As my time in the USVI comes to a close, while Im very excited about what my next adventure will be, Im also sad that this period in my life is ending.
This adventure has been very different then others that Ive experienced in my years of travel, but also very similar. Here is why:
One of the ways that it has been similar is that I had built in friends when I came here. Amber and Ty were a huge support system to getting used to this new environment much the same as when Ive done any environmental education (EE) travel job. At other places, you have a built-in friendship circle. You live and work with the same people making them your closest friends in a very short period of time. These other people are in it with you, coming to work at this place for a few months or a year and then eventually moving on to the next gig.
That is how the USVI differed. Even though Ty and Amber were here with me, I wasn't living in a shared household where it was all put in place for me. I do practically live with Ty but he and Amber already had lives here which I had to find my way into. Much different then the solitude of EE camp life. This part of the experience made me more confident in the fact that I can travel on my own more and not rely on the free housing or friendships of EE work.
Another thing that relates to the above, was the fact that I had to find my own housing and eat most of my own meals which was different from other EE places where housing and most of your meals are provided. We do get a free shift meal at work which helps a lot because of the high cost of food here, but there was no housing provided by The Ritz. I did get a bit of help from the HR department to help me find a place but ultimately I had to rely on Craigslist and word of mouth and my own determination to move off the boat!
Ive never held a “forever job”. Thats what I like to call full-time non-seasonal jobs. Ive worked at a holiday inn and restaurant before where there was no end date really but I knew (and my employer pretty much knew) that once I went back to college or graduated, I would be moving on from that potion. This job at The Ritz, though was only ever temporary for me, is a forever job. People have worked there for years and there is never a cut-off date or renewal period. At other EE jobs, I have worked seasonally and I love it. I know that Im working for so many months and if I like it I can continue with that company or try out another seasonal job. Theres no quitting or resigning which is so awkward, its just known that you're moving on and its not a big deal because its almost expected. There are TONS of people that use these seasonal jobs to travel and experience different places with no commitment or stress. Its also a great way to save money (since housing and meals are provided along with a daily/weekly stipend).
Anyway, quitting from The Ritz was super awkward and stressful. Amber and Ty knew I was leaving, but when my boss would ask me about the future, I really didn't have an opinion because I knew I wouldn't be around. Where as with other jobs, it was known for awhile and while sad, it was understood that it wasn't personal at all, a person just has to experience life! Outside of Amber and Ty, The Ritz is a place that doesn't really understand that. Thats because for most people, its a “forever job”.
I am a very strong supporter of EE jobs especially for new grads who want to experience the world and save. I have no regrets for what I had done with my temp jobs; the amazing life-long friends I've made and the beautiful places I had a chance to call home. This job, however, made me feel like more of an adult (not that EE jobs are childish at all!). I had to furnish a bit of my apartment, I had to shop for food and do my laundry at a laundromat all mostly on my own. I had to budget my money each month because I wasn't just given housing. Its not that Ive never done things like this before. In Milwaukee and in college I had my own place outside of work/school, but this just seemed a bit different. Maybe having Ty made it seem unlike other places, I dont know, but what I do know is that Im much more confident in being able to move away from jobs and travel opportunities that hold your hand and do more of it myself. I think I could move to an area now even without a job and be able to figure it out. Possibilities are endless…
So as I look back on my time in St. Thomas, the ups and downs, I wouldn't take it back for anything. Ive grown in more ways then one, Ive learned a lot about myself and learned a lot about a place I normally wouldn't have thought twice about. But thats not anything new. Every place that Ive traveled has taught me something, something that I wouldn't have learned had I stayed stagnant in WI. This is why I have the need to keep traveling, living, learning and growing. To live in different places is to become a better person and master a different aspect of life. These experiences are what make me who I am. While some people can better themselves at home, theres something that changes in you when you completely remove yourself from everything that is comfortable, safe and familiar. You see with new eyes and a new heart. You become stronger and more resilient. And most importantly to me, you get to experience what life has to offer because there is only one life and only a short amount of time to see so much. That is what life is about: Adventure and Memories.
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