Why is the Caribbean so crappy? (appointed, house, neighborhood)

[FreedomThroughAnarchism]

Originally Posted by davsot

We can't justify this person's post by saying that "Island life isn't for everybody."

We just have to be honest and say, we've been living here all our lives and we couldn't be happier.

"... We can't justify this person's post by saying that "Island life isn't for everybody." "

Why not? The two statements are not mutually exclusive. The fact that you like it there still doesn't mean it is right for everyone.

Alaska forums get a lot of this stuff (almost daily) because there's a pretty heavy romanticism attached to "rugged living" that many people find appealing in the same way that island living is likewise often romanticized by those who think they might like that kind of life, thinking it will bring them the peace and tranquility (or whatever) they have been looking for. People go there [Alaska] thinking it's going to be the most awesome thing in existence, the answer to most of their life's problems... and then it either doesn't pan out, it's not what they expected, or whatever the case, and then some time later they get disenchanted and leave with a list of complaints of this, that, and the other thing sucks (not unlike the original authors list).

The people [of Alaska] often likewise say the same exact kinds of things in response, "we love it here..." "... bye bye, don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out," etc.... and these people do indeed like living there. Still doesn't mean everyone is cut out for living there, just as everyone might not be cut out for island life. Just the way it is.

[STT Resident]

Originally Posted by aab7855

The Virgin Islands are small and have almost no resources and a large community of well-off retirees..gonna be expensive.

Actually that couldn't be further from the truth. There are very few people who come here to retire and in fact exactly the opposite is true. The COL is very high, and the medical facilities (only two hospitals, one on St Croix and the other on St Thomas) not as equipped as many stateside facilities to handle the medical problems which inevitably beset the older generation. In my almost 30 years as a resident, scores of my older friends who have lived here for decades have left and continue to leave for precisely those reasons. You'd be pretty amazed too at the vast number of former high government officials who've lived here all their lives who, upon retiring, likewise move stateside.

Originally Posted by davsot

We can't justify this person's post by saying that "Island life isn't for everybody."

We just have to be honest and say, we've been living here all our lives and we couldn't be happier.

Originally Posted by FreedomThroughAnarchism

"... We can't justify this person's post by saying that "Island life isn't for everybody." "

Why not? The two statements are not mutually exclusive. The fact that you like it there still doesn't mean it is right for everyone.

True and you took the words right out of my mouth!

[aab7855]

Originally Posted by JDLCA

I haven't been to PR since 2006, so mostly everything I mentioned was from my friend who was born there with his parents (born and raised in PR) visiting for a week. I'M NOT the one who was coming up with everything I said, I'm quoting them while they were in PR. His dad is the one who thinks I'm crazy for wanting to go live there and says how sad he is to see the island end up in the way it is. What they told me didnt really phase me because I figured I didn't notice all of that when I was there last time, but when I go browsing on internet and even this forum I find out how downhill it really is and how things are getting worse, and I was like of course when I want to go there it's going downhill.

I understand where you are coming from but at the same time just loosely paraphrasing 2nd hand information when discussing a sensitive issue, not to mention the choice of words used, can make just about anyone look like a jack*****. Having lived here a full 6 months for grad school and starting employment in August I think makes me eligible to talk about how life is here. But I would still be reserved in my judgement since I am not from here and haven't lived on the island for years. How much time, in total, did you spend in PR? I understand a family had a bad opinion of it..but a lot of it could be said for everywhere. When people here say, "This island is being destroyed, the young people don't care anymore they have no respect" isn't that really everywhere? And I would know this having taught in public schools in the states last year. They might be attributing the island's decline with evolving times. But I feel like PR is a generation or two in the past in terms of respect for elders and courtesy.

And no, people don't have to like it here. With US citizenship they're able to move to 50 states and several other territories, as well as visit most other countries without a visa, so if they don't like it they can leave. I don't hold it against people for not liking it here. But they need to have tact as well as concrete evidence to support this. Hindsight2020 may be negative at times and I may not always agree with him but he's got solid examples to back up his position, so I respect that. Yeah, the Caribbean isn't for everyone. California isn't for me.

[puertoricoistheplace]

Living on an island is very different, and you have to get used to that. Things are more expensive, because of freight cost. Look at Key West, is very expensive there, and a lot of the people who work there do not live there. If you are coming from California, many things will be cheaper in Puerto Rico, since California is so expensive. Los Angeles and San Juan have their traffic issues...and crime.

In my humble opinion, the tide is turning for Puerto Rico, great improvements are coming to the island, but change is hard for people and it takes time. Changes are being made, and these changes will happen. It will be sink or swim. Those who want things to change for the better, will prosper and those who want the Puerto Rico of the past, will not. Generally, people in Puerto Rico have good attitudes, but the people your friend is talking about, will have to change their attitudes or they will be left behind. Come to the island and check it out for yourself, that is the best way for you to get an opinion. But, go to the island, with the mind set, that is not a paradise like you see in the movies. Some people work hard to live on the island and some do not. You see this everywhere including California.

Many Puerto Ricans go to the mainland, to only come back. They can not get used to living in the mainland. Other Puerto Ricans leave for work opportunities and higher pay, that they can not find in an island. While others leave because of crime issues and bureaucracy(this has been slow to change, but the current government is making changes). Some of these don't return to the island, because they have gotten used to the stateside ways of doing things.

[chacho_keva]

Originally Posted by puertoricoistheplace

Living on an island is very different, and you have to get used to that. Things are more expensive, because of freight cost. Look at Key West, is very expensive there, and a lot of the people who work there do not live there. If you are coming from California, many things will be cheaper in Puerto Rico, since California is so expensive. Los Angeles and San Juan have their traffic issues...and crime.

In my humble opinion, the tide is turning for Puerto Rico, great improvements are coming to the island, but change is hard for people and it takes time. Changes are being made, and these changes will happen. It will be sink or swim. Those who want things to change for the better, will prosper and those who want the Puerto Rico of the past, will not. Generally, people in Puerto Rico have good attitudes, but the people your friend is talking about, will have to change their attitudes or they will be left behind. Come to the island and check it out for yourself, that is the best way for you to get an opinion. But, go to the island, with the mind set, that is not a paradise like you see in the movies. Some people work hard to live on the island and some do not. You see this everywhere including California.

Many Puerto Ricans go to the mainland, to only come back. They can not get used to living in the mainland. Other Puerto Ricans leave for work opportunities and higher pay, that they can not find in an island. While others leave because of crime issues and bureaucracy(this has been slow to change, but the current government is making changes). Some of these don't return to the island, because they have gotten used to the stateside ways of doing things.

In reading the above highlighted words I'm reminded of the lyrics found in that time honored ballad titled, "En Mi Viejo San Juan"

". . .Pero el tiempo pasó
Y el destino burló
Mi terrible nostalgia
Y no pude volver
Al San Juan que yo amé
Pedacito de patria

Mi cabello blanqueo
Ya mi vida se va
Ya la muerte me llama
Y no quiero morir
Alejado de tí
Puerto Rico del alma. . ."*

It pains me to admit that I am now one of those described in this song. My only wish is to have my ashes returned to the island of my birth.

My painful choice, while difficult, is purposeful due to the island's current state of affairs. This is no longer the place where I ran barefoot in the rain; the place where I openly hitchhiked from town to town, or where I confidently jogged to the beach on a Sunday morning.

My heart wanes with nostalgia for times past which are never to return. The memories will have to suffice until I am interred. . .back home.

[prairiestate]

The Dominican Republic has an Ikea! How bad can it be? Even Puerto Rico doesn't have one.

[Sandhillian]

Originally Posted by aab7855

SNIP
Getting a driver's license and applying for a teacher's certificate here were straightforward processes and I have no complaints.
SNIP

Really?! It took me three visits to the Driver's License Bureau (they couldn't just tell me the first time all the documents/forms I would need - even though I asked) and probably about 12 hours total standing in the heat (no chairs) waiting in line to get my license.

[hamlin6969]

Being from Canada, the only places in the World I would live are Canada, USA, Developed countries in Europe/Australia and Japan. Everywhere else seems like a 3rd world country. Mexico, Carribean, Cuba, China etc are nice places to visit. Poor places to actually live.

[mym]

i used to be one of those people who read the guinness book of records and i recall that pr was always in it due to the longest average life expectancy.

i doubt that is the same anymore but i bet thats mostly due to diet and people jsut becoming fatter and more sedentary. not becuase 2000 poeple out of 3.5 million got shot.

[theunbrainwashed]

Originally Posted by FreedomThroughAnarchism

"... We can't justify this person's post by saying that "Island life isn't for everybody." "

Why not? The two statements are not mutually exclusive. The fact that you like it there still doesn't mean it is right for everyone.

Alaska forums get a lot of this stuff (almost daily) because there's a pretty heavy romanticism attached to "rugged living" that many people find appealing in the same way that island living is likewise often romanticized by those who think they might like that kind of life, thinking it will bring them the peace and tranquility (or whatever) they have been looking for. People go there [Alaska] thinking it's going to be the most awesome thing in existence, the answer to most of their life's problems... and then it either doesn't pan out, it's not what they expected, or whatever the case, and then some time later they get disenchanted and leave with a list of complaints of this, that, and the other thing sucks (not unlike the original authors list).

The people [of Alaska] often likewise say the same exact kinds of things in response, "we love it here..." "... bye bye, don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out," etc.... and these people do indeed like living there. Still doesn't mean everyone is cut out for living there, just as everyone might not be cut out for island life. Just the way it is.

I read the California forums sometimes for laughs because I find posts, especially older ones, that essentially follow the same pattern you described. Oh I'm 18 years old and I hate where I live. I want to find myself and discover who I really am and that is why I'm moving to Los Angeles/Orange County!

But alas, it is that romanticized view that people have. Oh it's 80 degrees in January, the water is 70 some degrees, lots of palm trees, soft sand, houses colored with bright, cheery color tones, turquoise water. Ok, those things might be nice, but they sure as heck don't pay the bills and those things tend to eat away at your salary especially if you don't live like a local in places where locals generally live. Problem with that is, if you don't know Spanish you're pretty much **** out of luck since most people in PR outside of San Juan don't speak fluent English because there's little to no tourist industry outside of San Juan