what section of island is rent affordable

A question for you is if you are a US citizen. If so you good for obtaining employment. A source for that is www.virginislanddailynews.com on Mondays look at the employment section. If not, you will need to obtain a visa/work permit or whatever in order to find your employment. (Not to up to speed on all the immigration issues).

Second, have you looked into St Croix as a possibility. Employment issues are probably more difficult to overcome (STX is kinda in a economic downcycle, but is beginning to improve from my research). But housing and cost of living is less than StT and StJ. StX is hilly also but also has the some flat or more rolling terrain from my observations. Also has a more arid, dry side to the island along the eastern side.

Good luck!

I currently live in the states so no immigration issues . What i want though is a job that i will be able to live comfy on . I have an degree in Fashion merchandising and feel that ..that will be of no use their ..
I am thinking about going back to school and have been looking at UVI website ..very interested in the Biology programme ( i have a lot of science credits from another colleger ...Do they have evening classes their ? I need to call them .

I want to move to St Thomas by year end and this will be a big move for me (i am feeling kind of nervous because ..I am leaving a lot here in the states including a good paying job ..but am very tired of living here and yes i have explored other states and the caribbean is where i want to be . I chose St Thomas because it is a US state . Too much violence in jamaica and the economy is awful

I would be brining my 9 yr old daughter whom is an american citizen plus i have two cars so even if i stay on the west end of the island i wouldnt care ..to drive in the city for work
I just want to live somewhere where i can afford my rent and live decent ...
I am 25 yr old ..i dont really care for the night life and all ....I really want to make this move .
I have viewed the virginisland daily and also the America Job bank ...most jobs their are either sales or in the tourism industry ...

I could live in St John as well ..but not St Croix ...

I brought home a phone book with me and saw two employment agencies ...maybe i need to call them ..

Thanks for yoru help though ..as far as where to live i dont know as yet ...any areas in mind .
I stayed in TUtu a bit and it is a very well developed community , but i just think it might be too expensive there ..and i like the country side as well

East End, just around the end of the island from Smith Bay would be a good choice. You would need to come during OFF season to get the most affordable place and to avail yourself of the most options. If you come during high season you will be forced to scramble to find a place and may end up having to pay more than you'd like.

I don't believe your Fashion Merchandising would have much benefit here - as it might in Chicago or New York, etc.etc.

The USVI are not a state of the U.S. They; St Thomas, St John, St Croix and Water Island; are Territories of the U.S. Just to correct that impression for you. I am not currently living in the Virgin Islands, yet! I know much more about StX. Island Paul is the one to listen to about St. Thomas.

Some of the issues that come up and you must think about are:
Transporting your worldly good to the islands. There are customs taxes and personal taxes (and road taxes on your car). Plus the expense of moving.
Schools for your nine year old.
Depending on where you are living now; your cost of living expenses may increase.
And you might have to suck it up and work anything you can get your hands on at first. All I read about the jobs is be flexible... Take what you can... And keep watching when your on island to find what you would be happier doing. Many people have to work two or three part time jobs to make ends meet.

I would consider ordering the Resettlement Kit from this website and the Settlers Handbook. That way you will be more prepared for life in the USVI. I haven't seen any comparisons to crime/violence in Jamaica vs StT; but be aware that moving to The Virgin Islands isn't a bed of roses. You still have to watch yourself closely and be concerned.

I'm not trying to discourage you. Just trying to encourage you to arm yourself with knowledge so you are not disappointed. Go over this website thoroughly; many of your questions will be answered as well...

Thanks eve and Paul ..

Eve ..i must say though that you have me thinking ..(i like your thought process) ..but i want to move there so bad . I live in NJ right now where rent , car , commute is killing me an average of 2k a month on the three. I work an hour away from home and gas alone per week is over $120.
The crime rate in St thomas is nothing compared to jamaica . Its really bad in jamaica drugs and corruption have pretty much taken over everything ..there are no jobs ..my cousin sent out 60 resumes in two month and only recv three letters telling her that there are no vacancies(this is a girl with college educ and work experience)
Its really bad there .
I think if the crime rate ever became really bad in St Thomas at least we can count on the US to send in more help to rid the country of crime.
The only thing that i am really worried about is will i make enough money to pay my rent and bills while in St thomas ...and its very hard for me to settle for any job
There is crime everywhere!
Paul i was looking to move in the high season ..maybe i can have someone get me an apartment before i get there .

I was looking at the john dunko are to further west bordeaux /fortuna do you know any thing about this area ....Smith bay is too touristy and most vandalizm occurs there ..well this is from what i gather ...

Jewels,
All I can say and I think our on-line friends here will agree is investigate! Investigate! Do your research. Hey! I'm in the same boat. I have a dream of living there now. Of course I'm looking into StX. I just feel its a good thing to arm yourself with knowledge. I read everything on the board. Meet people who have or still live there. Do research at the library and of course read the above mentioned materials offered here. What you pay in saving on heating expense and not driving as much you trade in water and electric expense. One of the things that surprised me is the lack of fresh vegetables and fruits. They are imported as opposed to grown locally. Instead of stopping at the farmers market down the road with local fresh grown vegetables at a great price, you have to wait for delivery, pay a pretty penny and hope you beat the crowd...

Eve wrote:

> One of the things that surprised me is the lack of fresh
> vegetables and fruits. They are imported as opposed to grown
> locally. Instead of stopping at the farmers market down the
> road with local fresh grown vegetables at a great price, you
> have to wait for delivery, pay a pretty penny and hope you beat
> the crowd...
>

Not to mention the quality of som,e of the fruits you get! We learned the hard way that I will probably have to give up my beloved plums. On our first trip to STT , we stopped in at hte Food Center near Red Hook and I grabbed some bananas and some plums to have for breakfast. While the bananas were yummy and not bad in terms of cost, the plums were both horribly expensive and mealy to boot. Turns out that fruits like pliums, mnectarines, etc. have to be picked so early in order to survive the shipping time that they are often less than desirable in terms of texture, especially for those who are used to getting them at their prime.

It is kind of funny to watch the expressions on the faces of first time fruit/veggie shoppers that are reflected on the mirrors in that section of the store -- the eyebrow lift that comes from someone seeing a half-pint of strawberries priced at well over $4 is very impressive!

HC

HC,
One of the things I'll be experimenting with is growing vegetables. My mom would have it no other way. I need my green beans, onions, tomatoes, peppers, snap peas and strawberries.

Eve wrote: "One of the things that surprised me is the lack of fresh vegetables and fruits. They are imported as opposed to grown locally. Instead of stopping at the farmers market down the road with local fresh grown vegetables at a great price, you have to wait for delivery, pay a pretty penny and hope you beat the crowd."

Not true. On STX, South Shore Farms operates a farm stand on East End Road just across from Cheeseburgers. All locally grown produce, reasonably priced, and really nice people to boot. In addition, Princess Market does a great job with fresh, but non-local produce. You're right about beating the crowd, though. My recollection is that to take advantage of Princess Market, you've got to get there on delivery day. The quality is fantastic, though. AND if you fax them your order, they'll deliver a box directly to your office.

Produce in the local supermarkets (e.g., Schooner Bay, Food Town, Plaza Extra) is best avoided.

VIRGIN BOUND ...you made my day ..thanks for that info where i can purchase fresh fruits and veggie

I was told by my friends mother who lives in STT that the only fresh fruits she get were from Domonica ...and yes i was in a state of shock ..
Right now i mostly eat organic foods and i thought about having to give up most things , but i have to have fresh fruits and veggies ...
I went to the supermarket there and saw the prices ..But i live in the ritzy part of NJ and the prices in STT did not phase me compared to what i pay here .Plus i know i would have a garden ....i love planting ..while i was there i kept asking everyone where was the farm grounds ..hmm never recv an answer ...
I went to the BVi and one of the island there had a banana , mango,and a couple more fruits growing ...If i haev to go there each week for fresh fruit and veggies i will ...

Eve my light bill for winter (winter is more than 6 months long) each month is over $800 and yes this is a two bedroom house (its huge though). I started investigating about STT the day i got off the plane here ...
I will be buying those two books from this website ...but i see the VI as similar as any other caribbean country .. My library as little info though ....
I mean in jamaica we still have pit toilets and ppl still live off land they farm ..so i know that i could survive in the VI .

By the way I went to the Race horse track by Bovoni (it was a big event last week "the governors cup race ) and i saw the governor there...i heard that he is somewhat greedy but not so corrupted as other caribbean politicians....

Does anyone know of any major companies in the VI ..are there any ?

VirginBound..

THANK YOU for the info on South Shore Farms and the Princess Market! Since my hubby will not be working when we move, he should be able to figure out the delivery schedules and be there to play beat the crowd for us. *grin*

HC

No prob. Princess Market is on Northside Road and their number is 340-773-4726. The South Shore Farms stand also only operates on certain days. There's usually a sign out there indicating days and times, or you could call the folks at Cheeseburgers and ask.

VirginBound,

Totally off topic question for this thread, but....

Is Cheesburger's a wheelchair friendly joint? Everybody talks so favorably about that place that I will be totally bummed if I can't figure out a way to get in there!

HC

I'd say so. It's really just a big gravel (pebble-sized) lot with an awning over it and plastic outdoor-type furniture, although the bar and kitchen areas are enclosed in an actual wooden structure. The parking lot is directly adjacent. You shouldn't have any trouble navigating a wheelchair around. (Though I'm not sure how easy/difficult it is to deal with the gravel while in a chair.)

Downtown Christiansted will definitely present a certain amount of difficulty though. There are no consistent sidewalks and lots of gullies, steps, and uneaven surfaces.

VB,

Downtown C'sted hasn't been much of a problem so far. We happened to find designated handicapped parking on King Street our first time through town (it's right across from the Lutheran Church) -- from there it's really just a matter of learning which curb cuts don't match up, don't exist, or lead to skinny sidewalks and sidwalks that end up at dropoffs. 🙂 Folks in town have been very tolerant and helpful if I can't get into their pla e of business, most of them have come out (even got table service from Lenny at Luncharia whe he saw I couldn't make it to his counter). Virtually every driver was so nice about stopping to let us cross the street and a few folks even apologized when we've had to walk in the street because the sidewalk wasn't crip-friendly.

The gravel at Cheesburger's shouldn't be a problem, neither should any of the hills on the island. Even though I still have some strength in and use of my arms and hands, I use a high-tech power assist chair. I can use this chair in manual mode when on flat, easy surfaces (I love tile and marble -- can't wait to get out of my wall to wall carpeted condo and into my all tile STX house). But when I'm faced with an uneven terrain (like gravel, grass, or even a hill or ramp), I can turn on the power and a CPU in the chair will compensate for the new terrain so I never need to push the chair any harder than I do on a smooth, level surface.

Cheesburger's, here we come. 🙂

Thanks again, VB -- you are a wealth of information.

HC

Virgin Bound...

You have now devulged the fresh produce secret...(oh no...) As West Coast people we always expected to have great produce year round. We found it at Princess and SouthShore.

We walk into southshore early to get their fresh eggs too.

Princess has the best produce I have found on any island...Maybe including some new york islands...Price reflects cost to import but we are fortunate to have someone who will bring what we want....

My thanks also for the info. Sorry for forcing the secret out of you....HEHEHE. I really am not sure I can grow a thing. My plants at home are still alive butttttt....