Strange things about living in the VI

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The traditional way of announcing your presence at someones home:

Inside -- INSIDE!!

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This is so true. What you don't find strange anymore is the fact that you will yell "inside" a couple of times without ever thinking about it, no horn or knock first.

I happen to love the traditional phrases like "Inside!" I was told it was because houses are (were) open, and you wanted to give the resident a heads up that someone was around. You are supposed to yell it as you are coming into the yard, I believe.

I also love:

"How are you?"
"Not as good as you."

"See you tomorrow."
"God spare life."

Exit Zero: I didn't mean "strange" like "weird", but "strange" like, "different". We are always talking about how life here is not like on the mainland... And speaking of that, it seems many of the new, young stateside people who come here for season tend to ignore the local mores. Wearing clothes that wouldn't have been allowed in public a few years back. Demanding they bring their dogs to the beach. Refusing to learn the courtesies. I don't know, I am tired of the millennial snowflakes. 😛

Island Time -- this is actually one of the best reasons I still live here. The relaxed and conversational personal transactions I see on a daily basis have moderated my own attitude over the years and I think in a beneficial way. It turns out the immediate gratification need that so many people seem to come here with slowly erodes over time, admittedly perhaps at the pace that glaciers wore down the mountains sometimes, but long term residents almost always find themselves adopting the Caribbean penchant for easier living and lack of urgency.
Sure it can be frustrating at times, waiting for a repairman, late arrivals for an appointment, sitting in traffic as the driver in front of you has a long conversation with a bystander, and a million other examples.
But assigning great import to accomplishing every task will only induce unnecessary stress and makes island life a continuous struggle. Finding a middle path on this can certainly translate into laziness if taken too far but realizing that some tasks just move along and do get finished anyway, just not on the schedule you allotted is easier to understand once your Rolex is adjusted to running on island time.
Last week at the hardware store after witnessing an incident with the clerk and what I assume was a rather busy man, when it was my turn at the register I complimented the clerk on her patient and helpful demeanor with the harried customer who was bustling away still muttering. She looked at me with an almost apologetic face and said softly:
Hurry man eat raw corn

Hurry man eat raw corn

Hey! I LIKE raw corn ! 😛

Great as long as you are not a 'hurry man' i guess.

I think it's all good as long as you do not have to work here. Otherwise all this "friendliness" of blocking traffic to chat, idle chat at work while not working gets a little out of hand. There is a reason why jobs here pay 50% of mainland rates. The productivity is 60% and any thought and mindfulness about 40%. Reminds me of that movie from 80s where Japanese were opening car production plant in KY or TN trying to recruit American rednecks and adopt them to quality and performance standards. It was funny watching the cultures clash.

Someone mentioned rampant passive-aggressive attitude. What's up with that? Half the time I say loud Goodmorning nobody responds. Not that it bothers me.

Someone mentioned rampant passive-aggressive attitude. What's up with that? Half the time I say loud Goodmorning nobody responds. Not that it bothers me.

Just from observations at work.

I've had people who sit right next to me and others I work with, print out a request and leave it our keyboard instead of talking to co-workers directly... stuff like that 😉

Doesn't bother me either, i think its funny.

I think it's all good as long as you do not have to work here.

Yes. I became completely frustrated trying to do a first-world job in third-world conditions (or trying to get things done quickly on my days off), so I ended up moving back to the mainland, but I could see it being a whole different place if you're not working.

I think it's all good as long as you do not have to work here.

I work for a living and have worked here for over 40 years - not that your comments aren't valid - they sure are - but I don't want you to think that my time is totally carefree and the million things that are different don't affect my productivity as well.

I just feel that adjusting to the pace has enriched my overall way of life.

I agree Zero; almost 30 years and wouldn't change a thing-

West indian whisper talking

When a West Indian introduces themselves in a whisper, and they have an unusual (to me) first name, there is NO WAY I'm going to hear it and understand it!

West indian whisper talking

When a West Indian introduces themselves in a whisper, and they have an unusual (to me) first name, there is NO WAY I'm going to hear it and understand it!

When this happens to me (and it happens often) I simply cup my hand around my ear and tilt my head slightly so they can see my hearing aid and say "Sorry, but I'm hard of hearing can you please speak up". Sometimes this works but many times I still don't understand what's being said. Ah, such are the challenges of living in paradise.

This is my favorite discussion to date! I love it and encourage more posts. Thank you everyone

Happy New Year everyone!

On more than one NYEve I have been at house parties that many of the guests arrived at 1:30 am or later - talk about island time -- by then most of the original invitees were leaving or gone and the hosts and remaining guests were cleaning up - BUT the party was re-started and went til dawn.

Parking.... People park wherever they want, no regard for signs or handicap spaces. I was in a parking spot on NYE in the Seaborne lot and some dude just parked and blocked two cars in. We got out a jack and moved his car for him.

I find it strange, as a former realtor, that landlords want long term, a year lease, renters, yet they furnish everything as if it's a vacation rental.

I lease long term and all my kitchen stuff, dishes, flatware, pots and pans, etc, will fit into my vehicle. As well as my linens and towels! My wall art! I have had to box up their crazy excuses for dishes, dime store flatware, thin aluminum pots and pans bought cheap and their thin linens and pillows! Oh and their crappy excuses for faded wall decor! Just rent with furniture and appliances, period! Makes more sense to me.

If you really want long term tenants, left them furnish that stuff. Believe me that stuff will fit into a car, although you may make several trips. That way they probably won't pack up a suitcase and leave as quickly.

that would have been fun to watch and also to see his expression when he came back to a moved car

Parking.... People park wherever they want, no regard for signs or handicap spaces. I was in a parking spot on NYE in the Seaborne lot and some dude just parked and blocked two cars in. We got out a jack and moved his car for him.

that whole 1980's tropical decor.

There is a reason why jobs here pay 50% of mainland rates. The productivity is 60% and any thought and mindfulness about 40%. Reminds me of that movie from 80s where Japanese were opening car production plant in KY or TN trying to recruit American rednecks and adopt them to quality and performance standards. It was funny watching the cultures clash.

If you were to take a look today at the auto industry in Kentucky and Tennessee today you would find that it has been a terrific success for everyone involved.

Parking.... People park wherever they want, no regard for signs or handicap spaces. I was in a parking spot on NYE in the Seaborne lot and some dude just parked and blocked two cars in. We got out a jack and moved his car for him.

I would have considered moving the car with the drivers side on the very edge of the moat and let them crawl through the passenger side door to get in.:D