Want to move to STT

Welcome to the board. Lots of questions I am sure will be answered over time. First things first. Getting a job without being here is rather difficult. You need to do what we call a PMV (pre move visit) to check things out and see if you still want to make the jump. There are schools that are public as well as private. Above on the drop down lots of those questions are answered. Just click on them! Again welcome.

I suggest you buy the book, "The Settler's Handbook" which is sold on this site. That will give you a good overview of what to expect, and covers the questions you posted.

a single girl wants to move to the VI? I don't buy it. lol

check out the schools carefully. most statesiders want to send their kids to private schools. they can be very costly.
what type of a job are you looking for.

Regarding the dating scene, the deck is heavilly stacked in your favor!

Seriously!!!

I'm a pharmacist...will work either in a hospital or pharmacy.

read some of the past threads, you can do a search, make sure when you do your search you change the rage for more than 30 days.
please read about the cost of food, electricity and schools.

please feel free to ask lots of questions. we will do our best to answer them for you. if is easier to help you when you have specific questions instead of general

Thanks for your lead. Any recommendations on schools. I want to send my child to a public school. Are there any elementary schools that have a good reputation with the locals?

You really need to review past posts about public schools. Most (but not all) consider them unsuitable for stateside transplant children.

If you live in the district that serves the Sibilly School there are more than a few stateside transplant youth or children born here of transplants in attendence.

Second the Sibilly School. Good starting school.

I strongly suggest that before you pack your bags and come down you spend a 1000 or so and come down for a week and look around. If you can't afford to spend the 1000 don't bother to come down. To get started you will need at least 5-8K for car, apartments, deposits etc. and that is assuming that you have a good job lines up.

And if you REALLY determine that you don't want to send your child to public schools you are looking at 8 - 10K a year in private schools.

So walk carefully.

Bill

I saw a new job posting for a pharmacist on STT here. Good luck on your job hunt!

Thanks for the link to the VI Job board. I'm in contact with the two companies listed.
I'm hopeful that I get an offer......I'm ready to be a St. Thomian!

Thanks for the info. I appreciate it. It's always best to get advice from people who live on the island. I'll check it out.

Hello to all my V. Islanders. I want to move to STT as soon as I get a job. Please tell me everything I need to know. I'm moving with my 4 year old, tell me about schools.....Elementary schools - Private or Public. What area/neighborhood to stay that is suitable for children. How to ship my belongings to the Island or is it better to sell everything and just buy new ones when I get there etc. I'm open to hearing it all, good, bad, ugly etc. BTW I'm single.....how's the dating scene etc thank you all.

Why STT? have you visited before? If not schedule a exploratroy mission with your 4-year old. Check out the different areas. Stop by a few of the school choices. Drive -by a couple rental options. If you have visited befor and have a good feel for the island, then you can probably do most of your arragements with out a Pre-move-visit. But DO NOT Sign lease sight unseen. Check out the rental for security. (mold issues) Ask about the prior tennets water and electric usage. Ask to see prior bills. Sometimes water and electric can cost as much as rent. Most condo complexes have on site security. If you are renting a stand alone house or house-type apartment, Walk around the ground and the nieghbor hood. Think like a criminal. Does the house look like a target. Nieghborhood is very important.
I would not ship "everything". Life in the VI is MUCH simplier. Most likely you will be signing a 6 -12 month lease. The best rentals are normally "word of mouth", so I'd wager that you and your daughter will change house in less than a year. So take the bare nesicities. Put the rest in neatly organized in well marked boxes in stoarge. After one year, ship what you need and sell the rest.
Sibly, public, has a decent reputaion, but be careful and make sure rental is actually in the correct area for sibly. There are several excellent choices for private elementy schools. Ask you employer about reimbursement for tution (this is common for professional positions). Cost of living is boaut 30% higher than state side. But the good news is the life style is very basic (i.e. not alot of "spending opportunites"). Gas/Cars cost more but you drive way less. Food is very expensive, but the markets are very "limited" so you'll end up eating "cleaner". There is no whole foods to stop by on your way home from work!!! I think that the VI is good place for a young mom with young kids. Try to make as many friends as you can ASAP. The Vi is very supportive and family oriented life-style. Much of life for young families focuses around BBQ, beach days, sleep-overs for the kids, boat trips, et al. Good Luck and have fun.

Please for the love of everything do a visit first. This place is upside down and inside out from the states, and it truly isn't for most people. It is very difficult living here, and very expensive, and you will miss lots of things you don't think about from back home. The dating scene here is tiny, there aren't many singles at all, but it's easier being a lady. I would strongly suggest not making the move with a 4 year old, the transition and culture is rough and could be incredibly stressful for both of you. Please please please visit first, it is very important. Everything is very expensive here, usually at least 30% higher than the states. Gas is $4.89 a gallon, and milk is $10 a gallon to give you a small idea. Groceries are a lot higher, and the expiration dates are usually about up, and sometimes they just don't have things in cause the boat didn't make it. When we shop we have to drive around to 4 different stores to get what we need. Schools are $10k-15k a year as I understand for private, and it would be in the best interest to go private. PM me if you have questions, I would be more than happy to answer!