This story is based on an interview with Lisa Desai, 46, founder and CEO of a facility management corporation that operates remotely in her adopted country, Barbados. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Our twins were approaching 14 when my husband, Ebrahim, 59, and I decided to move them and our four younger kids from Hutchinson Island North, Florida, to Barbados.
We were looking for an adventure before they hit 16 and took on responsibilities like getting a driver’s license.
Ebrahim and I could run our facility management corporation, The Harmil Group, remotely, and we wanted a drastic change of scene.
We considered Thailand but were put off by the time difference, as we operate in Canada and the US and would be juggling separate schedules.
Greece and Italy seemed like slightly better options, but moving there involved a lot of bureaucracy.
Someone suggested Barbados
Then someone suggested to us, “Hey, why don’t you try Barbados?” There was a $3,000 “welcome stamp” program for people who didn’t work for a Barbados company and could show they had a certain amount of money in the bank.
It made perfect sense to us because it had super-reliable WiFi and an international airport from which you could fly directly to world cities like New York City and London.
We rented out our homes in Ottawa and Florida and arrived in Barbados on April 19, 2025. It was one of the best decisions of our lives.
I’ve homeschooled all six kids — now between 5 and 15 — since 2019, and there’s a great homeschooling community here. We usually start at 7 a.m. and finish at 1 p.m.
Islanders are polite and friendly
Then we’ll do something fun like go to the beach, go sailing, and play golf or tennis. The children are very independent, and we give them freedom to be themselves. Life in Barbados is the adventure we craved.
I don’t think they’ll fully appreciate it until they’re adults, but the exposure to a new culture is very helpful.
Bajans are very friendly, polite, and open-minded. The kids are happy to chat with strangers and don’t shy away from them.
Another advantage is the great healthcare system. It’s inexpensive, and you get same-day or next-day service.
As for cons, the food can be expensive, and Amazon deliveries take between one and three weeks. If you want to buy something like a rashguard, you might visit five stores before finding the right size.
Transportation is a bit scary for me because it’s the other side of the road, and the highways need maintenance. Infrastructure is in progress.
Everyone drives like they’re in little go-karts. But you learn to go with the flow. You also need to adapt to island time, when a visit by a plumber arranged for 9 a.m. means sometime that day.
The kids’ childhood is unusual
We visited Canada, where Ebrahim and I were raised, in the fall of last year, and it was nice to get some North American vibes. The kids spoke to their friends and family and came away thinking their childhood wasn’t the norm.
We still have wanderlust, and our next journey may take us to Europe, but we’ll always treasure our stay in Barbados.
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