Nassau, The Bahamas Report of what it's like to live there - 06/09/15
Personal Experiences from Nassau, The Bahamas
Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
No. Lima, Peru.
2. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
Missouri. If connecting through Atlanta, we can get home in 5 or 6 hours.
3. How long have you lived here?
2 years
4. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
Department of State Employee
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
Gated communities (condos) with some stand-alone houses. The whole island is 7miles x 21 miles, so nothing is too far away. A four mile commute takes me 10 minutes by scooter, or 10-30 minutes by car, depending on traffic. Parking is difficult to find and having your own spot can cost around US$1,200/year downtown, paid upfront.
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
You can get just about everything here if you are willing to pay for it. Most items are 20-50% more expensive than in the U.S. A few items, like nuts or some spices, can be double or triple. Toilet paper/paper towels are very expensive, probably because it takes up a lot of room in a shipping container.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
More toilet paper and expendables. I probably would have shipped a pallet of canned/boxed food simply due to cost of buying locally.
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
Tons of restaurants. There is McDonald's, KFC, Wendys, CarlsJr. A couple of Chinese places, sushi, Italian, etc, etc. All of it VERY expensive. Dinner for four at a decent sit-down (Applebee's style) will cost US$100-$150, about the same price as dinner for two at the nicer places like Greycliffe. We don't eat out much.
5. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
There are a few mosquitoes after the rains and the occasional household bug. Little ants are a problem, they are everywhere.
Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
We use pouch and DPO, but FedEx and DHL are also available.
2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
Local help is US$10-$12/hour, for the most part the work ethic is very poor, and there is a high risk of theft.
3. What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?
There is a gym in SandyPort near Cable Beach, but I don't know what it costs.
4. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
I've never had a problem with using a credit card, most of the bigger places take them. There have been several persons who have had issues with debit card info being stolen and accounts drained. There are ATMs here but I've never used one.
5. What English-language religious services are available locally?
The various flavors of Anglican, Catholic, Baptist, etc. There are also very small Jewish and Muslim communities.
6. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
English is spoken everywhere.
7. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
The Bahamas just passed a disabilities act which was a huge step, but most buildings are not in compliance. Someone in a wheelchair would have a really tough time getting around.
Transportation:
1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
Taxis are generally safe but expensive. Fares are according to zone so nothing is metered, but the prices are fixed (probably because the cabbies fix them). Ask the cab driver before you get in. Buses are cheap (US$1.25) and I've never felt unsafe on one, although occasionally there is a disruptive person on the bus or a group of nasty men who will make female members of your party uncomfortable with their conversation.
2. What kind of car do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car do you advise not to bring?
You can drive pretty much anything here. Auto parts - insane - you can't get anything here without paying through the nose, and that assumes that you can even find someone who carries the parts. Recommend having family buy the parts and send them to you. There is some talk of a ban on vehicles more than 10 years old, but as of now, it hasn't passed yet. Recommend due diligence.
Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
Cable Internet is widely available. US$55/month for the basic package, you can get faster speeds for a few $ more.
2. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
At present, there is only one cell service option, and as a monopoly, the cost is high and the service low. Pre-paid burner phones are commonplace and not too expensive.
Pets:
1. Are qualified veterinarians and/or good kennel services available? Do animals need to be quarantined upon entry to the country? Are there other considerations regarding pets that are particular to this country?
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
No. Working here requires a permit which often takes months to get approved. Lots of fields are closed, and if you are doing a job that a Bahamian could do (in theory) then it gets denied.
2. What volunteer opportunities are available locally?
A few. There are a few senior homes and a camp for persons living with AIDS.
3. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
Suit-and-tie at work. Dress in public is generally conservative, unless you are a tourist, in which case it seems to be okay to just walk around nearly naked. Shorts and flip-flops are okay just about anywhere in public.
Health & Safety:
1. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
Nassau is not a safe city. The annual murder rate per 100,000 persons is between 7-8x the U.S. Guns are illegal for the most part, so of course all the criminals have them. The tourist areas are fairly safe during the day, but once the sun goes down, you need to be at home with your bars locked and alarm set. Armed muggings are commonplace.
2. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
Medical care is available and it seems to be decent for Doctors' office stuff. For hospital care - have a plan for getting to Miami.
3. What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
The air quality is great. There are mold/mildew issues in some of the homes, but it is sporadic.
4. What do people who suffer from environmental or food allergies need to know?
Pollen is not too bad, although there are times when some strange tropical tree decides it's time to make baby trees. As for food allergies? No idea. Probably not a place to come if you were allergic to shellfish.
5. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
Warm all year. The ocean gets pretty cold from November-April, depending on your preference. There is a rainy season from May-November, but it seldom rains all day. It will rain hard for a few minutes, long enough to flood all the streets, then the sun comes out again.
Schools & Children:
1. What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
There are several private school options, more so for elementary school children. I do not recommend St. Andrews under any circumstances - we withdrew one of our children after just a few months due to an atmosphere of hostility and bullying. We left our older child there as she had already made friends, but we found the school is difficult to work with. Meridian school experience was very positive, but that only goes up to 7th grade. Windsor Prep takes over for 8th graders, and our experience with that school has also been very positive. I have nothing bad to say about either Meridian or Windsor - although Meridian is located next to the landfill (which sometimes catches on fire for weeks). So if your child has asthma or similar, you won't want to send him/her there. One additional note - if your teenager is inclined to make stupid decisions, marijuana and alcohol use is very common within that age group.
2. What accommodations do schools make for special-needs kids?
Very few. If you have a special needs child, I don't recommend the schools here. There is no obligation to accept, and even if they do, the needs won't be met. Schools are also resistant to the idea of a personal aide for kids with special needs (especially if that personal aide happens to be a foreigner).
3. Are preschools available? Day care? Are these expensive? What has been your experience with them, if any? Do the schools provide before- and/or after-school care?
There are some options available, but we didn't use these services.
4. Are local sports classes and/or activities available for kids?
Gymnastics, some martial arts. It's all very expensive compared to U.S. prices.
Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
Lots of opportunities to interact with non-USG expats, including Europeans and folks from all over.
2. What are some typical ways to socialize, either with local people or with other expatriates? Are there groups or clubs that you can recommend?
The beach, the beach, and of course, the beach. There are a few clubs, but I wouldn't be caught dead in one of them, basically because I don't want to end up being dead in one of them.
3. Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?
I can't comment on the single life. For a couple I think it would be great as there are places to travel around the islands and quite a few activities to do. However, with a family, paying for four is obviously twice as expensive as a couple and that can severely limit the entertainment/dining out/travel budget.
4. Is this a good city for LGBT expatriates? Why or why not?
LBGT is quietly tolerated. The culture here is very anti-LGBT. It isn't Tehran, but it certainly isn't as tolerant as most U.S. cities. I wouldn't recommend walking down the street holding hands with your same-sex partner unless you are okay with being yelled at and called names.
5. Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?
The Bahamas has a long history of a black-white divide. The N-word is thrown around a lot, and there definitely is some racial tension on occasion between white and black Bahamians. As a white person, I am looked at as a walking dollar sign, but I've never experienced any other prejudice. There is a huge racial tension between Bahamians and Haitians. There aren't any serious religious freedom issues here, although the society is mostly Christian and those groups are vocal about political issues. Gender equality is still a few decades behind.
6. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
Family island travel is fantastic, but expensive if you are a family.
7. What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
Beaches, snorkeling, kayaking, boating - there is lots of that here. There are a few cultural/historic places but you can see all of them inside a couple of days. Island travel is where it's at, but it's expensive to fly there. Recommend Blue Lagoon (Nassau) for US$50/person you ride out by boat to this little island and can spend all day sitting on the beach, lunch is included. A day-pass to Sandals is worthwhile if you can get the local discounted rate. If hole-in-the-wall eateries are for you, there is a little dive at the top of the Queen's Staircase that has the best conch fritters and the coldest beer on the island.
8. Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?
There are local handicrafts like straw baskets, jewelry, art, wood carvings, etc. make sure it isn't made in China because they sell a lot of that stuff right along beside the local products.
9. What are the particular advantages of living in this city?
Beautiful beaches and great weather (outside of hurricane risk). People speak English and are generally friendly.
10. Can you save money?
It is difficult to save money here if you aren't naturally inclined to do so, especially if you want to travel around the islands and enjoy the experiences.
Words of Wisdom:
1. What do you wish you had known about this particular city/country before moving there?
It's an island. That's like a prison with a few nice beaches.
2. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
No. It's a nice place to visit, maybe even more than once. Living here has way too many challenges.
3. If you move here, you can leave behind your:
Winter coats.
4. Do you have any other comments?
Good for couples or small families. Not good for larger families or families with a bunch of teenagers.
