Adjusting to the Statia Life Style

Island life on Statia is a bit different from what we are used to back home. Statia is a Caribbean Island that doesn’t have Resorts, it does have hotels, but other then that, there is the local way of life. To me Island life is what I would call "behind the times". My motto for Statia has become, if it still works keep using it, don’t go buy new stuff. This is a big change from what I am personally used to back home. Form is definitely a distant second to function on this Island.

Roads are tiny, most don’t even look big enough for two cars to fit side by side, but somehow they do. Roads can also be very bumpy, Lincoln is not a fan of them. There are also some cobble stone roads that were apparently built by slaves back in the day. Most cars here are small and have tones of scratches and dents. If you see a nice car it just means that it hasn't been here long.

You will find cows, chickens and roosters wondering around everywhere, they don’t have to be fenced in. Lincoln is a fan of this. He always wants to find a rooster and pet it, not sure if this will ever happen. 

Everywhere on the Island you are on constant water rations, you need to limit the amount of water you use. Baths don’t exist here. Showers do, but its not a real shower, the water just trickles out, it’s just a tease. European washers are very popular here and we are lucky enough to experience one (extreme sarcasm). But in 4 months we will be moving and we will get an American one (yay!). I thought at first maybe the washers are old and out of date, but it turns out that the one we have was brand new last year! So I guess Europeans just like making things complicated. To use the washer your have to first fill the the washer side with water from a hose. Then you put the detergent in with the clothes and let the washer wash them. After its washed you have to take them out and over to a separate rinse bin to rinse the detergent off. Then you put the clothes back in the other side of the washer for the spin cycle, and as for drying the clothes. Dryers do not exist on this island. I’ve learned to do it the old fashion way, put them on the clothesline.

Even with all these differences, we love Statia, the island life. It makes you realize what you take for granted each day. It’s going to be a fun Adventure.