By Kate RIBEIRO

For the past 20 years, I have been lucky to call Curaçao my home. That wasn’t always the case, for the first 20 were spent in the United States, but upon graduating from college, my life was destined for a warmer climate and slower pace. So, from the moment I stepped off the plane at the Hato International airport, I felt right at home.

If that seems strange to you, listen to this true story. There is a family living in Curaçao who originated from a major metropolis in the United States. Tired of the rat-race and feeling as though they were not living out their true potential, they enlisted the services of a life coach. Through a battery of questions, they hoped to determine what their ideal city would be, never imagining it would be outside of the United States. High on their list were priorities like: great school, multi-cultural environment, tolerance among people, temperate weather, safety and peacefulness. When the life coach entered these into her magical program, the city revealed as the number one choice was not a city at all, but rather the beautiful Dutch island, Curaçao. Five years ago the family packed up their belongings and moved to the sunny island and have been living out their dreams ever since. So what is it about this island that has captured the hearts and souls of so many?

For me it’s the genuine beauty that can be seen in everything from the people to the architecture, from the many languages to the white sand beaches. It’s everywhere. It’s the reason I call Curaçao home.

With approximately 171 square miles, Curaçao would be considered a medium sized island. In a car it takes roughly 90 minutes to get from East Point to West Point; the North coast is rocky while the South is tranquil. There are upwards to 40 different beaches along its coastline, and in the interior, Curacao’s Mt. Christoffel boasts the second highest peak in all of the Dutch Kingdom. It sits in the middle of the ABC island chain just off the coast of Venezuela and just below the hurricane belt, so the temperate weather Curaçao experiences is felt 365 days a year.

The 150,000 people who make up Curaçao come from 70 different nationalities. That richness in diversity is seen in the faces of the people and in the languages spoken. The Yiu di Korsou, or son of soil as it translates from the local dialect Papiamentu, no longer looks like one race. The blending of cultures and races on this island has resulted in the beautiful mix of people. And that can be seen in their attitude and approach to life.

If this all sounds too good to be true, it’s not. This is my reality. This is my home, and these are my people. So come with me as I take you on an insider’s tour of Dushi Korsou.

The pulse of Curaçao can be felt in its capital city, Willemstad. The city is made up of two parts: Punda and Otrobanda, and these two parts are connected by the famous Queen Emma pontoon bridge, or “swinging lady”. The bridge, which was built in the late 1800s, is a foot bridge for pedestrians wanting to cross the Santa Anna Bay. Throughout the day, the bridge swings open to allow ships to enter the harbor. If you get caught on the bridge when it begins to swing, you can enjoy a nice ride. Otherwise, you can take the ferry free of charge. Up until the mid 20th century, pedestrians wearing shoes were charged a small fee to cross the bridge. The story goes that the poor, who were proud people, would keep their shoes on and pay the fee, while the wealthy merchants would remove their shoes and pocket their pennies