Another soon to be NoOb...

just your garden variety crap, you know drugs and murders but no serial killers or anything really rude like that, the projects tend to clean themselves out every now and then,thats alot of it,every now and then someone who should not be killed gets in the way by being an innocent bystander or picking up hitchhikers on his way to church,STX is a great island,not as busy as STT and you don't get road rage and it's not as overpriced as STJ

Thanks for the info. Sounds like standard "continental" stuff. Any information on the island dialect?

nothing really important, just keep saying what? what? what? and they'll figure it out and talk american english,but be nice and say good morning,afternoon or evening whenever you enter depending on the time of day, this really is the most important thing

trw is our official welcoming committee! he even hands out fruit punch if you can catch him, LOL!

i agree with the greetings!

unlike other places where those already there acknowledge you when you arrive at an office or place of business, here it is expected that the new person, regardless of social stature, will acknowledge those being met when they enter the establishment.

it takes getting used to, but you will find a warmer welcome (and better service delivery from those for whom this custom is important). you may forget from time to time. but it's ok. some will let you off on it, too.

i generally pause for a bit to get the energy of the person i want to address, look at them, and may even make some small talk, like "and how are you today?" depending on the vibe. it just feels right, like a part of our society that's lost.

one of the many reasons i love it here. i can be human, and others know that i am. they don't just barge past me on the way to what they want.

Thank you for the words of wisdom. It's kind of funny how, in the states and especially in a larger city, how you get used to being anonymous. How you get used to "minding your own business". Frankly...it sucks. It makes you feel less...human. I'm looking forward to re-connecting with people again. Should be one helluva experience.

As Anita says, the personal contact thing is one part of the culture of the VI that I respect and admire , we lost it where I came from a generation ago.

If you take that moment you'll be rewarded and you will come to enjoy it. I greet everyone, be it with an attempt at eye contact or "allright" or the traditional greetings. As we are on an island, eventually you become familiar with many people.

If you are exposed to it a lot it doesn't take long to understand local speak. https://www.vimovingcenter.com/talk/read.php?4,103365

After the city I'm sure you will come to enjoy the laid back attitude and soon come philosophy as the learning curve flattens out. . I always advise people to just come and see if it's really what you want.

Welcome AtlantaScott.
I lived in the ATL for about 10 years and now, thankfully, reside in STX.
Besides the greetings TRW and others pointed out, the biggest difference will be driving. And I'm not just talking about being on the left side of the road. Coming from Atlanta you will need to totally change your ways. Here on STX we stop and let others pull out of driveways, or cross in front of us. A toot of the horn or flash of the lights is a message to the other driver to go ahead. If let in by someone else, a couple of quick beeps acknowledges their thoughtfulness. There are some spots where this level of courtesy is paramount to keeping traffic flowing! You'll find this a refreshing change from the carnage of the downtown connector. I’m not saying it’s a perfect system, as you’ll see when stuck in traffic around sunny isles, but if you take your time getting around and maintain this unwritten driving rule you’ll fit right in and feel better for it.

lol a.davis, i love the fact you can always cleanup and make nice the stuff i'm trying to say,if i had more money i'd hire you,sometimes, well alot of the time i come across like barney frank did a couple of days ago

Thanks. I grew up in S. Fla and loved the laid back lifestyle. I lost that over the last 20 in Atlanta and miss it terribly. I don't need a lot to be happy and can do without. I've spent time overseas for extended periods and have even driven on the "wrong" side of the road before. LOL!

Thanks to all for their input.

AtlantaScott another thing you can do to get your ears trained is listen to the "Free Speech" talk show in the morning on

http://www.paradise935fm.com/ and if whatever media player you use doesn't play it the show is at http://nyc04.egihosting.com/104104 just use the open URL option and most media player will work.

You get to hear local voices and you get to hear local opinions about what goes on.

lol a.davis, i love the fact you can always cleanup and make nice the stuff i'm trying to say,if i had more money i'd hire you,sometimes, well alot of the time i come across like barney frank did a couple of days ago

all i ask is 10%...!