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Hello everyone,
I am in need of some advice regarding our (hopefully) upcoming move to St. John. I am married and have two girls ages 7 and 10. I have applied for a teaching position in the public schools and I have my final phone interview this week with the Dept. of Ed. I spoke with the Human Resources Director, Ms. Brown, and she told me that I am a top candidate and have a 110% chance of being hired. Here's where the panic starts! Where do I begin:
1) How do I get my car to St. John? I had a thought that I might be able to load up my car, drive it to Florida (we're from CT) and then put the car on a boat, picking it up in St. Thomas and then a ferry to St. John. Is this possible? I'm not sure who to call or where to start. I'll fly down, hang out and wait for the car, take it through registration, etc. How long do you think this process will take? I need actual names of companies that deal with these matters.
2) Housing? I hope that once my exact position/location is determined, I will be able to find a temporary rent, although from reading the messages posted on this board, I know that this can be difficult. In my fantasy, I imagine a friendly fellow teacher putting me up for a week or two while I look for a place to live. Has anyone expereinced this among educators in the USVI? Is there help for techers relocating (financial, contacts or otherwise)? After my final interview I will be asking all of these questions of my employer but I will take any advice offered here. I do have a couple of names of people living in St. John that I will be in contact with. My mother has offered to take my girls for awhile while I get set up and then they will fly down with my husband before the school year begins. My husband will stay in CT and continue working at his present job so that we still have some income before he moves down. I'll be looking into jobs for him when I come down. Are you as overwhelmed reading this as I am writing it?!
I'm going to bring my tent too---I can always camp out as a last resort.
3) Shipping furniture/household beloging? What is the most effective/reliable/affordable means of moving a small houseful of belongings? If you could please give me actual names of companies, or refer me to older threads with information, I would really appreciate it. I have heard of the company POD (www.podsusa.com), whose arrangements sound ideal but they do not yet have any locations in the USVI. Plus, St. John is an extra challenge w/o an airport.
I know that I will have many more questions as time goes on. I plan on being there July 1st to get the ball rolling---I have never been to St. John and want to make sure that this will be the right move for my family. I can always back out of the deal and come home but I really want this to work out.
I appreciate all your help.
Suzanne
Posted : May 31, 2004 11:18 pm
Dear Suzanne B
You are lucky to have found this website. It is the best moving,living Virgin Island website anywhere.
If you haven't already done so, order the "Settlers Handbook". Read all of the Archived material here and on VINow.com. Start some dialogues with regulars, who usually are not reticent to share their ideas and opinions.
Come down and spend some time here before your move. Things are very different here and you need to adjust slowly. (VERY IMPORTANT)
You should get much more advice...
Good luck
stxer
Posted : June 1, 2004 12:43 am
Topic starter
Thanks stxer, I ordered the Handbook last night and I'm catching up on threads. Found some great posts re. shipping a car and costs. Thanks for your help.
Suzanne
Posted : June 1, 2004 7:23 am
> 1) How do I get my car to St. John? I had a thought that I
> might be able to load up my car, drive it to Florida (we're
> from CT) and then put the car on a boat, picking it up in St.
> Thomas and then a ferry to St. John. Is this possible? I'm not
> sure who to call or where to start. I'll fly down, hang out and
> wait for the car, take it through registration, etc. How long
> do you think this process will take? I need actual names of
> companies that deal with these matters.
You don't need to drive all the way to Florida, unless you plan on doing it for vacation. There is a Crowley Depot in Pennsauken, NJ where you can ship it from.
http://www.crowley.com/
Once here they do have guys that can help you clear it and register it, although registration is easier to do in St. John!
>
> 2) Housing? I hope that once my exact position/location is
> determined, I will be able to find a temporary rent, although
> from reading the messages posted on this board, I know that
> this can be difficult. In my fantasy, I imagine a friendly
> fellow teacher putting me up for a week or two while I look for
> a place to live. Has anyone expereinced this among educators in
> the USVI? Is there help for techers relocating (financial,
> contacts or otherwise)?
Chances are the department or fellow teachers may have leads for you. It's pretty much a word of mouth sort of thing.
> I'm going to bring my tent too---I can always camp out as a
> last resort.
You could at Cinnamon Bay!
>
> 3) Shipping furniture/household beloging?
I am sure Crowley could help you with this. It would be suggested before shipping all your stuff, to make sure you want to live here first. As you will see over and over on these boards, it ain't for everybody!
> I know that I will have many more questions as time goes on.
This is usual!! I
Ronnie
Posted : June 1, 2004 9:01 am
Hello Suzzanne,
You might go through your things and decide what you would want to move with and what your husband can sell or give away or leave with your Mom while you are already in the islands. Mail down the necessities you need and pack with you the little items (pictures ect.) that will help when you feel lonely with your husband and kids not being with you right away and your cloths (hot weather stuff only... no need for sweaters, jackets, wool anything... ect.). Pack some boxes and make a list of contents, number the boxes. Once settled in you can have your husband plan on either mailing more items to you as needed or shipping them down when he is moving if there are a lot of household goods.
--Islander
Posted : June 4, 2004 6:10 am
Ronnie-
Thanks for the advice.
Would it be alot of trouble for you or anybody else out there to create a simple timeline and task list of what it took and how long it took for you to decide to relocate to USVI and how you did it?
I would appreciate details but I know what a hassle this might be.
Steve
Posted : June 7, 2004 9:11 pm
I live here, always have, too late for you to get here the way I did! But I do believe this is written right here on this website. Just go to the moving center and browse!
Ronnie
Posted : June 7, 2004 11:59 pm
Hello Steve,
You might want to read the What to Expect stories on this web site. They are stories that were written by people who moved to the islands from the states.
Cut and Paste the following link
https://www.vimovingcenter.com/which_island/
--Islander
Posted : June 8, 2004 5:23 am
Thanks for the feedback.
I must say that I am impressed with everybody's willingness to help.
I guess thats island friendliness!
Posted : June 10, 2004 11:14 am
