Relocating to the U.S. Virgin Islands: An Introduction

We are starting a new section on VirginIslandsMLS.com about relocating to the US Virgin Islands. This is our first entry, with many more to follow in the weeks ahead:

Relocation

It is standard advice to anyone considering a major relocation to give the islands a trial visit. Once you've settled in, you'll learn the ins and outs of island life - the pace is slower, the cost of living is higher, the scenery is beautiful, and so on. It's best to get a feel for these things yourself, but we can give you some tips before you arrive. You can also check out our Relocation Forum to ask questions and talk to other people considering relocation.

Customs, People and Language

Things move at a slower pace in the Virgin Islands – some call it "Island Time". This means you can't expect to rush through a trip to the bank or the DMV, but it also means more friendly greetings along the way. This slower pace can take a while to adjust to for, but most people come to embrace it as part of their new way of life.

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One custom to remember is that locals expect to be greeted with a "Good Morning", "Good Afternoon" or "Good Night". If you launch right into a conversation without taking a moment to address the person with a proper greeting, you may find that they are less than receptive.

It may also take you a while to understand the local accents and you may never understand all of the residents here – but the key is to be patient. And remember if you can't understand someone, then chances are they can't understand you – so speak slowly. You'll find many different dialects deriving from the diverse cultural population. If you're curious about the local language, check out the Dictionary of Caribbean English Usage: