WE ARE UNITED STATES CITIZEN TOO!!!

Alysa,
Im sorry to hear about your bad experience. I do feel however that you are grossly generalizing the American population. In the post 9-11 world ID's are scrutinized now more than ever. You also need to realize that as embarassing as it is, a lot of americans could not point out the Virgin Islands on a map, much less realize that it is a U.S. Territory. As for manners, it depends on where you are. I am from the south which is generally known for hospitality but you can always run into rude jerks there as well. The north has a reputation for rudeness, but recently I have relocated to Southern New Jersey and I cant believe how friendly the people are here. I had the worst perception of how New Jersey people were. Dont get me wrong, there are people here in NJ who have redefined the art of rudeness, but by and large they are good people. The United States is overwhelmingly friendly, caring and giving country. When I tell people Im moving to St. Thomas, the first thing they say is, isnt their a lot of crime there. Perception is reality if you are uninformed. I hope you dont let your bad experience tarnish your view of the U.S. anymore than some tourist who had a bad experience in St. Thomas.

I wouldn't want to do business with or rent an apartment from someone who questions my citizenship period! Get a passport, this will help!
Ronnie

Alysa,
I, too, am sorry your experience in the states was unpleasant. It comes from ignorance. When we told our friends we were moving to St Croix, we might as well have told them we were moving to the moon. We have invited several people to come visit us, but I think they believe we live in a grass shack. A large number of people in the states are totally unfamiliar with the USVI. That's their loss. Like Eric said, there are lots of nice people in the states and a few jerks. Kinda like here. Most of the people I have met are very nice. A very few are not. Hang in there.

Alysa,
Now you know why we like to go to the islands, yes we do enjoy your good manners, respect and hospiltality....to bad the islanders can't teach a few of us here a thing or two about the benifit of just plain ole good manners.....however, we might not want to visit your island as often if we could get here what we get there.....
I hope things calm down and you find your place here, remember we arn't all rude and ugly, and I hope you get to meet all of us.
Andrew

Hi Alysa:
So sorry you're having a hard time. I hear a lot on this board about "island time". Maybe that's one of the problems. People here are used to giving and getting directions quickly and moving on to the next thing, especially in the New York/Boston area where I'm from. I don't think people are trying to give you the brush off, it's just the way we are. And it's true about the territory thing after 9/11, the USVI as nice as I'm sure it is is not a state, and that's that. Sometimes it's what you're used to. When I hear about life down there I say to my husband, "I just don't know if I could live down there. I'd go crazy". It's just getting used to a whole new way of life. You know, you're not in Kansas anymore....or maybe you are!! Good luck! (By the way, there are a lot of nice people in the U.S. once you get to know us)
Theresa

Alysa -
I am sorry you have had such unpleasant experiences in the U.S. I am ashamed to say that I did not realize that US Virgin Islanders and Puerto Ricans are citizens until I made my first visit to the Caribbean (well into my adult years). I repeat that most of us could not locate USVI on a map, and many of us do not know it is a territory of the US or that residents are US citizens. We don't know one island from another. We can't place your accent, either. Please don't take it personally, although we should be more aware that some residents of small islands are our fellow citizens. As for manners, please be understanding as culture shock goes both ways. Americans may be rude, but we're not always so bad once you get to know us a bit. When we visit you, we enjoy your courtesy. Perhaps you will find some things in our culture to enjoy.
Best wishes,
Barbara

Alysa,

What state(s) are you in??

I have traveled a lot in the US... and used my VI drivers license as ID... I have heard everything from "where?", "are you a cop?" because the license says VI police dept., "oh I have been there on a cruise", "wow - what are you doing here, you live in paradise", "where is that, is it close to Jamaica, what language do you speak", had one lady call over like 6 of her co-workers in a Macys store pull up chairs and start asking a series of questions about the islands - what we wear, schooling, work, landscape - everything with interest and not negativity, even met a lady at a bus stop in California who saw my t-shirt and said I went to bluebeards castle on my honeymoon 20 years ago and started laughing as if reminising and then she talked to me for about an hour while we waited for the bus, a while back at an airport the check in lady said where are you from, I said St. Thomas - she started screaming - Oh my god - me too!! Its nice when people know but I have never taken offense to the questions - I would be wrong to assume that everyone knows where the VI is because its US.... I have heard VI - you are in Virginia - NOOOOO! Oh we don't ship international... oh the VI no sorry, never heard of it - where???

Like everyone said keep your chin up and your Virgin islands cussing abilities to yourself :-)... be patient not everyone is a jerk, there are as many here in the islands as there are there. Good Luck with getting things working out for you.

Not sure why you are having trouble identifing yourself as an American - don't you have a birth certificate, social security card, license, passport???? You had to use some ID to get out of the USVI to the states to prove nationality in the airport immigration area???? Get a passport like Ronnie suggested - makes things a lot easier these days.

Again sorry about the bad luck you are having - hope it turns around soon.

--Islander

Alysa, I am surprise to hear about all of the problems that you are having in the States. I am also from the VI and have never encountered those kinds of problems. Yes occasionally, people in the states may not know where the VI is located on the map or the islanders are actually US. citizens, but then again some of them don't even know what County boarders the one that they live. My experiences have been that people on the main land in general are very interesting to know about the VI, once they find out that you are from there. Yes, I must admit that at times they may have asked some questions that you may say to yourself what are they thinking but in general I think they are genuine about the things that they ask and they truly do not know. Most of the people that I have met in the states knows St Thomas if they don't know any of the other Virgin Islands because of it being one of the major cruise destination in the caribbean. Don't be defensive to their question no matter how ignorant you may think the questions are. This is your opportunity to be a VI ambassador to educate those that you encounter about the wonderful things about the VI. I can bet you that once you take this positive attitude you will have many of those same people asking you when are you going home because they will want to make the trip with you. Keep your chin up and remember your VI manners, cursing will not prove anything, you represent the VI so do a great job at it.

I can agree with you all, as a virgin islander, born and raise in the virgin island, living in the states, i get that all the time, why did you come to the states, i tell people where ever i go , i am a island girl. but they do not recognized the usvi, as part of the united states, some people do not even no thatst.thomas,st.croix, and st,john is the usvi. And we need to get recognized, that we are part of the UNITED STATES...........

I am proud where i was born, I am proud of the island people.

I have a hard time believing you are having all this trouble in somewhere other than the northern east coast. Most of those people wouldnt stop and help you if you were being robbed, with good reason, so why would they say good afternoon? I know my state, Minnesota, you'd be treated very well for just the fact that they would be curious and excited to meet someone with diversity. Midwest is nice. Most southern states are nice.... It isnt smart for a US citizen to travel anywhere without a passport, birthcertificate, or Social Security Card.

CAN YOU PERSONALLY NAME ALL THE US TERRITORIES?

Hmmmm.

And Locate them.....

Know all your capitals?

Lets be honest, some people can't even punch a hole out of a voter card when voting for a president.