July 27, 2022January 1, 2023 Amy

Island Dreaming

Canada, The Caribbean

Drumroll, please! After a two year stint in Honduras, three years at home in Canada (during COVID), a thwarted departure for Mozambique, we are now posted to…  Bridgetown, Barbados, West Indies, The Caribbean.

A new chapter begins. Adventure awaits.

.

Bridgetown:

Ten years ago, my boyfriend and I took a one week cruise tour around several islands in the Caribbean with his parents (now my in-laws.) On the cruise, we ate too much at the 24 hour buffet, swam in the outdoor pool atop of the boat and saw a sliver of tropical island beach paradise.
The last stop of the cruise was Bridgetown, Barbados. This particular tour sticks out in my memory for the way we came upon the sandy patch of beach that day.
We disembarked the cruise ship at Bridgetown and walked into the busy port. Our Lonely Planet Caribbean on a Shoestring Budget guidebook in hand, we were intent on finding a slice of paradise all by ourselves. We bypassed the friendly taxi drivers each one hustling their unique version of the “special island tour” for day tourists. As we ambled by overturned smelly fishing boats we observed the fishermen counting and filleting the catch-of-the-day. Next, we quickly hustled past the tourist stands and restaurants set up in the middle of town catering to your every whim: rum, knick knacks, snorkel gear, souvenir towel, summer dress, gambling, etc.

Soon enough we land upon a swanky hotel with posh chairs and umbrellas set around an in-ground infinity pool on the beach. We are informed by the hostess that entry costs 20$ per person and we must pay extra for each beach chair and the parasol. This seemed a bit steep for our short stop on the island. So we continue walking. The next resort is a little less glam but still costs nearly as much. Our goal was not that complicated: we just wanted to lie on the sand and swim in the ocean. A bit more slowly this time, we continue walking along the shoreline, under the hot midday sun. We finally come upon a small patch of sand decorated with a couple tattered umbrellas and a few mismatched plastic pool chairs. A friendly Bajan lady quotes a mere 5$ for the group and throws in free rum punch for us all. My father in law is sold!

We settle down throwing our towels on the sand and not long after Irene walks over with four tall glasses of delicious ice-cold rum punch… I’m not sure how much punch there was in the rum, but after just a few sips, our tongues are loose and our big smiles return. We relaxed, splashed in the waves, and admired the lovely view all afternoon.

Barbados:

Jump forward 10 years, add two school age children, a roller coaster ride two year posting in Honduras, and after a failed match to Mozambique, we are now officially posted to Barbados.

I can only imagine what is waiting for us. We will be sharing the island with locals, retired expats and new digital nomads who come to work and enjoy the sun. We will most probably see many lovely sunsets, eat fresh local seafood, sit under palm trees… Maybe attend a few beach parties, snorkel the coral reef, and attempt to learn to surf? Perhaps we will be lucky enough to attend the traditional Carnaval celebrations.

I hope to see more than the typical tourist spots. I have a desire to understand the people and culture of Barbados and the rest of the Western Caribbean. For comparison: the entire country of Barbados is equal in size of the island of Montreal. The estimated population of our assigned island nation is similar to that of greater Gatineau. I also expect a majority of white hair retired expats among them.

West Indies:

I’ve read up a bit on the country but still have many questions, which I hope to answer during our overseas posting, and will share my observations with you, dear reader.

Please sign up to the newsletter to continue to read the blog and follow our family and we embark on a new adventure.

Here are some of my questions so far (the list is by no means exhaustive): I wonder about the history and the impact of the sugar plantations on the people and the natural environment today. As I brush up on my history, I wonder how did Slavery impact this particular island nation? We don’t hear of long caravans of migrants fleeing Barbados or the Caribbean, but I imagine inequality is still present and manifested itself in many different ways. Barbados very recently became a republic and shed it colonial ties to the United Kingdom. It will be interesting to observe these changes first hand. What are the visible effects of British rule and colonization on Barbados past and present?

The particular issue of Global Warming comes to mind when we think of an island nation in the middle of the Atlantic ocean which at the same time is so dependent on tourism (and offshore banking.) How will the threat of rising sea levels impact the homes and people living so close to the se? What are the impacts (positive and negative) of so many cruise ships stopping at the port? What is being done and what can be done to protect the island and it’s inhabitants from future hurricanes and natural disasters?

I wonder if my children will pick up a new accent? We will work hard to maintain their French and fledgling Spanish. I also hope our children and participate in concrete activities to help take care of our planet. I also wish to model concrete gestures which respect nature while we are there.

But first we have to pack, move, say goodbye…

The Caribbean:

There will be ups and downs, highs and lows, we will be far away from home, friends and family. But I already expect we will have lots of visitors in Bridgetown, Barbados, West Indies, The Caribbean…