I remember my arrival on Plum Island a few years ago. I looked around the Beachcoma, and while everyone was very warm and welcoming, I was the only Latina in the entire venue. I am from Bogotá, Colombia. When I told people where I came from, some responded with enthusiastic curiosity, while others made inappropriate comments like, “So, how’s the cocaine?” I have learned to handle these comments calmly, sharing the beauty of Colombia and a little of my culture, so that people can (hopefully) change their perspective.
After finishing my professional career, I immigrated to the United States, looking to learn a second language that would open up better job opportunities back home. After settling into life on Plum Island, however, I never returned to my country; I began to live the much-mentioned “American Dream,” which does not always turn out to be what many immigrants expect.
Despite being a minority on Plum Island, most people welcomed me respectfully and kindly. The island has many unique — though not necessarily diverse — people living here, and though I adapted easily, I felt a void in my heart for the lack of more Latinos around me. A few years after I started living here, I decided to undertake a search to make my stay more pleasant, and give me a greater sense of belonging in the community. Luckily, the recent opening of Port Vida in Newburyport — which employs several Colombians and serves delicious, traditional Latino food — really helped. Every time I’m there, I feel at home, and that emptiness fades away. I’ve also started taking local Zumba classes, which helps me feel connected to my cultural roots through dance.
The more I get to know Plum Island and its people, the more I realize I’m not as alone as I believed. From learning about my neighbors’ surprisingly diverse backgrounds (one of my neighbors is actually Colombian), to the influx of Iranians moving to the island, and a wider diversity of tourists coming for events like Plum Fest and Beach Jams, I have more in common with my fellow islanders than I thought.
Although I am still a minority on Plum Island, I’ve learned that it’s possible to immerse yourself in a new community as an immigrant without losing your own identity. I am forever grateful to this island, which despite its cold winters, has welcomed me warmly. Part of my heart will always remain in Colombia, but I feel more and more that the other part is firmly planted here on this little barrier island, where I have found a new home.
Nataly Bakhtiari
Plum Island resident
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