Moving to a new country teaches you many things — resilience, humility, the art of starting over, and most surprisingly, the ability to rediscover parts of yourself you didn’t even realize you had lost.
When I migrated to Barbados, I expected the usual challenges: learning a new culture, building a new support system, finding work, settling into a new routine. What I did not expect was that my journey would bring me right back to the passion I had buried under responsibilities, expectations, and the fast pace of corporate life.
Arriving With Plans… That Didn’t Go As Planned
Back home, my life was structured around spreadsheets, reports, and deadlines. With a background in finance, I imagined slipping into a similar role here. I saw myself in an office again, managing numbers with the same precision I used to measure flour and sugar as a girl watching my grandmother bake.
But doors didn’t open as easily as I thought they would. Applications went unanswered. Interviews went nowhere. Weeks turned into months, and I started questioning my value, my career, and even my purpose.
Migration is beautiful, but it can be humbling.
The Unexpected Return to an Old Passion
During that period, I found comfort in the kitchen.
While navigating job searches and uncertainty, I baked to calm my mind — banana bread, brownies, cheesecakes… the simple things that reminded me of home.
Friends and family who tried my bakes kept saying the same thing:
“You know… you could sell this.”
At first, I laughed it off. Baking was a hobby, something I did to soothe myself. I never imagined it could become a business. But I kept hearing that same encouragement, again and again, from different people.
And then one day, my husband said it plainly:
“I think this is your gift. Why not try?”
So I did.
Turning a Kitchen Counter into a Small Bakery
The earliest days of TiertoTier were unglamorous — mixing bowls everywhere, cheesecake pans cooling on open counter space, my mixer practically begging for rest. But every order brought joy. Every repeat customer brought reassurance. And every “this tastes just like home!” reminded me that baking wasn’t just a hobby.
It was part of who I am.
Slowly, this little spark turned into a flame.
We started selling regularly.
Then we set up a kiosk.
Then, a brand.
And now — a full website and this blog.
What Migration Really Taught Me
Looking back, I understand something that I couldn’t see in the middle of the struggle:
Migration didn’t close doors.
It redirected me to the right one.
It taught me:
- Your passion can be your profession.
- Your gift can sustain you.
- Every setback can be a setup for something better.
- You are allowed to reinvent yourself.
Why I Started This Blog
Migrate to Bake isn’t just about recipes (though there will be plenty!).
It’s about:
- My journey as a migrant woman rebuilding her career
- The ups and downs of entrepreneurship
- Life lessons I learned through flour, fire, and faith
- What it means to chase purpose after 40
- Finding beauty in starting over
If my story helps even one woman feel seen, inspired, or encouraged… then this blog has already done its job.
If You’re New Here
Thank you for reading.
Thank you for supporting our small family bakery.
And thank you for being part of this chapter with us.
If you’re ready to follow more of the journey, you can:
- 🌟 Visit the bakery website and explore our menu
- 📝 Subscribe to the blog for the next posts
- 📩 Reach out or share your own migration story with me
Because this is only the beginning.
