Barbados: Six Things I Wish I’d Known Before Moving Here
Are you cold, wet, miserable? Do you feel as though winter will never end? Please don't despair, my chilly friends. What you see here – my Barbados holiday rental apartment – is just a flight away! (I took this photo yesterday … January 5, one of the coldest winters our friends up north have ever seen.)
When Greg and I were in New York over Christmas and New Year’s I was reminded of what a Yank I am and how much I love efficient service, movie openings, sales, Starbucks, and great hamburgers.
This month marks my second anniversary of having moved from San Francisco to Barbados …. where I don’t get any of those things very often. But you can’t move to a place and complain that the new place isn’t the old place, can you? I can’t think of a quicker route to misery than wanting Barbados to be San Francisco. Really now, life could be worse than waking to the view you see in the photo above.
Fortunately, the fantasy of Barbados as a tropical island is very much its reality as well. Perfect aqua Caribbean Sea. Sugar-white beaches. Gorgeous blue sky. Varied landscape. Ideal climate.
However. I wish I’d known a few things about some aspects of life and people on the island of Barbados. Things I wish someone had told me before I moved here. Such as:
1. “Service is usually slow – get over your Type A self and give into the pace island-time.” Relax already. Enjoy the fact that even though service is slow, no one is rushing you to finish your meal, either.
2. “Service is usually friendly except when it’s not. And when it’s not it’s not about you.” I used to think the rudeness was personal to me. It’s not. Then again, maybe it is. I don’t know. I just know it took me a long time to know how to deal with it.
Two years ago, when a young male clerk at a fabric store ignored me and wouldn’t ring up my purchase, frustration and sense of powerlessness defeated me (i.e., I cried). Today I don’t take it personally and I feel empowered to say, “Excuse me, young man, perhaps I can call Mr Abed (store owner) over here to ring me up since you are not interested in doing so.”
3. “This is how you learn to drive on the left-hand side of the street: As you drive, keep your body in the center of the road.” Once I was told, I never again turned off a street right or left into the wrong lane.
4. “When you pay for anything, remember that almost everything on the island is brought in from elsewhere.” Look at a map; Barbados is far, far away from everywhere (of course, in other respects this is a good thing). It’s expensive to ship cars, tomatoes, ink cartridges, and everything else here — and on top of shipment is duty, one of the few ways the government has to bring money into an economy that has nothing to export. So forgive how expensive life is in Barbados.
Dumb me. Took me 2 years to finally break down and buy a car. My righteous indignation over the 100% to 300% duty held me back from the freedom that driving myself brings.
By the way, with respect to grocery store prices: Everyone pays the same price. Guests to the island ask me if residents receive a discount. No, they do not … the housekeepers who keep our holiday rental accommodations immaculate pay the same price for a loaf of bread as our far more affluent guests who come to stay in them.
5. “Bringing goods to Barbados in your suitcase doesn’t save you a cent in the long run.” I used to raid my San Francisco home to bring in sheets, towels, lamps, Splenda, etc, etc, etc. Then I’d have to go out and buy replacements for the things I took out of the place in San Francisco. I created a nightmare routine of leaving Barbados with two empty suitcases and returning with two I couldn’t even lift. Make that four suitcases when Greg and I traveled together. I justified it by telling myself (and Greg) that I was “saving money.”
I paid overweight charges on airlines, threw my back out, and took advantage of my kind husband’s patience far too often before I finally learned to accept that even though selection is small and prices are high, life is much sweeter when I don’t try to beat the system. I now buy what I need here in Barbados. Plus, by buying goods on the island I’m contributing to Barbados’ economy. And I can travel with a small, light bag.
6. “When you throw away anything, remember that Barbados is a 14- by 21-mile island.” Consider how difficult a problem trash is in a small place like Barbados.
I was ridiculously cavalier about replacing very slightly used items (furniture mostly). The truth is, I’m only slightly less so now. I’m afraid that living in a disposable goods culture is still a lesson this American needs to unlearn.
10 Responses to “Barbados: Six Things I Wish I’d Known Before Moving Here”
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I love your blog, though I only just heard of it recently. I liked this post, too, and thought it was worth a mention on my own blog I’ve been keeping while living in Barbados (until August 2010)
http://travelswithmeg.blogspot.com/2010/01/things-to-remember-before-you-move-to.html
Re the friendliness factor mentioned in Point 2: I try to start all interactions with a ‘hello, good day,’ or some other pleasantry. Sometimes that helps. Nobody really should rush anyway!
Anyway, thanks for blogging!
I almost agree 100%, but you don’t need Starbucks. Coffee Italia is cheaper and better and you get a smile!
Not a bad list at all – having grown up in ‘the islands’ – St. Lucia mainly and then lived here, I have never gotten used to the rollercoaster of service – from the best to the worst, but then, like you say, there’s plenty to make up for that!
Regards your furniture-changing habits – that’s one thing I LOVE about Barbados – the second hand shops and auctions – so at least you know it’s not going on the dump – someone else will get it for a snap and probably they or others after them will wear it right out!
But if you happen to want to get rid of any dressers, wardrobes or shelves…give me a shout
Hi, Meg. I agree that being nice with a greeting is important. I do this but I think it sort of backfires in my case because I’m a bit over-exuberant (I’m American, you know) … to a relatively reserved culture like the Barbadian culture, I may come across as phony or false. I haven’t been told this is the case but I wonder …
I like your blog very much, certain points about it especially, such as points of the culture that the US can learn from. Very nice. And your characterization of a white Christmas, Barbados-style. You write, “The only thing here close to a white Christmas are the white sands of the beaches and white foam in the waves.” Well done.
You’ve got a reader in me; thanks for sharing!
Stephen, you are so right. Truth is, I’m not even a coffee drinker (tea’s my usual brew
… It’s the idea of what Starbucks is that appeals to me: ubiquitous spots (in NY, one on every corner, I think) that are warm and cozy where you’re amongst other people who, like me, are stopping for a respite from the weather and a warm something to sip.
I’m with you on Coffee Italia – on the few occasions I have drunk coffee (in my case, cappuccino) in Barbados, I like theirs very much. I’ll take smiles wherever I can get them!
Happy new year, Stephen. Still awaiting your review of Tapas
Finola, ha! You’re so right … the secondhand market is thriving on the island and there are some very fine pieces to be had – castoffs from the old plantation homes are often collectors’ pieces, even.
I try to comfort myself in the knowledge that even if I tend toward a bit of wastefulness no one else is; my things will always find a good home.
I’ll keep my eyes peeled for old wardrobes etc … ! Thx for writing, Finola
I haven’t been to Tapas yet; I’d like to, but we fell out in a large way with Mamma Mia (not the movie; that was great) due to insulting behaviour of one of their people to us, who has now moved to … Tapas. We used to send all of our friends and visitors to Mamma Mia, but they’ve lost out due to his unfriendly manner. You talk about service here, but that was the worst I’ve experienced anywhere in the world. Not holding a grudge (ha ha) there’s too many other great places to eat; NovelTeas (Hastings) for lunch was interesting today, nice food.
Absolutely love this post!
Hello everyone I hope your all well..? I have to say I speak as I find and maybe you should give Tappas a try Stephen we all have off days (I obviously dont know what went on when you fell out) but we have a saying in England “Dont cut your nose off to spite your face” as I said I can only speak as I find and I have nothing but praise for ALL the staff at Tappas…. I booked a table for some friends who have been on the Island for the last 10 days and they were looked after very well, nice bottle of Veuve on the table on arrival as I requested, a great table and excellent service made for a very pleasant evening…. Another saying we use in Engalnd “Bury the hatchet” (and I dont mean literally) go on you may just enjoy it..!! Regards from a very cold UK.
Sorry to hear you’re cold, Shaun!! Time to start planning a visit to Bim.
As far as your advice and life philosophy … I raise my glass to you! Here here, well said!