Bermuda Winters

I have been depriving my blog lately and that might be because Bermuda is boring in the winter months. The weather has been windy and rainy plus darkness by 5 pm doesn't encourage the general public to venture out after work. I don't mind the rain as our water tank is full and we have a car to drive around in, but it does deter beach walks with Limerick, weekend exploration of Bermuda, and just getting out in general. We have planned a vacation or "baby moon" for February and we are going to Cabo San Lucas with some friends to get out of rainy Bermuda. We know we need a trip away when the highlight of our week nights is watching, "Wheel of Fortune" at 8pm!

We have been enjoying Bermuda and have gotten back into the swing of things since after the holiday. I even landed myself a job. Yes, it only took 10 months of searching and getting myself "knocked up" for someone to think my job skills were beneficial enough to apply for a work permit. I am really excited about this opportunity. It is part time, summers off, and in the school counseling field. It was truly a perfect fit for my skills and interests. I haven't formally accepted the job (just received the offer on Friday) and of course the work permit hasn't even been submitted, so I will divulge more information later.

I can tell you that childcare is not easy to obtain here. We are only in the very early stages of research, but have found some key issues or challenges.
1. Most daycare facilities/nurseries only accept children 2 years and up. Some start at 18 months, but very few take younger infants.
2. In-home daycare is an option and there is an approved list of providers registered with the government, but in-home providers are only allowed to take 3 children at one time. Most don't consider part time children as they need the money from 3 full time children.
3. Babysitters are hard to find and you can only legally pay a babysitter if they are Bermudian. You cannot employ or pay an expatriate without formally advertising and submitting a work permit. Unfortunately, we really know a lot of expatriate's like ourselves here and very few Bermudians.
4. Nannies! Many people employ a nanny to watch their children. It is very common for dual working couples. Most nannies are from other countries and nannies from the Philippines are very common in Bermuda. Nannies can make a lot of money in Bermuda and tend to leave their families in the Philippines while they come to Bermuda to make a living. Many nannies are live-in and are expected to care for the children and pets, make the meals and grocery shop, clean the house, and wash all of the clothes. It is truly a full time job and they get compensated any where from $45,000-$60,000 a year plus trips back to the Philippines to see their families. Sometimes nanny shares are available and you could employ a nanny for 15-20 hours a week. They would only come to your house to watch your children and then go back to the other house to work and live. While it seems appealing and most nannies are very reliable, the cost is extremely high.

I just thought I would give you an outline of child care in Bermuda. While I know that child care in the USA can also be challenging and expensive, it is more difficult here as you have to be careful to only employ a Bermudian or seek a work permit for child care from a non-Bermudian. Hmmm so much to think about.

Until next time...