Current Rock of Residence:
Somewhere in the USVI
Island Girl Since:
2008
Originally Hails From:
Dixie, USA
Iris first arrived in the Virgin Islands as a child on a family vacation and the tropical vibe and beauty captivated her. Two decades later, free from all obligations to live anywhere else, she bought a plane ticket, packed three bags, and moved to paradise. The first thing she learned was that when you sit at a desk all day, paradise looks pretty much the same as anywhere else, even if you can eat fresh tropical fruit off the tree for breakfast and go snorkeling on your lunch break. In her quest for a better balance between cash flow and happiness, she took a gig as a villa housekeeper and has never enjoyed herself more at work. Iris would also like you to know that unlike her fictional namesake in Don’t Stop the Carnival, she has no interest in drinking quite that much, nor in having an affair with the governor.
Explore posts by this writer:
Experiencing Culture Shock When Traveling Off Your Island
There is a certain excitement one gets when going on a road trip that you don't get when flying. Yes, you dread sitting in the car all day, but you can listen to music all day and eat snacks that you don’t normally eat and your journey often has several destinations....
Sunkissed Christmas
This year I’ll be celebrating my 11th Christmas on this beautiful island and my main goal for this holiday season is to make the perfect sand-snowman. I can assure you that this is a task far more difficult than Pinterest or Instagram would have you believe. Last...
Christmas on Saba
It’s quiet out. And dark. The colourful street lights are up in each of the four villages of Saba, Chris Rea’s Driving Home for Christmas is playing, the tree is up, half hiding the presents underneath and the house smells of home-made cooking. It’s Christmas time...
My Love Letter to The Sea – How we are harming it and how we can protect it
I like the sea. That might be an under-statement: I really really love the sea. I love to see the different shades of blue, azure, turquoise and green. I love to take a stroll along the shoreline, barefoot, feeling the waves lapping over my toes, with various grades...
In Praise of Real Food
Island food culture is a wonderful riot, to be savoured and enjoyed. When we first came on island I was surprised by the food fusion between American, British and Caribbean fare. You would easily find an overblown pot of peanut butter alongside a similar-sized jar of...
How To Be An Annoying Tourist
The cruise ship horns are blasting. The streets are bustling with wide-eyed people donned in Hawaiian print. The smell of aerosol sunscreen spray fills the hot tropical air and stings your eyes. This can only mean one thing...peak tourist season is upon us. The...
