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Story
#4: Story from a St. Thomas Resident!
 (Submitted
in 2002) I like the weather the best, it is so nice to wake up and look
outside and see a postcard. It's hard to explain to some that grew
up in the VI, but everyone from the states would understand. Just
like Baseball is all American. The Caribbean is the envisioned
paradise of most Americans. I also like the small community
feeling. It's nice to go places and run into someone you know.
The
pros were that I got to live and learn about a new location and
culture. The Virgin Islands are American but not the same. The
biggest con for me was moving so far away from family. Unlike the
states you could just about jump on any plane or in your car and go home cheaply
in a few hours. From the VI it's an long trip requiring
clearing customs and expensive all day flights. Also I think in
the US many people are used to going for long drive to go places;
here you are restricted by the island's size; I sometimes get
island fever and feel trapped.
Not having a selection when buying something was the biggest thing
that took getting used to. In the states you do not worry about
selection you worry about price. In the VI you just try to find
what you want and you just except that the price is high otherwise
you are not getting it. No such thing as one stop shopping.
Customer service sucks in the VI, do not plan for anything better.
I found myself getting mad but it is just not worth it. Just learn to
live with it. A true sign that you just got down here from the
states is getting mad at the poor customer service and the locals realize it,
they can spot a Yankee a mile away.
Words of advice for persons planning to move to the USVI; slow
down you will enjoy the VI much better. Don't come down expecting
to change the islands. Things are the way they are because that's
the way things work here. Enjoy it for what it is.
The nightlife is a lot of fun, but be careful not to get sucked up
in
it. I have seen so many people come down to the VI and just get
rundown from all-night parting. They come for 1 year, 19 years
young and leave the next year looking 30 years old. Lots of rum
and sunburn add years to your face and body.
The biggest difference for me was the amount of black people; it
used to feel weird being the only white person around at work or
in class (I attended classes at the university here). It sounds
bad but I grew up in a majority white area. It was just a shock.
Now I do not even notice when I'm the only white person.
Also having no changes of season was different, it sort of felt
like I was stuck in August.
Overall it took adjustments, its different here. I have been here
for a few years now, since 1995; been through a hurricane, worked,
traveled and come back, gone to school... I like it here!
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