RESPECT FOR OTHERS

If you remember one thing, remember this:  start every interaction with “good morning” and “good evening”.  It is culturally very very important here to have a brief personal interchange before requesting anything else.  Try it!  It can be hard to remember at first, but you’ll get the hang of it.  You may even grow to like it.

RESPECT FOR THE BODY

The island can be rather conservative.  It’s just not acceptable to wear your bathing suit in public places, or if you are a man, to be shirtless in public.  Save it for the beach.

RESPECT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Conserve Water! We depend on rain for our water and don’t always get enough.  Turn water off and on when brushing teeth, washing dishes, and talking a shower.

RESPECT FOR CULTURE

Life is slower here and while things do get done, they may take a little longer than you’re used to.  For true – getting upset makes things worse.

AND SOME HELPFUL HINTS…..

DRIVING – We drive on the left here.  Shoulder to shoulder.  There is no reason to drive faster than 20mph.

HITCHHIKING – We hitchhike with our index finger here, not our thumb.  And we give hitchhikers a ride.

FOOD – The little blond ants are cute, but you don’t want their company every day.  Do not leave any food out, and when in doubt, put it in the refrigerator (you’ll be surprised what ants can get into….mice too!)

STOMACHACHES -Most residents use bottled water for drinking; or purify their water.  Cistern water is “sketchy.”

BATHROOM – Flush only when you need to. Also, as the Septic systems can be VERY sensitive – avoid flushing anything other than human waste.  DO NOT FLUSH when there is a power outage.  This can cause BIG problems you don’t want to deal with on your vacation.

ZONING OUT – Our visitors sometimes wander into the road, blissed out by the beauty of the island.  Enjoy yourself…but be careful.  Drive carefully.  And watch for traffic.