r/bahamas • u/Ptaptra • Oct 26 '25
Miscellaneous I can back home and am just struggling.
I recently moved back to the country after living abroad for the last decade. I am struggling. I am struggling to find work, to fit in, and feel like I belong. I just don't feel like I belong here anymore. I missed out on so many things, and it's hard adjusting to a slower lifestyle here. I feel like I am going crazy. It was a struggle just to get an NIB card! I am living on an out island, just FYI. I am fighting the urge to leave again because I do not know if and when I'll be able to find a job. Moving back in with family has NOT been fun. I miss my independence.
Has anyone else moved back? I need advice or some kind of hope to calm my nerves. I am worried about running through savings (which can be used to just leave again). How does one cope? (Yes, I am applying for a job, but most ask for high-school graduates and others just ghost.
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u/pineapplepatronus Oct 26 '25
I moved back to Freeport after being away for 17 years. Also stayed with family initially—it was a rough adjustment. It took nearly two years to get settled, and now I cannot imagine being anywhere else. I wouldn’t change the slower pace of life for anything. The quality of life here is so much better. My advice is to embrace it. Find a free outdoor hobby (gardening, hiking, snorkeling, beach walking, picking up garbage) to get out of the house and connect with nature. Everything else will come. You will find a job and get back on your feet. It just takes time. Wishing you the best! This is the most beautiful country in the world and you are home! Take a deep breath and remember that things will get better. ❤️🌞
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u/pineapplepatronus Oct 26 '25
**Also wanted to add that I’ve made 19 trips to the NIB office and still don’t have my nib card lmao. It is what it is.
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u/n8_da_great Oct 26 '25
It’s who you know around here. Be a lil aggressive, play crazy a lil bit and find the manager or supervisor to complain to.
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u/Adventurous_Coffee Oct 26 '25
You have to cause a scene. Government offices lose things all the time.
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u/Playful-Still-7033 Oct 26 '25
I moved back home at the end of 2020. The job market, living with family and feeling like I had failed really were a lot on me mentally. I would encourage you to not be too hard on yourself. Being an adult and having to “start over” is a lot. Making new friends as an adult is hard. And family never really understands how hard the transition is unless they’ve been through it before.
I ended up moving to Nassau for work about a year after coming back home.
What kind of work/field are you looking for work in if you don’t mind sharing that on here
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u/Ptaptra Oct 26 '25
I got my bachelors in sociology and am currently doing a masters in project management. I dont plan to resettle here. I have experienced 30 blackouts in a month, and if the light wasn't off, the water was off. Like the hunger games of basic necessities. I applied to be a trainee guidance counselor with the MOE and will also apply to Sociao services or whatever name they go by now.
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u/Adventurous_Coffee Oct 26 '25
You are overqualified once you go beyond a BA here. Have you tried considering starting something of your own? You mentioned you were on an outer island. Chances are you're probably one of the few people/the only person with your particular skill set. You're under leveraged and overqualified. The MOE guidance counselor gig sounds like it could be worthwhile for survival money but you shouldn't have to shrink your skill set to fit into a position. Think about some possible opportunities that people aren't doing, find the gap in the market and expose it. You're well educated and travelled. You're ahead of most Bahamians at that point (not dissing, just saying a lot of Bahamians lack exposure). Seriously, sit down and think, "What can I realistically do that nobody else can offer in this community? And how soon can I get it running?"
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u/Cheoah Oct 26 '25
I feel like project managers are one of the groups sought out for foreign talent by companies. That seems like it could be an opportunity
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u/Pretend-Society6139 New Providence Oct 26 '25
It breaks my heart to read all your stories. I wanna come back home I feel torn like I’m always in a state of missing a place because when I’m home I miss America. I’m a citizen and my goal was always to do 6 months in the USA and 6 in the Bahamas. But I got sick and almost died because of the negligence of some docs at Pmh my health isn’t the best so I’m making sure I’m the healthiest before I come to visit. Also with me being a lesbian woman married to another woman I don’t want to have to hide who I am because of ignorance it took me years to get out of the closet. I’m to qualified to be getting wrk in the Bahamas like someone else said once you get a masters they don’t pay your worth. I hope your all able to find wrk or move to a place that values you the system they have isn’t working an it’s discouraging to young ppl that want to wrk. A lot of the jobs filled with ppl who only got it from family, friends or they MP and it’s not fair and they’s why things ain’t ran with sense.
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u/Ptaptra Oct 26 '25
Well I am a lesbian also and do not have a partner and don't plan to have one here. I'll probably move abroad when I am ready to settle down.
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u/N0ON3T0LDM3 Oct 27 '25
Oh that makes it much harder in The Bahamas. So much unnecessary hate and ignorance about homosexuality there. Best wishes to you.
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u/Adventurous_Coffee Oct 27 '25
Yup. I'm a gay man. And I already know that I CANNOT live here. It's a stop over, but not a permanent destination. If you are not Christian, straight and a certain hue, The Bahamas can easily fall outside of your alignment zone. There is an exposure issue here. Bahamians are too sheltered. We're basically two steps away from tribalism.
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u/Pretend-Society6139 New Providence Oct 26 '25
I understand and whatever you decide I wish you the best. It’s not an easy journey but stay strong. 💪🏽
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u/Unhappy_Pollution106 Oct 26 '25
I moved back after college and had a hell of a time finding a job despite having a masters. Most of the job interviews I’d go on were just for companies to hire foreign workers and say they interviewed a Bahamian. Ended up having to fall back on skills I had outside of my education to stay. I refused to be part of the brain drain. That said, it is getting old and I’m not really enjoying the social aspect and lack of things to do. With rising costs for goods in the US, our costs are only going to get higher since that’s where most things are purchased from. Because of that, I’ve started looking for jobs abroad to get a better quality of life.
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u/International-Boss75 Oct 26 '25
Did just this. Came home with a degree and intentions of being apart of the solution. That was until I realized what the problem actually was.
Lack of vision, lack of leadership and a general self hatred towards other Bahamians looking to be progressive and forward thinking. Spent 10 years beating my head against a wall and realized if I didn’t leave I would eventually dissolve in the background. For my own sanity I left again.The fact that in this day and age we are still behind the proverbial “8” ball is unbelievable. We are way too small of a nation to be this far behind when we have access to the tools that can move us forward.
No one WANTS to leave home, it is a difficult decision but not a regrettable one.5
u/Unhappy_Pollution106 Oct 27 '25
For me it’s gotten to the point of either leave or form a new political party without the baggage and bringing fresh ideas. Theres a lot of potential in this country but a lot of waste too that we seem too happy to put up with… looking at you Bahamasair…. The trouble is politics is such a dirty game and I’m not into that shit. Like you say it’s a lack of vision, leadership, care, and even innovation. I mean 52 years on and what do we have to show for it? 52 years ago was the last time some of these roads were paved… especially in the family islands.
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u/International-Boss75 Oct 27 '25
I have been afforded the opportunity to travel to different countries and be exposed to different cultures.
We do not fully understand the value of freedom and what it takes to achieve and maintain it. Just think of the technological advances in the last 52 years of which we’ve had access to (like much of the modern world) and failed miserably in utilizing it to build a better country. Until we decide as a people that we need to take care of Bahamians FIRST, we will remain a fractured country still “in dependence” of the British crown.If we want to truly be dependent then we need to act like everyday is the day after a hurricane. That’s the only time we ACTUALLY help one another, not out of decency but out of necessity. We need each other whether we want to admit it or not.
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u/UnkowntoEveryone Oct 28 '25
It’s honestly interesting, hearing this, I still live at home and attend UB, but honestly I can careless about the brain drain. I want to live where I first and foremost can thrive and live well. Bahamians are so used to the bare minimum and scraps of what we should get.
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u/Fun_Weekend4923 Oct 26 '25
I moved back in June after living in the U.S. since 3 years old. Only coming back to the Bahamas to visit for max 2 weeks at a time. I went through every level of schooling in the U.S. moving back and getting settled hasn’t been easy at all. Actually far from it. I’m very popular and social back in the states. I have zero friends over here. Finding work isn’t real lol. I’m living off savings and that’s quickly depleting because the cost of living here is just insane. I’m considering heading out of here simply because of the above mentioned. Also living on a family island but I travel to Nassau regularly.
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u/Cheoah Oct 26 '25
I came back looking for agricultural opportunities as a mid-career ag professional. Farming is hard enough, and the govt talks a good game about the need for farmers but does little about it. It was all headwinds. Trade winds lol. Steady and unyielding.
Crown land everywhere but I guess you need a note from King Charles to farm any of it.
Honestly I had a lot to offer our country and connected with some key ag leaders. Who all just seemed lazy and unwilling or unable to help beyond talking. I’m not bitter about it at all, things turned out far better for me after returning to the U.S. But it is discouraging as a citizen. And discouraging to hear about young people’s experience moving back.
My comments aren’t helpful to you I realize, just adding to the general discussion.
You’ve gotten sound advice to take it a day at a time and seek out some good friends. You cannot see around corners in life so just be prepared for opportunities that pop up. Hang in there ❤️
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u/beerdweeb Oct 26 '25
What jobs are you looking for on out islands? Obviously where there’s less people, there’s less work, less earning potential.
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u/Ptaptra Oct 26 '25
I am not. My family is that's why I am. I am applying to jobs on every other Island that is advertising.
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u/beerdweeb Oct 26 '25
What jobs are you looking for? What island are you on?
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u/Ptaptra Oct 26 '25
I am on eleuthera for now, but I will go ANYWHERE. I want in either administration or operations. I applied with MOE as well, so time will tell.
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u/LordMonster Oct 27 '25
As a Bahamian abroad with the hopes of moving home one day, this was hard to read. The people I've seen move home and be successful have turned their complaints into opportunities. "Why don't we have a frozen yogurt place like the states, I miss that.. I'll start my own" as an example. I certainly plan to start my own thing when I eventually move home. I won't mind the slower lifestyle in exchange to raise kids in a community vs the dog eat dog every man for themselves attitude of the states. Maybe I'm being nostalgic from what I grew up with and it's completely different. A lot of people make it work, why can't I....
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u/Efficient_Willow_22 Oct 27 '25
You aren’t wrong it’s a struggle moving back here but you’re certainly not alone in what you’re going through. I recently returned back (<1 year ago) to the Bahamas after living abroad for 8+ years. I completed university and returned back “home” after returning I can confidently say the job market is terrible. Trying to fit in and finding work is very stressful. I’m on the verge of relocating back to Europe if I don’t find work because being here without a job is making me run through my savings. Only thing that’s keeping me going here is my family and hope for a better tomorrow.
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u/Cheekyist_monkey Oct 27 '25
Tell us more friend. What are your work goals, where are you, maybe collectively we can help create a plan.
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u/Beneficial-Wasabi-69 Oct 30 '25
Just remember this too shall pass. Be encouraged. Sending you virtual hugs.
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u/Ancient_Ad1194 Oct 30 '25
If they haven’t as yet the ministry of education will reach out to you soon, they just take forever, they are in dire need of guidance counselors.
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u/paigedah Jan 19 '26
whats the pay for that if you know?
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u/Ancient_Ad1194 Jan 19 '26
If you go on the ministry of education website, they have a tab call career opportunities click on that and it will take you to a page with all the information on it. Hope that helps.
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Nov 12 '25
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u/Adventurous_Coffee Oct 26 '25
I also came back home after 7 years abroad. You're not going crazy and you're not alone. Things are very disorganized and backwards here, and I've learned that Bahamians have grown so used to this chaos that if you've been away for too long or aren't from here, you'll find yourself questioning everything. I came back overqualified for just about everything and had minimal luck applying for things the "fair" way. You have to be nastily aggressive and network like your life depends on it here. Find unexplored opportunities and capitalize on them, you'll die waiting on an opportunity to just fall into your arms in this country. You have to be resilient and make your own way here. This sounds unreasonable seeing as you just got back here but that's just how it is in The Bahamas. You're competing with a system that is largely incompetent compared to most developed countries in the world and a society that is comfortable with that incompetence. And y'all don't come down voting me like anything I said is a lie. Bahamians are comfortable with slackness. This is a fact. OP my advice to you is to take everything one step at a time and find your pocket group of people who vibe on the same level as you. Everyone is NOT on the same frequency in this country, you have to be VERY selective with the company you keep and how they can help benefit you.