Mission Team: Nassau (More tidbits)

We just finished our last work day on the island and there is much left to be said. Here's a few more tidbits and more photos have been uploaded. You can get to our photo album with captions, by clicking here (or on the slide show above).

Our free day is tomorrow and we're going downtown to the Straw Market, Paradise Island, Senor Frogs (maybe), Hard Rock Cafe and the plethora of British history that is located in downtown Nassau.

Gas is currently $5.75/gal. here.

To register your child for S. C. McPherson Junior High it will cost you $100 per child: $13 - Insurance; 22 - P.E. Uniform; 15 - Crests (they wear uniforms); 15 - Report Card (for 3 years); 30 - Lab Fee; 5 - Handbook.

The government has:
3 Pre-Schools
26 Primary Schools
approximately 7 Junior High Schools
approximately 14 Senior High Schools

Mission Team: Nassau (Tidbits from the Island)

Check out the updated photo album with lots of new pictures!

This is a list I have been compiling in my head of random thoughts gathered and observed while here so far. I will add to it as I know I'm leaving things out and more will come to me....

• Nassau is located on New Providence Island and has about 300,000 people.
• It's close to Florida, but its southern most island is just as close to Haiti and many Haitians are currently flooding into The Bahamas and creating a sort of upheaval for the Bahamian government and educational system. Also, many Cubans use The Bahamas as an intermediary step in coming to America.
  
• Mountain Dew tastes sweeter and thicker here. I love the syrup they use!
• I always thought The Bahamas to be several islands, but not nearly 700! They aren't all inhabited, but many of them have some sort of life on them or tourism involved.
• Atlantis is the place to go...it's on Paradise Island and is just a short swim from New Providence Island!! (or you can be boring and take the bridge....)
  
• Bahamians refer to Miami, FL, as "Cubatown."
• Drivers are not quick to move out of the way for emergency vehicles.
• Drivers are happy to honk and allow you to "cut" in front of them, turn, etc.
• There are TONS and TONS of roundabouts -- so half of Greenfield would not like it here.
  
• Hospitality is incredible here and Bahamians want you to feel welcomed.
  
• Bob Marley's widow now lives in Nassau and owns and operates the Marley Resort & Spa. It is a plush place and contrary to its website's boasting, Bob IS NOT Bahamian. He was born in St. Ann, Jamaica, Mon!
• Most Bahamians know more and are more heavily involved in The United States' Presidential contest than most Americans! I have seen three O'Bama bumper stickers and I had one cab ride with a 7 minute and 21 second speech from the driver about the Presidential race in America.
• Many Bahamians still operate under a very traditional system of gender roles.
• Cars are both UK and American in style. There are steering wheels on the left and on the right. They do drive on the left side of the road.
• Currency is both Bahamian and American. On the Island it is completely interchangeable. You can pay for a $3.10 item with a USD $10 bill and receive Bahamian coin, a US dollar bill and a Bahamian $5 bill (depending on what's in the drawer)...
• Most things around here close at 6 p.m. - because that is when all the cruise ships have port call for their thousands of passengers. Exceptions to the rules are clubs and casinos.
• Prior to coming, call ahead and see if your insurance company can be pre-arranged at the Doctors Hospital. Otherwise, come with lots of cash or credit (especially if you're proned to E.R. visits).
• The people are VERY courteous and friendly!
• The edge of a street or parking lot is not called a "curb." It's a "small wall."
• They have rats....even in the school!
• Methodists, from talking with a few employees at the school, "Are very nice people and they have a lot of money." (they know of a Methodist here that has driven a Mercedes for 2 years now and if you can do that you have a lot of money)
  
• Minimum wage is $175/wk. and there is no hourly rate. I didn't get a chance to ask about the details of this...
• There is NO TAX - no income tax and no sales tax...
  

Mission Team: Nassau

Hello everyone!! We have safely arrived on one of the islands of The Bahamas and all is going well with our mission work at the S.C. McPherson Junior High School in Nassau. I will get to some long posts and updates tomorrow, but I really wanted to get you some pictures tonight, so visit the photo album!!!

Bradley Bahama Mission Team 2008