USVI-On-Line

Just finished reading the post about the Frank Banko article and it reminded me of a topic I wanted to throw out there. I don't know how many of you guys feel this way but, I love the Islands for a lot of reasons one of which are the people and the common courtesies they practise, if you give them the chance to do so that is.. Life goes on at a much slower pace, obviously ha?, and part of that is taking the time to be sincerly NICE to the people you come in contact with. It just feels soooo good to take the time to offer the little niceties ie. good morning- how are you, and so on through the day. How many "doors" has this opened for us all when on Island. You know what, low and be-hold it works here as well. I mean like how many times have you just walked up to the counter and just state what it is you would like or want. I have now come to automatically great folks here, especially those working in stores, restaurants, bars, or wherever, as we do in the Islands. The look on thier face is often shear amazement. I know a lot of you guys are likely doing the same thing. It just makes you feel good. I have never been a rude or demanding person but I now make it a habit to go a little overboard in the nice department. After all, ain't this how it should be?

I always start out nice. It does sometimes surprise people and often pays you great dividends. If you start off pushy or with a bad attitude you'll get push back, but if you are pleasant and just ask nicely its amazing what folks will do for you.

This lesson solidified in my head 8 years ago TODAY as a matter of fact as I was at the airport getting ready to go on my honeymoon. We asked the gate agent nicely if we could just possibly get a bulkhead because we'd just gotten married the day before, were exhausted and just hoped for a little extra room to stretch out and relax. She put us in first class.

We were so niave that we didn't realize that 1A & 1B were first class until we asked as they were boarding from the back of the plane forward could we please go on, and they said "maam you are in first class, you can board whenever you like!" I almost shreeked.

The gate agent never said she was putting us in first class, she just did and let us be surprised. We were a little less seasoned then and were so thrilled!

Timely post, Bob. I've been planning on starting the same discussion. Since returning from STJ I have been conducting an informal social experiment. I am normally a friendly person and I generally greet people and thanks them, but since returning from STJ I have been purposely saying "Good [insert time of day here], how are you?" to everyone I come across just to see what heir reaction is. In general, the reaction is positive. Most people light up and they do seem surprised. i do run into my fair share of people who don't respond all. Ironically, they are usually in jobs that require constant contact with the public like fast food workers, toll collectors, etc. Maybe their constant exposure to the grumps of the world as poisoning them?

Having spent a long stretch of time in STJ and just returned to a large metropolitan city, I stepped into an elevator and greeted everyone with a good evening. I wish you all could have seen their faces, it was one of pure puzzlement! It was a sudden hit with a realization that oh yes I am back in big city.

If you all by chance you ever get to pass a local island school - there is nothing more precious than hearing, loud and clear the WHOLE class greet their teacher with, "Good Morning Mrs./Mr. ____."

For me, it just comes naturally because I grew up doing it...southern hospitality

I may not always say, "Good morning" (or appropriate time of day), but I always say, "Hi, how are you" to everyone I come in contact with. Even when I walk down the street, I greet every person I pass. Down here, it's pretty normal.

When I was on a trip in high school, we were walking in the subway that leads between the House and the Senate, and I was telling everyone "hello" like I normally do, and this guy seemed shocked and stopped and started talking to me. My teacher was about to bust because it was apparantly Joe Kennedy, and she was a huge Kennedy freak. I had no clue who he was; I was just being nice.

Later, when I went to college in D.C., I would walk around by the White House and the Capitol greeting everyone I passed. Most people welcomed it, some did double takes and others looked at me like I was a freak

I can't walk by someone and look them in the eye and not greet them, nor can I walk by someone and look the other way so as not to have to greet them.

I definitely think a little bit of happiness goes a long way.

nothintolose

p.s. sometimes it can have not so great effects like the almost 100 year old man that tried to pick me up in the parking lot two weeks ago because I talked to him

It makes me so happy that people even think about this. I was raised on the whole "you get more flies with honey" principle so greeting someone and asking how they are is just part of that. I'm always surprised at how few people actually practice this, though.

I've been known to start a "good morning" conversation that lasted thirty minutes with the security guard in the lobby of my office though, so maybe I just like to talk.

Either way, I think it's cool that that courtesy means enough to people to pass it on.

I can't pass up the opportunity to say hello. I love to talk to people in lines and bars. Airports are some of my favorite places to watch and meet people!

I speak and say hi, good morning, good evening, etc, to everyone that I encounter. Even to the woman who runs the deli at Krogers...I will break her yet, she has never spoken one word to me...she just stands there staring at me, until I speak to her, telling her what I want. I know she speaks because I see her running her mouth to her co-workers, but not to the customers.

Coden - that cracks me up. I am determined to get my mailman to talk and smile. I got him to acknowledge me once when I offered him some water He just said "no" and showed me his.

Every time I see him walking, I wave at him. He NEVER waves back. One day he will

nothintolose