Simplify

Where in Michigan have you moved from? I will be doing the same move in October (minus the puking kid), from Grand Rapids.

I have a few questions for you.....
When you say got new phones...did you get new cell phones? Did you switch to a cell phone provider that is on the island (ie: cingular)?
Did you fly out of Ft Lauderdale or Miami? Was it easy to put the car on the boat and then get to the airport?
My boyfriend are making the move in August and are just curious of some of the things we will run into on our way there.
Any extra advice would be wonderful!
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Brooke

Good morning...

Chad, Rochester Hills

Brooke, Cell yes... Sprint worked well for us, have two phones, one with STT exchange, one with MI exchange for lonely departed family (gift to Grammy for taking all her babies)...

Fly out of West Palm for geagraphic convenience... Tropical ships vehicles from that location... Lauderdale is closer then Miami however flying 5 of us ticket price was a factor... Miami was least expensive when I booked... caught a one way enterprise renter to Miami after dropping vehicle...

Tropical shipping and customs was no trouble... just have your ducks in a row...

Best Regards, Craig

Good morning,

I just did the same thing, minus the family. I sold everything I owned, bought a laptop and digital camera and am awaiting my flight on July 14 to the islands. (I went to Michigan Tech.) Hope to see you down there...

asti

I think there will be a lot of new faces down here for the next season.
🙂

After the last winter we had here in Michigan, I wouldn't be surprised to see quite a few people fed up with the mid-west...I can finally stop using my hand as map. Asti, do you have a job on the island yet, or are you going to wing it? I graduated from Hope with a double major in English and Political Science...probably won't use those.

Chad, you might be able to teach with the English degree and maybe Government/History with the Political Science. If you are interested in that, once on island you could look into it - if you have any experience at all in that.

--Islander

Chad,

Being in the UP really has changed me as I grew up in a really different environment. I do not have a job yet; it seems that all of the jobs that I persued were cut short when I said that I didn't live there yet. I have done teaching in high school so being a sub. may happen. I'll look into it again when I get down there. Thirteen days and counting, see ya then.

asti

I have given some serious consideration to the teaching bit, however I am not planning on moving until late October (would like to have at least 10k before the move). This means that I would have to find an opening in the middle of the year, which is not very likely. I don't have experience in a formal classroom, however I was the head sailing instructor of a yacht club for three years and taught downhill ski for two winters...better than nothing I suppose.

Islander, I am a little confused when it comes to the laws pertaining to teaching...do you need to have your teaching certificate to be a full time teacher? I know that this isn't a federal law, therefore every state/territory is different...although I think it is pretty uniform on the mainland.

Asti, my girlfriend and I are tentatively planning on doing our pre-move visit over the Labor Day week and would love to grab a few drinks and discuss your experience. Speaking of which, has anyone finalized a plan for a get together?

Chad, I don't know the "law" in the VI pertaining to the need for a teaching certificate. However I do know that I have two friends that graduated with me from college with BS in Marine Biology who started teaching within 1-2 years of graduating from college, in a private school locally, one guy teaches high school. Another friend from high school went to the states got a degree in religous studies came back and taught for a year. Another friend was offered a job teaching when she got her BS in Chemistry... so if those experiences say anything - then yes you can get a job teaching if you have a BA or BS or Masters in a field and no teaching certificate. Of course I am certain the person hiring would favor a person with teaching experience to a person with just the certificate and a person with the certificate over someone with just the BA/BS degree. In highschool I had many teachers that had their degree in a field (Biology, Chemistry, English... but not necessary an Education Degree to be a teacher.) I am not certain whether the public schools may have changed their poliicies since losing accreditation. Perhaps I will look into this and find out.

--Islander

I'm not sure if I'll be around on Labor Day weekend...but it would be nice to meet some people; maybe the Islander has ideas on where to meet?

Asti, there are lots of places folks could meet up... depends on the scene you want. If you want an early thing with food/drinks - perhaps Happy Hour at one of the bars. If you want dinner - then a restaurant, lots of those around.

--Islander