411 on St Thomas

So you want to go to STT...

It is a zoo. Driving on the left side of the road, narrow winding up/down roads, cars swerving into your lane to avoid pot holes, tons of traffic on big cruise ship days. One honk from the other driver means "go for it", even though it looks like certain death... Many drinking drivers on the road... Reserve your rental car ASAP. If you live in Sapphire beach, the Safari taxis run from there to the hospital, but you are at their mercy and they may or may not run on time. Or you may spend 30 min waiting while the driver eats lunch.

As far as housing, your travel company will provide you with housing. I stayed at Regatta Point (Bolongo Bay) and it was far superior to Sapphire Beach as far as accomodations, but there is a better social scene at Sapphire and you are closer to Red Hook and ferries to St John and BVI. You cant drink the tapwater (everywhere is dependent on cistern water) so you end up buying alot of bottled water or boiling the tapwater. Food is very expensive if it is fresh. Frozen food is comparable to mainland prices (for the most part). Most fresh food looks like its been on a boat in tropical heat for 2 weeks (because it has been). Best place to buy food is the big warehouse place in Tutu.

I wouldnt reccommend getting your own place. I've heard horror stories about landlords there...

The ICU... Most of the beds dont have controls that work. You can run out of supplies at any given time. Old monitors, pumps, if you run out of tube feed on nights, you wont get any more till the AM, the hospital ran out of liquid oxygen 3 times. Backup H-tanks covered for 2 of the times but there was once that the hospital had no oxygen for almost a day.

The full time nursing staff in the ICU are/were good people. Some ancillary staff that work there have the lazy, do nothing island mentality. The ICU manager is... umm, wound tight... ? I got along with her. Stay on her good side and it shouldnt be a problem. Dont contradict or argue with her. Smile, agree and keep you opinions to yourself :) The docs are easy to get along with, for the most part. They practice island medicine. They do heart cath but no open hearts. You will see alot of ICH in middle age men (or at least I did) r/t a population having a racial predisposition for malignant HTN. Cruise ship people with health problems that still go on the cruise. Trauma happens. Most violence is islander on islander. Ultimately its Darwinian medicine... survival of the fittest. If you get really sick... go to Miami... Skip Puerto Rico

Licensure runs on island time... Get it well in advance... Could take 3 months

Many places to avoid r/t crime... You will know most of them by sight. Stay away from downtown after dark... Most of the fun happens on the beaches, Iggies, Duffy's Love Shack, but many other places... You will have plenty of company with all the other travellers. Groups are not only safer, but more fun too! Gotta hop a tour boat and spend the day going thru the BVI (Soggy Dollar on White Bay, Jost Van Dyke is the ultimate beach bar!!) I did that many times.... St John for hiking/snokeling and partying. I was not impressed with the food on the island. Fair seafood at best. Sushi is expensive and a roll of the dice... My fav place was Barefoot Budda! Great sandwiches, coffee, teas, smoothies.

Ultimately, if you want perfect weather all winter and a party atmosphere, you'll have a good time. Dont expect to actually have more money when you leave. This assignment will cost you money. I drank more in 3 months than I have in 3 years. LOL

You have to adopt the island mentality or you will not enjoy yourself. Enjoy!!

That was such a great response....Thanks so much!!!

My current assignment is up mid-Jan, I think I'll work on my VI license and shoot for hawaii in February.

Again, many thanks...that was just what I was looking for!