When I tell people I live in Bermuda, I often wonder what they must think living on an island is like. Perhaps a bit like me when Leo found a job here. Truth is I was never prepared, like the songs says Bermuda is another world!
Living in Bermuda is completely different from being a tourist here. Bermuda is a beautiful places with pink beaches and nice people but everyday life is nothing like you will have ever experienced. More so for me because Zimbabwe is landlocked and a thousand times bigger(or even more) compared to Bermuda.
Sometimes I have to remind myself how fortunate I am to live here. I have to remind myself not because I am ungrateful but because island life can be challenging and quirky. Here are 9 reasons why:
Tobacco Bay
1.It gets hot and humid
Bermuda averages humidity of around 80%. It makes it feel hotter than it otherwise would be. In the summer it saps out all your energy and it feels like you can not breathe. On the plus size, the moisture in the air will make your skin extra dewy, although it means my hair never holds a twist out. In the summer I sweat so much.
2. Mold, mildew and mites
Because it is always humid, we get a lot of mold. I had never seen mold on clothes until I moved it here. I remember one morning checking shoes I had not worn for a few weeks and they had a white film on them. I almost threw them away because I thought they were ruined. It was then I learnt to use a dehumidifier and product called damprid that sucks moisture out of a room. Bleach is your friend when it comes to mold and mildew.
3. Buying when we travel
Bermuda is small and we have three main department stores.Everything is expensive and limited in selection so we buy a lot when we go away. Like most people here,when we leave say for the US or UK we leave with empty bags and return with heavy luggage. If you plan your trip, it will be cheaper to fly to New York and buy a laptop that it would be to buy it locally. You can online but sometimes the shipping is way more than the price of what you are buying.
4. You feel like you know everyone
Living on an island makes you feel like you know everyone. I know( not by name) all the cashiers at the grocery store we shop at. They have known Leo since he was a baby. When Leo is acting up I feel like they are saying, Oh no they are back. Maybe not.
5. There are feral chickens and cats everywhere
I actually do not mind the chickens but the cats scare me. They just appear. I am not a cat person. Especially at night when their eyes seem to light up or I am the only person who sees that. It freaks me out.
6. Storms, Tornadoes and Hurricanes
We get a lot of rain here which I do not mind. It is the storms that make me scared. Especially the ones that start in the middle of the night when Leo Sr is away. Bermuda houses are built using stone and it frightens me when the winds are so powerful to feel them shake. Leo Jr sleeps through them, of course, while I worry away.
7. It can feel claustrophobic
I do not enjoy driving but I sometimes I just want to take a road trip for hours. The longest trip I can take is to Dockyard which is like forty minutes away. I can not even take a bathroom break! The great thing though is that we do not buy a lot of fuel.
8. Everything is relaxed
Anytime I travel, when I get to the airport I have to stop for a minute and take it all in. Everyone is moving so fast and I am now used to a very slow pace. People in Bermuda never seem to be in a hurry which is one of the things I love about Bermuda. I can let Leo walk in town something that could never happen in downtown Harare. It can also be annoying when people just stop their car in the middle of the road to collect their KFC.
9. Bermudians love American Football and Football Football, at the same time
Bermuda is as British as it is American. It is a British colony but closer to America. When you live here you learn to enjoy both cultures. It’s not unusual to find someone who supports Arsenal and Ravens at the same time. I now know some of the teams in American sports because people about them so much. But of course everyone loves cricket. It gets confusing when looking for biscuits and you are shown a scone like bun. Or sweets are candy.