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There is a Thread on the Relocation Board that brought this subject up and I thought it might be good to share with visitors, too:
Always, always, ALWAYS greet someone here before continuing with a conversation! "When in Rome...", ya know? We always mention it on this board, but a lot of people just don't get it.
THESE are NOT acceptable forms of greetings: "Hello", "Hi", "How ya doin'?", "Hey", "Excuse me", "pardon me", etc., etc., ETC.!! The ONLY way to be treated with respect is to offer it first...."Good morning/afternoon/evening/night" are the ONLY acceptable greetings here...the ONLY way to start a conversation! And, after being here for a while, you'll be amazed at how many goofy looks you get when you are in the States and bring your island customs and mores with you! Haha!
So true Marty! Good morning, good afternoon and good evening are essential island greetings. Another island courtesy that leaves many travelers stumped is when driving. If someone flickers their headlights at you it means that they are giving you the right-of-way to merge traffic or make your turn. You then give them a short beep of your horn to say thank you. It took me a little while to figure out that on island a honk of the horn is a good thing. Try any of those things stateside and you definately get some crazy looks!
Marty are you currently on STT or STX? A few of us from this forum will be getting together next Saturday at the Toad and Tart, will you be in town?
Last trip down after all these years I became totally comfortable with left side driving - it even felt natural
In fact came home - went to the bank - turned left - stayed left
All sorts of folks were flashing their lights and I would give them a little toot and smile
After a few blocks I figured it out
I think it was the hand signs from other drivers, could not hear them Bankie Banx was too loud on my CD player
😎 :$) 😎
I've finally gotten use to saying Good Morning, Afternoon and Night, but it still feels so strange for someone that comes a place near Philly where we all say How you doin.
If Islanders came here would they say that?:-)
Connie,
You made me laugh! No, they would use what we use here and I do the same when I go up! Sure do get funny looks!
Marty in STT,
Thanks for sharing! I always tell guests that arrive that this is KEY! Great tip!
JMO, but I think it goes further than just the good morning, good afternoon, etc. I think that part of the West Indian culture is to spend a bit of time in what used to be called "small talk" before getting down to the business of what you want or need. If you slow down and take the time to converse with folks you meet rather than just saying the "magic" words and then launching into what it is you want then I think you will have a very positive experience and maybe learn a little something, too.
No kidding, when I return to work and make a business call and try to take a little time and use my "island" manners, it's amazing how much impatience I hear at the other end of the phone. Evidently, lots of folks could use a little island vaycay to learn to chill- lol.
Driving - I read a good tip someplace - "keep your shoulder to the shoulder" and that has helped me - except when I come to a round-about and then I just try to see what everyone else is doing and follow - hopefully, they are not all visitors - lol. Took me a bit of time to get the hang of "left turn on red", too.and how to figure out the turn lanes at traffic signals (just think the opposite of where things are in the upper 48). And, at the bottom of a switchback (like on North Shore Road on STJ), slow down a bit and honk to signal your upward approach to that freakin' big cement or water trunk that may be coming down the other side. Do the same on the way down, too, and stay way back of another vehicle on the way up - I never count on their vehicle having enough guts to make it up and not roll back. Most do, but I'd rather be prepared.
Great advice, Margy! All-righty, okey-doke, thanks a bunch, then! (sorry, the "Margy" brought back Fargo flashbacks! Haha!)
Okie, Dokie, Marty - I loved Fargo, too. Actually, though, it's Margy (hard "G") not Margie. Well, that passed...now I'm hungry again...Maybe the pancakes house???? You betcha! :D:D
Another point which was made in the post on the relocation forum is that when you offer the normal greetings you wait for a response in kind. So true. In other words, you bid the greeting and wait for the response and do NOT say, for instance, "Good Morning/Day/Evening/Night canyoutellmehowto" ... all in one breath.
It's all so second nature to me now and, yes, I DO walk into, for instance, the bank or the Post Office to join the line and throw out a "Good" whatever. And then I read both daily newspapers while in line ... Cheers!
Tho all said above is entirely true, I have noticed some "stateside" features lately. Every time I am at a stop light and the light turns red, some Jerk has to blow his horn! This never hardly use to be and it's annoying!
A sign that 'island time' is under assault by stateside pace of live and truly paradise lost. Say it ain't so...
Sherri - I have noticed the red light horn beeping ever since I moved here - way back - I didn't understand it then and still don't - but it must have been some old custom - I don't take offense and I don't go any faster but I don't do it if I am in line either - usually.
One of my all time top 20 favorite movies.
Ah, that stuff is like so '80's.
" Yo ma man (sista) wass up"
or
"Wass up ma brotha from a different motha?"
Then I flash a couple of L.A. South Central gang signs.
Just keepin' it real for instant respect.
"No matter where you go...there you are."
