Racial Harmony?

you have to remember that the best and the brightest leave and go to college in the states and the dregs stay behind, and so yeah it looks good to see the harmony among children but the smart ones leave and persue education and careers in the "oppressive colonial states" and the rest stay here and blame everything on the bad us gov't. to me people like olasee davis are evil because they can't move on and accept progress

Dude, sorry to say, I think youll regret moving here. Consider all options. I look forward to the end of my contract so I can move north. Oh, cold never looked so good!

You will never be at home here.

We took the mountains and islands of BC and Washington State and a boat. There were many factors that made us want to leave - most of them personal to us, but lack of harmony and balance on the island was definitely a part of the decision.

thank you to mango, jane and halawest....I DEEPLY appreciate your comments and opinions. It is certainly a great thing that people can communicate so openly and honestly about their experiences. If this would have been 15 years ago, we would have never talked, moved down there with wide eyes open and had to learn every bad experience that I've read about and heard about....so thank you all. It is actually a pretty sad thing when places that look so beautiful can have such a bad sting on so many people. St Thomas was my paradise in my head for a long time...we almost feel like Gypsy's searching for a home we can never find.

Whatever any of you do...just remember to be good to people....god only knows where i'd be if there weren't good people that came into my life. You're awesome and thanks again in helping with your knowledge.

Who knows.....maybe Souther Spain?

Much Love

I'm a blonde, blue eyed, female in my twenties and have never felt discrimination because of my skin color on island. I really honestly haven't. I have many wonderful friends, local and transplant alike of all different backgrounds. I've lived in STX since 2003. I personally love living here and to me, the island does feel like home. Maybe I'll never be considered a true "Crucian" because you gotta been born on island for that ;). But I consider myself to be quite comfortably integrated into the community. And I have no intention of leaving anytime soon (except to keep trudging through school).

Island living works for some really well, others average, and others not so good. Many people have expressed many diverse opinions on what works for them, and what doesn't work for others. Some people can't stand living here. Don't be totally discourged by many of the negative posts--because there are some people with positive experiences too.

Good luck if you decide to make the move. I did and never regretted it.

I think the Crucians live a little more 'positively' than the St. Thomians or St. Johnians. We got along great with the majority of people on island in the two years we lived there, but we did get some drive by yelling of teens with curses to the 'whitey's'. Occasionally we had a rude experience in a restaurant or store, based more on the fact that we were not locals, than color of skin. It wasn't the biggest reason we left, but sure it played a part. FYI - we left because we couldn't afford a good education for our kids and were rapidly running out of money with all the extra expenses and were not completely happy with island living in general. We could have dealt with each problem individually, but not all of the problems at once. I have no regrets however and am glad I had the experience on island. I learned a lot about myself, the world, and people in general. The island forces you to see and interact with the worst and best of life. Some find peace and happiness on island, so I wouldn't rule it out completely. One day you may be ready for an island lifestyle.

Teresa

If she teaches at a private school , she will be more than fine. I loved teaching the kids down there much more than here in Korea. The only violent problem I had in the VI with students were public high school kids at a football game, amd I was in the wrong the area.

You have to learn there are places you go and places you dont do...just like any major city.

stxem,
It is important for mainlanders to know that although differences do exist on the islands , some mainlanders do have positive experiences interacting with the local people and culture. Your post seem to share that view.

I never read much about St. John on this forum.... is the racial climate there the same, better, or worse than the other islands? Any opinions would be welcome.

I've been here many years & I've gotten along fine as a white female. There have been a few bumps in the road but nothing that would have driven me away or even made me consider leaving. I don't know that there is racial harmony 100% anywhere. You might be missing out on a great experience.

I did move here before the internet so possibly I'd have felt the same as you, had I read all the negative stuff you have. There are plenty more who have built successful lives down here who don't post on this board.

I agree with Trade and Stxem.

I live on STT and I love the warm friendly people here. I go through my daily life not thinking about race at all -- mine or anyone else's.

Hope this helps a little bit.

🙂

Puffer, I live on St. John, and while I haven't spent signifiant time on STT or STX to be able to compare the racial climates, I can tell you that as a white female I am very happy and comfortable living here. Never felt threatened or unwelcome.
I think the way you are treated here depends on how you present yourself. If you come down here expecting to be disliked, or expecting that you'll have a terrible time, then you will. If you come down here with an open mind, willing to experience the culture and get to know people, I think you'll have a much better time. Attitude plays a huge part in whether or not you'll make it and enjoy it down here.
Hope that helps.

Thank you to all of you.....especially that last few posts....this has renewed our view now that we are hearing more positive experiences from people. I have pretty much seen every island in the Caribbean minus Cuba and I fell in love with the VI's more than any other place I've been.

St. Thomas certainly grabbed my attention a bit more by having more "city like" amenities. When I went to STX I was told it was a penal colony and when the criminals get out they have nowhere to go and it just fills up with more. However it was certainly the most beautiful in my opinion. Are the jail stories just a myth? How is STX living compared to St. Thomas?

I couldn't move my girlfriend down there (with a clear conscious) when she's never even been to the Caribbean so we've decided to come down in late March for a week. We will definitely be doing some scouting and REALLY doing our homework before we go. If anyone could help us compile a list of the neighborhoods or areas that we should take a look at, please post them and we will go check them out for sure.

I respect and appreciate every one of your postings.....you have no idea how helpful it is for people so far away!

Much Love
4000 ft up in Oregon

That's really a wild story about STX. I like it over there even though I've only done day trips so why not check that for yourself when you're down here? I do remember a bit of "testing" at work from the St. Thomians when I first arrived but when they saw I wasn't going anywhere, all was well. I suspect a little of that is sort of entertainment sometimes. You will find jerks everywhere but it's never dissuaded me from staying. It might be different in STX as I've never lived there.

STX is definitely not a penal colony. The main jail in the USVI is on STX, but the jailed population does not compromise a significant portion of the population. In my years on island, I still don't know where the jail exactly is. Some people claim that STX has more crime than STT, but statisically, there really is no difference. People have told me that some crime on St Thomas is actually covered up so as not to worry the cruise lines and jeapordize tourism and so STX takes the heat. Perhaps that is Crucian conspiracy theory :)...Blame St. Thomians 😉

Seriously though, I never feel in danger on island any more than I did when I lived in New York, London, Boston and in Miami (where I am currently going to school). STX is slower and not so bustling. There aren't as many tourists,
especially in the summer. I think the air is cleaner on STX, especially in the towns--I remember getting off the plane in the harbor in STT and really noticing a big difference. I enjoy there being not a lot to do and enjoy the bar/restaurant scene. I personally don't need a lot of hyper stimulation to keep myself happy--laid back, chilled out atmosphere is just fine. Entertainment wise, I love STX because being around good people, listening to free music and great bands, nice scenery to enjoy a drink in, and great diving, are pretty much all I need to stay amused. And I'm a young person! Have I turned into an old fogey so early?? Some people need a lot more to do, and if you do, St Thomas might be a better match. Again I also have a great job which I love, and which helps out in life wherever you are.

And I aree with Trade, that there will be some "testing:" locals and the permanent transplant population will do it. But I don't think it is nasty or anything, more of gentle chiding and sarcasm. But I understand that too. It's hard to invest a lot of time befriending someone when they'll be gone in 3 months. I think that aspect of "being tested" is more of a defense mechanism for the people who live permanently in such a transient society than genuine unfriendliness. I think I even do it a bit now when meeting people who just move down.

P.S. Also, If you are planning on coming at the end of March, STX has a really wild St Patties Day parade, bands every where, people everywhere, green beer, lots of fun. People go all out that weekend. It might be fun for you to take the seaplane over and stay for that weekend and that be a really fun way to check out St Croix. Not necessarily practical, but if you have the bucks....

Hotels are already pretty much fully booked for St. Patrick's Day, so anyone who wants to check out the party had better call and book any lingering vacancies pretty quickly. Hotels were sold out this weekend for Mardi Croix, also.

I feel safer on STX than I did in many of the larger cities I lived in prior to moving here. There's something about recognizing some of the people in a restaurant or store or on the beach wherever you go that gives you a sense of belonging and security. Being a stranger among a large crowd is scarier in many ways. It doesn't take long on STX to get to know a wide variety of people if you venture out even a couple times each week and make the simple effort of chatting with some new people each time.

Rypan,

You and your girlfriend will always be outsiders to the cruzans but that does not mean by any means that someone will hurt you or your girlfriend just because you werent born here. I cant speak for the other islands but as a blonde green eyed lady I have never felt like someone was going to physically hurt me because of my skin color. I have felt like many times someone didnt like me b/c of my skin color, but so what? Not everyone has to like you.

You may or not always be seen as tourist and that can put you at more risk when you go out at late at nite to being robbed. Get dogs wherever you decide to live for protection. At least on stx there is no reliable secruity sys, they are either worthless or crooked.

Cant believe that one about the penal colony...that was funny 🙂 Does kinda make me believe in the conspiracy theory against stx....I dont beleive for a sec we have more crime then stt.

Wow rypan, it really depressed me to open this thread and read all of those initial negative responses to your post. I've been living and teaching on STT for 3 years now in a public school and it really upsets me to read ignorant comments like those from halawest and Mango--the sooner they get out of the VI, the better. My 2 children have attended public school here and we have experienced nothing but racial harmony. My best friends are West Indian and they have totally accepted me for the white girl that I am. My carnival troupe has become like a second family to me---I'm the tall white chick dancing down the street with the show-stopping Traditional Indians. So, I say come on down and join the rest of the positive, free spirited people on the island. Don't listen to a t'ing de fools be telling you.

SuzanneB - you go girl! I enjoyed and embraced your comments.

It's very hard to explain to potential newbies the basic facts of life about living here. All of us has a tale to tell and I think what many newbies fail to understand is that the Virgin Islands is an incredibly diverse mix of people.

Where else in such a tiny dot on the map could you find so many colours and creeds? West Indians, East Indians, Americans, Europeans, Arabs, Asians, Hispanics?

If I've missed out an ethnic group then fie upon me, but it all has to do with acceptance of your fellow man. Cheers!

Oh dear miss SuzanneB,
You are correct -The sooner I leave the better.
Thanks for referring to my comments as ignorant. Ive lived here for more then a year now and happen to be well traveled and educated, perhaps more then most. You must think very highly of yourself to put my post down. I wonder why it is that the posters here feel they need to put someone down when they don't agree with ya.
It's my case in point I suppose.
Having read these posts Ive noticed something else in the discrimination side of the house. It seems to me that most of the posters who are having a fine time here and not experiencing discrimination are woman. Just an observation.
Anyway, In my humble opinion this place has perfect weather and not much more. Relocator beware.
Whenever you start tricking yourself into thinking this is a paradise just ask yourself if paradise includes tons of garbage everywhere. Details count in my book. If that is not addressed what else isn't?
Rypan I, as a white male, have experienced blatant prejudice. Thats all I want you to know.
Evidently, no surprise to anyone I'm sure, there have been other experiences.
Thanks for your attention.

Could it be, that the average "white male" feels more discrimination then most is because we are (for now) the majority in the states. On the islands we are NOT the majority. Women have felt discrimination most of their lives, as to other minorities.

A few years ago when visiting Hawaii, I was diving with two fellows that just got out of the Navy after being stationed there. One ( white )couldn't wait to leave due to the feeling of discrimination, while the other ( Black ) was going to stay there and never felt any discrimination.
We talked about it a little, and came to the conculsion that the black man had always felt some discrimination, and this had been new to the white man.

I don't know, it's just MHO.:)

I know that in the few ( 16 ) weeks that I have visited the islands in the last 1 1/2 years, I have had no problems, and am planning to " at least " split our time there if not move there when my wife retires in 29 1/3 months. But hey, who's counting? 🙂

Terry,
That is a great point. I have reflected, alot, and considered this. I am a white male from a predominately white area after all. What Im experiencing may just be the sting of a new experience for me that others have always dealt with.
Good stuff, thanks for your comment.

Wow, interesting stuff here. Mango- I (as a white female) agree with you...the great weather is about the only thing i miss from my year on the island. My friends, and my boyfriend still stationed there,too. I dont agree with some responses about attitude is everything... I came with a great attitude...but it still wasnt for me. That doesnt mean I am close minded or ignorant...I am grateful for the experience and the eye opening - but the VI could never feel like home for me... However I have friends there, locals and transplants that love it. We connect deeply about many things, but island living just isnt one of them and thats okay. I can come visit them and have a bed to sleep on and they can come visit me and get the same. Win-win situation in my books!!

To address the Native American Indian part of your question, I never had any discrimination problem on any of the islands. As a Choctaw woman I can honestly say I have never had my heritage treated with as much respect as it was in the Virgin Islands. In the continental US, I have felt at times discriminated against, especially recently with some of the anti-immigrant sentiments (most people assume I am Mexican). My second day living in Islands, I was taking a taxi to Charlotte Amalie for my new job and my cabbie actually asked if I was Choctaw (the distinctive nose gives it away). That was the first time a non-Native American had EVER recognized what tribe I was from. That wasn't the last time it happened on island either! I had many other experiences where locals would ask or guess what tribe I was and then tell me the about the history of the Carib or Arawak. I think the local population has a lot of sympathy for the displacement of First Nation Peoples, which shouldn't be surprising in the least. I made many friends with the "native" people of St Thomas and found them to be charming and very kind and generous.
Unfortunately I couldn't take the weather and eventually relocated back North (I LOVE the snow!).

You shouldn't let fear of discrimination scare you away, I think there a thousand ways to bond with people, over race is just one of them. If the fear of crime is something you are worried about, ( I did get my UNATTENDED purse stolen once), I would consider moving to Water Island. It is a super safe , super friendly place, and only just a few minutes from St. Thomas.