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Good evening all,
Just got done reading Roxy's post and all your responses. Although I have done boat loads of research, something struck me that brought on a whole gaggle of questions. The comment was made about your favorite slurpee and although a small thing, it is a very good point, esspecially for those of us who are lactose intolerant and can't drink the shakes :0)! I am a 24 hour person, probably because I have worked 2nd shift for so many years and take Tuesday through Thursday off so I don't have to deal with big crowds on the weekends and it is nothing for me to grocery shop at 1 in the morning and I had Gieco (until I sold my car) because I can do the 24 hour thing and so on. This has actually been sort of a wierd concern for me but not enough to keep me away.
How late do grocery stores stay open and do they close on holiday's? I seem to remember reading in the handbook that some banks close at like 3, is this the case? Do a lot of places close down on Sunday's? Are there ANY 24 hour gas stations?
And could you guys maybe address some shopping differences. What about clothes? In my experience (pretty limited) I noticed that West Indians like to dress well. My friend who is living on STX had to find a pair of long, khaki shorts for a beach attendent job and went to 5 different stores and found no shorts except for 1 rack at KMart which weren't the right kind. But she said that there was a lot of nice business casual. Is STT shopping like this as well? What about specialty sizes? Are there petites and plus sizes?
Also, I don't want to be disrespectful in my new home but is it okay to wear tank tops (speghetti strap) in town or is a tshirt more appropriate? Can you wear a swimsuit with clothes over the top? Is wearing a sarong with a tank top over a swimsuit tacky or inappropriate? What about flip flops? I know that a lot of this stuff I will catch onto as I go, but I'm really at a bit of a loss. I live in Seattle and have been looking for a "light" jacket to take with me, but I can't find anything that isn't a rain coat. Are there many places where jackets are sold? I feel silly asking some of this stuff but that whole slurpee coment hit home about no matter how much research you do, you just don't know until your there.
Posted : September 3, 2003 12:57 am
Hello Elle,
Glad my comment about the slurpees stirred up new questions. LOL
A couple of the grocery stores are open all year round - on holidays too. Plaza Extra comes to mind. I think they close around 11pm.... and K-mart 10pm. Banks do close early... 2:30-3pm sounds about right... Sundays yes many stores have half day Sunday hours... like stores in town, Office Max places like that... Grocery store is open on Sundays. 24 hour gas station - I think there are maybe 3; one in Contant area, one in Tutu and Hometown...
Yes dressing well for work and going out is common here. Linen outfits are big for shows and parties. I think St. Thomas has a few more options for shopping then St. Croix as I understand. You are of course still limited in comparison to say a large stateside mall... however you can try K-mart, Mariannes, Rave, Foot Locker, local boutiques that carry dress outfits; there is Tommy, Polo, Benetton and other name brands in town as well as various boutiques... Many people stock up on dress cloths when they visit the states or Puerto Rico... Yes they come in varying sizes... There are also wraps and other tropical clothes to be found in shops in town.
Tank tops are fine... no problem. What is warned against is just wearing a biking top and little shorts and walkign in town; it is seen as disrepectful to those who live here and are working and serving you in the stores. For men to be bareback is also frowned upon... so any type of coverup is good... a tank top, long t-shirt, shorts and little tank top, a sarong... sure you can wear a swimsuit with cloths on top :-)... flip flops -definately I worked with some ladies that would come to work in high heels and then change into flip flops at work - I never understood the reasoning... I would insist no flip flops go buy some comfortable dress flat shoes... but yes most people have dressy sandals and flip flops for the office... and flip flops are definately cool for the beach, grocery store, and anywhere else.... get a pair of nicer flip flops for going out too.
A light jacket... a jacket - you don't need a jacket. A light sweater maybe if you are working a an AC office, it gets chilly... so if you can find a nice button up light sweater that would match with some of your dress pants and skirts... and also if you will be in an office that you have to wear a suit... then a nice light pants/skirts sets and matching jacket would be good. If you live on the northside is the winter it gets a bit chilly...so a light sweatshirt comes in handy... anything more then that in terms of jackets to keep you warm is unnessary. If you will be traveling home a lot during the winter then maybe hold unto a heavier coat that you can travel with so when you get off the plane you have at least one article of warm clothing and then can hopefully borrow other peices from whomever you are visiting.
--Islander
Posted : September 3, 2003 5:28 pm
The government employees tend to dress a little nicer than the retail employees. Government people still often wear "ties and panty hose." (not on the same gender )...(usually) . They try to look and act professionally. The retail people dress well, but they usually don't "dress up". I wear tattered shorts and a ragged tee shirt...but then, I got no class.....
Posted : September 4, 2003 4:16 am
Topic starter
b,
At least you aren't nekid! As for the pantyhose, those are just a flat out conspiracy against women! Ever tried them? LOL
Anyone and everyone,
How tough is it to get a job on a charter boat? Doesn't matter doing what. Do jobs like beach attendant, charters etc require uniforms? Would this be in the khaki shorts type uniform if so? Don't think I'll be going the office route as I'm illiterate when it comes to computers. But have lots of customer service background. Not really picky about a job, just want one. As for dressing up, love it and hardly ever get to do it. Esspecially in Seattle. People here are kind of home grown. If you aren't wearing torn jeans and polar fleece or have your midrif displayed in all of its glory, well your outta of the loop. I don't like looking like I just walked out of the mission when I go out, but you really stand out if you dress up here.
I'm full of what I consider dorky questions, but what about hair salons? I know you have them, I'm just wondering if there is a challenge for the white girl to find a good place, or affordable for that matter to redo the do. Also, I know that STT is a duty free port but can locals buy duty free too? Like jewlery etc? Or do you have to be returning from say, the BVI's? Is there duty free on the ferry's to and from the BVI? (There is on the boats to Canada which is why I asked).
Okay, that covers it for this round of questioning. More to come! 😉
Posted : September 4, 2003 6:22 am
Ellerock - I think the pantyhose is almost a cultural thing... I remember working with ladies who almost acted like not wearing panty hose was like not wearing underwear... because their legs were exposed... I even remember a gal back in highschool not going to a party because she didn't have panty hose to wear. Wear them if you want and if you think the outfit you are wearing warants wearing them, not something to be overly worried about. But if you are working in an office where folks dress nicey then do the same...
Charter Boat jobs - do you have any experience?
Beach attendant - well at Magens the beach waitress uniform is a bikini, its not a uniform just what they wear and what they are asked to wear. Beach attendants at kiosk for watersports and stuff usually wear shorts and often a polo or t-shirt with the hotels name on it... the bigger resorts yes its khaki shorts and a shirt with say the Ritz logo on it. I have seen other beach attendants at smaller hotels in swim trunks and a t-shirt. You can buy a pair of Khaki shorts in the states - you will wear them even if not to work - its hot here - shorts are good to have.
Customer Service - you could find work in sales also.
Locals are not really into the grunge look that I saw in Seattle several years back on a visit there. But dress in what makes you comfortable... in general though not a very good idea to be overly exposuristic (there are women who dress that way here but they often get a certain type of attention as well) No polar fleeces necessary... lol. torn jeans and a t-shirt is fine with flip flops if you were going to the grocery store or out running errands... a side note- some folks even dress to a T to go shopping!! you will see, even babies are dressed to a T in some cases - that is more a young people fad following then anything else though.
Your questions aren't dorky, and I thought the question about the hair was hysterical. I am still laughing. Yes there are hair salons, quite a few actually... just a few though that do "white people hair". I would suggest Just Cuts... there are a couple others too, Wavelenghts is another. Its not that all the salons couldn't do your hair, some will tell you honestly that they have never cut and styled a white persons hair and might even recommend you go to such and such hair salon instead because "they don't want to mess your hair up" and some say they have and they try a thing.. Prices range around $27-40 for a cut and style, it can vary depending on how much cutting is taking place.
Yes yes yes locals can buy duty free... the only place that a visitor would be asked to account for purchases would be when leaving at the airport for example. As a local, living here you can buy whatever you want, jewelery, electronics, cars, food whatever - there is no sales tax or duty to pay, import taxes the business might pay are often incorporated into the price so you would not know about it directly - so you just pay the price and thats it. If you shop till you drop right before going home for a visit with all sorts of items still in original packaging an indication that they are new and not say your own... in your bag and you are going through customs I think you will get asked about them if they are a bunch of electronics and expensive items and I do think you have to pay duty if its in access of $1200 - you would need to look into it to be sure.
I am not sure I understand what you mean by duty free on the ferry?? Whether you would pay duty taxes if you bought things on St. Thomas and were traveling to the BVI or back- not sure??? Perhaps someone else can help with that,not sure if it would be the USVI or the BVI customs people that would inquire.
Hope that helps some.
--Islander
Posted : September 4, 2003 7:16 pm
elle_rock: I wondered if you meant shopping ON the ferry? The trip is very short and no shopping. But, yes, you do have to declare things that you take over there, if it is above some amount. Re: the charter boats- there are mate jobs on day boats that are fairly easy to get. If you have water skills (life saving, snorkel experience, know how to tie a bowline, etc) you would go to the head of the line. Also they like you to have CPR certification. If you serve food and drink, you'll need a food handler's card. (That includes in restaurants/bars). Beach attendant jobs are usually more physical than one would think...Re: pantyhose. Some statesiders never wear them and are kind of given a bye because Virgin Islanders are very accepting people. No matter where you go you will find someone more dressed up than you are, someone less dressed up and someone will be wearing shorts! (EEs law of clothing!)
Posted : September 4, 2003 9:48 pm
Topic starter
Thanks you guys! Yeah, I don't care for the grunge look or the overly exposed look. I enjoy dressing like a lady. I work a job now where my uniform is shorts and a tshirt in summer and rainpants, turtle neck and rain coat in the winter so on my days off I have been known to dress up and run errands too. It has to do with working such a "butch" job doing baggage handeling and wanting to feel like a "girl". As for panyhose I call them conspiracy because the are so expensive and I keep my fingernails long...Every woman alive knows where I am going with this! Plus they are hot. I wouldn't even dream of going to a job interview or special occasion with out wearing hose and I will buy extra pairs when preparing for a special occasion/interview just so I can pop holes in the first couple of pair!!!
I have absolutey 0 charter experience (other than being a guest on one) but I like physical work and love people, esspecially happy ones on vacation! I have a boat fascination that I have never had the opportunity to explore. After 10 years with the airlines, my experience is somewhat limited but I'll never know until I give it a try...
Sorry about the ferry confusion. On the Washington transports that go to Canada they have duty free on board the boat that they open up once they are in international waters. Thanks for the duty free update because where I live/work we have duty free but you have to show proof of international travel. Thanks for everything! I'm questionless for now but I'm sure more will be coming later...
Islander,
Glad you got a good laugh about the hair! I did too! Thanks for the insight, I realized with the whole slurpee thing that there probably isn't a "Super Cuts" on every street corner either! Reality check!!! You guys are the best! Thanks again!
Posted : September 4, 2003 10:36 pm
