News From Nassau

Issue 7

A Long Awaited Update?

February 1998

It seems like a long time since we last sent out a copy of News from Nassau. Those of you with access to email have received a few more regular updates, but on the whole, communication on our part has not been good.

 Of course the last term has been busy for me. One of my department could not join us until October, which meant extra work for the rest of us at the start of the year. New computer systems to install, the run-up to the Christmas exams and curriculum development work have also kept me busy.

 However, the real reason for not putting out another newsletter has been the uncertainty about our future here. I have always tried my best to be upbeat and optimistic wherever possible in these newsletters. It is a subtle pressure; to want us to appear to be as successful as possible so that you don't feel your prayers in our direction have been wasted. However, there seem to be very few positive ways of saying that Ali's work permit problems have not yet been resolved.

 Ali returns home at the beginning of March to see the dentist. For the benefit of new readers and those with short memories, Ali had an accident about a year ago where her upper front teeth were seriously damaged. It is cheaper to fly back to the UK for extensive dental treatment than it is to have it done locally. Since Ali has had to hand in one work permit, and has not yet had another one issued, she is technically an illegal immigrant at the moment. Once she leaves the Bahamas, the only way she would be allowed back in would be as a tourist or as a non-working dependent spouse. Either way, she would not be allowed to seek gainful employment.

I can see a continuing need for expatriates like us to come here to serve the Bahamian people. However, as every good missionary is taught, "the need doesn't constitute the call." Personally, I do not like to admit defeat due to official corruption or incompetence. I'm still open to the odd miracle taking place. At the same time though, I must be pragmatic and ask whether it is time for us to move on. After all, we have achieved what we initially came out here to do.

When Ali returns home she will start to look for employment in the insurance sector in Leeds. She will probably stay with her mother in St. Annes until she has something definite sorted out. I have another four months of my contract to finish here before coming back for the summer holidays. We will probably spend July and August redecorating and gardening at home in Meanwood.

 As for what happens after that, we have no idea at the moment. They say that the essence of good comedy is timing. I'm sure that the same is true for minimising the frustration factor in determining the will of God.

 We still need your prayers. I know that there are a number of people out here who tell us they are praying fervently for God to find a way for us to stay in Nassau. It may be fun to think, "Which country do I want to work in next?" but we would rather not be stuck in separate continents even temporarily, much less as a lifestyle. Please continue to pray that God would help both of us.

 Meanwhile, thanks to all of you who have kept in touch with us via email over the past months. We do appreciate the contact, and we do like to hear news of what is happening back home, no matter how trivial it seems.

The last couple of years have convinced Ali that she definitely doesn't want to teach. Perhaps everyone should be forced to do a few days as a substitute teacher at some point in their life. I'm sure it would raise the level of respect given to teachers. So, thoughts of Ali retraining for a future career in TEFL have been shelved.

 We have wondered whether a better strategy would have been for me to initially go out alone and research possible job openings for Ali first. Then, she would have been able to stay in work in the UK until she had a work permit in her hand.

We recently started a new small group out on the eastern side of the island. At the moment we're studying the subject of stress. We're still very much at the "getting to know you" stage though. Meanwhile, Ali has performed in a couple of drama sketches during the Sunday morning "seeker services" and is taking an active role in the leadership of Viva! the newly formed women's ministry group. Needless to say, both the church's programming director and co-ordinator for Viva don't want her to go.

We have now tried the delights of guineps, sea grapes and juju plums. All three tropical fruits have large stones in them and odd combinations of flavours reminiscent of other fruit.

 We attended a reception for Paul Arengo Jones, secretary general of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Youth Awards programme. Ali particularly enjoyed the garlic stuffed mushrooms.

 I have a theory that there are more computer studies teachers involved in leading the Governor General's Youth Award than any other profession. One of my colleagues thinks it has something to do with preserving our sanity. I suspect that the opposite may be true.....

We have also discovered the joys of eating at Cafe Johnny Canoe's, a very reasonably priced establishment on Cable Beach. Large portions of good quality traditional Bahamian/American style food. Every Friday evening, they also stage a small Junkanoo rushout to entertain you

 For Christmas, we joined forces with our neighbours to dine on cornish hens (poussins) and ham with roast potatoes and sweet potatoes, followed by trifle. We were also invited to a Christmas party at a large house in the west of the island. Giving people directions here is an art form. You don't give out street names or house numbers.

 To get to the party we were told: "Go inland at the roundabout opposite the entrance to the Sandal's Resort. The road goes through a swamp, then the road forks into three by a wishing well, take the far right fork - it looks more like a track at that point, but it becomes a road as you go uphill. You will want the fifth house on the right, but there are several empty lots, so you have to go some way. The house has a cream coloured wall round it." We got there, eventually.

 The local branches of Wendy's have started selling feta cheese salad filled pitta bread sandwiches for $2.99. Considering the price of feta cheese and salad vegetables here, it's cheaper to buy the ready-made sandwiches if that's what we want for dinner.

 We have also found a good way of indulging ourselves and keeping up to date with what's happening in the world. The News Café on Paradise Island imports foreign newspapers for customers to read while eating. So, we go in and splurge out on a $2 tub of ice cream to eat while perusing the Sunday Times, The Observer or whatever else they have that week.

 We have also been trying a wider variety of local fish too, after someone recommended a particular shop to us. When Ali tells you she has been cooking dolphin goujons however, do not worry, Flipper is safe. Dolphin is the local name for mahi-mahi, a firm-textured game fish. However, for odd fish, you cannot beat the houndfish. They have lots of little green bones in them! How do we know? Our neighbours caught one the other week. 

If you're ever in Nassau in October, don't miss the International Food Festival, staged at the Botanical Gardens. This year we sampled Philipino skewered chicken. We were going to try Guyanese curried chicken too, but that had all been eaten by the time we were ready for it. So, Ali had a British sausage roll instead and I had Greek baklava. This year we stayed for most of the afternoon to watch the cultural displays.

 Late November is the time for the Christmas Jollification at the Retreat - the headquarters of the Bahamas National Trust, just round the corner from where we live. Another must-see event. If you want to buy good quality Bahamian arts and craft items or try free samples of a wide range of liqueurs (as a Kingsway teacher, I of course, did not imbibe), then this is the place to go. There are also white elephant, plant and children's craft activity stalls.

 The early hours of Boxing Day and New Year's Day morning are the times for Junkanoo. Once again, we feel that Barabbas and the Tribe was robbed of its rightful place.

 Of all the Junkanoo groups, their costumes showed the highest level of craftsmanship. Or so we thought, anyway. The only things you could fault them on were that some of their costume ideas were a little too ambitious, and they just didn't have the sheer force of numbers of musicians that more established groups like the Saxons and their arch-rivals the Valley Boys can muster.

 What is even more impressive about Barabbas and the Tribe is that this was only their second parade. They also play an active part in bringing Junkanoo to the special school and the rehabilitation centre.

 This year we took plenty of photos of costumes and recorded part of the live radio broadcast. When I have the time, I'll put a selection of them up on my website as a tribute to the Tribe.

 Watch this space for further details....... I'll put a link here to my Junkanoo pictures and also to some from the Ardastra Gardens Conservation Centre as soon as I get my films developed in March.