A couple of observations after a few days in Miami following 4 1/2 months in the Bahamas:
- Walking into the Coconut Grove Fresh Market supermarket, I was almost overwhelmed by the variety and quantity of groceries available as compared to your typical Bahamian out-island store
- It has been hard not greeting everyone you pass as is typical in the Bahamas; Miami is more typically 'elevator' protocol, eyes forward, don't speak to strangers.
Outside of the resorts, marinas, large cities like Nassau, and cruiser congregation areas like Georgetown, Staniel Cay, and Marsh Harbour, the Bahamas are essentially a third-world country. Stores are minimally stocked and prices expensive. We learned that many residents of the out-islands depend on relatives in places like Nassau to select and ship them groceries.
After months of minimally stocked stores, walking through the produce, meat, and dairy sections of the Fresh Market was like being a 'kid in a candy store' and similar to many kids, frozen by making choices.
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| Strawberries stacked 2' high! |
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| Beautiful citrus |
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| Apples galore! |
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| Boneless chicken breasts If you can get it, chicken in the Bahamas is drumsticks, thighs, and wings |
Make no mistake, the US is a rich country; most of the rest of the world does not live like this. Yes there are pockets of the US that also do not have the food supply of a Fresh Market, but they are the exception, not the rule.
The other observation, is that the Bahamians, although not affluent by American standards, are a warm, friendly, and giving people. Greetings between total strangers are the rule. In the out-islands, it is typical to wave at every passing car or pedestrian. 'Greet your neighbor' times in Bahamian churches are not restricted to a few 'pew neighbors'; you typically greet virtually every other person in the congregation. Although these interactions may seem superficial, it is not hard to take these relationships to another level. As you get to know Bahamians on a deeper level you find that they have strong family and community bonds and live a highly interdependent life. Although we enjoy Miami, interactions here follow a more typical 'big city make no eye contact' protocol. Also living for over 30 years in relatively affluent suburbs, we know how hard it can be to really get to know your neighbors there.
It seems to me that while we in the States are rich in things, we are relatively poor in community; we highly value independence and avoid interdependence.
While we think we live the 'good life' and can't imagine how people live in places that are less affluent, I am not sure we have it quite right.
Tom
Moored at Coconut Grove Sailing Club
Miami, Fl
AMEN TO THIS! It has been a very obvious observation to us as well. People seem rude here, they do not greet you, they ignore you. In the Bahamas, people are so kind and giving. Here, all for one and one for all....GET OUT OF MY WAY....I am in a hurry....errrrr. YEs, then there is the shopping! It is sick that we need a FULL ISLE of cereals in USA, and still people complain about the selection. We really do have a lot to learn and we really need to take lessons from third world countries. Thank you again for your great writings. Hayden
ReplyDelete"Make no mistake, the US is a rich country; most of the rest of the world does not live like this. " You need to travel further afield - have you ever been to a European market or an Asian market - most countries have what we have it is just different. Asians have a whole aisle of rice not cereal!
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