How I was a tourist in my home country

Hello peeps!

My time in Martinique is coming to an end and I am amazed at all the things I experienced during my stay.

I left the island almost 16 years ago, to complete my education in France as many people my generation did. But despite being born here, for the past few years I have felt very much like an outsider every time I came back.

Over the past 2 months, I got to go sailing, hiking, sampling the local gastronomy, sea kayaking, diving, going to a painting exhibition, visiting museums, being a nanny, a teacher and being a beach bum. I always had my camera at hand, flashing everything from family gatherings to beautiful landscapes and bugs!

This is the longest I have been in Martinique since I left, and this time I took the time to actually go and discover my island. It is true what they say, you never know how much you miss something until it is gone. I opened myself to my surrounding and ended up joining forces with an American and a Polish guy to go sightseeing!

I am not saying everything is all good and rosy in Martinique, far from it! The current local debate on the gay marriage seems to bring the worst out of some people. Think the Imams demonstrating in London and shouting violent slogans are bad? Then think again! One of the best seller songs for the up coming Carnival celebrations is spreading homophobic messages on mainstream radio here. Sad, but true.

Not all is to throw away either, and this is the bit I really miss - spending time with my family, wearing shorts and flip flops every day, feel the warm breeze on my skin and going to the beach pretty much every day.

I will always keep Martinique close to my heart - this is were my kin laid roots, so this will always be "back home" for me. But, it is not "home" anymore and I will only be a tourist in my home country now.

Now, as Buzz Lightyear famously said - to infinity and beyond!!!!
:)