“Rotterdam feels like a place where beauty has emerged from destruction,” says Jody. She was born on Saba, but her mother is Surinamese and her father is from St. Lucia. At the age of sixteen, she left her island to go to university. “There are no colleges on the islands. It was a big step, going to a new country on my own. It was also a culture shock, but I had to grow up quickly.”
My people
According to Jody, people from St. Lucia go to America or the Netherlands. She deliberately chose the latter. “The culture of America doesn’t suit me. I had already visited the Netherlands and it seemed more challenging and better for what I wanted to achieve, because I wanted to start a business.” The choice of city was also an easy one. “Rotterdam was always my first choice, because I knew the city has a Caribbean community. It was important to me to be somewhere where there would be people like me. Amsterdam has a larger African community, but in Rotterdam I really felt like I was among my own people. Rotterdam is also a city that rose from destruction, which gives it a vibe that appeals to me.”
She also considered the capital, but Rotterdam won on several points. “Amsterdam is overrated. Rotterdam has a unique beauty. There is so much diversity, nature 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.”