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Moving with babies

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Laura199
  9/27/2014 17:43 EST

My husband has been offered a job in Trinidad and we are thinking of moving. We have a 2 and a half year old and a 3 month old. We have always wanted to live abroad and think that doing this when our kids are small is the best time. I'm very excited about the prospect of learning a new culture and experiencing something different, but nervous too.

My two main concerns are the safety, especially with such young children, and (maybe stupidly) being able to get hold if fresh fruit and vegetables! I've read on certain blogs that's it's hard to do. With weaning a baby and feeding a child I really would like them to have fresh food in their diet.

Has anyone got any advise for me?

We're living in the UK, and have travelled a lot. In fact to the Caribbean a fair bit (Cayman Islands) as I used to have family there so have an idea what life on an island is like.

Chibs
  9/28/2014 08:09 EST

We have a 1 year old and with regard to safety don't feel it's an issue. If you go on the direct gov website it says you should take no more care in Trinidad than you would in london. All the gated communities are secure and my wife is happy to drive to the supermarket and shop with our son. The only issue is the actual driving as indicating for a lane change is obviously not taught here.

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Msturge
  9/28/2014 13:13 EST

If you come here let me know- there is a Facebook group of around 200 expats here with young children and we get together for playdates and activities and use the group as a resource for all questions we have about life here. No worries about safety- it is just like any city where you avoid those areas. My 3 year old and I go out and about without thinking about it. You can get just about anything here in regards to fresh produce, but especially after Thursdays when the ship comes in from Miami where you get all of the American produce and herbs. I like to cook and rarely have issues finding what i need (eventually, sometimes you have to go to 2 or 3 shops to find all of the ingredients for a recipe but I am used to that as this is our 3rd country outside of the US). We also use out Facebook group to locate certain items (this week someone was searching for sour cream) we can't seem to find. Let me know if you do come and I can recommend schools/daycares and will get you into the FB group.

gingerbaby
  9/28/2014 13:54 EST

If you stick to the few big food chains to get your fresh fruit and vegetables, they will be limited, and the imported fruits like grapes, apples, etc., are very expensive. The problem is that most expats live and stay in areas where there are no local markets. Get someone you can trust to take you where all the local farmers sell their fruits and vegetables in the big markets and you will get things that you cannot even get in the big groceries. But believe me Trinidad has lots of fruits and vegetables. Some will be different from N.A. and Europe, but there will be enough for you to live on. I am sure that your helper will teach you how to cook them. For a matter of fact I enjoy the tropical fruits better. Just make sure you take down a very good juicer so that you can do a lot of juicing. Have a chat with the locals who know where to find all that you will need.

Laura199
  9/28/2014 16:21 EST

Thank you for all the replies! Seems like I don't have too much to worry about.

I don't have any problem with fresh food being local and perhaps not exactly what I can get in the uk. In fact I'd much prefer local produce. I just don't want tinned.

And seems as though driving will be more of an issue than safety but at least I'm used to driving on the left.

Thanks v much for the fb info. I'll definitely be in touch if we move to meet other mums for play dates.

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