VI is it for me ?

Sebastien: First, I recommend that you look through the archives here. This discussion- how the VI is different from Big America- is a very recurring one. Second, have you been for a visit to see first hand what life is like here? Can you be more specific in your question about the VI culture?

Hello East Ender
Well, I wrote this message before reading the archives. And you'r right; I did found lots of info on the Islands. People seem to be very helpful and honest in their message. I haven’t visited the Island yet, if everything going as plan I should have my job interview in 2 -3 weeks from now. This site is awesome and full of info and I will probably order that book ‘’Settler's Handbook’’. The more I’m reading about the VI the more I think that place is for me.

Thank you for the reply I really appreciate.

Sebastian--see "my recent trip" which I just posted. I am also in the medical field (for twenty years now). It did not appear that there was much in the way of medical facilities on the island. I did pass one hospital and stopped in and looked at a pharmacy. As a practitioner, I would imagine your biggest challenge would be culture. The people are extremely friendly but very religious (regardless of the denomination). I am from the Pittsburgh area and went to college in the south and I saw churches representing religions I am very unfamiliar with. It seems most of the children there are educated in the church as well. In addition, the people there appear to live in small run, very modest homes--many without utilities. Their water is always in short supply and they collect rain water from the roof--no public water.

I don't know what your area of practice is, but I would imagine you will see bug and animal bites that you're not used to as well as unfamiliar injuries. There are also many different races and cultures on the island and so a sizeable number do not speak English well. You will probably have higher illiteracy rates than what you may be used to. In general though, if you can stand the heat/humidity, it will be an interesting place to work. The people are genuinely nice and always eager to help.

Well, Jamie gave an honest appraisal as a visitor! A couple of things...there are some areas that are on a "public water" system, but even then most have cistern backups. I'm not sure if Jamie was implying that it was a health problem? but I have not heard of people getting sick from their cistern water. On the contrary, it is great for your hair and usually tastes better than "city water" which is desalinated. There is only one hospital (only about 60,000 pop)and it has a website: www.rlshospital.org.

Many of the local people speak an English Creole. It is often perceived as "poor English", but is actually a language of its own with semantic and syntactic rules which are different from Standard English. There is actually a cultural war going on about it...educators try to get the kids to "speak proper English" when all they hear around them at home and even in the legislature chamber is Creole. (My opinion is that they should be taught ESL and be proudly bilingual). Off the soap box...

Thank you Jamie for the information you gave me. By reading all the previous post I believe I’m starting to have a general idea of the living in the Islands. However, I’m trying not to preconceive any idea of the place which could lead me to a deception. I know that if I’m expecting certain thing I might have deceiving surprises along the way. What I’ll see thru my eyes might not resonate the same way thru someone else’s eyes.
But I’m a positive person and I know I will be able to handle any situations and put it in perspective.

To East Ender: I know how hard it is trying to keep a distinct culture and language alive while you’re surrender by the needs to speech another one (English). Where I’m from we have a similar problem. Well, we have the chance to be numerous which makes a big difference, but the fight is constant to keep the culture alive. We have two official languages, one more than the other but I think we have been able to amalgam both in harmony.

I’m really looking forward to be part of what it seems to be a very rich and lively community.

Hello Sebastien,

Drastic difference.... well that depends on where you are from among other things. St. Thomas to some degree will be different then anywhere else simply because it is new and it is different. St. John and St. Thomas are different from each other and different from St. Croix yet we are all USVI islands. As for way of thinking or living... things just happen slower here. Someone who is used to faster movement, quicker service will need to get used to it or get frustrated... granted even when you are used to it - it often still gets frustrating.

Like East Ender asked - what do you mean by overview of VI culture??? There is a little about it (people, language, music, food) at http://www.vinow.com/general_usvi/culture/
but if you mean norms, beliefs, morals then that is not included in that section and you will need to specify what you are interested in knowing so we can help out with information.

Medical facilities, East Ender provided the hospital information; there are a few clinics and walk in health centers, many private practices. Often the doctors work shifts at the hospital and then shifts at their private practice. You can look up in the yellow pages physicians if you are interested in seeing what types of physicians there are here... www.viphonebook.com

Jamie mentioned religion... people here are church going people and there are quite a number of houses of worship, in fact a large number; Baptist is the largest group. Others are: Catholic, Methodist, Moravian, Anglican, Episcopal, Hebrew Congregation, Pentecostal and more. Smaller congregations exist that are Christian in nature but have names like "____" ministries (fill in the blank with a name or area).... as far as making a correlation between religion and medicine on St. Thomas. To my knowledge there aren't any groups who would refuse treatment by a doctor because they feel the lord will cure them. People will of course combine the two treatments medical and prayer and it is a good idea to respect this. What you might find is that many people believe in natural medicines (particularly older persons), bush teas, special baths made from boiling different leaves and grass.... almost everyone I know who is from here or from another Caribbean island knows about traditional medicines - some people will use them first. This is something you might encounter that you will need to work around or with. Because in some cases the patient might listen to you but does not accept what you are saying and will tuck your prescription away and go home to the traditional methods.

The population is; black 78%, white 10%, other 12%
note: West Indian 81% (49% born in the Virgin Islands and 32% born elsewhere in the West Indies), US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 4%, other 2%

The culture is very Caribbean (food, music, jokes and stories, family relationships...) and American as well. There are many Spanish speakers, French and french-creole speakers but the majority speaks English of some form. English is what is taught in school as East Ender mentioned. Some folks speak with an accent so to an unfamiliar ear it might sound not like English even when it is. And some speak English Creole. The English in some cases might sound gramatically in-correct - East Ender explained this in the previous post.

Sebastien if you have other questions feel free to ask, and do read through the post and the moving guide on this site for information.

--Islander

Wow that's more info that I expect it’s very helpful and also encouraging. If people are half helpful as you are it most be a great place to lived. Knowing that I will probably have the chance to learn a new language and a new culture is very stimulating.

Thank you again

Sea Bast

While you are on the topic of relocating: speaking of the culture I have a few questions myself if you don't mind. My husband has been offered a relocation oppotunity to St. Thomas. We are newly married and considering starting a family. I am looking for someone to talk to about crime and schooling. Those are my two main concerns. I will end up being home alone quite frequently and am by no means sheltered but I would like to know what we would be getting into. What do I look for?

Any input?

Sarah,

Staying home is not a problem. I know quite a few people who have done that, particularly when they have babies and small children and can stay home.

As for schools. The private schools are better then the public schools in general. However some of the elementary public schools are good.

You might visit some of the private schools web sites.
http://www.vimontessori.org/

http://www.antilles.k12.vi.us/

--Islander

right now in nyc the humidity is very high and my husband has expressed to me that he hates humidity, heat ok but humidity bad. can someone please tell me if it is hot and humid (80% or more) most of the time or if it is warm but comfortable.

Yes it's hot and humid here. Having said that, let me also say that it is offset by the breeze. I am originally from Kentucky where it also gets very hot & humid. I was convinced I would die here without air conditioning. I ran ours in KY from April to September. The house we have here doesn't even have a/c. With the breezes and the ceiling fans, the heat and humidity are a non-factor. Working outside is another thing. The Carribean sun will knock you down in a heartbeat, if you're not careful.