Why are you going?

23/8/17

It has happened. A lifelong dream of mine to live abroad has been realised. After several years of dreaming, thinking, pondering and applying for jobs, I plucked up the courage and went for it. I have taken a leap into the unknown and I feel so excited for doing so. Welcome to (cue drum roll…) the Cayman islands! (FYI, no one calls it ‘The Cayman islands’ it is Cayman over here with an emphasis on the ‘man’, CayMAN. I remember being a late teen/ in my early twenties and literally sitting up in bed at night wishing I could live abroad and do different things. I wanted to explore, to eat exotic food and to be by the beach! I remember having this one visualisation of dancing to salsa somewhere in South America. I don’t know where I get the urges from, it’s just a feeling, a want, a dream. Why not try something different? Why does life continually have to be South London, or wherever life is for you? I mean, I holiday most years and have done extensive travelling in Central America (which was another dream of mine) but I have always lived in the same place. That said, I do love where I am from (South London. I’m coming back, don’t worry mum. Lol) On the build up to my move I would tell friends, acquaintances and friends of friends what my plan was. Some people were excited for me, some were filled with admiration and intrigue; ‘Wow, you’re moving to the Caribbean for a year? Go you! I wish I had the guts to do something like that.’ ‘I am going to try and do something like that one day.’ Some would smile and fantasise. ‘Why am I staying here and not going to live in the sun like you?!’ Some would laugh and joke. And there were some who just didn’t understand it. ‘Do you have family there? Will you know anyone? What language do they speak? Wow! I could only do that If I could move everyone in my life with me!’ Two guys told me that they wouldn’t be able to move away because of friends. It dawned on me that other people either had different friendships to me or different priorities. But the single thing which stood out for me was an opinion held by many; moving abroad was the best thing they had ever done. This opinion resonated with every person who I spoke to who had moved overseas, not just to a different part of the UK but to a foreign country. For me, you have to live for yourself. If you have a dream then why not try it out otherwise it will always have just been a thought in your head and a ‘what if?’

My most adventurous experience to date was when I backpacked through Central America, with a group of seven, just over two years ago. I saw some of the most amazing things that I’ll remember forever and met some truly interesting souls. While backpacking for me was the pinnacle of ‘adventure’, I did feel a little on edge at times. (Some may say I’m jumpy at times…I can be an on edge/scaredy-cat/safetyfirst/Stephanie’slifematters kind of person.. gotta keep it safe peeps!) Some of the hostels were nice (cool South American people in Las Chapas who put on a BBQ for us, took me to the home of an indigenous tribe where we learnt how to cook a Zapotec pancake-ish meal, hippie vibes and comfy beds), some weren’t the best (sticky rooms with 20 beds, pretentious ‘travellers’ who have been everywhere yet seem to know nothing about anything and still reek of white supremacy livingoffdaddy’swalletandknownolocalpeople but can’t face going home and being ‘a grown up’) breathe. The roads were rocky at times and I will never forget fearing for my life whilst taking a bus from one part of Mexico to another and literally driving through mountains and clouds, with a sheer drop either side of the road. No. Never. Again. My heart. My life. I will be a (great?) grand mother one day. AMEN. So, I’m happy to announce that my new home is on an ENTIRELY FLAT (and one of the so called safest) island - phew! Blood pressure can chill.

I set off on my journey at 8.30am on Tuesday morning in London and waved bye-bye to my loved ones, and loved home of Clapham, South London – I will be seeing you next year! I felt surprisingly calm about leaving. I was a mixture of excitement and some nerves. I felt sad saying goodbye and felt my throat get tight but I kept in mind that it was not good bye but Ciao! See you in a few months. So no, I didn’t cry, I wasn’t emotional and I am quite happy for that. I am viewing my life here as an extended holiday, one in which I can learn, grow and try new things. Ultimately my goal is to improve my practice as a teacher by working in a Montessori school. I want to learn a different approach and in doing so improve my practice and bring those tools back to the inner city kids in the UK. (Me no forget you Peckham).  Yes the money, weather and lifestyle is pretty attractive too.

I arrived 18 hours later to George Town, Grand Cayman. Stepping off the plane, I was hit by the heat (despite it being 10pm local time) and the densest humidity I have ever felt. The airport was tiny and the passengers who had just landed appeared to know the staff at the airport. Everyone seemed chilled and friendly. I reclaimed my luggage and stepped outside the airport to be greeted by a beaming face holding up a sign with my name on it. It was my live-in landlady Belinda welcoming the start of my venture.

Here goes!