EUNICEW

Hi everyone! I have holidayed Barbados on many ocassions and absolutely love the place. I have been offered a very good job there, all legal and above board, though my uk boss. Thing in, I'm not sure what it would be like to live there as as 40-something (look, act and feel much younger!) single woman. Any advice? Thanks in advance! ;-)

Foxy_fromCanada

Are you talking in terms of safety or socializing?

Safety: Barbados is very safe, especially when compared to some of the other islands. You must still act with common sense and not leave valuables laying around, doors unlocked etc. Basically, if you wouldn't do it at home, don't do it here.

Socializing: depends what you're looking for. If you've been here before, I imagine you've been to places like St. Lawrence Gap, which has a lot of bars and an active nightlife. There are some other more "upscale" lounges like Scarlett and Fusion which are nice for a drink or two in a pretty cool atmosphere. And we'll always have Mojo...

If you're active, there are a bunch of things to do and some groups of people who get together to swim & cycle regularly (I am one of them). The new boardwalk is a great place to run in the morning, and the Garrison is great for running in the evenings (I do both).

Um, have I covered what you were asking?

Foxy

EUNICEW

Hi Foxy, thank you so much for your reply, you have pretty much covered my thoughts, and it all sounds promising! I guess I was wondering how it would be to meet new friends but from what I have observed on the forums, everyone seems very friendly and helpful.

I am just mulling it over at the minute, the offer kind of came out the blue. I have lived abroad before (South Africa 8 years) so have had the experience of living away from home and know I can handle it. I am pretty settled at the moment, I bought a house 6 years ago for the first time ever and have a great social life, but can't say I'm not tempted! Guess the itchy feet never leave you!

I will be in Barbados soon, and yes, I do stay at the Gap, but haven't tried Scarlett, Fusion or Mojo which sound more like what I'm looking for. Where are they and when's best to go?

Thanks again for your help!

Foxy_fromCanada

Hi Eunice,

Those of us who travel never seem to lose the urge, do we? My history is similar to yours (minus the house, LOL!). Circumstances for moving to Barbados were similar for me, also - it felt a little out of the blue, but was a great opportunity and I had wanted to live in another country again.

It can be easy to meet new friends if you put effort into it (doesn't that sound like an oxymoron!). There are a lot of us "transients" who come and go - some for a week, others for years. So, your friend pool is always changing (I find more so than I'm used to). Anyway, it's good to keep active whether physically or socially or both. Otherwise, you could go a little stir-crazy.

PM me sometime if you like

EUNICEW

PM? Sorry it's probably something obvious but I'm blonde lol!

Foxy_fromCanada

LOL, it means private message. But I just noticed you are a new member so it won't let you until you've made a couple more posts. Sorry about that. Just ignore and keep asking your questions

EUNICEW

Thanks for that! Will probably think of more questions soon but thanks for now. Like I say, will be back there 24-30th jan, will definitely be trying the bars you mentioned. Cheers!

Foxy_fromCanada

Right - you had asked where they are.

Scarlett is on the west coast, at Payne's Bay. Try the Scarlett martini - it has basil in it!

Mojo is on the south coast road, not far from Accra beach and Rendezvous Hill. It's popular among tourists and expats, but locals go there too.

Fusion is directly across from Accra Beach, beside Quayside Centre. It's new, and has an outdoor lounge. They make a gorgeous White Chocolate Martini... I swear it will be the death of me!

EUNICEW

Fabulous! Can't wait!

Serendipidy

Hi Eunice

I came to barbados as i just turned 40 and have now been here for 3 years. I travel back and forth to UK often as i go a bit stir crazy. The ironic thing here for socialising is that most of us end up hanging out with expats!!! Just that local women aint necessarily that interested in hanging out with foreigners (not the same for the guys lol)

There are numerous bars on the south coast where lots of expats hang out and it all depends on what music ya into and what you want from a night out.

Shout me when ya hear end of month and i can get ya to tag along to a quiz night or a nght out or something depending on where ya staying

Have fun

Dipidy

Foxy_fromCanada

I was trying to think of a polite way of saying this... thanks Dipidy!

EUNICEW

Cheers Serendipity - having lived away from home before, I guessed it was much the same everywhere - i.e hanging around with expats, no problem with that!
I think I also understand your need to come back to the UK now and again, as my worry is I would also go stir crazy, have spent a lot of hols in Barbados, but think living there would be another thing. What drives you mad about the place? I can see all the pros, think I need to hear some of the cons. You too Foxy, what don't you enjoy about the place?

Foxy_fromCanada

I think a lot of us like to leave every so often, to get a breath of the rest of the world. Don't get me wrong... Barbados is great and I'm lucky to live here. But, it's a very small island. I come from Toronto, so I'm used to being anonymous and here I'm just not. I don't mind, most times, but sometimes I like to get away to be anonymous again for a weekend. I've had this experience before, living in a foreign country where I was a racial minority. It was an eye-opening and world-broadening experience for me. But it was nice to get away and not have your every move documented (okay, I'm exaggerating... but only a little)

And, you can sometimes find yourself in a repetition of activities. Again, I don't usually mind, but every so often you want something a little different. Also, if you want shopping, there's not much to be had here aside from tourist souvenirs. There are some nice boutiques but they are very pricey. Sometimes you just want a trip to the Dolphin outlet mall in Miami, LOL!

I've found that there are times when I will allow myself to make the comparisons to "back home" (e.g. prices of groceries, availability of X thing, bureaucracy, etc.) but I don't dwell on it because it's futile and serves no purpose other than to idealize the country I came from. You can't expect to transport your current life to another place and have everything operate the same way. Because I'm sure there are a ton of annoying things in Canada that I just don't notice because I'm used to dealing with them. You know what I mean?

Something Dipidy said sticks with me - about Bajan women being hard to make friends with. This is true, and I do wish it were different as I would like to have more women friends who aren't expats (not saying anything negative about my expat girls!). But I guess if I try to put myself in their shoes... maybe we are just people who will eventually leave, so why put in the effort? I'm just guessing. I also do not have children which puts one into a completely different range of activities and ways of meeting people, I believe. I'm not ready to have children, so that's not going to be changing.

Food for thought. Keep in touch, and good luck with your decision!
Foxy

Foxy_fromCanada

whoa, that was a long post... sorry!

EUNICEW

Not at all (long post), it was what I needed and has just comfirmed all the cons I thought there would be, particularly the clothes shopping, which is an addiction of mine!

I have also worked in small communities, here in UK I sell holiday homes in large holiday parks, which become like small communities where everyone knows your every move and if they don't, they make it up.

I am a City Girl from Glasgow, so that was hard to get used to.

I visited Toronto last year in August for the first time - what a fabulous place, lovely people, will definitely go back.

I also have not children and no intentions of changing that anytime.

I will definitely be visiting the bars you mentioned, which is the best night to go where? Also be nice to meet you if you were around.

Cheers again!