It’s ironic for Antiguans to despise so deeply “fair weather fans”. Because, ‘fair weather’ is about all you get here on this island. There aren’t really any distinct seasons here in Antigua as I’d become very used to in other less tropical countries. I’ve observed something of spring and autumn. And surely, there is summer- almost all year round. But, winter- no; the December ‘chill’ is only so by island standards.

There’s mostly the rainy season, which, I have learnt is the same as ‘hurricane season’ and the dry season.  After my first year here, I stopped trying to gauge the passage of time by looking for obvious and distinct weather changes. I’ve rediscovered that, as perhaps with any other place, there are much more accurate local gauges with which to mark the season changes.

Like summer isn’t really summer.  Summer is more really carnival. Carnival is when everyone dons/removes their masks, forgets about whining about ‘the recession’ or debating politics, lets their hair ‘down’ and seems ever taken with constant partying. And the transition from this kind of summer into autumn or fall is not due to any changes in weather. Rather, it is brought on by something called ‘after carnival’.

And, ‘after carnival’ is brought on by the end of carnival festivities and students anxiously hustling to discover if they made it into high school/college or university.   During ‘after carnival’, everyone forgets (until next carnival) about who should have won whatever carnival competitions were held, takes a stock of his or her life and pocketbooks and children’s faces fall or rise depending upon their singular views of school.

So then, if you think about it like that, the island, like other places, has more distinct seasons than one can care to count.  I would suppose that each of these seasons, like the conventional seasons, has its followers who attach some meaning to it and favour it more than another. And, whether or not you value that meaning, you are aware of the season's existence and of the way it impacts others.  For, whatever the brochures may preach about tranquil isolation, it’s difficult really to live on this island in true isolation.

Perhaps, you could do it as a short-term visitor. But, if you seek to live, build a business, employ people and be in the know about things which could affect your interests, then, like the next normal human being, you must suffer some sort of immersion into local politics, concerns and cultures.  I have often felt as if the very atmosphere brings news of the latest  and various season changes. Maybe, it’s the size of the island that does it….

 (V). Damien