On Becoming Bahamian…or something.
As there doesn’t seem to be much available for Expats in the Bahamas, at least not like the resources available to European Expats, I decided tonight to see if I can find blog links to people writing in the Bahamas…I hoped for maybe foreigners in a new land like myself, but I wasn’t feeling picky.
The results are limited, as you may imagine. But I did come across one gem. The blog of writer Nicolette Bethel. And as simple as it may seem, this blog has made every apprehension I’ve had about moving to the Bahamas melt away.
Ok. Maybe that’s a little dramatic and overreaching. But it was certainly a wonderful find. She’s brilliant.
To backtrack a little: I haven’t made much of a go at this blog, much to the Welshman’s dismay, as well as my own. It isn’t that I wanted to have people reading it and was put off by the slow reception to my initial attempt; in fact, it was much the opposite. I didn’t mind that people I knew were reading (after all, I gave them the address), but I didn’t like knowing it. And since I did know they were reading (thank you stat-counter), I began to feel like I was writing apprehensively, with a cautious familiarity which should have been reserved for emails or personal conversations, not my outlet: my blog.
I began this blog shortly after a bit of a breakdown. I tend to become a little bluesy in the winter. No, make that extraordinarily bluesy. In fact, my penchant for wearing black begins to feel less like a classy decision and more of an emo tendency.
Wouldn’t you love to adopt an emo kid? In the save-the-wildlife sense of adoption. Or like adopting your own star. The teen-anxt and trademarked anti-fashion is just heartbreaking. But I digress.
It seems that the time of year when the little butterflies of worry in my chest well up into a constant feeling of mild reasonless panic is upon me. So tonight, having already changed out of my usual black sweater and into a coral tank-top, completing the ensemble with the addition of a Bahamian pink coral necklace and shell earrings, I began to think about a life in the Bahamas.
I had previously mentioned that I may move to England, following my fiancé, the Welshman. By some twist of fate, or for whatever reason (“lack of trying” would be, of course, a humourless and pessimistic option. So I won’t go there…oops.), he wasn’t able to establish himself in Merry Old England. He has returned to his home, The Bahamas – admitting finally that it feels more like home to him than Wales – and he has found a happy home in a small PR company.
I’m all for picking up and moving. I develop strong ties, but I like newness and opportunity. So, a move to the Bahamas is both enticing and frightening. It is proudly a Christian country. This should be a draw even for someone who isn’t necessarily sure of her own Christianity. Christians are happy, loving, embracing people right? Maybe not. The impression of a judgemental society is what I’ve come away with.
If you’re Bahamian and reading this, please don’t be offended. I love the Country, but I’m also writing from a very liberal perspective in a very liberal Country.
I worry that my liberal views will make me feel stifled and claustrophobic in the beautiful paradise I will be living in. Crime is rampant, bribery simple, poverty is on every corner, and hatred between classes, races, religions, old-family vs. newly-immigrated Bahamians etc. is something that I could see hinted at in less than subtle ways in the short time I’ve spent there. This is of course evident in every country, so I am by no means discluding Canada, but it seems that the Bahamas is having a harder time convincing itself that this is a problem, not a norm.
This brings me to my original point. Nicolette Bethel’s blog interested me because in it she openly discusses the issues that concern her about her country, and praises the things that she finds make it great. I could do the same (though less eloquently) about my own country. And somehow feeling that I can see an unknown Bahamian not hiding from controversial opinions like an ostrich in the beautiful white Bahamian sand, I am thinking where there is one, there must be many more. My fear of meeting similar-minded people to myself with whom I can befriend on the little Caribbean Island has been alleviated to a certain extent.
So while there won’t likely be many young Canadian expats with whom I can grab a coffee and debate the ‘politics of home’ (let’s be honest, do we ever follow our own politics as closely as American anyway?), I might at least find some Bahamians who see the problems in society as problems worth fixing, and change as exciting, not threatening.
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Worth reading: Bethel’s essay “On Hate”
It took my breath away. I found myself exclaiming “yes! That’s exactly it!” and excitedly reading aloud snippets to my patiently bemused roommate. (Also wonderful: “On Being Bahamian” and “On Immigration”)
March 4th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
[…] mindpeople blog wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt As there doesn’t seem to be much available for Expats in the Bahamas, at least not like the resources available to European Expats, I decided tonight to see if I can find blog links to people writing in the Bahamas…I hoped for maybe foreigners in a new land like myself, but I wasn’t feeling picky. The results are limited, as you may imagine. But I did come across one gem. The blog of writer Nicolette Bethel. And as simple as it may seem, this blog has made every apprehension I’ve had about mov […]
March 28th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Hi, I’ve been working in The Bahamas for over 4 years, having arrived from Toronto. At first it took awhile to find my place, but after a point I just got involved with those activities that attracted my interest. I am very interested in the arts and culture, so I sing in choirs, dance in recitals in churches and help organize events, volunteer at the Dundas Theatre and support the Bahamas Int’l Film Festival. Through it all I have made several steadfast friends and feel that I am living a full life here and not just on some extended vacation. I say, volunteer in activities that interest you and you’ll make many friends. Yes, it is more conservative in some ways, but every culture has its positive and negative… just look for the positives and you’ll happy. By the way, my Toronto habits came with me and I still wear black… just a little less.
May 12th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Thanks for the kind words!
I’m sure there are places and people you can hook up with. Here’s a tip: when you get into Nassau, join up with the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas and the Hub. You will meet plenty of people who don’t find the way I look at the world at all strange or different!
Cheers and all the best
Nicolette