Non-local-local-aruba-parties

[charlescroes]

If you are originally from another country (who isn’t) and live on Aruba on a temporary basis, it would scare you to know just how many times the following question is asked:

“What is it like to live on Aruba and aside from the tourist stuff, what is there to do for the locals?”

The answer to that is that since a great part of our commerce and the related activities rely on tourism, getting away from those types of activities or social events is difficult…... however, there is a group called IFA that are international families here on the island and they gather (on their home away from home – Aruba) and have some very interesting activities.

IFA families are here from the USA, Surinam, various Caribbean islands including Cuba, Holland and the rest of the planet and mostly and for the better part - on a temporary basis to head up projects or handle significant responsibilities. When speaking to any of them you can be assured to not be bored. Iris and I became members of IFA late last year. We were able to join since Iris (my wife) is from Cuba and qualified as one of those non-Aruba people living here - in any event the joining has been one of those things that happens when you are lucky and in the right place at the right time. In our case, a delightful gal named Sophie and another friend named Douglass got us in.

Our first real experience with IFA was a Halloween thing last year. The route was mapped out and – there we were- in the midst of an Aruban neighborhood and culture, dressed like ghouls, skeletons and pirates walking from one pre-selected house to the other. The local folks looked out the windows and doors and I suppose drew some conclusions about this wild bunch. Towards the end of the year IFA organized a Christmas gathering so the IFA kids could experience Santa Clause the Dutch way. Swarte Piet all black with chimney dust and a big fat Santa (Sinterklaas) were there to make sure that the children all got a taste of the Aruba (Dutch) tradition. The mix of Holloween and Sinterklaas tells it all. The children (and adults) not only had an event to go to but they gained (at least I did) from it in a cultural and social sense. It was the sharing of what it is we are all about.

Recently, there was a gathering at one of the homes of one of the IFA members. It was to get to know each other again. You have to keep in mind that this group has the potential to be a transient one. Here today and transferred tomorrow. In any event, Iris and I went and one minute I found myself having one of the most interesting conversations with the man in charge of the Dutch military and the next with the gentleman in charge of sales and marketing for DIGICEL. Later in the evening we spoke to a very interesting lady about the different kinds of oils in the world and then - in a flash – the topic moved on to how the kids adjust to Aruba and what kind of puppies they have. The folks that donated their home for this meeting were gracious and made it a point to not be hosts as much as just be a part of what was going on.

So . …. What is the point of this? It is to share that here, on Aruba, on this tiny little rock floating in the Caribbean – families from different cultures find each other and find things in common. Families talk about back home and their new home. Some of the guys predicted the Superbowl while others wondered what it was. Ladies organized artistic and reading meetings where thoughts would be shared and cultures would be bridged. As we sat in our corner talking about the oils of the world, yet another IFA member joined and there – in her faded jeans (you know – the ones that cost a million bucks) and invited us to a “Cook and Taste” event. This one we will have to host ourselves. Anyway, when I asked the ‘Cook and Taste’ lady “So what do you do here?” she came back with a remark along the lines of “Care for my family”. A classic and perfect response to a stupid question. By the way, she is a lawyer back in D.C. And the night went on – talking and discovering the many talents that reside on Aruba and the nice folks that are here to lend those talents to the growth of our society.

When asked “What is it that you do here on Aruba?” The response could be “I am a member of and go to IFA meetings” Would it make sense? No. But perhaps these few words I just wrote can help to give insight into the non-tourism world on this very tourism oriented island.

Be well

charles