Agricultural Fair, Jump Up and taking it easy in the VI

It's 5 am and I'm up, and I think there are some pretty annoying roosters up with me as well. I've been talking to my family back in Chicago and it's snowing and cold and I remember this time last year, complete with boots and semi-wet and cold socks, along with gloves and my Columbia jacket and layers and layers of clothing that had to be removed before I could get really comfortable after coming home from work. I'm laying on the couch right now and all of my windows are open and there's a nice cool breeze coming in and it's perfect. I went to the beach yesterday and the water was really warm, and I realized that I really do live in paradise. There's still a lot of Chicago left in me, there are still days that I try to instill the big city mentality into many of the things that I do here, but sometimes I come home and I just relax and it's such a nice change. Things that need to be done here can wait because sometimes it's okay to experience life a little bit in the midst of trying to constantly accomplish some goal that we have set for ourselves. My biggest challenge here is to learn to enjoy what's around me rather than strive for what I want to have in my life. Somehow, by doing that, slowly I've been able to have what I really want. "Slowly" is the key word here because I'm not used to or comfortable with slow anything but island life is all about "slow" and it's kind of growing on me.

Contrary to my new adornment of the "slow" lifestyle, this weekend has been anything but slow. Friday started up with Shabbat services at Jump Up which is our local quarterly island festival. I love that Shabbat services can happen anywhere here and that type of flexibility is really unique to a congregation that is able to survive on a small island. I've been to Jump Up three times now and I realize that it's mostly the same vendors and the same performers every time but people still go because it's nice to see people that you know out and about on a Friday night in beautiful weather and enjoying life. I think St. Croix takes every opportunity it can get to have any type of gathering because as small as it is, people love being with other people here. It's hard not to run into many people you know in such a small place and it always puts a smile on your face when you do.

Jump Up was followed by the Agricultural Fair which is an annual county fair here, complete with animals, food and vendors. And unlike it's stateside counterpart, the fair here was pretty relaxed and the weather was perfect for being outside for a prolonged period of time. It's also the perfect place to get things you can't buy anywhere else like Carambola preserves and key lime fruit plants. I also went to a musical on Saturday, my first theater experience here, and it was great! Once again, I saw a bunch of people I knew and it was really nice to realize that I've been able to make the connections that I have after the 8 months that I've been here. The musical was performed really well and I can't wait to go back for the next one.

Sunday, of course, was Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day here, like most other holidays, was very quiet and relaxed. The weather was perfect and my boyfriend and I had brunch at the same place where we had our first date. It created a perfect flow to everything else that I've experienced here since I arrived and made me smile knowing that the stress that I had this time last year just doesn't exist here. It's a pretty perfect place and perfect time for me right now...

Activity Review:

Caribbean Community Theatre

I lived next to this place for 7 months and I never went, and then I moved and went here for the first time for a live musical, 9 to 5, a few days ago. I've seen many productions in Chicago and in New York and this on par with many of the local productions that I have seen. I think if some of the performers were to live in a bigger city, they would probably be successful in bigger productions as well. I love musicals more than plays and they have one at least each season, along with comedies and other events that take place at the theatre. The actual location is next to Business World behind Pueblo East and it's a good size theater with an inside courtyard that I really want to rent out for my next party.

Tickets were $25 and can be purchased online (cct.vi). I think this is the perfect activity for locals that love theater or want something different to do on the island, or for tourists who are here for a prolonged period of time. This island really does have everything, you just have to be here long enough to find it!

FAQs about St. Croix

I write this blog so that my family can keep up with my island adventure and so that people who are considering doing what I did get a glimpse of what island life is really like. From time to time, I get emails from my amazing readers who are actually considering the move and have additional questions for me that the blog may not answer. I wanted to put some of those questions into this post for those of you who may be wondering the same thing...

How hard is it to find an apartment? What are average apartment prices?

My apartment story is a little comical. I actually ended up meeting my boyfriend when I looked at an apartment that I wanted to rent but ended up not getting. Three weeks before I was set to move to St. Croix, I had to go online and look at postings to make sure that I had a place to live once I got here. I found a place and sent my deposit and first month rent in the mail and I had a place as soon as I arrived to St. Croix. It was a really nice apartment so everything worked out. I'm moving in with my boyfriend next week, ironically into the same complex where I originally wanted to live, but I really loved my first apartment here even though I never saw the apartment before I moved in. So that said, it's not hard to find an apartment, it just depends on where the apartment is located and how much you want to pay.

I would strongly suggest doing a pre-move visit so that you can at least see where things are and have an idea of where you'd like to live. We have the East End, the West End, North Shore and Christiansted. All locations have their pros and cons but moving from one apartment to another is pretty easy as most apartments are fully furnished and leases usually don't extend past six months at most. Apartment prices varie but a one-bedroom apartment averages about $750.00. Before I came here, I always used air conditioning in the summers but after living here for a little while, I barely used my air conditioner. Electricity prices are really high and the breeze is usually pretty good, especially when you live higher up, so living air conditioner-less becomes part of the island life experience. 

What is the job market like?

Jobs are hard to get in the Virgin Islands, especially when it's slow season which is in the summer months. Jobs in the service industry are easier to find than more specialized and professional jobs. I found my job through people that I had met who introduced me to my current employer and I consider myself very lucky because of that. Average pay here is also lower than pay for the same job stateside. The cost of living isn't necessarily lower but we need less "stuff" here so we end up spending less on average and housing costs are pretty low as well. So spending a little more on food isn't that much of an issue when you don't have to buy new snow boots every year and get your car battery replaced because it's so cold. My best advice for job hunting here is to network, this island is all about networking the old fashioned way so being nice and personable goes extra far here.

Can you make friends easily on the island?

 Yes yes yes. Everyone here is very friendly because most people moved here for the same reason so you already have something in common before you even meet. Most people you will meet here also probably left their family and friends back home so they are also eager to make new friends. This fact, along with the attitude of people who generally find the idea of living on an island in the Caribbean Sea appealing, makes people pretty relaxed and open to new people and experiences. Those who aren't as relaxed usually end up going home shortly after they arrive here so this leaves most people that you will meet here pretty happy and easy going. But friends don't usually magically appear so make sure to say hello to people and introduce yourself and make plans for coffee or dinner, and you'll know the whole island in no time!

What is the crime on the island really like?

It's hard for people who don't live here to gauge the crime because sometimes what you read in the newspapers seems like we all live with double bolted doors and bullet proof vests here. That's not true here or probably on any island. The facts is that because there are so few people here as a whole, when there is some kind of crime, it does make front page news and it is talked about. However, just like living anywhere, as long as you're street smart, the crime that does exist here shouldn't reach out to you living here.

Most crime is drug related between local gangs. Some of the other crime occurs when people are walking alone at night in deserted areas. A good rule of thumb for anyone who is coming to live here, especially if you are single and female, is that if you wouldn't do it back home, don't do it here. I probably wouldn't walk down an ally by myself back home in the middle of the night and I am sure not going to do that here either. All in all, it's pretty safe because all our crime is literally reported in the paper so we all know exactly what's going on every single day. In comparison to the crime in Chicago, this really isn't a problem and I do feel much safer here on a daily basis than I did when I lived in a big city.

If you have any questions or are just curious about living in St. Croix, send me an email at the link on the right. I'll try to answer it as best I can with what I learned so far. And if you want to try living in St. Croix, do it! The only thing you'll miss is what I hear is supposed to be a pretty big storm heading everywhere but here :)

Restaurant Review:

No Bones Cafe
 
No Bones is one of my favorite restaurants on this island and this restaurant has the least island feel. Located at the dock side of the Gallow's Bay shopping area, this restaurant is completely inside and it has a very cool relaxed chain restaurant feel inside. The lighting is very dark and there are futuristic screens at every table showing the daily specials. One of my favorite things to eat here is the meatloaf and it's amazing!

Whether it's lunch or dinner, there is something for everyone here, and the bar is it's own conversation piece. I try to make it out here at least once a month and you should too if you're vising or especially if you live here.

New Beginnings and 2016

Happy New Year!!!

We all made it to 2016 and it's been so busy already! New Year's in the Virgin Islands means a Christmas themed carnival and parades that go on forever. It also means a new apartment and getting your electricity inadvertently shut off. It's only been ten days and it's been exhausting. I can't wait to relax for the rest of 2016!

New Year's Eve started off with apartment hunting at 8 am. This was probably not the most convenient scheduling but a lot of times, island time, while slow, is not necessarily convenient.  The day proceeded with finding an apartment and finalizing the terms. I was so tired by 7 pm that a nap was urgently needed to avoid passing out before the long-awaited New Year's mark. I've spent many New Year's at restaurants, at shows and also at people's houses over the years. And it has always been a tradition to turn on Time Square's ball drop when I was in Chicago because it always happened an hour before the actual New Year and it was a great way to guage the time. In St. Croix, we're in Atlantic Standard Time which means that we are one hour ahead of New York so our new year's eve was spent without any television accompaniment (although in customary local fashion, the local station did try to loop the same carnival clip over and over again in hopes nobody would catch on). Overall, New Year's Eve's night was very relaxing and spent with good friends. We were all ready for the new year and all the great experiences it would bring.

The main attraction of the New Year's celebration in St. Croix is the Carnivale Adult Parade. This parade was held on January 2 in Frederiksted and was very late to start. When it did start, the costumes were amazing and the bands made up of school children sounded really great. However, after about an hour or so, there was a two hour break!!! We almost left because we though the parade was over but then it started up again and went on for a while longer. The parade is something everyone who lives here or is visiting should see at least once but with it going on for almost the whole day, you need to have a lot of endurance to come see the parade in consecutive years.

And as I am now moving, I decided that I would inform my utilities to turn off the electricity on my move-out date. This is something that I always did back in Chicago when I moved and I'm sure most people do this. I should have known better and it did seem a little too easy as I emailed the power authority in St. Croix to notify them of my move and asked them to turn off my electricity on January 31. So of course, on January 8, my power was completely shut off. January 8 was a Friday and at 9:30 pm, I was almost in tears trying to get the one person who was still at the electric company at that time to turn my power back on. The islands are known for the kindness of the people who live here, so while the power should not have been shut off, the power authority did send someone out at 10:30 pm and my power was restored. I live on an island now and while I love to think that I can do without many of the conveniences that I was used to in the states, it's really dis-empowering to think how debilitating not having power can still be. Somehow I'm okay not having power when we have storms or potential hurricanes, but when everyone else has power, I still want it as well!

So that is my feel good story for the beginning of my island adventures of 2016. As the months pass by here very slowly, I'm reminded of the goodness of people in general. I'm also reminded of how great it is to have really good friends who visit you, who remember you and who are there for you. This year, I"m going to strive for creating a positive environment for those around me as I am beginning to understand that for me, the meaning of life doesn't revolve around just creating a positive energy for myself but for also making sure that others have the opportunity to have positivity in their lives as well. After all, my experience here has been so good and positive because of all the opportunities and experiences that others have created and that I took a chance at accepting not too long ago, and that has truly made all the difference.

Activity Review:

Point Udall Sunrise

One of the best days I have had here so far and one of best presents I have ever received was being surprised and taken to Point Udall, the Eastern-most point of the United States, for the sunrise on Christmas Day. Ever since I got here back in June, I wanted to go but getting before the literal crack of dawn is so hard to do! So on Christmas Day, my wonderful boyfriend woke me up and surprised me at 5 am and told me we were going to see the sunrise. I was as happy as anyone who gets their long awaited present on Christmas morning, except mine was in the form of a memory that I will get to keep forever.

Point Udall is magical when the sun rises. It is better than any picture I can post or any description I can write. Being at Point Udall with people you really care about makes it even better. I wouldn't recommend going here by yourself or anywhere at the crack of dawn in St. Croix, but going with friends or the special people in your life creates a really unforgettable experience. I know that many people come here to see the first sunrise of the year on New Year's day but every day here creates a new and unique sunrise that will never be repeated. And best of all, this activity is completely free except that it does take a good 20 minutes to get to Point Udall from Christiansted. For most of my stateside friends, that's a short trip, but here on the islands that's as far as most people are willing to go, but it's definitely worth it!

Goodbye 2015!

As part of the last post of 2015, I wanted to let you know how thankful I am that people actually read this blog. Originally, this was meant to be a way to keep in touch with my family and friends back home while I set out on my island adventure. I wasn't sure if I would even continue writing this or if I would be back in the states by now, but thankfully, I am still in St. Croix and I have received so many very gracious email and comments from all of you, that I will definitely keep writing until I have nothing to write about, which I think is very unlikely.

2015 started out on a very stressful note. I was extremely tired and stressed and I just wanted a change. I thought about moving to an island because it's what everyone always says but never really does and I couldn't find a reason not to, and every reason to try. I planned this move starting in January of this year, I visited in March and I moved in June. It's December and I'm still here and I can honestly say that I made the right decision for me. On paper, my life in Chicago was perfect. In reality, my stress level averaged a 12 on a 10-point scale. Now, my stress level is probably a 0 or a 1 or 2 daily and maybe a 3 or 4 when I'm at work. I used to check my email and phone at least every 5 to 10 minutes during dinners with friends and family. Now, I sometimes don't turn on or forget my phone or sometimes my phone doesn't even work in certain places and here and I don't really stress out about that. I used to shop just to shop back in the states; here we buy things we need to live and that's been a great change. It's not that we don't just buy things sometimes as well here because I did just that about two hours ago because it was "super cute," but for the most part, our houses are not trinket central and shop therapy doesn't play a huge role here.

For the first time in my life, back in September, I was really happy just being me by myself. I didn't necessarily need anyone in my life to make me happy, I figured out how to change my environment and surroundings to create the happiness I was meant to have. And then about a week after that happened, I did meet someone who made my life really special. The most important part of this whole experience is that it's amazing to meet someone who is on the same wavelength as you and who makes everyday even easier than it was before, but who isn't the foundation of your happiness. I learned that it's important to be content with your life before someone comes into it because a relationship is not an anchor for happiness, it should be more like a sail that can be raised as needed when flowing through life. It almost feels like I was meant to come here and figure out things about myself that I couldn't figure out back in Chicago (Like that I get super seasick while sailing in the open sea during a rainstorm. Sorry fishies and thank you to my boyfriend for holding my hair back; You must really like me because that wasn't one of my best moments.) 

When I first came here, I made a huge deal about the temperature difference between St. Croix and Chicago, and while it's nice to be able to wear flip-flops everyday and have extremely warm temperatures year-round, the temperature and location isn't really important. Many people are extremely happy all around the world and not everyone lives on a tropical island. What I really like about St. Croix is the attitude people have towards life. I love the small community and the value people put on each other. I just had one of the warmest and most genuine holiday celebrations. It started really early on Christmas morning with the most beautiful sunrises made even more special by someone I really love, and the weekend continued with people who genuinely cared about each other and wanted to see each other happy. We did give presents but that wasn't the focus, although the aloe socks I'm wearing right now feel amazing, especially since we almost never wear socks here! And to my boyfriend's mom who gave them to me, thank you! And thank you to my wonderful parents who sent me my favorite banana chocolates, iced coffee, dried fruit and a mini new year's tree (it took two trips to the post office and some pleading and puppy eyes but it was well worth it).

2015 came with some of the best and some of the worst moments of my life. I am so thankful for both because I was able to figure out what really makes me happy and I was able to meet people who have the same outlook on life as I do now. I really miss my family and my friends who are still in Chicago and elsewhere, and if I could have one wish, I'd bring them all here to be with me. But right now, this is the place where I should be and while it may or may not be forever, it has been the best decision I ever made.

Restaurant Review:

Villa Morales

Ask any local where they go for great local food and Villa Morales will be in their top three choices. Located right off of Queen Mary Highway in Frederiksted on the west end of St. Croix, this one-of-a-kind local favorite is only open on Thursday thru Saturday and this very quaint restaurant serves an extremely flavorful menu. The dishes are all local including beef stew, conch and favorite fish dishes such as fried snapper. The appetizers include fresh mussels which come right out of the shell with a burst of flavor and prepare you for an amazing dinner to follow.  The conch is a local favorite and is made in a butter batter that provides for a lot of flavor as it this your mouth.  For dessert, the flan is also a local favorite and makes for a perfect ending to a magical island dinner. I would recommend eating here at least once during your trip or come here often if you live here!

 

The best of St. Croix...

This week, I have my really good friends visiting from Chicago and my boyfriend's very sweet mom is in town for the month, and we've been having a blast. When I have visitors, it gives me the opportunity to do the things I forgot that I really enjoyed when I first arrived on this beautiful and magical island.




 So here is a list of the best of St. Croix...

• Romantic nightly walks on the beach in warm ocean water  

• Beautiful sunsets in Frederiksted, even on a cloudy night

• Breathtaking ocean views on East End drives

• Dark Chocolate chex and cheddar cheese pretzels 

• Awww inspiring fire dancers on the beach or anywhere 

• Meeting people I know and want to see everywhere you go

• Hanukkah parties at beautiful homes with very kind people

• Gifts that come in the form of experiences rather than things

• Being cheerfully greeted by everyone everywhere, even if I don't know them

• 20 Watt indoor mosquito zappers that leave no survivors

• Holiday lights and decorations that resemble a Hollywood movie set 

• A really cute boyfriend who makes me feel really good every single day 

• Amazing friends that come to visit from over 2000 miles away

• Great friends who live right here and make me feel like I'm home   

I get to experience all of these things almost every day and it feels like a dream. I really hope I never have to wake up.

Activity Review:

Frederiksted Sunsets

Watching a sunset is a really fun free activity to do while you're in St. Croix. The best sunsets are on the west side of the island because that's where the sun sets while the best sunrises are on the east side. The best place to watch the actual sunset is by the pier in Frederiksted. There are many different beachside areas and island bars that make watching the sunset a great way to spend a night with family and friends.

Add some rum punch or frozen drinks to the mix and it's a perfect St. Croix night. Even when the clouds obstruct your view, the colors of the sky during a St. Croix sunset are breathtaking and worth the trip. But come early, the sun sets early in St. Croix, between 5:30 pm and 7:00 pm, depending on the time of year.  And make sure to bring your camera because your pics will make everyone want to come visit you!

Thanksgiving in the VI

I made it to Thanksgiving! This actually marks my six months of living in the Virgin Islands and was the amount of time I gave myself to figure out if I wanted to stay here or go back home. My apartment lease expires in a few days and this is also the amount of time that most people take to figure out that island life is not for them. If you've been following my blog, you know that island life right now is definitely for me so I am not going back just yet.

It has been really strange to be in 80-90 F degree weather during the winter holidays but I love it! I've been wearing shorts and skirts and flip flops everyday and I can't imagine being in a winter jacket and boots right now. I also just had my first major holiday in the VI. I realized that while St. Croix is a small island that gears itself towards a close knit community, when it comes to family, most people don't have their actual family relatives here and you can't travel home all the time even though you may want to (or maybe not, if home has snow and subzero temperatures). Family on the islands is the family you create here and that makes for a new and fun time on St. Croix just like a lot of other experiences here.

I spent Thanksgiving weekend with my friends and with my boyfriend and his dog and I'm not going to lie, it was pretty laid back and perfect. It did make me realize that it rains a lot here during the fall but I'll take the rain over cold and snow and sleet any day. I also realized that I can't eat any more rice. I went to Ireland a few years ago and after about 10 days of eating potato morning, day and night, I couldn't look at another hash or mashed anything for about 6 months. St. Croix loves their rice. Rice is a staple and a ration and is in absolutely every dish you have here. While I love most things on St. Croix but right now, rice is not one of those things. Other than the rice though, everything is pretty good so far.

So this year I am very thankful that my little island experiment/gamble/crazy idea hasn't made me commit to a psychiatric facility in a lovely suburb of Chicago just yet. I met a lot of cool people here and I've had so many great new experiences. I even met a somewhat larger dog that I really like. I've always been a really small toy dog kind of girl but my boyfriend has a dog and we've bonded and she's just a big baby with puppy dog eyes that makes you want to hug her, and I forget sometimes that she's actually almost my size. And even though she may chase chickens and try to eat them, at the end of the day, if someone ever tried to hurt her, I would protect her and I know she would protect me as well, and that pretty much sums up how most people in the VI feel about their island and each other.

This Thanksgiving has given me really high hopes for the rest of the year and for this whole experience. I hope that everyone who reads this blog is having a great holiday and I wish only the best for all of you and your families and friends.

Restaurant Review:

Acai Bowls

This week, I don't have a restaurant review but this is definitely a place you should visit so you can try an acai bowl. One of my new island friends introduced me to this place when I first arrived on island back in June and I just revisited and it was even better than the first time! The actual location is in the back of a video store next to Plaza East on St. Croix. In the back, they do spinning classes and what better way to cool down after a spin class, than an Acai Bowl?

Acai berry is a reddish purple fruit and here, they top it off with yogurt and chocolate and all kinds of fresh fruit to deliver an amazing flavor and yummy desert, even if you didn't just exercise. Price ranges from $6 to $9 and you can customize your bowl just how you like. It's one of my favorite island desserts.

New Beginnings...

It's hard to believe but I've live in St. Croix for over five months. When I was getting ready to move here, I had a countdown calendar that was named "New Beginnings." I was so hopeful that my new beginning would work out but I was very much aware that realistically, I was taking a huge chance and the success rate was probably smaller than I would have liked to believe.

When I decided to move to St. Croix, I tried to plan as much as I could before I came here but there were things that I couldn't really plan. I really took a chance and I just hoped it would work out better than what I had back in Chicago. On my first visit to St. Croix, I met another woman who was also moving here and that was her first week here. Her planning wasn't as extensive but she was just as determined to have her new beginning. As I sit here writing this, she is packing to move back to her previous home. As sad as that is, it reminds me that just because many people come here for their new beginning doesn't mean that it has to be the ultimate end for everyone. For some, this may be a stepping stone for the better in the future or it may just be the wrong destination and their own yearning for a better life is now turning them towards the path of success.

I do hope that my new beginning that commenced back in June can be long-term. I truly love being here everyday and my life is so different than what it was a year ago and in a really good way. I can't predict what will happen a year from now just as I couldn't have predicted I'd be here right now just last year. What I do know is that just like I listened to the pull in my heart to come, I'll listen to it if it tells me to do something else as well. I used to think that my life was pretty set as far location, career, personal relationships, etc., but I was able to give that all up and start a different life here that makes me much happier. I can honestly say that my journey was definitely worth it no matter what happens five months from now because being here has really taught me to look at life short-term rather than waiting for something to happen in the long-term.

It's also a lot about timing. Sometimes we feel that we need a change and we do it and it's the wrong time for us. Sometimes we're meant to overcome the obstacles in our lives and stay the course. But other times, we're actually meant to change course and live the lives we were meant to have. There isn't a right or a wrong and it's hard to figure out the timing of it all, but there are times where it just works and we know it's the right to do. This feels like the exact path that I should be on right now and I can't imagine any other life for me right now. But it's not for everyone because it just may not be the right time for them and that's okay, because their correct path may be waiting for them to arrive and start on its course somewhere else right now.

Activity Review:

Buck Island 

Most people don't leave St. Croix without visiting Buck Island. It's an island off an island and you have to take a special tour or know someone with a boat to get there, but it's definitely worth it. It's a National Park and it's completely uninhabited, making it even more pristine and beautiful. And there's turtle nesting on the beach which is conveniently named "Turtle Beach." Turtle Beach is on the west side of the island and it has white sand and perfectly calm shallow waters.

It looks better than most of the beaches in the movies that you have seen and the pictures you take will not be to fully embody its beauty so all your friends and relatives will have to come visit as well! The other side of the island is home to an underwater snorkel trail complete with an underwater fish world that you get to visit for a short time. It's magical, that's all there is to say, the rest you'll have to see for yourself.

There are many companies that offer tours to Buck Island from the island of St. Croix as it is only a few miles away and only about a mile from the East End of the island. Big Beards Snorkel Tours (www.bigbeards.com) is the only one I have been on as a tour and I've done it twice. I've always had a good time and the second time you go, it's half price! Half day tours are $75 and full day tours are $105 which include a barbecue lunch. They also do private charters and there are child rates
. I've only done the half day tour but if you have a full day, go for it!