Iliteracy and the people that live on the island

1 and 4 are "kinda" true, 9 and 10 are true. The rest are horribly false.

About showers, you should take them quickly because fresh water is scarce. However, it is not as drastic as 1 minute... more like a 5-10 minute shower.

About clothing, you only need clothing for warm weather.. just dont bring sweaters or anything like that.

About us being illiterate.. that is ridiculous. Even before being an American territory, Virgin Islanders were very literate. That is ridiculous that your co-worker said these false things, but I respect your diligence in coming on the board to ask for the truth

Thanks for your help. Anyone else with their opinions would be appreciated.

🙂

Actually I read 9 too fast... It shuold not be hard to find a place to live, I was thinking about waiting lists for government housing. However, finding an apartment should not be too hard, though.

Hello Michael,

The main source of water in the USVI is rain, unless your catchment and storage system (roof & cistern) are dirty your water should be great.

Yes I have heard the stereotype that many continentals on the island are running, trying to evade something. Not true of the whole lot but there might be a few.

Revenge... Whos going to use it as a tool; don't tell whom you are living in the VI - your family and friends??

No everyone's not related in terms of family but yes the island is small and news gets around rather quickly, particular negative news and it tends to become bigger bad news the more it gets told.

Your showers can last... as deep as your pockets are for buying water often.

Pack what you want and feel you need. If you want to wear the same thing all the time do it, if you want to have choices bring what you got. But winterwear is not necessary at all.

People here... well the majority of the population here do care how they look. Sunday best for church and shows. Clothes are always nicely pressed whether its a school uniform or a work outfit. Hair nicely cut/done.

Waiting list??? for government housing yes. For apartments, pick up the local paper and find something.

Yes, on greeting people.

--Islander

Sounds to me like your co-worker was trying to justify her move to Hawaii to you.

> 1. Don't drink the island water. Drink only bottled water. ?

nonsense.

> 2. White people that live on the island, for the most part,
> are trying to escape something, which is why they are there.

false -- people who live here are here because they like it here. Many can afford to live anywhere on the planet.

> Don't trust anyone. ?

I trust a lot of people...then again, I'm not paranoid

> 3. Don't tell anyone where you live as they will use that as a
> tool for revenge if you piss them off.

utter and complete nonsense

> 4. Most everyone is related or knows each other on the island,
> so if you piss someone off, word will get around.

somewhat true -- it's a small place. BUt why should it be everyone's business if you "piss someone off"...most people could care less, they have their own lives to worry about.

> 5. Most of the islanders are illiterate.

This is patently untrue, but people say it because they know that the island is predominantly black, so they equate blackness with illiteracy. I graduated from St. Croix Central High School, and I dare anyone to call me illiterate.

> 6. Showers will only last you 1 minute so take them fast.

nonsense -- My house has two 14,000 gallon cisterns and I shower as long as I please.

> 7. Don't pack much clothing when you move. You only need a
> few articles of clothing.

somewhat true -- you won't need winter clothing

> 8. People there don't care about how you look. Gel, etc is
> necessary.

depends on the venue...if you are hanging out at Sunset Jazz on a Friday evening we don't expect you to be "dressed to the nines." However, don't show up at someone's dinner party in Shoys wearing flip-flops and a dirty shirt.

> 9. Finding a place to live will take you months because there
> are waiting lists.

false -- there are plenty of apartments and houses available for rent.

> 10. "Good morning, afternoon and evening" are essential parts
> of the dialogue or you will be considered rude.
>

true -- when you walk into a room full of people you are expected to render a hearty greeting. If you look someone straight in the face on the street you should give them a friendly "good morning" , "good afternoon", or "good evening."

your co-worker was basically making and uneducated speech. only #10 is true.

as for #2...i'm white, and all i'm running from is a life in the states i'm not happy with. it's not like i committed a crime i have to flee from.

Thanks for your help guys. I was very unhappy when she told me all that stuff. Most of it I didn't believe, but I wanted to make sure. I'm moving down there for work and have never been to USVI, so all I'm going by is hearsay (is that how you spell it)

Thanks again

Your spelling is correct 🙂

Don't feel any trepidation about moving here. It's a lovely place, filled with friendly people. You have the occasional sourpuss, but where on earth doesn't?

Remember, Jonathan Edwards ( of "Sunshine Go Away Today" fame) lives on St. Croix. Movie star Maureen O'Hara also kept a home on St. Croix for many years. There are others whom I can't remember at the moment. These people can afford to live anywhere, and they chose the USVI.

I wasn't until that lady told me all this stuff. But now that local residents discard her trash, I feel much happier.

Thanks everyone. Drinks on me!

Michael: If you have been on this board very long, you have read some posts written by others with your co-worker's perspective. There are people who see the VI in that light.

I will comment on the illiteracy rate. When I was in the States, I knew very few people who were illiterate. I have run into many more here. I will also say, that when I was in the States, most of the people I knew were college-educated, upwardly mobile, BMW-driving yuppies. I lived and worked in homogenous settings. During my first couple of weeks here, I met people from more different ethnic, socio-economic, religious, linguistic, social and cultural persuasions than I EVER had met in my life up to that time. There are people with second grade educations and advanced degrees. There are problems with the schools, but there are extremely successful graduates of the schools, also.

There are white transplants running from the law. There are others who follow the letter of the law. And there are others who fall somewhere in between.

In other words, here you see a large sampling of the spectrum of the human condition. I feel it is unfair to stereotype either white transplants or islanders.

Back off my soap box...

> 1. Don't drink the island water. Drink only bottled water. ?
false. all i drink is island water and rum
> 2. White people that live on the island, for the most part,
> are trying to escape something, which is why they are there.
> Don't trust anyone. ?
true. im here escaping cold weather
> 3. Don't tell anyone where you live as they will use that as a
> tool for revenge if you piss them off.
false. if you piss someone off they can find out where you live easily enough
> 4. Most everyone is related or knows each other on the island,
> so if you piss someone off, word will get around.
true. see above
> 5. Most of the islanders are illiterate.
false
> 6. Showers will only last you 1 minute so take them fast.
false. but, in the land of fun and sun, we never flush for number one.
> 7. Don't pack much clothing when you move. You only need a
> few articles of clothing.
true. bring half as many clothes as you think you need and twice as much money
> 8. People there don't care about how you look. Gel, etc is
> necessary.
thats a bit contradictory. i dont really think gel is ever necessary.
> 9. Finding a place to live will take you months because there
> are waiting lists.
false
> 10. "Good morning, afternoon and evening" are essential parts
> of the dialogue or you will be considered rude.
true

there ya have it. she's right on some accounts, wrong on others but i can see how she might form those opinions. overall its a pretty awesome place to live, but certainly not for everyone

in response to question #8...what kind of gel are we talking about? hair gel??

also, in my previous post, i meant to write that in response to #7 (bringing clothes), it's true, leave your winter stuff at home. but don't just bring 2 T shirts and 2 pairs of shorts. you should bring a few things more than that. also, bring at least one nice shirt and one nice pair of pants in case you get invited to a gala event. virgin islanders like to dress up.

come on down! you'll love it here!!!

Thanks for your help. I'll be down by the 1st of February. WAHOO!

"10. "Good morning, afternoon and evening" are essential parts of the dialogue or you will be considered rude."

What better place could you even imagine? Friendly people who are kind enough for a simple greeting will most of the time repay you with whatever information you want...or even a greeting back. Sometimes even a simple "good morning" back atcha will make your day.

I've brought this "silly" concept back to the States after my 2nd visit to the islands and it even works here! 🙂