77.9 F
Cruz Bay
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesMY ISLAND, OUR FUTURE... MAKING THE 21ST CENTURY A BETTER PLACE TO...

MY ISLAND, OUR FUTURE… MAKING THE 21ST CENTURY A BETTER PLACE TO BE.

I am a Virgin Islands child and I am very proud of my island and its people. I am proud because I, too, share a bond with a group of people known for their unique Virgin Islands hospitality. Yes, we are truly a hospitable group of people. This spirit of hospitality, which seems to be the heartbeat of our culture, brings out the best in each of us. It is not unusual for a Virgin Islander to greet a stranger on the street with a friendly hello, how are you, and a smile; or extend an invitation for him or her to visit his or her home. Here in my island, this is considered good manners. We connect these good manners with such conditions as honesty, high ethical standards, and responsibility. We first look for the best in people. We treat people the way we would like to be treated. For example, Thanksgiving Day in St. Thomas is also a time when the spirit of Virgin Islanders open their homes to the occupants of the Navy ships personnel visiting our islands. Families are known to have taken two to twenty sailors to enjoy the traditional trimmings of Thanksgiving. Many of them have indicated that they have been treated royally in every sense of the word. They have enjoyed the local cuisine, games, and good old family conversations. Virgin Islanders truly have a very special way of making everyone regardless of race, religion, or color, feel at home. Almost immediately, the stranger begins to feel as if this is someone he has known for years. As a Virgin Islands child I would like to see this wonderful, unique hospitable spirit continue from generation to generation. I think training in good manners has to start almost from the instant Virgin Islands children are born. We must also teach them to say "please" and "thank you" and model for them how to behave in a polite manner. We must continue to greet each other and treat each other like family. We must emphasize to the students that being hospitable is an important part of our culture and that we should never lose it. It has helped to form a strong tourist economy and it has helped to build a strong family structure. As we approach the new millennium it is important that we remember that our actions are reflected in the lives of everyone with whom we come in contact good manners and courtesy come alive. Winsome Nisbett Peace Corps Elementary School

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.