Sex and Alcohol in The Foreign Country

Drinks

When you step off the plane there will be people waiting to greet you. There will be taxi cab drivers, car rental agency reps, friends already there, folks who live on the Island. And then there will be
the jigolos. They will tell you how beautiful you are in the Island sun. They will beg to touch your golden skin and ask you personal questions about your love life. They will charm you or annoy you. It depends on your perspective. There will be promises to love you down like no American man ever could. You'll get so many winks it will seem every man looking your way will appear to have something in his eye. Before your ego gets the better of you think on
one thing. That is his job. He will lay it on so thick that you will take off your wedding ring and give
him the gold. "Flashing gold and sexy", might not be the best plan when arriving in an unfamiliar place without body guards. The same man who undressed you with his eyes was taking inventory of your jewelry, the brand of perfume, the designer names on your apparel and how you handle your money when you pay the taxi driver or other aiport fees. You are a mark. So don't paint another sign on your already vulnerable back.

• Anyone you meet on vacation is a stranger
• Don't go off alone with strangers
• Always go sight seeing with groups until you know the area
• Don't drink a lot of alcohol (sometimes it is cheaper than orange juice and milk)
• Don't tease the men sexually: They are very serious about sex
• Don't get too familiar with the maintenance men and housekeeping staff at the resort
• Don't get drunk, if you do, do it with friends or at the resort bar
• Don't allow people to see your money handling
• Don't flash your credit cards (you don't really want people to think you are rich)
• Don't wear all of your jewelry (you should probably leave expensive items at home)

In St. Martin, two very different cultures are sharing an Island only 37 square miles. That is smaller than our smallest state. On one side there are houses where one may purchase time with almost any type of woman he wants. The other side has large billboards along the road as you cross the borders warning visitors to practice safe sex. Sex and alcohol go together in the minds of some people. Do not accept drinks from men that you are not interested in. Drinks are cheap. Buy your own. Mothers Against Drunk Drivers have not influenced people around the world. I watched a man sip merlot from a wine glass while driving on a poorly kept montainous road. I was cringing in the back seat. A teenager filled this rotund man's glass as he drove. He was top Island Timeshare salesperson who constantly complained about his backaches. The teenager's parents were silent as I strongly suggested he cork the bottle. He stopped drinking when I screamed as we plowed around a tight corner above a steep cliff. He probably entertained the thought that he would never get into my room after hours if he scared me to death. I mean, have you seen those hills, roads, and sharp drops down in very hilly places.