Bahamas and the Culture

To have a chance to experience another culture is a great opportunity and learning experience for those who take the time to observe their surroundings and ask questions. While many American students went to Florida beaches for sun and fun during spring break, some went even further and visited another country. I was fortunate enugh to visit the islands of the Bahamas during my spring break this year. The people of the Bahamas have a culture that is very different frim the one here in America. In the capital city of Nassau, I was lucky enough to be able to interact with the local Bahamians.

Nassau is nothing like cities in the United States. For an example, everything is imported to the island city because there are no factories. The two main economies are tourism and banking. Banking is important because there is no tax in the Bahamas, and many people hide money there to avoid the taxation in their own countries. By far, tourism is the biggest contributor to the economy of the island. This has a tremendous effect on the islanders and how they live their lives. Most people in Nassau rely totally on the tourist and their money.

I took a tour of the island with a local as the guide. He showed a great passion for the beauty and the culture of the island. He also showed us the disturbing poverty that exists there. This tour was important in giving me a sense of what life is like in the Bahamas. It was Sunday morning when we arrived, and everyone was in church. The tour gudie told us that religion and church activties are very important to the people, but when Monday rolls around, they become different people. Many Bahamians grew up living in tax-free homes paid for by the goverment where drugs and alcohol abuse is a major problem. He said there was just so much one could do to help under the long-existing circumstances.

In exploring the island, I found that the people of the Bahamas are proud of their history and are happy to share. I experienced that culture and enjoyed being a tourist in the country. There were many beautiful sites and exciting things to do there, but I most enjoyed learning about the culture of the people of the Bahamas firsthand.