FAQs... Sorta

Technically this is more of a Preemptive Heads-Up on Andrea's Blog, but "FAQ" sounds better than "PHUAB", so here we go:

Q: Arrecife?! But I thought you had moved to-
A: SSHHHH!!! I have chosen to give everyone and everything aliases on this blog (with the exception of my own name, of course - I still am named Andrea). "Arrecife" means "reef" in Spanish, so I thought it appropriate. Of course, when I chose the name I didn't realize that one of Spain's Canary Islands really is named Arrecife. No, I am not in the Canary Islands.

Please note that the Spanish pronunciation is encouraged. If you think "Arrecife" could conceivably rhyme with "recipe", you've got it wrong.

The island to which I have migrated is a British protectorate, population in the neighborhood (neighbourhood?) of 45,000 permanent residents, plus however many have managed to finagle themselves a work permit. Plus tourists. The island is known for its snorkeling, scuba diving, resort hotels, and occasional money laundering.

Q: So what's with the paranoia? Why can't you say where you really are?
A: That's just the way I am. Many employers frown on employees keeping public blogs. While I don't plan on dishing all sorts of juicy gossip that could get me in trouble, I'd still like to play it safe. Please help me out by not using any real names when commenting on my posts!

Q: Too many names! What are all these people/places you keep mentioning?
A: Port Royale - This is where I lived when I first got to the island in December 2006. It's an old hotel in the process of being refurbished into condos, and it houses most of Winchester-Swann's workforce. I moved out in mid-March of 2007.

The Winchester-Swann - This is the hotel I work for. It's part of a chain of super-luxury resorts. This one can be found in the middle of 17 Mile Drive. Seven pools, no waiting!

17 Mile Drive - This refers to both a beach and a road parallel to the beach running down the western side of the island. The beach itself is only about 7 miles long and I have no idea how long the road is, but it's a fake name anyway. Arguably one of the most famous features of Arrecife, it is where most of the action happens on the island. Port Royale and the Winchester-Swann are both conveniently located here, approximately 1.5 miles apart.

CAOS - Children's Academy for Ocean Scholarship - I work as a naturalist for this program, leading groups of kids on excursions throughout the island and its surrounding waters.

Q: Where on earth did you get all of those fakey names? (courtesy of Ariel)
A: I originally wanted all of the names to be from famous pirate-y and Caribbean films and literature, but a few other names have snuck in for a variety of reasons. Port Royale and Swann are from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Winchester is from a TV show, 17 Mile Drive is from back home in Monterey, and CAOS was made to fit a funny acronym.

Q: So, uh, can you hook me up with a room?
A: No*. (*certain exceptions do apply)

Any other questions? Leave a comment below and I'll add it to the list!