Bajan Tuh De Bone

DIARY OF A BARBADIAN WHO JUST MOVED TO THE NORTH

We have arrived in Canada!!! Finally!
This marks a new chapter in our lives.
It's very nice here. It's a little cool, but who needs HOT weather?
This is perfect ... not too hot, not too cold.

October 15th
It is getting a little cooler, but we are adjusting. We bought some sweaters today and went for a short walk. Loving Canada!!! This is what life's about.

October 30th
The weather is definitely cooler now. Outside may be cold, but it feels like Beautiful Barbados in this house.

November 11th
The news reports say snow is on the way ... we can't wait!!!
We have never seen snow and it should be pretty exciting to see it for the first time.

November 14th
Started snowing. The first of the season and the first real snow we have ever seen.
The wife cooked Quaker oats and we sat by the window watching soft flakes drift down, clinging to the trees and covering the ground. Could never do anything like this in Barbados. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT!!!

November 15th
We woke to a lovely blanket of crystal white snow covering the landscape.
What a FANTASTIC sight! Every tree and shrub was covered like a beautiful white mantle.
I shoveled snow for the first time and loved it. I did both our driveway and sidewalk.
Later, the city snow-plough came along and accidentally covered up our driveway with compacted snow from the street. The driver smiled and waved and I waved back and shoveled again. Canadians are so friendly!

November 18th
It snowed an additional twelve inches last night and the temperature has dropped to around four degrees. The cold weather is not so bad we can take this, not at all as bad as we imagined. Several limbs on the trees and shrubs have snapped due to the weight of the snow. I shoveled our driveway again. Shortly afterwards the snow plough came by and did his trick again. Much of the snow is now brownish grey.

November 19th
Warmed up enough during the day to create some slush, which soon became ice again.
Bought snow tires for both cars. I slipped and fell on my botsie in the driveway. More snow and ice expected.

November 20th
Still cold. Sold my wife's car and bought a 4x4 jeep in order to get to work.

November 21st
On my way to work, the 4x4 skidded into the guard-rail and did considerable damage to the right fender. We had another 15 inches of dis sh1te last night.
The vehicle is covered in salt and crud. More shoveling in store for me today.
De damn snow-plow man do him job again. Watch me an' him!

November 22nd
Wha de Ras ... the first heating bills just come!
A how the hell it come to so much???

November 30th
2 degrees out! And more damn snow de pon de way.
Not a tree or shrub inside de yard dat aint get damage. De current gone off most of the night. We try to keep from freezing to death wid candles and kerosene heater, but the heater tip over an' nearly bun down de house. I manage to put out the flames, but end up wid second degree burns pan my hands, bunn off me eyebrow and eyelashes. Den de car slide (again!) on the way to the hospital.

December 5th
Wait....dis snow aint gine stop??? De ting keeps coming down! I does got to put on all a de clothes dat I own just fah go out to de damnwell mailbox. If I ever catch the arse who does drive de damn snow-plough yuh see he, I gine mek he mudda feel it. Wicked stinking arse blow he, blow he ras!!!

December 10th
The power still off, and now de toilette freeze up!

December 18th
The ignorant-arse car won't start and I tink me gine snow-blind. I cyan feel ma toes and me aint see the sun fah weeks!!!! An' guess wha? The weatherman ah predicts more snow!!!!! The wind chill is 30 degrees below zero!!

December 22nd
We movin' back to Barbados today 'cause dis place like um gine kill me!!!! If I can ketch a flight, at least we gine reach just in time before Christmas dun in Bim. Canada not fah everybody!! Especially we Bajans.

...reminds me of when I first went to Jersey at 15 years old in the month of February. Was exciting the see snow for the first time and the whole new experience of living in Amurka. All that soon became stale...winters depressed me...and summers were too hot and humid. I got seriously homesick after the first year, but managed to endure 10 years up there before returning to .