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Lifestyle and Culture in British Virgin Islands

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(Bachelor's, Master's & PhD)

The history and culture of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) has always been closely tied to that of the neighboring United States Virgin Islands. Although the British Virgin Islands maintain their close Commonwealth links, American influence is also very powerful, from the popularity of basketball to the official BVI currency, the United States dollar.

Culture

The large influx of immigrants from other Caribbean islands have made their own contributions to the American, British, and African influences which have traditionally dominated British Virgin Islands tradition. Although residents are generally easygoing and informal, swimsuits shouldn’t be worn exterior of beaches or swimming pools.

Despite the presence of modern supermarkets and foreign foods, many local farmers still rear their own livestock, grow their own produce, and merchandise their wares at outdoor markets. American influence have made basketball a more popular sport than cricket and immigrants from Spanish-speaking islands brought salsa and merengue to the islands. Steel and fungi bands use washboards, gourds, and other improvised items to make their quelbe music.

We understand that studying abroad can be a life-changing experience and, should you choose British Virgin Islands, our RocApply tips and guides will enhance what will already be a wonderful trip by helping you also understand the culture and etiquette in the country. We recommend that you thoroughly go through this guide to enhance your peaceable stay in this awesomely build a country free of worry.

Dos and Don’ts

  • Greetings are important. A firm handshake and a "how are you?" will do.
  • Use your right hand for public gestures such as handshakes, passing food, or accepting change.
  • Always ask permission before taking pictures of locals.
  • Eye contact during a conversation is a sign of disrespect, especially when talking to the elderly.
  • Personal space tends to be very minimal.  People often talk very close to each other and less than an arm’s length is common in most situations.
  • British cuisine is quite simple, consisting mainly of rice-based dishes and hearty meaty stews.

 

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