Toward the end of 2014, I got a job offer to move to the U.S. Virgin Islands and work full-time as a destination wedding photographer. As someone who has always been mesmerized by green-aqua waters–and always wanted to live in the Caribbean for a few months–I didn’t have to hem or haw very much. How about not having to suffer through horrific Christmas music? How about missing snow in January and February? What about NOT being cold and miserable in New York? All right, I said. If you’re pulling my arm, I’ll do it for at least a few months.

As often happens, I had about one week to wrap things up in New York and move down to the oh-so-tropical St. Thomas. As usual too, some friends seemed excited for me and others put up a semi-hard shun. I spent Christmas scuba diving, and I was totally okay with that.

It’s the U.S., yet not. Things are run differently here. The food is terrible. Everything is uber-expensive since it all must be imported. The views are more beautiful than I could have imagined. I love [most aspects of] my job. Driving here is very stressful. Iguanas are the squirrels of the island. Nothing runs on time. You get the idea?

I have oh so many posts coming up but too little time to write them down–and so many visitors, which is awesome! As usual, in the meantime, here are a few li’l photos to carry you over. If you’re lucky enough, I’ll post a poem or something next time.