Living as a Scotsman in Barbados

This post is part of the world blog surf day, make sure to read it to the end to find the link to the next participating Expat blog. If you would like to step back and read the post my one followed on from, then head over to  Golden Prague and read about a German now living in the Cezech Republic.

Living as a Scotsman in Barbados, is at times a fairly huge culture shock for me, but at other times it can strangely feel like I’m back home in Scotland, which is kind of weird.

For example the other day I walked down to my local shop, which is called the Montrose supermarket, hey Montrose is a little town only a few miles down the road from where I lived in Scotland.

I ventured into the Montrose Supermarket and I bought a few cakes that were made by a bakery company called the Dundee Bakery. This is now really making me feel like I’m back home in the North East of Scotland, because Dundee is only 50 miles away from my home city.

I come out of  the Montrose Supermarket with my cakes made by the Dundee Bakery, and I carry on walking for a mile or so and I walk past a complex of shops named after the city I come from in Scotland called Aberdeen. I feel there must be plenty of North East of Scotland roots in my neighbourhood in Barbados from days of old. Maybe the stretch of beach at Oistins where I sometimes walk to, to eat my cakes, should be renamed Aberdeen Beach, now that really would be too much!

Whenever I get homesick for Scotland and believe me it does happen from time to time, because there is no place in the world like home. I jump in the car and head over to the Parish of St Andrew and go and spend some time in the Scottish District. Which was given its name by the early Scottish settlers on the Island, who felt that it reminded them of home. Which I can empathise with because it is a truly beautiful part of the island, where you get some amazing views and it is of course the most hilly part of the island.

I may be over 4000 miles from my home in Aberdeen and Scotland but sometimes it feels like I’m not so far from home after all.

If you have enjoyed this post and I know you did, please head over to Romancing Italy, where you will find Bev who is a Trinidadian that is now living in Italy. I know you will enjoy what she has got to say.

March 27, 2009 | Filed Under Barbados According To Me 

Comments

15 Responses to “Living as a Scotsman in Barbados”

  1. Romancing Italy on March 28th, 2009 3:03 am

    I should have known that there would be a Scottish district…! What made you choose to live in Barbados instead of any of the other islands?

    Bev

  2. Golden Prague on March 28th, 2009 5:25 am

    I had no idea that Barbados had so many Scottish connections ;-) Great post!

  3. Sher on March 28th, 2009 5:33 am

    Thanks for sharing in your post! I enjoyed it and enjoy reading your blog, too! This World Blog Surf Day has been fun…and successful!!

    It’s great you’ve found a touch of home there in Barbados!!! That really helps with the homesickness that comes along with living overseas!!!

    Have a great day,
    Sher :0)

  4. garryaw on March 28th, 2009 8:19 am

    How I ended up in Barbados? Well my wife who is a Londoner, her parents were both born in Barbados. I guess that had a big beariing on the reason I or I should say we ended up in Barbados.

  5. Roz on March 28th, 2009 8:47 pm

    The photo looks very much like a Scottish scene (although perhaps the sunshine is a little strong for Scotland!). It’s amazing that there are so many similarities between Scotland and Barbados – I had no idea! And, I agree – it’s those similarities that make you feel more at home.

  6. Just a Plane Ride Away on March 29th, 2009 6:35 am

    Oh, I loved reading about all your connections! I’m glad you found a cure for the homesick blues. It looks like your new home is beautiful!

  7. garryaw on March 29th, 2009 3:03 pm

    I have even came across a few locals whom I have met that have Scottish grandparents, when I first met them I was curious about the blue eyes…and it’s the Scottish in them! It comes back to the bad old days when Scotland was enslaved by the English! The Scots that fought back were either killed or sent to far flung parts of the World, including Barbados to basically become slaves on the plantations.

  8. Romancing Italy on March 29th, 2009 5:24 pm

    Hi Garry,
    Well, that makes perfect sense. I happen to love the Highland part of Scotland, but having come from the tropics, would find it hard to adjust to the weather there. Somehow, getting adjusted to almost perpetual sunshine seems easier to do.

  9. garryaw on March 29th, 2009 7:00 pm

    It sure is easier getting use to the sun. I had a trip to London in February and the cold weather nearly killed me, my body and mind couldn’t take it…..

  10. Jimmy on March 30th, 2009 10:29 am

    It was nice reading about a Scottish loon enjoying himself on his travels, and it seems there have been plenty of Scots in Barbados before you.

  11. *lynne* on March 31st, 2009 6:42 pm

    I have to admit, I took a quick detour to wikipedia’s entry on Barbados to figure out WHERE Barbados is, and to figure out why there would be so many Scottish-related names where you are. for the latter, all I can figure is it’s due to the long period of British rule. Malaysia was a British colony too, but she’s made it a point to rename just about everything to local Malay names.

    I really enjoyed your entry in the World Blog Surf Day. Sorry I’m late on actually commenting. My head is in the clouds or something.

    Cheers,
    *lynne*

  12. *lynne* on March 31st, 2009 6:43 pm

    (ooh, now I see your reply to a comment about the rebel Scots sent to Barbados as slaves… now I get it!)

  13. And on April 3rd, 2009 2:43 pm

    nice article and make more to know about scotlands

  14. Angel on April 3rd, 2009 3:33 pm

    Hi Scotsman if you ever get on your travels to London, you have a tour guide in me, I know quite a few places that would be of intrest to you.

  15. Stefan on April 4th, 2009 6:20 pm

    I can relate to the idea of occasionally not feeling that far from home. I recently returned to America to visit my family and, when stepping off the plane, didn’t have that “I haven’t seen you in some time” moment, as we talk on a regular basis, by VOIP phone and Skype.

    The world does feel like a smaller place.

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