usvi-on-line
Locals unfriendly?
Locals unfriendly?
How do you all feel about this? I met a woman from Maryland at Honeymoon Beach and we started talking and she was surprised how unfriendly the locals are. I responded with how sorry that I was that she felt that way but then a couple of days later at the Beach Bar a gentleman from Virginia repeated the same thing.He had traveled to Grenada and other islands and they were very welcoming. He did not feel this way about STJ although he thought it was the most beautiful of any of the other places he had been.
Both of these people were first time visitors.
I did notice the two women giving free samples when we got off the ferry were rather rude (a smile would have been nice). But for the most part I LOVE the people there. What do you think?
Both of these people were first time visitors.
I did notice the two women giving free samples when we got off the ferry were rather rude (a smile would have been nice). But for the most part I LOVE the people there. What do you think?
Julie
Live from St.John
Facebook Group
My view is that people are people -- some are friendly, some aren't. I've met very warm and sweet STJ residents and also very brusque ones. I don't mind. I've found that civility on my part is always matched with equal civility, and I don't need more than that. (But maybe that's because I'm from the Northeast and that's how we roll!) 
I've always been uncomfortable with obviously tourism-prompted friendliness...I stayed at a resort on another island where the staff had clearly been trained to remember your name over the course of your stay. Many traveler reviews of the resort mentioned this as an amazing sign of genuine friendliness, but I didn't see it that way. I really enjoyed my stay, but I couldn't help but view the name thing as a trick to enhance the appearance of friendliness. I don't care if the staff isn't obviously overjoyed to be coming to work every day -- I've had lots of jobs where I wasn't either.
Anyway, I see the matter-of-fact attitude of many St. Johnians to be honest and refreshing, and a good sign that they're not sycophantically dependent on tourism.
I've always been uncomfortable with obviously tourism-prompted friendliness...I stayed at a resort on another island where the staff had clearly been trained to remember your name over the course of your stay. Many traveler reviews of the resort mentioned this as an amazing sign of genuine friendliness, but I didn't see it that way. I really enjoyed my stay, but I couldn't help but view the name thing as a trick to enhance the appearance of friendliness. I don't care if the staff isn't obviously overjoyed to be coming to work every day -- I've had lots of jobs where I wasn't either.
Anyway, I see the matter-of-fact attitude of many St. Johnians to be honest and refreshing, and a good sign that they're not sycophantically dependent on tourism.
I think you get what you give!! If you walk into a bar and say "Yeah, give me a beer"...your not going to get a friendly response back. You walk in and say "Hi, how ya doing (or good afternoon) then you'll get a better response from that person. Just my theory.
Somehow I manage to get a smile on the face of the gumpiest of grumpiests (no matter where I am).
Somehow I manage to get a smile on the face of the gumpiest of grumpiests (no matter where I am).
We usually go to Tortola and have met several unfriendly people there. I was hoping St John would be a little better. Don't get me wrong, there were some awesome people too, but the ones that bother me are the ones that you are purposely nice to them, greet them, etc and they are still rude and unfriendly. I just expect the respect that I give, in return. Ya know? I don't get it. I would hate to live that way...
I agree with Elisa! Who knows how these people presented themselves to the locals. As many have said here, starting your conversation with a good morning or a good evening can make all the difference in how the conversation goes. I always whether on STJ or not try to start any interaction with a kindness. Works for me most of the time.
I agree you can't compare the friendliness of resort employees to the man on the street. The employees get paid to be nice.
I think St. Johnians are just like everyone else. I can't get anyone to ring up my sales at department stores, etc...here. I got snipped at at the store the other day and was spoken to like I was a total idiot.
In St.John I have had both extremes of treatment. In general when I am friendly, they are.
I think St. Johnians are just like everyone else. I can't get anyone to ring up my sales at department stores, etc...here. I got snipped at at the store the other day and was spoken to like I was a total idiot.
In St.John I have had both extremes of treatment. In general when I am friendly, they are.
"Sponges grow in the ocean...I wonder how much deeper it would be if that didn't happen."
-
Itsstraightparadise
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:59 am
- Location: VA
I have had nothing but plesant folks on St J but at Ivan's in BVI I had a very very rude lady.....I was shocked cause the folks in the bar were fantastic but the ladies in the gift shop...not so much 
I just wanted to know where the restroom was. But I didn't let it ruin my day,k just drink more rum
I just wanted to know where the restroom was. But I didn't let it ruin my day,k just drink more rum <a href="http://www.TickerFactory.com/">
<img border="0" src="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/ ... t.png"></a>
<img border="0" src="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/ ... t.png"></a>
I find the people refreshingly polite and laid back, especially after dealing with the airlines and TSA to get there!
I think it is all in your approach. Some people after a hectic travel day are just borish and are really not even aware of it. Others (like I try to be) are SO damnned happy to be coming off that ferry onto St. John that I can't hardly help but be ridiculously friendly.
I have had wonderful experience with locals. (Well, Ruth and Pia can be tough to take, but the others are all nice!
) Just kidding before I get flamed.
I honestly think people have said it, folks are folks. Some are nice and some are hostile no matter where you are!
I think it is all in your approach. Some people after a hectic travel day are just borish and are really not even aware of it. Others (like I try to be) are SO damnned happy to be coming off that ferry onto St. John that I can't hardly help but be ridiculously friendly.
I have had wonderful experience with locals. (Well, Ruth and Pia can be tough to take, but the others are all nice!
) Just kidding before I get flamed.I honestly think people have said it, folks are folks. Some are nice and some are hostile no matter where you are!
I've met great locals and I've met ones that are just rude in general.
The girl that use to work at Budget.
One guy on the ferry.
You could be the nicest person in the world to those 2 people, but they could care less. They're just miserable people in general. Probably 24/7.
The girl that use to work at Budget.
One guy on the ferry.
You could be the nicest person in the world to those 2 people, but they could care less. They're just miserable people in general. Probably 24/7.
"Paradise...it's a state of mine"
Is it the feeling of "I'm on vacation and I want everything to be awesome!" kind of thing?
Example: I'm on a cruise. The bartender sneers at me and acts like a jerk. OK...that's unexpected, because as others have noted, he's paid to be happy.
I'm on STJ. I go into Starfish. the checkout person isn't overjoyed to see me or my 3 cases of Carib. Is there anything bad with that? Starfish doesn't pay people to be happy. They probably expect you to not bite the heads off of your customers, but you're not paid to be happy. You're paid to check people out.
St John's a part of the real world for many people. It may not be for us who vacation there, but it's home to a lot of people.
I'm sure you could come visit Raleigh and come away thinking people were jerks. It's bound to happen...I mean I was just trying to get gas and get my crying kid home. I don't care that you think the gas station is cute and want to take pictures of it. Get out of my way. I live here and have had a crappy day.
In the end, you get a lot of what you give. I'm usually happy when I'm on island and tend to be in a good mood. That said, they have different customs and I do follow them (Good morning, Good Afternoon, etc). Be polite and more often than not you get polite back.
On St John, at home, in the airport...
Example: I'm on a cruise. The bartender sneers at me and acts like a jerk. OK...that's unexpected, because as others have noted, he's paid to be happy.
I'm on STJ. I go into Starfish. the checkout person isn't overjoyed to see me or my 3 cases of Carib. Is there anything bad with that? Starfish doesn't pay people to be happy. They probably expect you to not bite the heads off of your customers, but you're not paid to be happy. You're paid to check people out.
St John's a part of the real world for many people. It may not be for us who vacation there, but it's home to a lot of people.
I'm sure you could come visit Raleigh and come away thinking people were jerks. It's bound to happen...I mean I was just trying to get gas and get my crying kid home. I don't care that you think the gas station is cute and want to take pictures of it. Get out of my way. I live here and have had a crappy day.
In the end, you get a lot of what you give. I'm usually happy when I'm on island and tend to be in a good mood. That said, they have different customs and I do follow them (Good morning, Good Afternoon, etc). Be polite and more often than not you get polite back.
On St John, at home, in the airport...
the most unfriendliest people I have met in the Caribbean were on Grenada,we couldn't get over how rude & how they ignored us,no matter where we went. We were on a cruise and cut our shore visit short, so could get back on board.
I try to be polite,observe the local customs and be nice to all. Most times it works,but there are those few that are either having a bad day or just unhappy in life no matter what. But nothing ruins our vacation, we just avoid them next time.
The only negative thing about STJ people that I have heard is that the police can be nasty in some cases, but only hearing one side and so who knows??
I try to be polite,observe the local customs and be nice to all. Most times it works,but there are those few that are either having a bad day or just unhappy in life no matter what. But nothing ruins our vacation, we just avoid them next time.
The only negative thing about STJ people that I have heard is that the police can be nasty in some cases, but only hearing one side and so who knows??
No ticker anymore. Next vac will prob. be the Fl Keys.
I found the peeps in the Bahamas to be pretty darn unfriendly but we were not in the nicest of hotels. Negril, Jamaica locals were EXTREMELY friendly. Bermuda too. Though more formal about it.
Nothing has the STJ vibe for me though and the people who live there year around are definitely a huge part of that vibe!
I think some people have the perspective that "locals" should be bending over backwards and being oh so grateful to tourists. I just don't see it that way. I am ever so grateful to them for sharing their home with us! Like someone else said, they aren't solely dependant on tourism and expect to be respected. I also sense by and large they are very respectful of one another. You have to give it to get it.
Nothing has the STJ vibe for me though and the people who live there year around are definitely a huge part of that vibe!
I think some people have the perspective that "locals" should be bending over backwards and being oh so grateful to tourists. I just don't see it that way. I am ever so grateful to them for sharing their home with us! Like someone else said, they aren't solely dependant on tourism and expect to be respected. I also sense by and large they are very respectful of one another. You have to give it to get it.
well said and sadly can be so true.flip-flop wrote:I found the peeps in the Bahamas to be pretty darn unfriendly but we were not in the nicest of hotels. Negril, Jamaica locals were EXTREMELY friendly. Bermuda too. Though more formal about it.
Nothing has the STJ vibe for me though and the people who live there year around are definitely a huge part of that vibe!
I think some people have the perspective that "locals" should be bending over backwards and being oh so grateful to tourists. I just don't see it that way. I am ever so grateful to them for sharing their home with us! Like someone else said, they aren't solely dependant on tourism and expect to be respected. I also sense by and large they are very respectful of one another. You have to give it to get it.
No ticker anymore. Next vac will prob. be the Fl Keys.
[quote="flip-flop"]I just don't see it that way. I am ever so grateful to them for sharing their home with us! Like someone else said, they aren't solely dependant on tourism and expect to be respected./quote]
Regardless of how dependent they are on us, they deserve and should get respect from all of us. It should also be a two-way street. This is not an STJ thing. It should be true wherever we are.
You are right FF, they are sharing their home with us.
I have not experienced any significantly rude behavior while I was there, and I hope I never unknowingly displayed any myself.
JIM
Regardless of how dependent they are on us, they deserve and should get respect from all of us. It should also be a two-way street. This is not an STJ thing. It should be true wherever we are.
You are right FF, they are sharing their home with us.
I have not experienced any significantly rude behavior while I was there, and I hope I never unknowingly displayed any myself.
JIM
Man it's like some dream we live down here....
