Life in 'Vincy': Culture and Community in St. Vincent

from the team at Saint James School of Medicine, SVG Campus Most likely, you're looking at this post because:

1. You currently attend Saint James School of Medicine in St. Vincent.
2. You are about to attend medical school in St. Vincent.
3. You’re just plain interested in learning about this beautiful country!

Either way, we’re glad you’re here and can’t wait to fill you in on the rich culture and welcoming community that make St. Vincent a warm and welcoming home. St. Vincent is the largest island of the nation St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). SVG is an absolutely beautiful southern Caribbean country that consists of one large island (that’s where we are!) and a chain of 32 smaller islands. With its laidback, tranquil lifestyle and natural beauty, we’d be lying if we said every day wasn’t paradise! Study breaks consist of yacht watching at Wallilabou Bay, strolls on the famous black sand beaches, hiking along scenic trails, exploring tropical gardens and last, but certainly not least, liming. What is liming, you ask? Well, it is the (awesome) concept of taking part in a leisure activity of your choice while sharing food, drinks, stories, jokes, and everything else under the Sun. It’s as simple as that! Liming is a huge part of life in SVG; could it get any better? SVG is so passionate about liming that they have created an entire society surrounding the tradition. So grab your roommate, play some music and enjoy the beautiful scenery around you. SVG has an incredibly rich culture that is unlike anywhere else. The unique history combines the Amerindian spirit, European governance, African inventiveness and Asia’s resilience philosophy. SVG is constantly putting on exciting festivals to show off the best parts of its culture. There is a festival for everything in SVG: dance, sailing, music, traditions… the list goes on. A month doesn’t go by where there aren’t multiple performances to attend. Apart from festivals, there are endless occasions to learn about local art and create your own, pick up on catchy island phrases, take a walk through history in the historic harbors, and more. Finally, one of the most important aspects of St. Vincent is the sense of community. Vincentians are known for their friendliness and hospitality to anyone who sets foot on the island chain. The community at SJSM is no different. Our brand new, state of the art campus is comprised of a close-knit, supportive group of people. This network offers tutoring, one-on-one guidance, peer support networks, and a number of student-run clubs to choose from. This encouraging community, both on and off campus, is there to help you excel academically and personally. We hope you enjoy St. Vincent as much as we do, and we look forward to seeing all the new faces on campus. From our wonderful support system to the rich history and culture of the island, it’s easy to fall in love with a place as beautiful as SVG!