what do islanders think of people moving from the mainland

colin-

everyone i met was very friendly. maybe a grumpy one here and there, but overall, i was very well received. the people down there were certainly friendlier than the ones up here in philadelphia!

you might hear talk that the islanders feel disenfranchised by all the continentals settling there, but as far as i could see, everyone got along. just my opinion.

-celeste

Hello Colin,

The majority is friendly & welcoming, but there are times when you hear comments like "why don't you just go home" or "you don't belong here", usually in arguements, road rage...

It takes quite a few years before a new resident is seen as a serious resident, so there is separation between the groups to some degree. Might come off as standoffish or in some cases rude. Many folks come down for 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years and then leave - they are seen as transient. So there is a way of thinking along the lines of "lets see how long this one lasts" among some people - usually in a workplace.

In workplaces there can be a high level of animosity if a new resident gets a higher pay or higher position to someone who’s been there 3, 4, 10 years.

So while there isn't a get out of here you don't belong type sentiment going on in the majority of the population, it also isn't Mr. Rogers Neighborhood where everyone wants to be your neighbor.

--Islander

I think you raise an interesting question and Islander's response is consistent with my experience. In my brief experience here (4 mos.), most people have been exremely welcoming. Other relatively short term expatriates have gone out of their way to make me feel welcome. Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to socialize with many Crucians. Like most places in our country there is a divide. In some ways it's more subtle here, but it's still present. KMart may be the ultimate equalizer. : )
Kelly

In our exploratory trip to STT, my wife and I went to Kmart, grocery stores, the "mall" at Tutu, and made it a point to talk with both Crucians and Expats. We found both to be frendly to us, they answered our quesions, and were most encouraging. I found people more friendly than many people I've encountered on the main-land.

I believe the key is treat people with respect and they'll reciprocate. We approached people with the requisite good morning and then asked if they could help us out. The response was warm and open.

Just to let you know, those of us who have moved from the mainland are not expats. We are still in the U.S. We are generally called continentals or continental transplants.

Dennis, how could you be in St. Thomas and talk to Crucians... A Crucian is someone from STX... fyi....

FOG: Great minds! I was just about to rant about that a little! Interestingly, "continentals" seems to be an older term, like from Danish days. Another term is "statesiders."

And re: Islander's answer...there is a HUGE culture of "let's see how long this one lasts." In fact, people will ask, "How long have you been here?" on being introduced. Once you have been here for a major hurricane and didn't pack up and leave, they *kinda* accept you. Also, there is a division of people who are here working in the tourist trade and people who work in more local areas such as education, health care, law, government etc.

Post Edited (11-14-04 16:31)

Didn't know everyone was so sensitive. Guess I'll have to be certain I don't slip up on my phraseology. Lighten up guys.

And "Expat" still applies to us that have moved from the States. We can no longer vote for the president and no longer live in our homeland, hence the term "Expatriate"

ex·pa·tri·ate (k-sptr-t) KEY

VERB:
ex·pa·tri·at·ed , ex·pa·tri·at·ing , ex·pa·tri·ates
VERB:
tr.

To send into exile. See Synonyms at banish.
To remove (oneself) from residence in one's native land.
VERB:
intr.

To give up residence in one's homeland.
To renounce allegiance to one's homeland.
NOUN:
(-t, -t)
One who has taken up residence in a foreign country.
One who has renounced one's native land.
ADJECTIVE:
(-t, -t)
Residing in a foreign country; expatriated: "She delighted in the bohemian freedom enjoyed by the expatriate artists, writers, and performers living in Rome" (Janet H. Murray).

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maybe we're not ex-pats in the sense that we're no longer american citizens, because we still are. we are ex-pats in the sense that, for various reasons, we have turned our backs on our mainland lives to settle in the VI.

i agree w/marty's post.

So a person can't make an error in word choice when posting to this board. Give it a rest.

Dennis: I don't see it as an error as much as a difference in connotation. Some people feel that they are estranged from America and others don't. To live in an unincorporated territory requires a change in your outlook. For example, Marty mentions his concern about voting for president, Celeste talks about turning one's back on a mainland life. Residents of unincorporated territories do not have the same rights as residents of states and hence the difference. If you feel you are not in America, you might argue that you are an "expat." I would hope that we could discuss areas of concern on this board and be civil also.

Dennis,

I was not at all offended by what you said. I was simply making a point. I consider the 50 states, the USVI, and all the commonwealths and territories of the United States to be my homeland because they are all part of the United States of America.

Relax we all got the meaning that was implied. No problems........

FOG, Just one thought. Why does the VI have their own Olympic team? Why aren't athletes from the islands members of the US team? A lot of the time the VI are treated like a foreign country, even by the US!