Caribbean Withdrawals- A Need for Cultural Diversity

I’m approaching the one year mark since my last excursion past U.S. borders and I’m aching for another tropical vacation. Doesn’t everyone say this, though? Especially if you’re from [what we like to argue] the coldest place on earth, Wisconsin. However, I’m not just in it for the warm weather, white sand beaches and fancy umbrella drinks that accompany the stress-free environment of momentarily being away from my studies.

Last January when I ventured to the Bahamas for the first time, I enjoyed it for all these reasons that anyone might, but it was the disparate culture of the locals that really set this vacation apart from my others. I spent a great deal of time socializing with the islanders and getting to understand first-hand what their lifestyle consisted of. I embraced their diverse styles of entertainment, work life and communication; as a result, I learned a great deal about their civilization. In addition to the locals, I met people from countries all over the world and had a chance to gain intuition about their life experiences. From this one week trip alone, I made connections with individuals from all over the Caribbean, Italy, Canada, Mexico and Spain among others. Not only did I acquire a a lifetime worth of wisdom from them, but I was able to give them some insight into my lifestyle as well. There’s something very powerful to be said about the special bond you can share with people so different from you but who bestow the same respect for diversity.

Being isolated on an island for 6 days is a sure-fire way to force you to step outside of your box and dive in to new things. I’ve never really had a problem with leaving my comfort zone though, because this is the stuff I thrive for! I had a chance to take a bike ride along the coast of the island, view live entertainment from the locals, have an all-night dance party with people I could never have imagined celebrating with and try unlimited amounts of assorted food from all over the world.

And let me tell you, not enough can be said about how Caribbean folk eat! They love food, and what do you know, so do I! My boyfriend and I would poke fun at what their idea of a “snack” is, which consisted of a whole meal (I’m talking burger, fries, a whole pizza, the works). Down to specifics, Caribbean ethnic food is to die for. I’ve tried Haitian food too many times to count, so I knew Bahamanian food would be worth the rage. You simply cannot experience ethic food in its true form until you try it in its homeland. The food is definitely one of the main things I miss about being down there.

Luckily, this Wisconsin’s winter hasn’t been too brutal…yet. When I was enjoying 80 degree weather in the Bahamas last year, my friends and family were complaining about the -55 degree windchill they were suffering up here. However, the deeper we dig into this season, the more I’ll be yearning to go back.

I guess if I had a message to deliver here, it would be to embrace the ethnicity and culture around you no matter where you go. This could happen in your own city, state, country… There’s diversity everywhere you look. The Bahamas became such a memorable experience for me because I didn’t just treat it as a vacation, I embraced it as a learning experience and for gaining a new perspective on the lives of people much different than me. I encourage everyone to do the same, because it will impact how astute you become as person if you open your mind to an amazing world of manifold culture.

Stay happy,

Haylee

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