Jobs & Relocating

Andrew-

I can't answer a lot of your questions...BUT

My family moved to STT when I was 7. I never saw snakes, nor heard of them being there. Although I am black, I look white. I know...ounds strange...but my skin is white, my hair is long and blonde and my eyes are green....so you don't really know that i am black unless I tell you......in the states I waspicked on by the black kids in my neighborhood....but in the islands I was NEVER picked in.....my ethnicity never came up...and i had best friends who were white...best friends who were black...and best friends who were hispanic..

we lived on STT and I attended Sibily School, which I now hear was/is for kids who are from the states....but many of my friends were native islanders....

I didn't experience racism until we returned to the states.

BUT, if your kids haven't had exposure to black kids, you might have an issue, I don't know....I, obviously, had been exposed to black kids....so all was well on STT. Maybe you could buy some books about various races and teach your kids about how everyone is the same....the challenge is that the kids on STT (black and white) are of a different culture, which may complicate things. It DID take me a little while to get used to the cultural difference and how the adults treated me....island adults seemed to be more "direct" and strict...and it made me want to cry a lot when I was in school...I was totally freaked out by our principal, Mrs. Moorehead.....because I thought she was soooo mean! It was just island culture. I think kids are less catered to in the islands.....less coddled. They are loved just the same.....but it is expressed differently.
Your kids will toughen up in the islands, which could be a good thing.

StX has an ANG with a communications mission currently. Contact the recruiter. Not sure how. Are you still in the AF? How can you call yourself Christain and refer to a white as a cracker by the way?

Actually, you shouldn't refer to the general population as "African-American". That term is for Blacks in the continental U.S.

Eve:

I guess I did not understand your last question. Are you saying that racists aren't Christians (or that Christians aren't racist)? That sounds a bit prejudiced in itself...

Seems to me that bigotry appears in every race, creed and color. People calling themselves Christian or Jewish or Moslem or whatever and using racial epithets for others doesn't just happen, it often happens in the same sentence.

Did you mean something else?

SailAway

Post Edited (05-16-04 09:43)

I agree .I have experienced much more bigotry and racism in the South, the Midwest, and even in Arizona than I ever did in the islands. The presence of strong cultural diversity tends to widen the senses and open the mind.

SailAway

Dear Eve,
First of all I want to say that I am mostly white(with exception to my great grandmother who was part Native American/African-American). When I saw cracker to other white people it is not derogatory and some people take offense to it and others don't. I am sorry if I offended you but where I live in Ohio it is a common thing. I never say the n-word, because I am not African-American and I was not raised like that. I do have African-American friends who call me a cracker, but it is meant as an affectionate term.

Sorry to upset you!

Sincerely,
Andres

Hello All,
I was merely asking a question. Not to stir up a storm here. The term cracker is just as derogatory as many other slurs. If somebody wants to refer to themselves as a cracker than by all means do it. I just wanted to know why! As for Christianity, I would hope that people who don't mind referring to themself as oriented to a religious group would in the same sentence use a 'slur' to refer to thier skin color. I guess people aren't the best at living the Word. I know I have my own faults. I, to reiterate, was wondering. By the way I hang out at the ANG NCO Club in Ohio, and cracker is not a term used here. Matter of fact, I think the worse I hear in all honesty has to do with Moslims because of the climate currently. But I still don't have to like it. And I don't consider that to be Prejudice when I don't want to hear it. I call it respect for your own 'culture' and for other peoples culture or religion or whatever. I can see the use of geographical terms like: Northern, mid-Westerner, Islander, Continental and such but I guess I live in the dreamer world of skin color doesn't mean much to me...

Andrew
Anyways, sorry for the controversy...
I would suggest that you order a Settlers Handbook. It's a really good investment as part of researching a possible move to the islands. What you were told in the previous posts is true to my knowledge also. The islands have a really nice cultural diversity and I believe is very polite and helpful. I have not had a bad experience when visiting. I have not researched schooling and children at all because my husband and I do not have any and do not have plans for children. Somebody else will have to answer those questions. As for the reptile population, I read somewhere (and for the life of me can't find it now of course) that there are no poisonous varities of snakes in the Islands. I can't remember hearing anything about Boas but.... I have yet to see any snake while there. Although, does your phobia of snakes also include Lizards? The Iguana is pretty ferocious looking but I was told not poisonous. It uses its long tail as a defense mechinism. One did drop out of a tree almost on me. Its branch broke and down he came! I don't know who was running quicker; me or the iguana. Once the dust settled, I went back and he let me look at him from about 5-6 feet away for awhile. Than he slowly crawled his way back up to a hidey hole. There are also geckos that are fun and harmless to watch. They scurry everywhere. I was afraid I'd squish one but to be honest, that gecko would have to be having a bad day to get caught under somebody's foot 'cause they are fast! Right now I don't consider anything to be worse than a Camel Spider! (Air Force) Those are quite disgusting.
As for the real estate market. The first suggestion is that realtors don't email very well (in general). It is better to just pick up the phone and call the listing broker. The market down there doesn't recognize buyer agency. Be aware of that. The brokers are working for the seller. They will take any info you give and use it to the advantage of the seller. Including how much you have as downpayment, how much your willing to finance and such. Just be aware. My experience is this but others may have different opinions. I think most will agree that the best bet is to visit the island your interested in. My husband and I started with St Croix because of the Air National Guard located there. He has been in contact with the recruiter. Hopefully, he can continue on with his Service but the possibility exists that he may not. The homes on the market, I have read are sometimes misrepresented. A place that is listed at 200T may be way over valued. You have to see this in person to get a feel. Not a good idea to but site unseen. Also, the really good stuff in that price range goes quickly. Usually before it hits the mls listings on the realtor sites. In looking for a home, the suggestions I've read and heard are to rent for 6-12 months on the island and keep your eyes peeled for the area you want. This also gives you good idea of island living and other info before you invest.
Feel free to keep asking away at questions....

Eve:

It's much too early for storm season. I was just wondering as well -- I asked because I honestly wasn't sure what your were trying to say.

I certainly don't consider it prejudice not to like slurs. I don't like them, either. But your comment about Islamic people in the current climate is exactly what I was thinking of. There are a lot of people right now who think of themselves as "good" Christians or Mormons or Jews who speak condescendingly of Muslims and don't think they are prejudiced at all.

Perhaps it was just the way your question happened to strike me. I was reminded of a girl I knew in the 7th grade who could accept the wars in Vietnam, Africa and the Middle East, but was utterly appalled by the fighting in Ireland. She looked at me with complete aplomb and blurted, "What hypocrites! The Irish are supposed to be CHRISTIANS!"

SailAway

Hello Andrew,

>>Are there many or any pharmacy jobs in the Virgin Islands?

I don't know if there are openings presently, but there are pharmacies on each of the big islands so you might look them up and contact them. try the yellow pages for a list with numbers www.viphonebook.com

>>I'm in the air force and, if you could tell me are there any military jobs in the islands; I doubt there are jobs in the air force but what about jobs in navy, army, coast guard, etc.

There is a Navy and Army recruiting office. There is National Guard. And Coast Guard folks get sent here.

>>Which island would you say would be the easiest for a large, Christian, white(cracker)could adjust to the culture easiest?

I think any of the islands would work as the culture is similar, the atmosphere and personality of the islands is what is different.

>>Do you think that children who have not seen many African-Americans before and isn't used being around many on a day-to-day basis could adjust easily to?

How old are the children? If they are small children I would think they would adjust quickly, if they were teens then they might feel a bit awkward for a bit; culture shock maybe.

>>Are white kids picked on a lot by children of other races?

I recall as a child in elementary school (public school) black children and white (stateside) children and the white French kids had verbal exchanges; name calling, jokes, teasing... yet we were all friendly despite the spats. In higher grades and junior high I recall there being more fights in this age group and amongst boys because of any difference (race, school attended, which island their family was from, sports, girls) while the girls were more into their clicks and had disputes along the lines of popularity. I have heard younger black kids and young teens (usually boys) making comments toward white kids of the same age range while passing them on the street, passing them in a truck (kids sitting in the back). Adults; most are open/friendly to all and there are some that are rude/nasty.

>>One final question, I know that there are boas on the islands and since I have a BIG snake phobia, could you tell me, personally, are snakes a big problem there? I mean, will I be seeing them a lot like if I just walk outside and there'll be one hanging on the tree or something?

The tree boa is an endangered species here. I have never seen one. As a child there were garden snakes (I don't think that is the right name and have been told these are not the same as the tree boa.) in the grassy areas of land around our home that we played with - they were harmless and we only saw them once in a while; I haven't seen them in years except for a one or two dead on the roadside over a say 10 year period. If you do see one consider yourself lucky - take a picture and call the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife to let them know about the sighting!!

>>One final question is about the cost of housing is it that cheap that they sy it is on realtor.com, like three & four bedroom houses priced under $200,000?

Read through the real estate section for each island to get an idea of the cost for homes, land, condos. Try https://www.vimovingcenter.com/realestate/

--Islander