Islands & Maple Leaves

Around the World
Written by Kelci

A photo of fall maple leaves to represent the post title of “Islands & Maple Leaves.”

Editor’s note: This post will continue to evolve as I do.

Welcome back, travelers both old souls and new seekers alike, to another stop on the Around the World journey. Recently, we completed our trip around Europe. Now, we are traveling across North America and the Caribbean. But before we get any further into today’s travels, the Around the World experience is all about helping us reconnect with the globe. One post at a time. Through quick, meaningful overviews of every country and their: name, flag, location, and a touch of soul (aka a recent news article), so we can understand the world we share better.

Today’s chapter “Islands & Maple Leaves,” takes us through six countries that span seas and seasons. From tropical isles to northern forests, these nations tell North America’s story in many accents. They’re rhythmic, warm, grounded, and bold. To start off today’s adventure, we’ll be visiting Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, and Costa Rica. Each a postcard in its own right with histories far deeper than the waters or woods they’re known for. So, let’s begin the journey, eh?

My hand-drawn flag of Antigua and Barbuda

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

Official name: Antigua and Barbuda

Pronunciation: an-tee-guh and Baar-boo-duh

Capital: St. John’s

Official language: English

Location: Island in the Eastern Caribbean Sea in the Northern Hemisphere

Surrounding countries: Near Saint Kitts & Nevis and Dominica

Most known for: Its beaches, specifically having 365 of them

Fun fact: Antigua means “ancient” while Barbuda means “bearded” in Spanish

Recent news article: Solid, Stable, Soaring - Antigua and Barbuda at 44 Years of Independence (Jeff Stevens, 2025)

My knowledge: I don’t know all that much

My hand-drawn flag of the Bahamas

BAHAMAS

Official name: The Commonwealth of the Bahamas

Pronunciation: buh-haa-muhz

Capital: Nassau

Official language: English

Location: A group of islands located in the Atlantic Ocean near-ish to Florida in the Northern Hemisphere

Surrounding countries: Near USA and Cuba

Most known for: Clear, blue water and beaches

Fun fact: Home to the world’s deepest blue hole also referred to as Dean’s Blue Hole. If you’re looking for more information, check out the Dean’s Blue Hole site, here.

Recent news article: A November to Remember: Gratitude Meets Island Grandeur in The Bahamas (The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, 2025)

My knowledge: I know a little

My hand-drawn flag of Barbados

BARBADOS

Official name: Republic of Barbados

Pronunciation: baar-bay-dows

Capital: Bridgetown

Official language: English

Location: Eastern Caribbean island in the Northern Hemisphere

Surrounding countries: Near Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Grenada

Most known for: Its beautiful beaches

Fun fact: Has the 3rd oldest parliament in the world

Recent news article: “Positive response” to farming, fishing initiative (Colville Mounsey, 2025)

My knowledge: I’m not too familiar

My hand-drawn flag of Belize

BELIZE

Official name: Belize

Pronunciation: buh-leez

Capital: Belmopan

Official language: English

Location: In Central America on the Caribbean coast in the Northern Hemisphere

Surrounding countries: Mexico and Guatemala

Most known for: The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef

Fun fact: Only Central American country with English as its official language

Recent news article: VIDEO: How Belize chocolate supports rainforest conservation (Michael Stocks, 2025)

My knowledge: I’m not very familiar

My hand-drawn flag of Canada

CANADA

Official name: Canada

Pronunciation: CAN-uh-duh

Capital: Ottawa

Official language: French and English

Location: In Northern part of North America in the Northern Hemisphere

Surrounding countries: USA

Most known for: Maple syrup and hockey

Fun fact: Has the world’s longest coastline

Recent news article: Dreams Take Flight for More Than 1,000 Kids in 2025 (Jen Mallia, 2025)

My knowledge: I’m familiar with Canada

My hand-drawn flag of Costa Rica

COSTA RICA

Official name: Republic of Costa Rica

Pronunciation: kow-stuh ree-kuh

Capital: San José

Official language: Spanish

Location: In Central America in the Northern Hemisphere

Surrounding countries: Nicaragua and Panama

Most known for: Its natural beauty with rainforests, volcanoes, and beaches

Fun fact: Has high biodiversity. So much so, that its comprises 5% of the world’s biodiversity on less than 1% of the planet’s surface

Recent news article: Costa Rican pineapples take centre stage in new European campaign (Maura Maxwell, 2025)

My knowledge: I only know a little about Costa Rica

From the turquoise tides of the Caribbean to the whispering pines of the Canadian north, this chapter through Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, and Costa Rica reminds us that North America isn’t just one story, it’s a layered song of rhythm, resilience, and rooted culture. Whether it’s the pulse of island drums or the stillness of snowfall, these nations show us that identity isn’t fixed, it flows.

I want to hear from you: Have you visited, lived in, or were born in one of these countries? I’d love to hear your stories, memories, or even recommendations.

And if this sparked your wanderlust, stay tuned. Our next flight in the Around the World series takes off in two day. If you want to be prepped ahead of time, check out the itinerary, right here.

As a signature of my blog, I’d like to end this post with a suggestion to “Pass on kindness.” There’s no time like the present to Inspire Those Who Inspire You. Acts of kindness, no matter how big or small, can have a direct, positive impact on someone else. Go out there today and change someone’s life for the better!

***These are my personal opinions and may not be those of my employer.***

I spent a lot of time asking myself questions when I write these posts. This time, I decided to ask some of you instead. You Tell Me is a little different from the other entires in For What It’s Worth. Rather than keeping all of my questions
I spent a lot of time asking myself questions when I write these posts. This time, I decided to ask some of you instead. You Tell Me is a little different from the other entires in For What It’s Worth. Rather than keeping all of my questions on the page, I handed a few of them over to others and got curious about where their minds would go. There were no right answers and nothing anyone was supposed to figure out (the norm and same with my polls). I just wanted to see what might happen when different people were given the same information. And well… you tell me 💛 You Tell Me is now live • •• ••• •••• ••••• •••• ••• •• • #YouTellMe #ForWhatItsWorth #Perspective #Curiosity #LetsTalk
How much is enough to consider? Throughout, For What It’s Worth, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about perspective, from what we know, what we don’t, what other people see, and what might change when we make room for another pos
How much is enough to consider? Throughout, For What It’s Worth, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about perspective, from what we know, what we don’t, what other people see, and what might change when we make room for another possibility All Things Considered brings me to one more question What happens when considered what we reasonably can and there are still things we may never know? It’s the final chapter (aside from the bonus post coming out this coming Thursday) of For What It’s Worth, and maybe the most personal question I’ve asked myself along the way 💛 Read All Things Considered, now live | Part IIII | Week 43 | For What It’s Worth series • •• ••• •••• ••••• •••• ••• •• • #AllThingsConsidered #ForWhatItsWorth #Perspective #SelfReflection #Curiosity
How can two people know the same person and describe them differently? Or experience the same moment and walk away understanding it in completely different ways? Same Difference, the next chapter For What It’s Worth, had me thinking about p
How can two people know the same person and describe them differently? Or experience the same moment and walk away understanding it in completely different ways? Same Difference, the next chapter For What It’s Worth, had me thinking about perception, perspective, and how much of another person any one of us really gets to see Different doesn’t necessarily mean someone has it wrong Sometimes it’s just means there’s more than one experience in the room 💛 Read “Same Difference” is now live | Part III | Week 42 | For What It’s Worth series | • •• ••• •••• ••••• •••• ••• •• • #SameDifference #ForWhatItsWorth #Perspective #Perception PersonalReflectio
Every story has a storyteller And no matter how honest we try to be, there’s only so much of an experience we can fit into the version we tell someone else Long Story Short, the second chapter of For What It’s Worth, had me thinking abo
Every story has a storyteller And no matter how honest we try to be, there’s only so much of an experience we can fit into the version we tell someone else Long Story Short, the second chapter of For What It’s Worth, had me thinking about perspective, context, and what happens when complicated experiences have to become much shorter stories Maybe the shorter version can still be true The question is what might fit inside it. 💛 Read “Long Story Short” (now live) | Part II | Week 41 | For What It’s Worth series | • •• ••• •••• ••••• •••• ••• •• • #LongStoryShort #ForWhatItsWorth #Perspective #ContextMatters #PersonalReflection
I spent a lot of time asking myself questions when I write these posts. This time, I decided to ask some of you instead. You Tell Me is a little different from the other entires in For What It’s Worth. Rather than keeping all of my questions How much is enough to consider? Throughout, For What It’s Worth, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about perspective, from what we know, what we don’t, what other people see, and what might change when we make room for another pos How can two people know the same person and describe them differently? Or experience the same moment and walk away understanding it in completely different ways? Same Difference, the next chapter For What It’s Worth, had me thinking about p Every story has a storyteller And no matter how honest we try to be, there’s only so much of an experience we can fit into the version we tell someone else Long Story Short, the second chapter of For What It’s Worth, had me thinking abo
Kelci

Hi, I’m the creative mind behind Inspire Those Who Inspire You!

I’m a curious soul with a love for creativity, meaningful moments, and life’s little adventures.

I’ve always enjoyed taking in the world around me, noticing the little (often forgotten) details, and learning something new along the way. I’m fascinated by different cultures, countries, and the people who make each place unique. There’s so much to discover beyond our own little corners of the world, and I hope to experience as much of it as I can.

I’m happiest when I’m doing a little bit of everything. Give me an early morning sunrise, a good swim, a peaceful walk-through nature, or an interesting mystery novel, and I’m pretty content. I love a productive day, appreciate a good cup of coffee, and have a soft spot for animals, especially penguins, frogs, turtles, and a growing list of other fascinating creatures.

I also enjoy finding humor in life’s unexpected moments, especially the ones that don’t go quite as planned. Some of my blond moments have turned into hilarious moments because sometimes all you can do is laugh, and I certainly have plenty of opportunities to do that!

When it comes to creativity, I love experimenting and seeing where an idea takes me. Whether I’m writing, taking photographs, or creating colorful abstract artwork, I enjoy the freedom to explore without worrying about how something is supposed to turn out. Sometimes there’s a story or deeper meaning behind what I create, and other times I simply enjoy the process.

Over the years, I’ve learned to take life a little less seriously, appreciate my individuality, and understand that kindness and personal boundaries can coexist. Being considerate of others matters to me, but so does treating myself with that same respect.

I value genuine connections, curiosity, kindness, and the little things that make each of us unique. One of the things I appreciate most about people is how differently we experience the world. Our interests, experiences, and perspectives all contribute to who we are, and I find that fascinating.

I tend to keep certain parts of my life personal, but this little corner of the internet gives me a place to share some of my interests, experiences, and creativity with others.

All in all, I’m glad you found your way here!

http://www.inspirethose.com
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