I am a newbie rock girl who has found herself in the unexpected role of “housewife”. We moved to the island of Nevis in January because my husband wanted to become a doctor. So naturally, studying in the Caribbean was the logical choice.

I gave up my job, friends, family, and Starbucks, packed up our life, and shipped out. Being in my mid-twenties, I had just started to find my calling of what I wanted to do with my life and now here I am, starting over again somewhere new. It’s fun, exciting, and frustrating all at once. Most everyone dreams of living on an island at some point in their lives – people see breathtaking tropical sunset pictures or take one week vacations in the paradise of their choosing and think, Oh yeah… I could totally get used to this. However, as I’m now discovering, it is totally different once you actually do it.

I have done my best to keep an open mind and stay positive (it helps that the island’s alcohol is much stronger!), but settling into a housewife routine has been a little out of my league. We don’t have kids, but it definitely feels like I have one at home at times as I take care of my husband so he can study hard. Cooking, cleaning, laundry, errands – repeat. That’s my life now. A part of me thought I would be going to the beach every day, chatting it up with locals, and enjoying the night life. But this, among other things, has been quite a surprise…

Unexpected Discoveries of the Island Housewife Lifestyle

1. So much dust! Where does it all come from?! Sweeping and dusting everyday is inescapable.
2. The odd sensation of being both hot and sticky all the time.
3. No version of fast food on this rock equates to cooking homemade dinner… Every. Single. Night. *Creativity required.
4. Sunscreen is the new make-up. Bug spray is the new perfume. It just feels so… glamorous.
5. Island life is mighty expensive. Checking your bank account also requires alcohol – that debt sure knows how to climb!
6. BUGS. That is all.
7. Island time traffic must be scheduled for, just as it was back home; though the only difference is it’s not due to snow here, but rather trying to avoid hitting monkeys and goats on the road.
8. Everyday is casual Friday – Hello, flip flops!

Though I did a lot of research before coming here, there are some things you can only truly understand once you experience them firsthand. I can say that I definitely have a better appreciation for all the housewives and moms out there – on an island or otherwise. And though it is a full-time job in and of itself, I decided to venture out and have found myself a teaching job on my rock as well. I’m taking island life by the horns!

Though I’m not on the beach every day, and island living is shockingly a lot like back home in the typical ways of responsibility, this experience is a ride I’m enjoying – especially as each day comes to a close, and I take in one amazing sunset after another. That part is just as perfect as I’d pictured it would be.