The island of Sint Eustatius
- Can you give me a quick overview?
Where is the island of Sint
Eustatius (Statia) located?
How is Sint Eustatius different
from other Caribbean islands?
Are there schools for my nine
year-old child on Statia?
Are there medical facilities
on the island?
How much does it cost to live
on the island?
What type of transportation
is used on the Island?
How many local (non-student)
residents live on the island?
Is the island a safe
place to live?
|
The island of Sint Eustatius - Can you give
me a quick overview? |
Sint Eustatius (also Saint Eustace but most
commonly Statia) is one of the islands making
up the Netherlands Antilles. It lies in the
northern Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles
to the east of the Virgin Islands. Oranjestad
is the capital of Sint Eustatius, which is named
after the legendary Catholic Saint Eustace.
Sint Eustatius has a land area of 8.1 sq. miles.
In 2004 the population was estimated at 2,498
inhabitants. Geographically, the island is saddle-shaped
with a 602-meter-high dormant volcanic cone
(The Quill) to the southeast and the smaller
Signal Hill/Little Mountain and Boven Mountain
to the northwest. Between these areas lies a
small central plain whereupon lives the bulk
of the island's population.
|
Where is the island of Sint Eustatius (Statia)
located? |
The island is located 150
miles east of Puerto Rico, 90 miles east of St.
Croix, and 38 miles south of St. Maarten.
|
How is Sint Eustatius different from other
Caribbean islands? |
Tourism is not
a major industry of the island, and commercialism
as we know it does not exist. This provides an
optimal studying environment for students, because
there are fewer distractions like large shopping
malls and movie theaters. However, there is world-class
scuba diving.
|
Are there schools for my nine year-old child
on Statia? |
Yes. However, English-taught
classes extend only up to the 3rd grade. After
that, classes are taught in Dutch.
|
Are there medical facilities on the island? |
Yes. Statia has a small hospital
for the provision of basic care. Please note that
the student health insurance policy will cover
any airlift to the U.S. or nearest “large”
medical center should more advanced care be required.
|
How much does it cost to live on the island? |
Most students get along fairly
well spending $1200.00 (U.S.) or less per month
on island. The same is true during Clinicals.
|
What type of transportation is used on the
island? |
Walking, bicycles and scooters are the general
modes of transportation.
|
How
many local (non-student) residents live on the
island? |
There are now approximately 3000 residents of
Sint Eustatius.
|
| Is
the island a safe place to live? |
Sint Eustatius is among the
safest places in the world to live. Students can
feel free to walk around the island by themselves,
any time day or night, without fear of physical
harm. Apart from global problems of domestic violence,
violent crime is virtually nonexistent on Statia.
Although most people never lock their car doors
or houses, it is still prudent for students to
take basic precautions against petty crimes of
opportunity. Students should avoid leaving valuables
visible in unlocked vehicles, for example, and
large quantities of cash should not be stored
in apartments. |
