People-to-People Program
Hosts with the most
BY DAN HEALING - Edmonton Sun
You can be on holiday in the Bahamas and never leave your holiday accommodations, except to go to and from the airport.
Many do - but will only get half of the experience. One of the best ways to get the other half is by taking advantage of the People-to-People program offered by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism.
Just as no one knows Edmonton better than an Edmontonian, you won't find better tour guides than the hundreds of Bahamians who have volunteered to act as People-to-People hosts.
There's no charge, and tourists can easily join by calling the Bahamas Tourism Centre in Toronto (1-800-667-3777 or 416-968-2999) and asking for an application form. Return it at least three weeks before your trip.
By answering questions about your hobbies, occupation, family and religious affiliation, the ministry is able to line you up with a host who shares your interests.
Once the match is made, the rest is up to you. Upon landing in the Bahamas, you simply call your host and make local arrangements.
My host turned out to be Cpl. Roderick McKenzie of the Bahamas Royal Police Force, a man about my age with three cute kids and whose wife, Deborah, is a schoolteacher and treasurer of her church.
The match was pretty good. On the first day, we just toured around Nassau, talking about the country and its people and comparing it with Canada. We stopped for a spicy conch salad over a few Kalik beers on Arawak Cay.
The next day, McKenzie became an invaluable help in the Straw Market, coaching me on how to barter for good prices on souvenirs (about a third of the cost than at a hotel souvenir stand) and directing me to the best of dozens of seemingly identical T-shirt and shell-bead booths.
On a Sunday, I accompanied his family to services at Ebenezer Mission Baptist Church - a congregation overseen by Deborah's father, Dr. Elkin Symonette.
A laid-back lunch, served at the McKenzie home, was one of the best meals of the trip - fried plantain, peas 'n' rice, chicken and potato salad. For dessert, we had a "jelly coconut," picked fresh from from the family's backyard palm tree, drained of its sweet milk, and chopped in two with a machete.
Other participants in the People-to-People program go for tea at Government House, attend special events, or put their kids together with the hosts' kids for fun and education. Like the Bahamas, it's all very informal.
You will see and learn a lot with your People-to-People person, at no cost. Do remember, however, that a small gift or tip is appreciated. And it's a good idea to offer to help out with expenses like gasoline, which is costly in the Bahamas.
Also, leave sufficient time for a People-to-People visit, since many Bahamians have a laid-back attitude that can be frustrating for those used to the hustle and bustle of Canadian life. Bahamians are proud of their slower, unstructured way of life, and encourage visitors to shrug off the shackles of the mainland and relax.
Butch Stewart, who just spent $150 million to expand the Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort and Spa, where Istayed, says he's seen a big change in the local attitude toward tourists. "The Bahamas had a bad reputation for rudeness and lack of service," he said. "But since 1992, things have much improved," he added.
