“Rotterdam feels like a place where beauty emerged from destruction,” says Jody from St. Lucia. At sixteen, she left her island to study in the Netherlands. “There are no universities of applied sciences on the islands. It was a big step, going to a new country alone. A culture shock too, but I had to grow up quickly.”
For her future, Jody had two options: America or the Netherlands. She consciously chose Rotterdam. “America didn’t suit me. The Netherlands seemed more challenging and better for what I wanted to achieve. And Rotterdam was always my first choice.”
Nature and Caribbean community
The city immediately appealed to her. She loves the nature in and around Rotterdam, the trees and the parks. The presence of a Caribbean community also resonated with her. “In Amsterdam, the African community is larger, but in Rotterdam, I really felt my people.” Compared to the capital, Rotterdam wins on several counts. “Amsterdam is overrated. Rotterdam has a unique beauty. There’s so much diversity and modern architecture. Rotterdam will always have my heart.”
Distant and bread
Still, she had to get used to the differences with St. Lucia. The weather, for example: gray and rainy instead of tropically warm. The way people interacted also felt different. “At home, you always say good morning or good afternoon. Here, everyone often looks straight ahead. That felt distant.” Dutch culture also works out differently than she had expected. “People say they’re direct, but it often comes through a joke or sarcasm. With us, you just say it like it is.”
Feeling at home through food, music, and dance
The food also took some getting used to. “In the Caribbean, we eat hot food at any time of day. Here, people mainly eat bread.” That’s why she cooked a lot herself. “That helped me feel at home.” Just as music and dance from Caribbean culture support her. “Dancing to soca or Afrobeats still makes me happy. Through an international school and Caribbean parties, I quickly found a community where I felt at home.” Future and advice
She often considered returning to the islands, but for now, she’s staying in Rotterdam. Here, she works in design and business development, allowing her to give back to her island with her knowledge.
She’s now found her own spots in the city. She enjoys walking in a quiet park near her house and admiring the Erasmus Bridge, especially in the evening. “The water there reminds me of home.”
For new Rotterdammers, she has some clear advice: “Give yourself time. Explore, talk to people, and keep an open mind. It took me a while to truly fall in love with Rotterdam, too.”