It cracks me up when people want  the dirt on Barbados.  Truly, it has it's warts as do all countries but in my experience the good far outweighs the bad.  The one thing that is a thorn in the side of some potential residents is the concept of Island Time.

If you go to Latin countries, the attitude is called "Manana."  When we visited Italy it was alive and well.  We  had the following conversation at a vineyard.  "We're not open yet."  "When do you open for tours?"  "Oh after lunch."  "One, two?"  "Two, maybe 2:30." Can you imagine a store owner in the  good old US of A responding that way?

My first real experience with island time was when our water heater broke. It happened during rainy season.  My first hint that something was wrong was the slightly less than ice cold shower one morning. It had been cloudy and  rainy for a couple of days.  Since the water heater was a solar one, I figured that the power hadn't been able to keep up with our demands.  It wasn't until the next day and cold shower number two that I realized that although it wasn't raining,  water was pouring out of the downspout.

A gardener at the complex knocks at the door.  "Mrs.  O?" "Yes?"  "I think your waterheater is broke.  It 'pears to be leaking water."  "Can you turn it off?"  "No you need to call the owner."  All righty then.

"Mr. B, this is Mrs. O.  I think the water heater is broken.  We're getting no hot water and the water is pouring out of the downspout."  "No problem.  I'll get someone to take care of it."  "Thank you."

 Hours pass.  The children complain about the brisk baths.  Water is still pouring out of the downspout.

The sun sets.  No one  comes to turn off the water to the water heater.  I have no idea how to do it without shutting  water off to the whole house.  I'm not ready to do that yet.

The next morning.  "Mr. B this is Mrs. O.  No one came to fix the water heater yet."  "It's hard to get someone during rainy season."  "I understand but  don't you think someone should turn off the water to the heater.  Water is still pouring out  of the downspout." "But then you won't have any hot water."  "Um, I don't have any now."  "Oh. No problem.  Can you talk to the manager and have one of the gardeners turn it off?"  "Sure."

The manager is not available when I call the first time.  I picture the water table in Barbados dropping and people on the high side of the island turning on their taps and staring, bewildered at the lonely drips that result.

 "Hi, this is Mrs. O.  The water heater  at my condo is broken. Could one of  the gardeners turn off the water to the heater.  It's leaking so much that the water is pouring out of the downspout. " "But Mrs. O, if  I do that you won't have any hot water." "I don't have any now." "Okay, no problem."

Why am I letting this make me crazy you ask?  My parents griped at me if I left the water on while I brushed my teeth.  THE WATER IS POURING OUT OF THE DOWNSPOUT.  Did I mention that?

Later that day I begin to wonder.  Can "no problem" actually be translated as "It's not MY problem?"

Knock at the door.  "Are you Mrs. O? I'm here to turn off the water and fix your  heater."  "YES!"  I'm sure he never had anyone so happy to see him.

I felt much better after a hot shower.