{"id":169,"date":"2014-04-14T16:58:21","date_gmt":"2014-04-14T16:58:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tulipsbloom.com\/?p=169"},"modified":"2014-04-25T19:23:21","modified_gmt":"2014-04-25T19:23:21","slug":"leaving-barbados","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tulipsbloom.com\/?p=169","title":{"rendered":"On Leaving Barbados"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\"Calendar<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Wow. *Poof*! There went the\u00a0last year and a half or so in Barbados! Mostly *poof-itty* fast anyway, except for those e-looooooongated stretches of time when no visitors were scheduled on the calendar and no trips off island were in the works and I started to feel a bit like Bubbles, the yellow Tang fish from the dentists office fish tank in Finding Nemo who became abnormally excited whenever the little treasure chest in the tank opened and let loose a stream of bubbles –<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Gill: Fish aren’t meant to be in a box, kid. It does things to ya.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0http:\/\/youtu.be\/s7IYR_rELyE<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It didn’t quite get to the talking-to-a-volleyball stage, but that’s only because the purple-furred muppet that lives on my left hand said not to. Or at least that’s what I think it said. Or what I thought to make it say. Or what I actually said in a high, all upper register voice that\u00a0my purple friend’s mouth moved to as I spoke. But whatever.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Coo<\/a><\/p>\n

In the weeks prior to relocating anywhere, we did as most embarking on a new adventure might do, scouring the internet for information and stories about where we were headed. We watched all of the Barbados Tourism Board videos (they\u2019re quite good actually!) and tried to imagine the new scenery and how the days might unfold in a tropical paradise.\u00a0\u00a0 \"\"<\/p>\n

We read countless expat stories from around the world trying to glean useful information from others experiences through the process and also read with interest what are considered the 5 stages of being an expat.<\/p>\n

1. Honeymoon Stage: At first stage everything in new surroundings is profoundly exciting and interesting. a great adventure. Just like a honeymoon, the bliss of beginning a new life can be rose-colored, happy, and hopeful for most expatriates. <\/em><\/span>(True.)<\/p>\n

2. Culture Shock: Six to eight weeks after the move is the culture shock stage. It\u2019s as if you are a child again. It\u2019s typical at this stage to feel that something is not right and homesickness sets in. <\/em><\/span>(Yup.)<\/p>\n

3. Initial Adjustment Stage:\u00a0Here the expat starts\u00a0gaining self reliance and being able to connect with local people in social and business situations. <\/em><\/span>(Something like that.)<\/p>\n

4. Mental Isolation: The initial adjustment stage is followed by another wave of integration ups and downs. During this stage the thought, \u201cMaybe the people back home are forgetting about me,\u201d comes into play.<\/em><\/span> (As does\u00a0the furry purple friend…)<\/p>\n

5. Acceptance and Integration: : One finally stops trying to change the host culture or\u00a0 comparing it\u00a0to the home country and\u00a0develops new strategies for everyday life. <\/em><\/span>(An appreciation forms for the what IS here rather than the what isn’t)<\/p>\n

Despite such research done in advance of such a move, the imagination makes it easy to sculpt a whole Versailles worthy mental garden of pathways, arches and fancy topiary populated by statues in frozen diorama-like \u00a0postures living this new (and wholly imaginary) life. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"20121013IMG_7588\"<\/a>\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

That being said, your new experiences help you to\u00a0clumsily chip noses, appendages or whole heads\u00a0off the unrealistic statues created and come to peace with whatever form remains.\u00a0 We had 20 visitors to the island in our time here (You’re welcome Barbados Tourism Board) and now that our departure is imminent, reflection on the time spent here comes to the fore and you wonder if you did the place and yourself justice by taking it all (or enough of it) in. A few thoughts then on the experience –<\/span><\/p>\n

Will miss –<\/span><\/p>\n