Being new in any country is a challenge which brings you insight, confidence, paranoia, and fear. It is a situation which is full of juxtapositions, but if you embrace the adventure it could be one that helps you grow. Barbados has reminded me that dreams are possible. It has brought back teenage ideologies, because this is an island of opportunity where you can be free from the big city rat race, stop ‘surviving’ and start to look around.
For me, Barbados has woken past dreams and made future desires seem in reach. I have met so many expats who have come here and made millions often working in fields they hadn't even worked in before! I met a lady who started her first bar here with no experience whatsoever, and it is now one of the most successful bars on the island. I met a guy who went from being an estate agent in London to being one of the most successful construction company owners in the world. Another lady I met worked as an insurance underwriter, but realised her dream of being a singer by performing in the bars and restaurants here in her spare time. She has now brought out her first album.
This island is small, yet it is full of successful, interesting people who work hard and play harder. When I first arrived I was welcomed by a long standing ex-pat to, in her words, 'Never never land' and I thought my gosh I have come to the right place! There are only so many people and only so many places to go which means meeting people here is fast. A few nights out on the West coast’s ‘2nd Street’ and you’ll soon know who all the ‘usual suspects’ are.
Of course, as with all good things there is a flip side – you can’t go anywhere on the island without bumping into someone. Locals and ex-pats describe ‘island fever’ – an ‘ailment’ that can only be avoided by leaving the island at regular intervals. I would explain ‘island fever’ as paranoia and, sadly, I have met some people who seem to be destroyed by it. These people tend to be mainly women ex-pats who find the size of the place – the ‘everyone knows your name’ situation overwhelming.
My blog will tell you about the places I like in Barbados, and the things I don't like. I will take you on my journey and reveal the secret parts of Barbados, the places that are ‘off the beaten track’, that I have been lucky enough to discover. It will be an impartial account of my experiences of Barbados.
I hope my blog helps newbies and visitors, find their way around the island and settle in more quickly. I would love for locals to comment on the places I have been or advise me of other places I should check out. If you have suggestions of what you’d like me to write about that would be very welcome too.
I would also like this blog to help me stay in touch with England. The opportunities that surround me here are partly born out of gaps in knowledge and experience here compared to the likes of London. With big city experience, being surrounded by less competition more possibilities arise. However, I would hate to lose touch with the latest trends, ideas, scenes and music that is taking off back home and around the world. It would be great if folks back home could leave comments on the latest music tracks, or trends that are rocking their world.
Meanwhile I hope you guys find this blog about the ‘rock’ that is Barbados interesting and eye opening. Perhaps it will even inspire you to come and visit.
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