Cultural Differences

Enjoy the Complete Bahamian Experience Without Feeling Like a Tourist

There is nothing better than an island vacation; the sun on your face, the wind in your hair and the sand beneath your feet combine to give you the feeling that you have stepped out of your ordinary, everyday life completely and been transported to a mythical paradise. There are a few downsides to taking a vacation outside of the borders of your own country, however, and that is the inevitable culture shock that you are going to experience at some point or another as you walk down the streets of your vacation destination and realize that you're not in Kansas anymore. If you are unprepared for the cultural differences that you are going to experience when you travel to the Bahamas they may jump out and catch you by surprise, leaving you floundering and dimming the joy you would otherwise find when vacationing in Eden. On the other hand, forewarned is forearmed, and if you are prepared for the strange sights you are going to see then you will be able to take them in without so much as batting an eyelash.

The first thing you should be prepared for is the difference in dress, particularly if you are going to be there for a festival or celebration for which formal costume will be worn. These costumes generally consist of brightly colored outfits and headdresses which would seem greatly out of place elsewhere in the world but which are as accepted as Mardi Gras beads in the Bahamas.

Everyday wear on the islands is the same casual summer wear enjoyed elsewhere in the world; however, be aware that despite the island heat and the quantity of tourists that come to town each year beach dress is considered to be unacceptable on the city streets. Also, be aware that whatever you may heard, nude and topless sunbathing are strongly frowned upon; if you consider this to be a part of your complete vacation experience you are going to want to take the time to search out abandoned stretches of beach near the beginning of your visit.

The official language of the islands is English (British, not American), with a mix of words from their native heritage and a dialect all their own thrown in for good measure. Creole is also spoken in parts of the island primarily inherited by those whose families came over from Haiti. A familiarity with basic Creole will serve you well if you plan on traveling far from the central urban areas of the islands.

One major change between the islands and the mainland is that the legal drinking and gambling age is 18 rather than 21, a fact which causes many tourists to stop in their tracks as they see men and women who appear barely old enough to drive happily lifting their glass. If you are planning on traveling with younger members of your family you should be prepared for this and discuss your policies concerned gambling and alcohol consumption prior to your arrival, for there will be no policy on the island to stop them from spending their vacation as they choose

Despite the fact that many aspects of the islands vary greatly from life on the mainlands you should not find it difficult to fit in. Tourism is a major part of the economy of the Bahamas, and because of this the people as a whole are extremely hospitable. If you find yourself out of your depth, take the time to ask-and let yourself enjoy! The whole point of taking a vacation is to step away from your daily life, so be prepared to embrace the cultural differences of the island and to have the vacation of a lifetime.