Think of relocation

Hello Lisa,

Welcome to the board. Hopefully you find information here to help with your plans, decisions. Have you ever been to St. Croix... to the USVI? Has your husband and children? Research the islands here through this site, get books (a good one is the Settlers Handbook and Life in the Left Lane... the latter written by someone that moved to St. Croix and she talks about the experience moving and settling in. You can find both at http://www.vitraders.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=V&Category_Code=rel). Check the newspapers online, read online information about the islands. What are you weary about? Anything specific that folks might provide insight on? How old are your sons; any sports/activities they really really enjoy... see if there are teams here for those or whether they are available. Basically research what you can, think of all the questions/issues of importance to you and your family and see what information, opinions you can get related to those. If you haven't been here, plan to come check it out in person.

--Islander

Lisa,

What kind of business is bringing your husband to the island? If he's working at the refinery, check to see if his compensation package includes private school tuition for your sons. Some positions do and others don't, but it's sure nice if you can get that included. Some positions also include relocation expenses paid and also a monthly housing stipend in addition to salary and benefits. If his compensation is still in negotiations, it's nice to go in armed with what is possible for some people so maybe you can get extra things thrown in if you know to ask for them.

There is a need for nurses at the hospital on St. Croix, as there is pretty much everywhere. There are many threads on this website regarding both traveling nurse positions and full-time permanent positions and also contact info for talking to people working at the hospital who can fill you in on the process of pursuing your options.

How old are your sons? Relocation works better for some families with children than others. Ages of children and the types of activities they are involved in plays into how they adapt to the different lifestyle they will find here. Many families who have relocated report that young children adapt easier and have a better experience. Teenagers have a lot of opportunities here for both good and bad things they can do. Since each family is different, your experience won't necessarily mimick the other ones you hear about, but you will get a lot of food for thought if you do a search for threads on schools and kids' activities and that sort of thing.

If you do come to St. Croix, I look forward to welcoming you and would be happy to show you around a bit and answer some questions as you settle in. Best wishes with whatever your family decides to do in this New Year.

Thanks for the welcome and the web site. My sons are 11 and 9. I am weary because they say the cost of living is very high and the wages are very low. I have read a few articles that suggest that there is a high crime rate.

My husband is working at Cheney Bay. I will be in St. Croix 1-18 to 1-22 to take a look around. My husband is there now.

Hi Alexandria
I have been reading all these posts since the first of December. My husband and I are leaving the 17th for a PMV. Our first, but we will only be on the island from Thursday until Sunday evening. My husband has been offered a job and I have been looking on sites for HR departments to seek interviews for myself while I am there. I am a property manager and currently work at a high rise for the U of M student residents in Ann Arbor, MI. Don't know if you can help me but I want to make the most of my days looking and getting interviews. I have been in contact with Judi Fricks of VI on the Run and will schedule a meeting with her as well when I get down there. She has been a big help. Any ideas where else I can go?

Thanks!

Marlene

My boys play travel baseball now any suggestions on teams On the Island?

While you are here, check out the school situation very carefully. Is your husband being paid well? Can you afford private school for your sons. Will Chenay Bay help you find a place to live?

You WILL be able to find employment, but unless one of you is making big bucks, this move is going to be difficult.

Lisa~ There is a definite need for nurses at the hospital. We really need you here. The cost of living is high, but perhaps it's like living in New York City, but without all the things to buy.... Life here seems to be more about people and less about things anyway. Crime is here, but no worse than anywhere else. It's a small island so it is more visible...kind of like the reporting of crime in a small town. Schooling is going to be one of your primary concerns: the public schools don't meet certification criteria. Private schools run from about 3800/yr (Free Will Baptist School) to over 9000 (Country Day School) Good Luck and God Speed. IM me if you want more info on the hospital.

Marlene - please feel free to contact me directly at stcroixhomes@hotmail.com or on my cell at 340-514-5591 and maybe I can come up with a few other suggestions for places you can apply while you are here on your short visit.

Lisa - with your boys' ages, Free Will Baptist would likely be a good school option for them. The tuition is certainly easier to cope with than at Country Day or Good Hope and they are located in the center of the island for fairly easy access from wherever you find to live. With kids in private schools, two incomes are generally necessary if the tuition isn't covered as a perk of the job compensation package. While many rental properties have high monthly rental rates, there are apartments and guest cottages that can be rented directly through the owners that are more affordable. Since your husband is already on-island, he could likely ask around and hear of something that would work for your family. It's easier to move here as a single or a couple without children since kids greatly increase the expense and level of concern for their welfare and happiness, but it can be managed if you network as much as possible when you arrive. People try to be helpful here if you reach out and ask. Finding this website is a good first step.

I have been reading the thread as our family has been offered employment opportunties in St.Thomas as well. Can I get more information on the schools that are available? and are the public schools not good? I have 5 children that I would be moving. I have also been concerned with finding a house there large enough to accomodate us all.
Thanks

Moving to STT with 5 school-age children is a HUGE undertaking. Unless you are independently wealthy, PLEASE research this very carefully.

Private schools on St. Thomas can be expensive. Antilles and Montessori are both good schools. Montessori is about $8000/year and Antilles is more than that - the last I heard tuition was around $12,000/year (others can correct me if I am wrong). All Saints is less expensive. I have friends who send their children there and are happy with the school. St. Peter and Paul is also less expensive and is a catholic school. You are right about finding a home large enough. There is a large home for sale in Bolongo now (7 bedrooms, 7 baths) for only $699,000. That is a great price for St. Thomas. If you are going to rent it will be hard to find a home with more than three bedrooms.

Donna Wheeler
David Jones Real Estate

thanks for all the info I will check everything out in two weeks while I am there thanks again.

I think the general consensus is that public schools are not really an option for stateside transplants. That leaves you with homeschooling or private schools.

If you are considering homeschooling, you might be interested in the curriculum that is offered on-line by the internet charter school at www.k12.com. Good luck - Joanna

Hi I am new to this site. I have been offered a teaching position in the St. Croix school district. Right now I am trying to find out as much as I can about the cost of living, housing (would like to rent for awhile) and anything else. I have 60 days to decide. I have also been offered a position in Houston. So I'm very torn right now. I have two children (but only one is coming with me - son is going to live with dad for a year - daughter is 11), my husband is looking at the oil industry (he is an engineering manager for an automotive company - 32 years experience, but no college degree) how hard would it be for him to get a job and how much do you think he could make? Where do you find housing? I will be bringing my 2 cats (they don't go outside) and dog with me.

Sorry if this message is all over the place - so many questions and things to think about. Any help anyone could give me would be greatly appreciated.

vicki

I just reread this thread and I noticed that we have another example of the 'crime is the same as everywhere' fallacy.
Yes, it is like small town reporting, in that you are likely to be familiar with the people, places and events in the paper.
NO, it is not like small town reporting in that the crimes are murder, armed robbery on down to petty crime.
Again I say, violent crime is disproportionately high on the islands. In a population of under 200,000 people in total, one sees the murders etc that one would expect in a densely populated urban environment in the States.

Our sherriff's log in the weekly newspaper reads like Mayberry next to the VI. In fact, Seattle's crime log has proportionately less murders, armed robberies etc than the VI.

Tell the truth and maybe the powers that be will fix the police force, the justice system etc and make the VI the place it could and should be.

oops, I forgot
😛

And just what does this have to do with the post???

It would be reasonable to assume the following...

As these new posters tacked their inquiries on to an existing thread, I suspect that they may have actually read said thread. It would be almost as though it was a new thread.
Below are the quotes that I was addressing.

Re: Think of relocation

Posted by: Lisa (IP Logged)
Date: January 03, 10:24PM
Thanks for the welcome and the web site. My sons are 11 and 9. I am weary because they say the cost of living is very high and the wages are very low. I have read a few articles that suggest that there is a high crime rate.

Posted by: antiqueone (IP Logged)
Date: January 04, 07:38AM
Lisa~ There is a definite need for nurses at the hospital. We really need you here. The cost of living is high, but perhaps it's like living in New York City, but without all the things to buy.... Life here seems to be more about people and less about things anyway. Crime is here, but no worse than anywhere else. It's a small island so it is more visible...kind of like the reporting of crime in a small town. Schooling is going to be one of your primary concerns: the public schools don't meet certification criteria. Private schools run from about 3800/yr (Free Will Baptist School) to over 9000 (Country Day School) Good Luck and God Speed. IM me if you want more info on the hospital.