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I grew up in the Bahamas and now live in North Carolina. Here are the 9 things that surprised me about my new home in the US.
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I grew up in Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas. Two years ago, I moved to a small town in rural North Carolina.
As someone who grew up in Nassau, I never dreamt that life would take me to North Carolina.
After my husband and I spent five years in Virginia, we decided to move our family further south to Richlands, a North Carolina town with a population of fewer than 3,000.
When I arrived in Richlands, I was pleasantly surprised that my new home shared unexpected similarities with The Bahamas. Immediately, I felt like I belonged.
Here are the most surprising things about North Carolina compared to The Bahamas.
North Carolina's beaches are exquisite, even though they don't quite compare to the ones in The Bahamas.
One of the best parts about living in Richlands is that I'm close to the Southern Outer Banks.
These peaceful, uncrowded barrier islands off the North Carolina coast are accessible by ferry. In my opinion, they're some of the most beautiful islands in the world.
The beaches remind me of The Bahamas, where I spent many days in the sand and water with friends and family.
Even though the Outer Banks' beaches don't quite compare to the ones in The Bahamas, they're still a wonderful place to relax and rejuvenate.
The climate in North Carolina is pretty mild throughout the year, so the lack of snow has been disappointing.
As a child living in a sub-tropical climate, I fantasized about winter activities like sledding, building snowmen, and drinking marshmallow-topped hot chocolate by a cozy fireplace.
Alas, I was born in the wrong place. The most I hoped for during Bahamian winters was a temperature drop below 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
So, my excitement about a cold, snowy winter was real. As soon as temperatures fell in Richlands, I broke out my unworn sweaters and jackets and sipped on piping hot tea. However, I've been disappointed by the lack of snow.
Other than a couple of random snow showers, winters in Richlands have been relatively warm. The daytime temperatures average between 50 degrees Fahrenheit and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and the nighttime lows are around 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
I probably have to go further north to satisfy my craving for snow and chilly temperatures.
Farms are everywhere in Richlands, and I often see livestock or tractors outside of my window.
North Carolina is known for farming and agriculture. Onslow County, where Richlands is located, has over 400 farms, and it seems like they're a chock-a-block on the roads near my house.
I often pass by acres of land growing corn, cotton, and strawberries. It's also not uncommon to see horses, cows, and tractors from my window.
The focus on farming in North Carolina is new to me since The Bahamas' biggest industry is tourism, not agriculture.
The people I've met in North Carolina have been incredibly friendly and welcoming.
After living in different parts of the world, I feel that Southerners and the Caribbean folks are more amiable and good-natured than those I've met anywhere else.
In Richlands, people take the time to converse in random places. Whether they're in a Walmart aisle or at a fish market, they want to connect and are happy to chat about almost anything.
I've learned a lot about the area, from the best fish to buy and the best beaches to visit, just by chatting with strangers.
I'm not someone who needs a lot of friends, but it's comforting to know that I can strike up conversations when I do venture out on the town.
Fresh berries are so much more affordable in North Carolina than they are in The Bahamas, and I can even pick my own produce.
Anyone who's spent a considerable amount of time in The Bahamas knows how expensive things can be there. Because many products are imported, the prices attached to them are often inflated.
Strawberries and other berries are no exception. My sister, who lives in Nassau, told me she saw the price for a pint of strawberries shoot up to $12 during the pandemic.
That price is high, but I wasn't completely surprised by it. When I lived in Nassau, I got used to paying through the nose for certain things, including fresh berries. Strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries were treats, and we only bought them on special occasions.
In North Carolina, I pay much lower prices for strawberries at the supermarket. Better yet, I can pick them myself at local berry farms.
There's not much to do at night in the town where I live. If I want to go to the mall or movie theater, I have to drive 30 minutes to a bigger city.
I'm not one to go club-hopping until the wee hours of the morning, but I do like the occasional night out on the town.
Nassau has a vibrant nightlife scene with many entertainment options. Many restaurants, cafes, and food stalls are located near the beach, so people can enjoy ocean views and the sounds of waves crashing against the shore as they eat.
I miss that a lot.
Richlands is a rural, small town that makes me feel like I'm living on one of The Bahamas' Family Islands, which are outside of New Providence.
I had to accept that there's not much to do here in terms of entertainment. Most of the places to eat are fast-food chains, and except for Walmart, you won't find malls or huge shopping centers in Richlands. The town doesn't have a movie theater either, which shocked me when I arrived.
If I want to shop or go to a movie, I can always drive 30 minutes to Jacksonville, a bigger city that has more to do.
Hurricanes are a threat here, just like they are in The Bahamas.
During my childhood, I spent every June through November helping my family prepare our property to weather any potential hurricanes that hit The Bahamas. So, I'm not a newbie when it comes to storms.
Even though I left The Bahamas, I still worry about natural disasters since Richlands lies squarely in the hurricane belt. Thankfully, there haven't been any major storms since we moved here.
The local supermarkets in my town carry Caribbean foods and ingredients that remind me of Nassau.
In Richlands, I can buy almost all the foods that I ate and cooked in The Bahamas.
Whether I need aloe, which I use for my hair and my tea, or I want plantains and cassava, I can get find what I need at the supermarket or local Asian grocery store.
I even found some conch, or fresh sea snails, at my local seafood center. I never thought I'd be able to find the Bahamian delicacy in this area.
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