Would you leave behind the Cayman Islands for the north east of England? Well, it seems that the Tyne and Wear Metro has been enticing enough for a former TV weatherman as he has left it all behind to become a Customer Services Advisor!
Joe Avary and his wife Claire (who comes from Jarrow), left the Cayman Islands in 2021 and settled in East Boldon. Joe, 47, is originally from Albuquerque in New Mexico and has a 23 year media career which has included being a cameraman and journalist in the USA before his role as a TV weatherman in the Cayman Islands. This also saw him provide local news coverage including once interviewing Richard Branson.
Since arriving in the northeast he has taken a job as a Customer Services Advisor at Nexus, providing support for customers and inspecting tickets.
Joe is apparently delighted with his change of career: “People don’t believe me, but it’s been a great experience. It was a big change leaving the Cayman Islands, for sure, but I am really loving it here. The people are great. I just need to get used to the Geordie accent a bit more. As an American some of the local phrases are still hard to get. I think it’s a fantastic public transport system that you have here. I love integrating with the local community, much like I did out in the Caymans, so this was an ideal role for me. The Metro is at the heart of the area and it’s the veins of the local economy. I love meeting my customers, and they seem to enjoy hearing my American accent, you can often see it on their faces. It takes them by surprise, and it’s a good way to engage with people. My announcements on the tannoy certainly seem to make people stop and take a bit more notice.”