Located deep in a chain of Caribbean islands lies a tiny country with one of the richest cultures I’ve ever experienced. One hundred and sixty-six square mile Barbados is a small but mighty nation covered coast-to-coast in sand, jungle, and love. I’ve had the distinct pleasure of visiting Barbados as a tourist multiple times throughout my life and each time, I am reminded how hard it is to leave and why the Barbadian people (Bajans, as they endearingly refer to themselves) have such a deep love and pride for their country. 

Being from a developed suburban area in the United States, it can be hard to imagine living below my means, relying solely on necessities without the “little luxuries.” However, experiencing life in Barbados made me realize that people have many different definitions of luxury. To you, it may mean a lavish dinner, an expensive outfit, or a spa day. To many of the Bajan people, it’s a home-cooked meal with the people you love, a cool breeze on a hot day, and plenty of fish in your boat after a long day on the water.

Pride and respect

The main thing I’ve noticed about the Bajan culture is that every day is treated as a gift. They never take for granted a single second they’ve been given on this Earth, and they make sure everyone they encounter knows that every day is a blessing. They value their way of life and work every day to ensure “lifelong health, wealth, and prosperity” – that’s what the waitress at a restaurant in Speightstown wished my sister after singing her “Happy Birthday.”

I’ve come to realize that in order to take pride in your country and your roots, you have to respect the country itself – that is, the land the country is on. Bajan culture emphasizes respect for land. They believe that in order for the land to give to you – crops, livestock, water – you must first give to the land.

Preservation and production

Barbados is what is known as a coral island – essentially, it is one gigantic coral reef protruding from the ocean. In Bajan culture, preservation of the coral reefs is taken seriously – there are extensive legislations in place in order to protect them, as well as many organizations dedicated to restoration and protection of marine ecosystems such as CORALL Barbados.

However, Barbados is most famously known for their exportation of sugarcane, molasses, and their product: rum. There are acres of sugarcane fields all over the island, and the country’s economy relies heavily on the sugarcane in order to produce molasses and rum, hence why many Bajans are so passionate about preserving their sugarcane fields and preventing the destruction of farmland.

Do as the locals do

I would encourage anyone considering visiting Barbados or any other Caribbean island to do so – however, only if you are willing to respect the island in the same way the locals do. In fact, I’d encourage everyone to respect their own country the same way the Bajans respect theirs. Honor the land, protect the oceans, and give back to nature in any way you can – after all, we are all just visitors on this Earth.