usvi-on-line
What don't you like?
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Xislandgirl
- Posts: 4163
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:03 pm
- Location: Slightly left of center
Tipsy, if you have read my comments you will see that I was not directing my comments at anyone. I was making an observation that some people do that, as I have been on the receiving end of it.
I NEVER inferred that I was talking about anyone on this forum and I was not getting on anyone's case, I was simply offering my experience and, as I stated more than once, my opinion.
People's experiences are different, and I was just offering mine.
I NEVER inferred that I was talking about anyone on this forum and I was not getting on anyone's case, I was simply offering my experience and, as I stated more than once, my opinion.
People's experiences are different, and I was just offering mine.
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mindehankins
- Posts: 3014
- Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 8:21 am
- Location: Western NY State
I think Deb was really just commenting on the fact that using polite greetings, even polite greetings coming from a happy, kind person, aren't AUTOMATICALLY met with the same kindness.
Brand new visitors are sent with the info that if they are pleasant, polite and patient, they will be treated nicely. Some insist that any unpleasant conversation MUST have occured because a visitor didn't take the time to greet the local properly.
I agree that it needs to be noted that the proper, kind greeting does not elicit the desired response 100% of the time. There are very nice people who are having bad days and may not take the time to fall all over themselves to please you or even be polite. There are crabby people who seldom give a polite response to a polite greeting.
Newbies, just don't feel you've done something wrong, or must not be a "good enough" person to "get" St. John, if someone treats you rudely. You can just move along and you'll find a better interaction jusssst down the road.
(edited to correct typo)
Brand new visitors are sent with the info that if they are pleasant, polite and patient, they will be treated nicely. Some insist that any unpleasant conversation MUST have occured because a visitor didn't take the time to greet the local properly.
I agree that it needs to be noted that the proper, kind greeting does not elicit the desired response 100% of the time. There are very nice people who are having bad days and may not take the time to fall all over themselves to please you or even be polite. There are crabby people who seldom give a polite response to a polite greeting.
Newbies, just don't feel you've done something wrong, or must not be a "good enough" person to "get" St. John, if someone treats you rudely. You can just move along and you'll find a better interaction jusssst down the road.
(edited to correct typo)
Last edited by mindehankins on Tue Jul 06, 2010 2:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Berlingirl
- Posts: 499
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 6:09 pm
- Location: New England
DITTO everything you just said Minde...have to say...even here in Maine...which is called "Vacationland" btw LOL...the locals don't always show those who are "from away" the love.
I also don't think locals not being courteous has anything to do with NOT "getting it" either. "!
FYI, when I saw Tipsy and her DH on island, they'd definately "gotten it!"
I also don't think locals not being courteous has anything to do with NOT "getting it" either. "!
FYI, when I saw Tipsy and her DH on island, they'd definately "gotten it!"
Hoping for a USVI ticker in 2013!
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Xislandgirl
- Posts: 4163
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:03 pm
- Location: Slightly left of center
For goodness sake, I was NOT ever talking about Tipsy or anyone else on this forum. How can I comment on someone that I don't know?
I was just stating my opinion on the subject and my thoughts on the different types of people that vist STJ or any other vacation destination.
Anyone is welcome to disagree with it, but this has never been a commentary on anyone, except the couple that I overheard nearly 15 years ago.
Please feel free to disagree but please do not assume I am directing my comments toward anyone.
I was just stating my opinion on the subject and my thoughts on the different types of people that vist STJ or any other vacation destination.
Anyone is welcome to disagree with it, but this has never been a commentary on anyone, except the couple that I overheard nearly 15 years ago.
Please feel free to disagree but please do not assume I am directing my comments toward anyone.
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Berlingirl
- Posts: 499
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 6:09 pm
- Location: New England
Xislandgirl...
Speaking for myself only, I was agreeing with Minde and her statements...newbies are advised that islanders respond positvely to polite greetings. Some are shocked then at being treated rudely or even completely ignored. It happens. Some people take that rejection personally.
Others have said they have not experienced that. Maybe they have had limited interactions or they just don't notice. My guess is they don't take it personally.
Speaking for myself only, I was agreeing with Minde and her statements...newbies are advised that islanders respond positvely to polite greetings. Some are shocked then at being treated rudely or even completely ignored. It happens. Some people take that rejection personally.
Others have said they have not experienced that. Maybe they have had limited interactions or they just don't notice. My guess is they don't take it personally.
Hoping for a USVI ticker in 2013!
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mindehankins
- Posts: 3014
- Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 8:21 am
- Location: Western NY State
Hello all,
So sorry, didn't mean to stir up anything here or critisize anyone. Not my intention at anytime.
I was just saying (& as previously stated) that it can be quite a put off when it's repeatedly mentioned here to greet island people correctly so not to offend them, only to have them not even acknowledge you or the greeting. It was one of the 1st things I wrote down from this forum when joined. Not that I needed to be told to greet people kindly,but would usually just say "hello or some such greeting" not the more formal "Good morning etc". Which BTW I find to be much nicer and now use here it at home, it's such a warmer way of greeting.
Please no offense was meant,so don't take any. I apologize to anyone if I did. I understand having "bad days" and just cause you're in the tourist business doesn't mean you have to be "UP" all the time. But doesn't take much time to nod your head or smile when greeted.
I don't expect you to kow tow to me,you're a human being same as me and working very hard. I appreciate that you do the work you do so people like me can have good vacations.
Our expectations might have been set too high. We know better now and like said, it didn't spoil being there. Just the rain did. sigh.
We'll be back, and now won't be newbies.
Deb
So sorry, didn't mean to stir up anything here or critisize anyone. Not my intention at anytime.
I was just saying (& as previously stated) that it can be quite a put off when it's repeatedly mentioned here to greet island people correctly so not to offend them, only to have them not even acknowledge you or the greeting. It was one of the 1st things I wrote down from this forum when joined. Not that I needed to be told to greet people kindly,but would usually just say "hello or some such greeting" not the more formal "Good morning etc". Which BTW I find to be much nicer and now use here it at home, it's such a warmer way of greeting.
Please no offense was meant,so don't take any. I apologize to anyone if I did. I understand having "bad days" and just cause you're in the tourist business doesn't mean you have to be "UP" all the time. But doesn't take much time to nod your head or smile when greeted.
I don't expect you to kow tow to me,you're a human being same as me and working very hard. I appreciate that you do the work you do so people like me can have good vacations.Our expectations might have been set too high. We know better now and like said, it didn't spoil being there. Just the rain did. sigh.
We'll be back, and now won't be newbies.
Deb
No ticker anymore. Next vac will prob. be the Fl Keys.
Hi Minde,
Better check w/us 1st cause we're staying w/Ms Vie too.
Really enjoyed the whole day there, her beach is wonderful, and when I think about her food, I want to jump on the next plane to go get some.
Glad your music fest is done,but sorry that you got so involved now that it's more of a chore. Think you had great weather for it.
Learning the "hard" way sometimes is good,you never forget that lesson.ha.. Never have grouted, spackling am good at though. But bet it looks gorgeous now... Oh the joy of homeowning! ha.
Am back working P/T,they called me back in beg. of May, so work 3 days a week. Which is more than UE check and is perfect. Have Wed & Fri off, so get all the cleaning, errands done and then have wknds for us to do fun things, relax etc. Right now, it's going to the beach,of course. Still have all my vac time, holidays, just no benefits but am on DH health etc now. So, best of all worlds.
I graduated 6/5, am so glad that's behind me!! Now have 6 mos of "internship" in the church & sometime end of Oct, early Nov. will be installed into the church as a full Deacon.
Not sure if you're getting the heat wave like us, if you are, stay cool and be careful.
Deb
Better check w/us 1st cause we're staying w/Ms Vie too.
Really enjoyed the whole day there, her beach is wonderful, and when I think about her food, I want to jump on the next plane to go get some.Glad your music fest is done,but sorry that you got so involved now that it's more of a chore. Think you had great weather for it.
Learning the "hard" way sometimes is good,you never forget that lesson.ha.. Never have grouted, spackling am good at though. But bet it looks gorgeous now... Oh the joy of homeowning! ha.
Am back working P/T,they called me back in beg. of May, so work 3 days a week. Which is more than UE check and is perfect. Have Wed & Fri off, so get all the cleaning, errands done and then have wknds for us to do fun things, relax etc. Right now, it's going to the beach,of course. Still have all my vac time, holidays, just no benefits but am on DH health etc now. So, best of all worlds.
I graduated 6/5, am so glad that's behind me!! Now have 6 mos of "internship" in the church & sometime end of Oct, early Nov. will be installed into the church as a full Deacon.
Not sure if you're getting the heat wave like us, if you are, stay cool and be careful.
Deb
No ticker anymore. Next vac will prob. be the Fl Keys.
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Boston Mike
- Posts: 974
- Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 5:41 am
- Location: Boston, MA.
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michigancouple
- Posts: 609
- Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2009 5:37 pm
- Location: West Michigan
Funny this should pop up here as I scroll through the forum here the day after we return from Paris (talk about a long travel day - 8 hr flight with a 6 hr time change). The VIs are good practice for France, because the French are even MORE about the proper ways of personal exchanges.
We found that for the majority of the time, if you made the effort, the French were kind in return. In fact, the first day in sitting down at a café, when we asked for the check by saying “Excusez-moi, L'addition, S'il vous plait?” and then laughed and asked “how was that?” the waitress also laughed and said very good and said she appreciated it, and that if people don’t make even a rudimentary effort at the basic greetings, etc., that she might just speak French to them and pretend she really cannot speak English.
So, forewarned is forearmed, so we practiced and used these phrases A LOT:
Bonjour (hello/good day = must be used upon entering shop, greeting waiter, etc.); Bonsoir (hello after 6pm/good evening); S'il vous plait (please/if you please = good to say after asking for anything); Au revoir (goodbye): Excusez-moi (excuse me = good to use before asking for anything); Est-ce que vous parlez anglais? (do you speak English?); L'addition (bill or check in restaurant); Merci (Thank you) and merci beaucoup (thank you very much) = both important to use after any interaction; Pardonnez (pardon me = if you bump into somebody; to get past someone in a crowded space).
That said, even using the magic words, a few service people were still a bit grumpy. And one time, I was getting some pastries from one side of a shop, then the woman helping me turned away for something else for a few moments, then she turned back, and I pointed to some bread and cheese at the other side of the store saying something like “oh, can I also have something over there?” and she said very sharply “WhaT?!?” (with a hard T). My bad. I forgot the excuse me/if you please thing AGAIN for the second part of our exchange.
We laughed about it later and used “WhaT?!?” on each other the rest of the trip whenever we could.
We found that for the majority of the time, if you made the effort, the French were kind in return. In fact, the first day in sitting down at a café, when we asked for the check by saying “Excusez-moi, L'addition, S'il vous plait?” and then laughed and asked “how was that?” the waitress also laughed and said very good and said she appreciated it, and that if people don’t make even a rudimentary effort at the basic greetings, etc., that she might just speak French to them and pretend she really cannot speak English.
So, forewarned is forearmed, so we practiced and used these phrases A LOT:
Bonjour (hello/good day = must be used upon entering shop, greeting waiter, etc.); Bonsoir (hello after 6pm/good evening); S'il vous plait (please/if you please = good to say after asking for anything); Au revoir (goodbye): Excusez-moi (excuse me = good to use before asking for anything); Est-ce que vous parlez anglais? (do you speak English?); L'addition (bill or check in restaurant); Merci (Thank you) and merci beaucoup (thank you very much) = both important to use after any interaction; Pardonnez (pardon me = if you bump into somebody; to get past someone in a crowded space).
That said, even using the magic words, a few service people were still a bit grumpy. And one time, I was getting some pastries from one side of a shop, then the woman helping me turned away for something else for a few moments, then she turned back, and I pointed to some bread and cheese at the other side of the store saying something like “oh, can I also have something over there?” and she said very sharply “WhaT?!?” (with a hard T). My bad. I forgot the excuse me/if you please thing AGAIN for the second part of our exchange.
We laughed about it later and used “WhaT?!?” on each other the rest of the trip whenever we could.
When we come to place where the sea and the sky collide
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide
Hi forum. Been a while.
Most of these have been said already, but...
Travel days are a huge pain. And it's not the easiest place to get to.
Mosquitos. It's like they see me coming and tie on their lobster bibs! Francis was unbearable on our last trip.
Everything is so expensive.
I hate that STJ has ruined all other places for me. There are so many places I want to visit, but when it comes down to planning a vacation I always feel the tug of the island.
Most of these have been said already, but...
Travel days are a huge pain. And it's not the easiest place to get to.
Mosquitos. It's like they see me coming and tie on their lobster bibs! Francis was unbearable on our last trip.
Everything is so expensive.
I hate that STJ has ruined all other places for me. There are so many places I want to visit, but when it comes down to planning a vacation I always feel the tug of the island.