Was I too harsh in the last blog post, Top 4 Worst Things About Being Caribbean in the U.K.? I hope not. While the U.K. does have its flaws, there are some great things that I can say about the U.K. Here are a few of them.
1. Large Caribbean community in Birmingham: While I’m very far away from home, where I live in Birmingham there is a very large Caribbean, mainly Jamaican population. There are various restaurants and shops that make you feel like you’re back in the Caribbean with that mouth-watering Caribbean food. While it’s not your mummy’s cooking, it’s close enough considering the other options you have available to you. There’s just this feeling you get when you hear that Caribbean accent from a mile away that instantly puts a smile on your face. When you meet another person from the Caribbean, you feel like you’re family. Finally, someone who gets me. There are so many things to talk about, so many things that you guys can relate to that other people can’t.
2. Being exposed to many different cultures: Growing up in the Caribbean, sometimes we may stay in our little Caribbean bubble. The diversity of places like London and Birmingham is unmatched. There are literally people from all parts of the world. This melting pot of various cultures is amazing when you’re so used to just being around Caribbean people. Meeting new people and learning about their culture is so necessary in this globalized world.
I have friends from Jordan, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Nigeria, Russia, Sierra Leone, the Philippines, Ghana and Caribbean countries like Turks and Caicos Islands and Haiti. Oh and how can I forget? I have friends from England too. In my second year of uni, I had the sweetest neighbours ever. It was a lovely old English couple and they were always there when we needed them, which was actually pretty often. I’m not gonna lie, I was pretty ignorant about certain things before going to the U.K. but my eyes have been opened and I appreciate the experience of learning about new cultures.
3. Being able to order online: Nothing is worse that being in the Caribbean and ordering something online then waiting a month for it to ship to The Bahamas then giving the shipping company all your money or waiting for one of your aunty’s friends who is coming to The Bahamas to bring that thing you ordered for you. I’m so grateful when I’m in the UK I don’t have that struggle.
I can vividly remember bougie me in first year ordering groceries online and getting them delivered to my door lol. Don’t get me started on next day delivery! When I had to get a new graduation dress at the last minute or order shoes for my birthday the day before, next day delivery came in so handy!!! Shoutout to Pretty Little Thing and Ego Shoes (I’m accepting sponsorship 🙂 ).
My exact reaction when I’m ordering something and I need to get my card
4. Cheap TINGZZZ: If you know me, even a little bit you KNOW your girl loves chips (crisps for my UK folk). A big bag of Doritos in The Bahamas is about $5.00. However, when a big bag of Doritos goes on special in the UK, it’s only £1!!!! You read that right, £1! To be fair, the regular price is £2 but if it’s not on special I don’t want it lol. Grocery shopping is so much cheaper in the UK. I could shop for the entire week for £10.
If I want a cute outfit and I don’t want to spend much money, I’m sure I can find something cute in Primark or New Look if I look hard enough or Boohoo if I’m shopping online. For my Bahamian friends reading this, Primark is like Ross in America, cute clothes at cheap prices. There is one caveat though. Primark quality is not the greatest so don’t expect to get a long wear out of something from there. When I come back home with all my cute clothes and people ask me about it, my response is “Girlll, this was only £10! lol.”
Being able to experience a different country is amazing. Being Caribbean and living in the UK has been one of the most interesting experiences of my life.
Are you living in another country? What have been the best and worst things about living away from home?
Let me know in the comments!
Schar's Mind 