My name is Tracey and I was born and raised in the Caribbean. My family lived a somewhat nomadic lifestyle until we finally settled in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. My grandparents hail from Montserrat and Antigua. They settled in Antigua and had 8 children. The first years of my life were spent in a small house with no electricity, running water, or indoor plumbing. Can you imagine not having an indoor bathroom in the 1970s? Well, that was daily existence for us. My grandparents worked very hard to make a better life for us. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, that meant leaving Antigua. It was very difficult to live a quality life in our current circumstance.
My grandparents earned green cards and moved to St. Thomas. They diligently applied for green cards over several years so the rest of the family could join them. Our turn came in 1980 when I was 7 years old. I still remember that scary first flight to Barbados for our immigration hearing and then our eventual flight to St. Thomas. Life was still difficult but we had a much better standard of living in the US Virgin Islands. I have so many fond memories of going to church, going to school, eating fresh fruits, vegetables, and fresh fish that my grandfather caught himself. The refreshing island breeze, the beautiful surroundings every day, and the occasional trip to the beach were icing on the cake.
My family's nomadic spirit runs through all of us. After I left the US Virgin Islands, I joined the military and traveled all over the world, finally settling in Georgia. My family members have settled in Alabama, Texas, Washington State, Oregon, and Alaska. Yes, you read that right. Alaska. We are truly a family of adventurous wanderers.
Coincidentally, my love of traveling and my inner nomad is what led me to officially become a travel agent. No one can provide more specialized knowledge of the Caribbean than someone who was born and raised there. I use my expertise, inside knowledge, and passion for the region to help clients plan authentic Caribbean travel experiences. It's my small contribution to the place that shaped me into the person I am today.
