my circle early this year and Dubai is feeling pretty empty.
But enough fun with social anthropology. Since it’s Monday, you know I’ve got a muffin for you.
Ingredients
2 cups or 250g flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
5oz or 140g light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/3 cup or 80ml canola
1/2 cup or 120ml milk
2 large, ripe bananas
About 3/4 cup or 75g walnuts
12 walnut halves and powdered sugar (optional for decorating)
Method
Preheat your oven to 375F° or 190°C and prepare your 12-cup muffin pan by greasing or lining with paper muffin cups.
In a large bowl mix together your flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and brown sugar.
In a smaller bowl, whisk your milk, canola oil and eggs, along with the two ripe bananas.
Chop your walnuts.
Pour your wet ingredients into your dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
Now fold in the chopped nuts.
Evenly distribute the batter among the muffin cups.
Top with one walnut half per muffin, if desired.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes. Remove the muffins from the muffin pan and finish cooling on a rack.
Sprinkle with a little powdered sugar – optional, but look how pretty!
Enjoy!
