Calling all Caribbean shopaholics and fashionistas. There is a new “Nirvana” in our midst and it’s called the Mall of San Juan. Over 90 stores, some of them rather exclusive to this region and a very modern and stylish design, makes this mall my new go-to for shopping trips in the Caribbean.
December is here and everybody is being inundated with Christmas gift ideas. From what to get your husband, wife or mistress to the right gifts for the mother-in-law from hell or your favorite pooch.
There is one group I have not seen a gift guide for yet and that is the Traveling Island Girl. I am not referring to myself here, although the guide below certainly represents most of what I would like to receive from Santa this year. I am talking about all of the island ladies that travel often, whether it is for business or pleasure as well as the island girl always on the go.
I was born and raised in the Caribbean and with the exception of a brief stint in the Netherlands have been an island girl pretty much all of my life. Even though I have not yet experienced each island in the Caribbean, I have come to the realization that we have quite a lot in common. This is mostly based on the different island nationalities I’ve encountered here on St. Maarten or the different islands I have visited in my lifetime.
What makes one earn the title of a true Island Girl, I wonder? I thought long and hard about this question and I came up with a few different attributes and have jotted some of them down below. Whether you were born and raised in the Caribbean like me or decided to make these magical islands your home, you are bound to identify with a few. And if not, you will hopefully at least get a good laugh out of it. There, my good deed for the week is done. You’re welcome.
Most people do not know that March is Endometriosis Awareness month. Fewer people still know what Endometriosis is and just a handful know that I have Endometriosis and that I have been suffering from this incurable auto-immune disease for almost 20 years now.
What exactly is Endometriosis?
Home. It is a word that means the same to most: a place where you live permanently. To me it has different meanings. St. Maarten is my home in the most traditional meaning of the word but when used referring to Curaçao, it means where I am from, where my family is and where my roots are. “Mi dushi Korsou” or my sweet Curaçao is a magical place full of culture, history and beauty and I am honored to have come from its land.
I had the chance to drop by Curaçao to see my family a few weeks ago. It is a trip I try to make at least twice every year. Each trip home used to be the same: visit mama and papa, see some friends and family, drive by places I used to frequent when I still used to live there and of course stuff my face with all the delicious food I miss while living away. I decided that this trip should be different. After all, I am different now. I realize that I hate routines. Routines to me are lethal. This trip I wanted to explore and see places I haven’t seen in years or ever and accompanied by dear friends I did exactly that. This is Curaçao Unknown.