You know you are from Anguilla when…..

Have you ever really thought about what you value about Anguilla?  Have you given any thought to the questions what is it like for you to live here or what makes us Anguillian? Do you think about what you would like Anguilla to be like in the next 50-100 years and most importantly what you can do to help ensure it happens?  I answered all these questions in a few words and I asked my hubby to answer them too.  These were our spur of the moment thoughts. Would love to hear what your answers would be to these questions.

View of Johnnos, heading to Sandy Island, Anguilla

What do you value about Anguilla?

Shelly says:

• Sense of family, peace and tranquility, it is home (great memories), great opportunities if you are willing to seize them to make a difference, laid back Caribbean way of life, still relatively safe

Nash says:

• Small

What is it like for you to live here?

Shelly says:

• Mostly tranquil, sometimes quiet, slow (not hectic) and relaxing. However, it can be frustrating sometimes as some things take a long time to get done.

Nash says:

• Easy to get around as long as you have your own vehicle, clean, supposedly quiet

Clear sea water in Anguilla

You know you are from Anguilla when….?

Shelly says:

• You say ‘aya lawd’ throughout the day
• You refuse to swim in any body of water which isn’t clear and blue
• Most outings are centered around food and you have numerous options to choose from

Nash says:

• You are on a first name basis with car rental owners in SXM
• You know who Jimmy, Bodoo and Fungi are

Family members say:

• Mosquito bites seem normal
• You laugh at what some people call beaches
• While driving you stop at the side of the road to pick fruits
• You go to the beach with no plans and end up roasting fish
• Soup is not soup without dumplings
• You cannot resist roast corn
• When you put sugar in pea soup, people think you are crazy
• People think you give directions backwards (up, down, etc.)
• You spend two hours cleaning your vehicle and then get upset when you have to drive on a dirt road
• When you live in another country you get more news about what is happening than residents
• You get upset about rain clouds when you have clothes on the line

Check out the face book page ‘Aya Lawd Tiz we’ for more of the Anguillian personality.

What changes would you most like to see in Anguilla?

Shelly says:

• Clearer vision on the way forward (National Plan inclusive of all)
• Peace and the end of violence among our young people
• Stronger noise legislation to preserve our tranquility
• A cleaner Anguilla (recycling, green initiatives)
• Greater responsibility for Anguilla and its well-being claimed by all Anguillians to ensure Anguilla’s sustainability

Nash says:

• A people with a conscious vision who follow through with that vision with the aim to improve the island not just for visitors but for themselves and their family

Conch shell in Anguilla on beautiful white sand

What are your hopes and dreams for Anguilla in 50-100 years?

Shelly says:         

I hope that my children and my grandchildren will be able to enjoy Anguilla in the same way or even an improved way than I was able to. I dream that there will be little crime and that future generations of Anguillian will still be able to walk and swim on beautiful beaches. I hope for improved systems of education and health and for a good quality of life over all for Anguillians.

Nash says:

I’ll probably be dead however,  I would like to see more of Anguilla’s athletes and young people compete and excel on the global stage. I would also like to see more persons focusing on OUR industries and resources such as our fishing, our agriculture and our hospitality. I would also like to see an improvement in our manners and respect for self and everyone else.

How could I make this happen?

Shelly says:

I plan to continue to educate and inspire through my blogs say-yes-to-today.blogspot.com and myanguillaexperience.com. I will also continue to work in the area of people development and do more training and teaching. I will continue to volunteer with community organizations and live a life which can be a testimony for others.

Nash says:

Volunteering and living for Jesus

THE END

Well those were our quick thoughts on these topics. I would love to hear your thoughts on these questions. Let us build our patriotism and visualize what we each can do to move Anguilla forward.