Welcome to my first blog post!
What a change!
And WHO am I?
A bit about my first month on an island…
The first two weeks
Our identities are so wrapped up in what we do—what kind of career we have. As if that’s the whole purpose of life?? Been in Tortola, BVI for about two weeks now. We made this move knowing that it would be difficult for me to get work or at least work I can be passionate about.
Unfortunately, or fortunately, it will take the right time, right place and right people. Despite not knowing what will come, I truly love the change. I needed it! We needed it! It’s totally time!
The diversity here is really cool! What a great change. I have lived my whole life in middle-class mountain suburbia. Sometimes in Tortola, I am in awe when I drive around. First of all, during peak hours, there are a lot of people walking the streets. I have learned that the men on the street will often mean mug me, until I make the first friendly gesture—a smile and a wave. Then they smile right back! It’s so cool!
I’m not sure that I have ever been a minority person. It’s pretty noticeable when we are at a bar or restaurant or undertaking normal daily experiences like going to the bank.
The BANK! Our first experience at the bank…. The line was so long, and we were the only White people in the bank. Our wait in line took two hours and continued long after the bank had closed. We finally made our way through the line to the teller and cashed our first check. Island time is a TRUE thing! Crazy island time!
Making Connections
Well, it seems we have the social bug! Our first day in Tortola, we met a super nice guy in Road Town who told us a great place to meet locals was at Trellis Bay, which is close to our house. He told us that off-season was a great time to meet the locals and get to know people around the island.
The next night, we visited Trellis Bay and started to chat with a man named John. John lives on a nearby private island called Great Camenoe. When I say private, I mean private. No amenities, just residential homes and you have to boat there from Tortola.
Ready for another round of beers, Joey grabbed 3 beers. I guess he appreciated the gesture and we ended up exchanging numbers and talking about hanging out sometime. The next day, he messaged us and invited us to go boating and snorkeling. Heck ya!
We met another guy named Tommy. He lives on Camenoe also. He’s the handy man on the island and took to us right away. Blue-collar sort of guy–just like me.
John and another couple, Guy and Sandra, from Camenoe picked us up on Sunday morning, and we were off to explore the islands. We had no idea what a treat we were in for!
John, Guy, and Sandra were planning on diving at a couple of sites, while Joey & I snorkeled. Our first stop was at the Sunken Willy T’s. The water was a bit rough and I wasn’t sure if I would jump in and sink or what would happen. Being a novice swimmer, I was a little nervous, to say the least. All went well and I adjusted quickly, although I was the first one back in the boat.
Our second stop was at the Indian Islands to snorkel. By this point, I was much more comfortable in the water and loved the fish and coral. It’s a pretty popular place to snorkel.
While boating, Joey & I just smiled thinking, is this really our life???
Our final destination was Jost Van Dyke. Being Kenny Chesney fans, we were pretty familiar with the island names and some great bars and bays down around here, so we knew that we were about to go somewhere really cool! We boated to White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, to visit the famous Soggy Dollar Bar.
Tying up to a mooring ball, we had to swim into the beach. The water in White Bay is crystal clear, so incredibly beautiful, like something you see in the movies. We enjoyed a couple of Soggy Dollar’s world-famous Pain Killer cocktails and smiled from ear to ear.
Wow. This IS our life!
Hurricane Dorian – August 28, 2019
Thirteen days after we arrived in Tortola, we experienced our first Hurricane. Dorian was a Category One hurricane that last about 6 hours. Fortunately, it was during the daylight hours. We closed the hurricane shutters, and monitored the storm from our side windows and doors. It sounded like a train coming through the house and we had buckets and towels all over the house catching leaking water. And then, like a switch, the storm passed and we were in the clear. I cannot imagine experiencing a more severe hurricane. It would be terrifying!
(Photo: Going out to check on the neighbors)
Hurricane Irma – Sept 6, 2017
(Sad Part)
Hurricane Irma was the strongest hurricane ever recorded over the Atlantic. Dorian was the first hurricane to hit the BVI since Irma nearly two years ago. When we first arrived on Tortola, driving around, I was awed by the devastation and destruction that still remains two years later. There are million-dollar boats just stacked up in bays, and homes that still stand with no roofs, windows, and doors. During Dorian, we received messages from the BVI Department of Disaster Management updating us on the storms track and wind speeds. Even though Dorian was “just” a Category One hurricane, people on the island had so much anxiety, PTSD, I would say. I think the DDM messages during Irma explains it well (taken from Wikipedia)
A series of public alert messages sent in SMS form by the Department of Disaster of Management throughout the day, and were recorded in The Irma Diaries, a book recording experiences of survivors from the storm and its aftermath. At 5.39am a message was sent:
|
“At 5:00 AM, the National Hurricane Centre has indicated that Hurricane Irma’s maximum sustained winds remain near 185 miles per hour (mph) with higher gusts. Irma is the most powerful Atlantic hurricane in recorded history and will be the strongest system to ever make landfall in the Caribbean. … Based on the latest forecasts, the approximate closest point of approach to Road Town from Hurricane Irma is 17 miles northeast.” |
The last message from the DDM which was sent before total communications failure was sent at 11.34am read:
| “We are in for a direct hit, a direct hit on Road Town! Move, move to safe room immediately! Move please to safe room immediately! Immediately! Move please.” |
No further communications were sent. It would later transpire that the offices of the Department of Disaster Management were almost entirely destroyed during the storm.
For us, we experienced our first Hurricane. My heart is heavy for all of those who experienced Irma.
Friday, August 30, 2019
Our friend, John, offered to take us boating again after Joey got home from work. We met him at Trellis Bay and headed to Virgin Gorda. Visited “The Baths National Park”, one of the most popular tourist spots on Virgin Gorda. Not a tourist in sight! Today, it was a private tour with just Joey and myself, our own private tour. Something everyone should be able to see and experience. Thank you, John!
September 6, 2019
Settling in and beginning our routine, today was the first day I drove Joey to work. It’s my little extra time with her each day!
I ventured out to take my first stab at ocean fly fishing. Joey sent me a map where the flats are at near our house. Bone fishing! For some reason, I was pretty anxious about it and realized once I got there that I had forgotten the flies! Geez. Ran home, got my flies, did a little relaxation meditation and went in! It was SO much fun! BUT, I need so much practice!
One of my goals here is to become really good at fly fishing. There is not much of an industry here and I would love to create one! Maybe a dream? But I am realizing what I am good at, and what really brings happiness to my life. My wife says I’m really social too, although I feel like I’m more reserved than I used to be?
September 7, 2019
Saturday and we headed to the bank again, this time to open an account. Despite what the website says, the bank is not open on the weekend. Of course!
Play day. Should be fun!
Joey drove our Jeep today for the first time. It is definitely an island vehicle. She did great, she’s awesome. We went snorkeling on our own today for the first time. We didn’t exactly know what we were doing and were a little nervous. But we did awesome.
Had a late night on the deck, had a little music battle with the music from the bay below us. Really nice night!
September 9, 2019
Monday! Drove Joey to work again. Back to the bank after work hoping that it would be ok. It went crazy smooth! Just need to load it up!
Hung out with my friend “Guy”. He’s from South Africa but been in the islands for decades. He offered to take me around and introduce me to people he knows that work in the charter industry. I think it would really help. I need to keep on it…
September 12, 2019
So this is Guy. I’ve only known him for a short time, but he is so inspiring. He’s about to move to Belize and I’ve been helping him get his house ready to rent or sell. I’m not sure where my direction is going yet, for now, I’m just trying to be helpful and keep busy.
Went in to town with him and just as I thought, it was very informing–both in meeting people on island and listening to his stories. He has a true Caribbean soul. It’s going to be sad to see Guy go, and I can see the sadness in his eyes as well.
Guy told me to only look forward, never backwards. I believe in this but struggle with it at times. I am learning so much from new people. It’s such a great thing. I feel like I am really growing
It’s so crazy to think how much growth comes from change. I have lived the same role in the same place for most of my life. We moved to a truly beautiful place where life is very simple. There is nothing glamorous here and the mosquitoes nearly kill me. But, I feel like I am starting a new life here, or at least a new chapter. I love the challenge of meeting new people and trusting your instincts. Not sure how this journey will change me, but I know I will never be the same. And the journey has just begun!
There is definitely more to come!
