living in the Bahamas

Brit in NJ · 07-11-2003, 09:11 PM

What is living in the Bahamas really like.
I moved from the UK to the USA and kinda like it but it isn't paradise!!!
Is Nassau paradise?

tamara · 07-13-2003, 03:00 PM

Nassau is not paradise. Besides the tourist hotels and industry, the island is dirty, crime ridden, corrupt and has a failing infrastucture. It has hope for the future, but it will take some time before we find out way.
Our education system is lack, and unemloyment is extremely high.
The cost of living is higher than living in NYC.

On the bright side, you can't beat the weather or the people. The out islands, however are a totally different story, but then you have few jobs, spotty education systems, a goverment who sometimes forgets you exist, and somewhat cut off from the rest of the world. ( some island claim they don't even get mail delivered once a week,and when it is, it's thrown from the deck of the mailboat to the dock with noone to receive it).

Life is what you make it. Do a little research, visit a few times, talk to the expats on the island and hook up with the people to people program. See what real life has to offer.
I moved here two years ago to be with my fiance... Life is not a beach. I have to work like everyone else, and pay my bills and find a good mechanic and someone to paint the house, cut the lawn, etc. I travel to the states to by my clothes, car parts, electronics and computers, even bring back a good deal of quality food.

I'm not ready to move back to the states, but this was a big disappointment from what I expected life to be.
Btw.. I'm not a youngster, I did my homework. Nothing prepared me like life itself.

**ddmal** · 05-05-2004, 12:12 PM

NOW COME ON NOW SURE IT MIGHT NOW BE PERFECT BUT THE BAHAMAS IS STILL A NICE PLACE TO BE I AM A DAMN PROUD BAHAMIAN YES IT HAS ITS UP AND DOWNS BUT LET ME ASK YOU ONE THING SHOW ME ONE JUST ONE COUNTRY ON THE WHOLE THAT DOES YOU SO QUICK TO GO AND RUN YA MOUTH AND BUST YA GUMS WHY YOU DONT TELL ME WHERE YOU FROM CAUSE YOU ACTIN LIKE YOU FORM THE GARDEN OF EDEN AND IF YOU ARE THINKIN BOUT THE UNITED STATES ALL I COULD SAY IS HAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHO HAS MORE CRIME MURDER RAPE AND ALL OF THE ABOVE AND MORE HAPPENIN EVERYTIME YOU WATCH THE WORLD NEWS THERE IS SOME KIND OF SCHEME GOIN ON SO DONT COME DOWN ON US CAUSE WHE HAVE A FEW BAD APPLES IN THE BUNCH SURE YEAH WE HAVE OUR CRIME OVER HERE BUT WAT COUNTRY DOESNT YOU WORRYIN BOUT OUR LITTLE PROBLEMS OVER HERE AS MUCH AS I SEE SCHOOLS HAVING ALL KINDA OF SHOOTINGS AND PEOPLE GETTING INJURIED AND KILL OR PEOPLE RUNNIN ROUND TAKE PEOPLE OUT FOR FUN AND WE ARE THE BAD GUYS COME ONE GIVE RIGHT WHERE RIGHT IS DUE JUST BECAUSE SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY IS BAD DOESNT MEAN THE WHOLE COUNTRY IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS PETER ISNT BETTER THAN PAUL MEANIN WAT HAPPENS HERE HAPPENS EVERY WHERE PUT THAT IN YA PIPE AND SMOKE IT

**tamara zoo** · 05-06-2004, 10:05 AM

I never said it was terrible.. just not the PARADISE that most expect it to be.

I wasn't prepared to have the radio ripped from my car once a week (broken windows and broken locks to boot), or the rims taken from my car while it's parked downtown. Or for my house to be broken intoon a regular basis. Or my barbque taken from my backyard etc.

I come from NY, and even though there is crime everywhere you look, it's never happened to me. I'm used to looking over my shoulder. Didn't think I had to continue doing this in "paradise".

I still love the bahamas, but people who are looking to move here thinking it's utopia (sit on the beach sipping bahamas mama's) should know the truth. It's just like any other city.

**Nevins** · 05-07-2004, 11:28 AM

If you have seen (and experienced) the troubled side, any thoughts on how to improve?

Maybe baby steps at first but are still steps forward.

Neighborhood watch on each other's homes?
Neighbor helping neighbor?
Some one usually sees something going on.
There are times when no one is around but people paying attention makes a difference.

Think of it as politness. Gets to be contagious.
Of course, then those that are rude begin to stand out.

Thoughts?

**Batgirl** · 07-24-2004, 05:59 PM

My fiance' and I are currently in Alberta, Canada, where it is summer for about four months of the year. We want to move to either South Africa (Cape Town) or the Bahamas. We are in our 40's and do not want to acquire anything other than a comfortable place to live, a fair job and make some new friends. Tamara is right when she states that life is what you make it; however, getting information (good and bad) from people who experience everyday life there is invaluable. I am a senior account manager in the insurance industry here and he is a computer systems analyst. What kinds of jobs might one find in those fields and do you expect us to exeperience tremendous difficulty getting into the country? At a recent four-day on-line gaming event that he did the network for, he spoke with a fellow visiting from the Bahamas and was told that switching jobs is done a lot. Mine finds him a job in Canada, he finds my man a job there. Is this popular? Thanks!

**tamara zoo** · 07-24-2004, 09:57 PM

Finding a job in the bahamas is difficult and expensive.
Jobs are meant for bahamians. You need to find a company who will sponsor you, pay for your permit (which at your level could run about $10k each, per year, and put up a bond to repatriate you.

You CANNOT apply for a permit while living in the bahamas.

Depending on the lifestyle you embrace, your pay scale will likely be nowhere near where you want it to be.

I've spent several years in the bahamas, and have mostly been telecommuting from NYC.. I can not make a tenth of what I make here in the states, and would be living in poverty compared to my current lifestyle.

Again, it depend on what your looking for, and you lifestyle.
For me.. As much as I love the bahamas. I want more outta life.

**ewright** · 08-19-2004, 05:59 PM

People need to be realistic, Nassau is paradise as far as the sea sand and sea, however, people are people and everyone cannot be controlled to be good. There are bad things everywhere, but the Bahamas is great to live. Those who visit and move there should expect the same as everywhere. Crime, poverty and all that.

**ewright** · 08-20-2004, 09:59 AM

Originally Posted by ewright

People need to be realistic, Nassau is paradise as far as the sea sand and sun, however, people are people and everyone cannot be controlled to be good. There are bad things everywhere, but the Bahamas is great to live. Those who visit and move there should expect the same as everywhere. Crime, poverty and all that. Where on God's earth can you sleep and not lock your door? You could have done that in the Bahamas before, but now people travel and come in town and bring their bad ways with them, so all you who think paradise is your safe have where nothing bad happens, WAKE UP!!!! You live in a world with others!!! Don't say the Bahamas is bad because you did not take percautions to protect yourself. Crime is everywhere and to the person whose car got robbed, let me say, Every dog has his day, maybe it was yours! No one anywhere is completely protected, so suck it up, do better to protect your goods and pray nothing happens like the rest of humanity does!!!!

**clamadrid** · 01-10-2011, 02:46 PM

keeping all your comments in mind ... is there any suggestions as where to live on nassau that would make it a bit easier? my husband would travel a lot and I would be possibly alone with my baby. would a high rise be better? I have no idea. I have lived all over the world including NYC. There I was alone and honestly I had a doorman and felt at ease. I am sure there are great things and bad about everything but some advice would be helpful to a possibe new commer