Teaching Requirements

Congrats CM! Have you been assigned a school but not a grade level? Let me know and maybe I can put you in touch with teacher there. I'm assuming this letter is the NOPA that the governor signs? Yes, you can work without your NOPA, you will just not get paid until it is received back to the Dept. of Human Resources with all necessary signatures.

I am currently in the application process to find a teaching post at either St. Thomas or St. Croix. My core area is high school English. I have read with great interest many articles and postings regarding life in the USVI. My interest remains high, even though much of what I read warned of the problems with bureaucracy, red tape at Banks, etc.
I can handle those things. My main concern is two-fold: Can I find reasonably affordable lodgings and do I REALLY need to have my own car? For many years I have hoped to live a automobile-free. No expenses for gas, repair, road tax, insurance. If there are any message board members who are currently or have been in the past, teachers in the public school system, I like to hear your opinion on these questions.
I am older, 63, but very flexible (I could still survive in a Peace Corps setting). I don't require much in the way of material comforts, fancy foods, etc. I would gladly rent a room in a house with kitchen and bath privileges. A local bar and coffee house with Internet access would cover most my entertainment needs. From what I have seen in photos and read, the environment of the islands is so spectacular and scenic that it would in and of itself suffice to make my life there a great pleasure.

Yes, you need a car and what do you call affordable? One man's affordable is another man's outrageous.

No, a person in your situation does not need a car. Add up gas, car payment, repair, worry (theft/vandalism/parking space) and insurance then decide if daily trips to Box Stores, driving 2-4 blocks, and road rage are worth it. Walking, biking, and door to door taxi service is good for you.

Iburton-On stx its really hard to make do without a car for day to day living. Taxi's are very high here. If you live in town to be closer to stores you will deal with a much higher noise and much higher crime level. Are there any internet cafes here(stx)?? I know a couple of coffee shops (ok...none as great as stateside shops). Whereas bars are very plentiful and you shouldnt have trouble with that on either island. Plus if you're in an emergency and need to get to the hospital there are only 2 ambulances, that often won't go out for various reason (no emts, trucks not working, they will not go up to your location because the roads are too trecherous, etc). STX is a much bigger island then stt and living without a car can make it very challenging to find a job you like a grocery store and a apartment all in walking distance not to mention the internet cafe thing. I wouldn't recommend it at all, but to each his own. I personnelly don't know any families/couples on island that don't have at least one car.

Hello Iburton,

If you teach at Ivanna Eudora Kean High in Red Hook, STT and live in my studio, adjacent to the school, you don't need a car ! Walk to stores, bars, etc., etc.

It's not cheap, but you cannot beat the location for living without a car, even if teaching at another school. We are just a block ,or less, to public transportation.

If you are planning on the upcoming school year, please PM me, and I will give you the particulars.

I will be posting on the classified list in the next few days.

Apologies to CMB. Thanks for sharing the thread.

I believe the poster is looking for a place on STX.

Always happy to share 🙂

Suzanne:
After several phone calls- yes they are referring to the NOPA. Do you know about how long after I sign my I-9 it will take to get that taken care of? I am unable to sign until we get there.

IBurton:
We have found reasonable housing 700-800 in decent areas but have been willing to compromise size. We are currently in an area where we don't need a car, but it does not seem possible on St. Croix we plan to get one right away.

Thanks again!!

I am glad that everything so far seems to be in order.

I wanted to have you all talk about living with or without a car on st croix or st thomas or even st john.

Back on June 24th "IBurton" asked the question. Can I live in the Virgin Islands WITHOUT a car? This is a very good question that has been asked and answered many times on this forum. The obvious answer is NO, but many people do it. However they do it by imposing on friends and acquaintances alike. The people who survive without a car use other's as their transportation source. I don't think that is fair. But, we need to ask. Would we have a better place to live if we had fewer cars and taxis and buses and noise and smell...etc?

Juanita offered a solution near Red Hook that required a lifestyle that would keep you at home ..at work ..or at a nearby store or restaurant. If you can live that way, and some people do, then here is your opportunity. On St Croix things are not so jammed together, so it is more difficult to live a life as a pedestrian.

I suppose the bottom line has to do with how much you want to take advantage of others. "You can walk, but others must drive (and pay for it) to accomodate your lifestyle.

What do you think ?

It SO depends on where you live and what you do with your time. For years, we lived on our sailboat in Elephant Bay, west of downtown STT, without a car. We dinghyed to work, shopping, entertainment. We took the dollar safari to Kmart, Cost-u-less, Red Hook and much more We borrowed a car or bummed a ride very few times, and always at the offer of the other person.

We bought our first car about 6 or 7 years ago, and must say life is better now. (We have been here 12 years.) My first 2 cars were island beaters. When I bought my "nice" car, I decided to offer rides when I could. That's tough because it's just not safe to pick up strangers.

I have been on STX for 3 months now and think it is probably easier to get around without a car on STT. Depends on where you live, but the safaris rock! They run all day from early to (kinda) late for $1 or $2. You can always spring for the occasional taxi, if necessary.