Home-Sick Moments
We believe in working through whatever life brings. Stand Strong when life gets hard. We will build upon good principles, and build strong character. We HOPE our boys REFLECT upon these moments, and know how to STAND STRONG through the hard winds. We Hope to learn great things from our LIFE ADVENTURE here in Barbados.
We left our comforts at home and came to Barbados for a new LIFE ADVENTURE. We came for a new PERSPECTIVE. We want to widen our lens. Our dream was to live in a NEW COUNTRY.
We want To EXPERIENCE: A new PEOPLE, A new CULTURE, new RELIGIONS, and new CUSTOMS.
We are excited to eat different FOODS. We want to SCHOOL differently. We will PLAY differently, and WORK remotely.
Most of all, we came for NEW EXPERIENCE, GROWTH and PROGRESS. We welcome ALL of the ups and the downs – and all the OPPORTUNITY.
We have been away from our home country for about 3 months. It feels like a good time to check in and make notes about our experience. Homesickness and loneliness are starting to creep in. The boys are missing their dearly loved Sunny dog (mini GoldenDoodle). They miss their cousins, grandmas, grandpas, and friends. James and I are missing our peeps too. Our plan has been to invite loved ones out to visit, but the country has closed it's boarders. No flights are allowed in or out because of the increased Covid-19 cases. The Food situation has been very interesting on the island. The food is a bit more expensive and less available.
This life adventure has been a great experience in so many ways . . . On the top of my mind, I have jumped into a deep study on The History of Barbados. Which has led me down the long road of British Colonization, Slavery, Freedom, The Queen of England "Head of State", Barbadian Independence, Religion, and JOY. The Bajan people are full of a beautiful, admirable "Simple Joy". By living in Barbados I have studied a lot more history. I have had an opportunity to step away from a full American perspective, and I have increased in knowledge. I feel super grateful for the time and opportunity.
- I have always been interested in studying history from a perspective other than The American perspective. Or at-least I have wanted to bring a better balance to my study. I have known that there is a need for widening my perspective. History is written from a "point of view". I need to take on multiple points of view. We all need to take on multiple perspectives.
* NEW PERSPECTIVE(S) embolden me; they allow me COURAGE in my thoughts, and gift me CONFIDENCE, that I may be PURPOSEFUL in the things I choose.
~ I long to live within other cultures, among new people, in new lands. I seek to understand and I admire their traditions. I am most interested in the study of Historical CULTURES: the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people. Their language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts. I am interested in where traditions and expectations begin and why. Where they begin and why they carry on.
Yoga Mornings are most fulfilling and pleasant, with the gorgeous Atlantic ocean view. I love the pool dip, after a great sweaty yoga morning.
The boys are engaged in fun diving competitions against each other at the pool. They are very creative. Fishing for little crabs at the bottom of the pool in the morning are a fun activity that the boys look forward to also. The boys spend a bunch of their time catching lizards off the palm trees in the yard and off of the coral rocks. The lizards also scamper across the walls in the house. There has been a lot of paper crafting, lots of coloring and drawing time. Other than the day to day routine, there isn't much else to do in Barbados – especially during the Covid-19 Lockdown. The island restriction's to "Stay home, Stay safe, To stay alive!" has helped influence our HUGE slow down in life.
Visualize for a moment: a "Mason Jar of Life" – all the tiny pebbles and sand that fill up our jar have to be put on hold- 1st you must fill our life with the "large rocks of importance" then the tiny pebbles and sand, the "less important matters" will find their place.
There has been a very nice centering on "the most important things" while we have been here in Barbados. We have had a lot of time to focus on the most important things in life. The kids' schooling, James' work, family time in the mornings and evenings, exercise in the morning, and I have found time for personal study too. But man, I would say the social aspect in my life is major lacking. It has been pretty lonely around here. I wish I could go out and meet people. Go to a park, or meet at a beach. Lock Down is killing me!
Some days I go to the grocery store just to stand in a line for 1 hour so that I can talk to people. Other days l go stand by a fisherman out on the ocean cliffs just to talk to someone else. Most of the time I can barely understand them. The Baja'n accent is pretty thick. I can understand about 50% of the conversation. I love it though! PLEASE LIFT THE LOCKDOWN - I need more people ! ! !
The lock-down rules are to stay at home except, to do essential grocery shopping Monday-Friday 9am-4pm. We are allowed to go to the beach in the morning between 6-9am, and in the evening 3-6pm. There are other allowances for construction workers, fishermen, and barbers. I'm sure that is to start helping the economy. The public transportation is open too. There is a curfew at 7:00pm every night. It is such a strange thing to watch the Prime Minister decide what is okay and what is not. When it's okay to go to the beach and when it is not okay to go to the beach. I would think, driving around in my own car would be fine. But it is not ok. Also, I am always looking at other drivers trying to decide if it is mandatory to wear a mask while driving alone in your car. It is still not clear what I am supposed to do. It is so interesting to be living in a country that responds immediately to the authority of the Prime Minister or their "President" Because I feel that the American's would not listen. American culture is based on freedom, individualism, "I get to choose what is best for me". Americans would not respond well to such a demand. I can feel it in my own "American personality" I feel like I get to choose for myself when I will go to the beach. But I do listen to the Prime Minister, because that is what all the Bajan people do. It is very interesting to me, that all the Bajan's listen so well.
We find enjoyment in walking the coast from our back porch, down to Shark Hole (no sharks). There we find a hole or a pool of calm waters to swim with the Bejan' regulars. Here, the coral reef will keep us safe from the strong waves from the wild Atlantic. This is where the east coast Bajan people come to teach their little ones to swim. This is where the east coast runners come jump the cliffs to cool off. It's the spot where the teenagers come hang in the morning, and sometimes it's the place where you come to wake your morning eyes, and say hello to the rising sun. This is the spot for the bird watchers too.
Another favorite spot we found is Sam Lord's Castle Beach (the beach left of our house). There are rough waters on this beach. But if you walk far enough down the beach, through the seaweed, over the cliffs, past the ancient deteriorating staircases, beyond the arches, under the palms . . . you will find this dreamy spot. The long stretch of coral reef barrier breaks the pounding waves just 20 feet off shore. It leaves this flowing "river" like movement. Which makes this natural slow "lazy river" in the ocean! It allows for wadding in the ocean water with such ease. It is so magical. The kids think it's super cool to swim up the river and float down over and over again. Well, we all think it's super cool! James likes to walk on the coral reef and make it look like he is miraculously walking on water. The lazy river sits in the foreground with the roaring waves crashing in background. It truly looks amazing!
I like to sit and exfoliate my skin with the coarse sand. I learned this behavior from a local Bajan woman tossing in the waves and exfoliating in the sand. The first time we happened upon this spot, I saw this woman exfoliating her skin. She was rolling around in the river FOREVER! Actually, for about two hours she rolled around and exfoliated. I thought- " this local must know something I don't know." She must be healing from something. Anyway, It's a good way to rub off my dry skin, no need for lotion.
It is interesting to hear the island people talk about how the waters are so healing. They truly believe it, it's their way of life. They have me believing it too! My friend Debi talks about •breathing the natural iodine in the sea breeze being so healthy. Again, the Prime Minster was talking about the need for the people to •get back to the healing waters, when she opened up more time at the beach. Also, the Pediatrician that Luke went to had prescribed a few things for this interesting "constant sinus drip" theory that she told us Luke possible had. In her summary she said, "I don't know how good a swimmer Luke is, but •go to the ocean and let the sea water flush the fluids, it will do a better job than any of these prescriptions." I like it! Also, I must not forget to mention •the healing power of RELAXATION that we are all receiving when we go visit the sea. I am guessing there are many many more ways the sea waters are healing.
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