Are Bermudians As Friendly As They Think?

One of the claims you often hear repeated about Bermuda, especially by the Department of Tourism, is how friendly the place is. A number of occurrences over the past week or so have made me wonder how true this is.

First, a disclaimer. It’s not my intention to offend any Bermudians by implying they’re a bunch of miserable buggers. If you haven’t already, I’d ask that you read my last post, Blogging For Bermuda, before reading on.

I was recently talking with one of the people who came over for our wedding about my brush with xenophobia last Friday. To my surprise, they remarked that they’d had three negative experiences with locals while they’d been here. None amounted to much more than a bad attitude, but one came from a bus driver, one from a tour guide at Crystal Caves and one from a woman working at the ferry terminal.

Then this Friday nine of us were drinking at the bar in the Lobster Pot when one of the waiters brusquely informed us we were standing too close to the tables where people were eating and that just wasn’t necessary when we had the whole length of the bar. He was probably right, but he didn’t ask politely and we hadn’t been warned before. We were about to ask for a table for dinner, but furious at being treated so rudely we just walked out.

When someone pops an attitude like that with you, you remember it. When I was visiting Bermuda a couple of years ago I took in a film to be developed at a local processing shop. Despite issuing a cheery ‘good afternoon’ as I entered the store all I received in return from the woman behind the counter was a sullen, unfriendly manner that has stuck with me to this day.

Bus drivers, tour guides, ferry workers, waiters, film processing stores. All groups of people on the front line with Bermuda’s tourists.

I actually think that Bermudians are generally a friendly people, a consequence of the fact that getting along with each other is pretty important when you’re living on a small island. And at the end of the day, of course, Bermudians are people too, and like people everywhere, they get crabby and irritable.

But I worry that we’re setting the expectations of our visitors too high. By promoting ourselves as a place where the people are exceptionally friendly, the first time a tourist runs into a local with an attitude it’s going to jar.

I’d be interested to hear the experiences of anyone who has visited Bermuda as a tourist. How did you find the locals?

Comments

[Sunil on 30.11.03 at 13:23]

I thought the locals were friendly while I was there, but not so much that I’d have commented on it without prompting. It’s certainly not overwhelming enough to base the survival of Bermuda’s second most important industry on.

I think you pretty much had the tourism problem with ‘It’s The Plane Fare, Stupid’ – the place is just too expensive to visit. Travel costs are high and accommodation is even worse, considering what you end up getting. Bermuda is a lovely place*, but it just doesn’t have the unique selling point which would stop people looking for cheaper alternatives, except perhaps being a convenient anchorage for cruise ships.

*Bruschettas aside, but that’s getting a little off topic.

[Colleen on 01.12.03 at 17:41]

I would like to say that I have recently stumbled upon your website and have found it to be both interesting and enlightening. I am a frequent traveller to Bermuda. I have been visiting Bermuda for 10 years and this year alone I have been 7 times. I have found like anywhere else that people can be friendly, rude, racist, etc... But the majority of the people that I have come in contact with have been nothing but friendly. I have made many lifetime friends throughout my many trips to the island and always feel welcome when I return. For the past year and a half I have been applying for jobs on the island and have found the locals both as prospective employees, interviewers, or just friends to be both helpful and professional in all of my dealings. Please don't get me wrong, I do not think Bermuda is an island without fault, actually I do not know if such a place exists. I was mugged one evening while waiting for friends outside of Swizzle inn and I have encountered many miserable people. But the beauty of the island and the fact that the majority of the people are sincerely nice makes all the difference in the world. I hope I haven't rambled on too much but I felt that my opinion as a long time tourist was needed.

[graeme outerbridge on 02.12.03 at 21:02]

Colleen as a point of clarification were you mugged by Rum Swizzles ? --They have been known to be a problem in the area you described. Hic Wolf

[CW on 02.03.04 at 23:33]

Mugged at the Swizzle Inn? I can scarcely imagine it...

I was last in Bermuda about 2 years ago, at which time I found it to still be more friendly than most places (WAY more friendly than most of the Caribbean, which I do not even visit for pleasure any more), but not nearly as friendly as it was 10 or 20 years ago. 20 years ago I thought Bermuda was literally Paradise on Earth. On my last visit I was struck by how far downhill the island had gone in the last 10 years. It's still better than most places, however.

[Sutchat Massey on 14.06.04 at 17:27]

On the chance that many of persons can find themselves in a mood at any given moment. In my observation. People who you have been wronged by directly that you did not know before that moment usually are not your enemy...their are many demiographic issues that mull around Bermuda. Bermuda in my view is like a large couldren/pot and the Bermudians are there for life good or bad. as all people need inspiring, good will towards them and to get away sometimes, Bermudans are constantly looked at..judged per capata..ect.. There was a time when visitors in bunchs was a new concept and much welcomed.. they came...they left...then they returned or told others and the cycle became more common..not withstanding that the Bermudian smile was constantly tested by cultures that were not so friendly outwardly,and as our generations expanded the young did not see the need to convice or convert the visitor to abandon there depressing ways. Added to this was the delima that now the amount of these sullen until they get a cup of coffee persons was increasing and "staying" "Living In", always reminding us that we not only barely got by unless we smile for the camara, but that the visitor could now own a piece of our home and be in our face at all times...more than alot of our relitives and like fish in paper after some time you are doing everything you can to stand it. Now im not saying im correct in my view. As a Bermudan that grew up away and then grew up in Bermuda after being viewed as an outsider... i must say that Kindness can not be demanded only given...and if in every situation you have not come up short..then i can see how the actions of a few in your life could make you think the lie of the whole...Bermudan have been trying to hold it in longer than you have been visiting...so please forgive some that have personal moods and indiferences and low tolerence...we hope that you are a shining example that we can draw from since you have chosen to have an everyday good attitude and smile to add to our community and have chosen to stay.

[YYZ on 15.06.04 at 13:54]

Why is it that the most moserable, rude people are the first we see at the airport? Do all imigration officers have to be so rude? Do all customs officers have to be so rude? Are they all so miserable in their jobs that they can't be polit at all? You'd think the first people a tourist sees in Bermuda would be a little nicer.

[Super on 15.06.04 at 14:18]

Not really, not as musch as they used to be, back in the 80's.

[YYZ on 15.06.04 at 14:23]

"not as musch as they used to be"

Why is this acceptable?

[loki on 15.06.04 at 14:56]

YYZ - it's the civil service, you see. See, also: TCD (I'm sure that there's a level of hell in Dante's Inferno reserved just for departed TCD employees), Department of Immigration, Department of Planning.......

[ruby tuesday on 15.06.04 at 15:15]

One consistent and highly justified complaint about "services provision in Bermuda is that while there is grasping tipping culture here, Bermudians in shops and restaurants don't seem to realize this has to be matched with a similar level of service.

[Sutchat Massey on 15.06.04 at 17:18]

Thats what the entertainment is for. We don't need for customs to be smiley, smiley. We dont expect them to be rude. but then again a bermudan looking solemn takes some getting use to. It would help if Some of our visitors would not go back and tell those who look down on others all the time that when you go there (Bermuda)you are to expect that they will smile and scratch and tap dance regardless of what you. If you dont give it, why expect it. If more people would pass on to others {this could be in a formal announcement by the captain}that they prefer if everyone is on their best behaviour when going into the airports, due to the fact that their actions may not only reflect, but make conditions less than gracious for others.

[Sutchat Massey on 15.06.04 at 17:27]

As to the Services to be expected. walk out..ask on the spot..if you have ever realy had the Bermudan experience you would know that a Bermudan, is not brow beated, nor intimidated to a point that they can not speak out when they feal they have been wronged. (verry outspoken)So unless you are in the alusion that the Bermudan experience was based on Your personal dreams. It may give you some growth to truly get into the Bermudan scene and be as vocal in real time..on the spot..in live and living color.. unless you are guilty of harboring and getting a jab at someone from time to time when your in your mood.

[YYZ on 17.06.04 at 07:45]

"We don't need for customs to be smiley, smiley."

Well, OK then.

[ricwine on 04.03.05 at 11:53]

A interesting topic. I have visited for work, and as a tourist and even worked on the island.

Bermudian's certainly are not not 'Customer Service'and maybe even service with a smile but why should they be. Yes there insular 'persona's' takes getting use too but so what.

Expats as well , you know the type 20 years on the island and extend little friendship to the newly arrived expat !.Only trait i noticed was some agressivness and the infamous 'cant/will not see past the end of there own nose syndrome.

NYC or the Bahamas and even London have not got a patch on THE ROCK so stay positive people ....thankyou

[YYZ on 04.03.05 at 12:09]

"Bermudian's certainly are not not 'Customer Service'and maybe even service with a smile but why should they be. "

You're right, why should anyone in the SERVICE industry show any respect for a customer.....how stupid I've been....BTW, I AM Bermudian, so please, don't lecture me about the 'Bermudian experience'.

[shipwreckedcanuk on 04.03.05 at 12:21]

I've been here since '99 and I think Bermudians are very friendly. I can't count the number of times I've been waiting behind a car on the road that stopped to chat with a friend. How many of use have heard the friendly chat bewteen a cashier and her friend while waiting behind in line? A cheery group of friends standing in the middle of the sidewalk catching up is a daily sight. With all this evidence of Bermudian's friendly nature I don't see how you could think otherwise!

[YYZ on 04.03.05 at 12:26]

"With all this evidence of Bermudian's friendly nature I don't see how you could think otherwise!"

Did you read my post?

[loki on 04.03.05 at 12:33]

"With all this evidence of Bermudian's friendly nature I don't see how you could think otherwise!"

Did you read my post?"

*cough* he's joking *cough*. Please proceed directly to the 'Irony Point' thread.

[YYZ on 04.03.05 at 12:38]

Do you see "¡" in that post? I don't...it can't be irony, he didn't tag it....;)

[loki on 04.03.05 at 12:41]

I'm m afraid, I am not to good at the internet dark arts and, like him, have not figured out how you do an 'irony point'.

[shipwreckedcanuk on 04.03.05 at 12:52]

Oops, sorry... P.S. on last post '¡'

Actually, might be best to just assume it with me half the time! :D

[kubla khan on 04.03.05 at 16:09]

A new Bermudian was hired at my mostly bermudian office. Shes white and pretty and probably from an affluent family. She was born in Bermuda, attended Warwick Acad., then sent over seas to schools yet she occasionally blurts forth a "dun de rud bye". A young black bermudian co worker asked me where she was from and i said "shes from Bermuda". Black young coworker rolled her eyes and said "Shes not Bermudian" i said "yes she is." She then sucked her teeth and turned her back to me. I just walked away stunned.
Not sure if this is on topic but man it set me off.

[ricwine on 22.03.05 at 21:45]

Sorry dont mean to lecture !. Just trying to be 'serious'and witty. Ive found all stratas of Bermudians society approachable. As a matter of fact ive travelled widely and have visited numerous island communities , and for your information you should try the banks in Madeira......wow................dark ages !

cheers

ric

[AC on 24.04.05 at 01:58]

Yes I would agree with you that many people are not courteous. This is inclusive of the police service. I watched a man do a U-turn, and ride his bike 50 yards the wrong way on a one way street. He came to a stop at the side of the road to talk to a friend. Someone on the opposite side of the road from what looked like a full car of men shouted 'Hey you!'. Not knowing any of the men, the driver of the bike finally realized it was an unmarked police car, so he went to the car. The police officer spoke very rudely continuing even after the driver admitted he was in the wrong speak impolitely.
I understand the police officers have a job to do, but do they have to be so rude? Maybe this is the reason why so many people dislike the police service in Bermuda.

[AC on 24.04.05 at 02:05]

Typo... The police officer spoke very rudely continuing even after the driver admitted he was in the wrong whilst not speak impolitely.

That was a necessary correction!

[shipstones on 24.04.05 at 17:21]

I had the police visit my house three times recently after a break-in. They were very courteous and helpful.

[Amin Swan on 24.04.05 at 18:04]

While living in Bermuda, I always thought that we were some of the nicest people around. I now live in the States and travel to Bermuda 3 or 4 times a year. I stay in hotels while visiting family and find that Some Bermudians are out-right rude and un-hospitable. From Customs Officers, Cab Drivers, Hotel Workers. Don't get me wrong, it's not everybody.
The problem seems to be that when things are going as they should go, Bermudians are friendly, however, when there is some sort of conflict, Some Bermudians seem to have trouble resolving it without comming across un-helpful, or out write rude. They seem to take situations too personal and they seem to lack problem solving skills...