Plan financially b4 heading to the island

[kman4all]

I was listening to Straight Talk the other day and a lady called complaining to the Immigration Chief that many SMU students have jobs on 7MB while on student visas. She even went ahead to say that many of these students have connections with immigration officers who turn a deaf ear when locals complain about these working students to them. So for those of you engaged in all these, please refrain from telling your employers that the school said it is ok for you to get a job - i never heard anything like that. I recall the immigration guy saying that the lady should call him @ his office and give him specifics so that he can make things happen.

There are already enough tensions here on the island between the local population and us the immigrants, so please do not narrow it down to an SMU vs local population fight. The school should also not turn a deaf ear on this because i am sure that someone in the admin here must have seen many of these students at their jobs or making announcements in class about the "drinking club".

Keep Cayman peaceful.

[HR Manager Cayman]

I have just read this post and would like to make a few points to the students that are currently working on the island.

Persons on a student visa are not allowed to work. If caught doing so you will be arrested and could face fines up to $5,000.00 (Cayman). You can also receive a prison sentence of up to 1 year.

Besides this; SMU can be fined up to $25,000.00. I am the one who gets arrested and can face fines and imprisonment.

If you are caught working on the island you will be handed over the local authorities and your student visa revoked.

Currently we have a great working relationship with the immigration dept. Please do not mess up this relationship for the future students of SMU.

If any of you have any questions in regards to this please come see or email me. mluke@smu.ky (mluke@smu.ky)

[Jeep23Guy]

It's not very smart to risk your entire medical career in order to make a few extra dollars (even if you really need it). From what I've heard, you would probably simply be deported for working while on a student visa, but that seems pretty risky (could be a $100,000 mistake).

Also, it really doesn't seem fair to ML and the rest of the HR and other guys to risk having them put in jail and/or fined.

If you really need the money badly, I would talk to someone at SMU like the HR guys. There are lots of students that get "tuition discounts" by working in the library, tutoring, etc. It might be less money, but these jobs won't get you deported.

[azulpanther]

I was listening to Straight Talk the other day and a lady called complaining to the Immigration Chief that many SMU students have jobs on 7MB while on student visas. She even went ahead to say that many of these students have connections with immigration officers who turn a deaf ear when locals complain about these working students to them. So for those of you engaged in all these, please refrain from telling your employers that the school said it is ok for you to get a job - i never heard anything like that. I recall the immigration guy saying that the lady should call him @ his office and give him specifics so that he can make things happen.

There are already enough tensions here on the island between the local population and us the immigrants, so please do not narrow it down to an SMU vs local population fight. The school should also not turn a deaf ear on this because i am sure that someone in the admin here must have seen many of these students at their jobs or making announcements in class about the "drinking club".

Keep Cayman peaceful.


perhaps you are jumping the gun a little. Maybe this lady was slighty exagerating? Maybe shes another drama queen. I'm just trying to say u shouldnt listen to everything you hear. Alot of it is such exagerated garbage

[rynobuddy]

Could it be thats spouses of students are working?

[kman4all]

Could it be thats spouses of students are working?


The lady was not complaining about the spouses of students, and was not making it up because i know a couple of students who are currently engaged in such activities during their spare time. The most notable one is this 2nd semester student who has become the SMU rep for O'Bar.

[azulpanther]

I just want to know why this lady would be so upset about a student being a rep for OBAR. That doesnt seem logical to me. That isnt a job where alot of locals would seek after. Nor does it come with a 6 figure income so I know all of the rich lawyers and corporate heads arent too upset about this job being taking by a smu student. It just seems illogical for a local common lady to complain about SMU students that hold odd jobs that locals wouldnt even fill.

[UFTim]

It just seems illogical for a local common lady to complain about SMU students that hold odd jobs that locals wouldnt even fill.

I've only been on island for 8 months now, but it in that time I've seen a growing animosity towards medical students. I don't necessarily think it's illogical that she is complaining about SMU students.

First, a lot of us students are disrespectful to the people that live here without even realizing it. After a few months of being on island, a lot of students feel so comfortable that they act as though they own the island. I hear students saying, "It's stupid that nothing's open on Sundays." I also hear, "They're a bunch of religious nuts."

Secondly, some students get drunk and do stupid things. I can count three students that I know first hand that have been pulled over for DUI, but were just fractions under the limit, or they let them go because they got a call. However, there are "famed" stories floating around the island of drunk students racing down the middle lane at 4 am in the morning.

Thirdly, they see us out all the time. They assume we're in medical school, and should be studying, but instead they see us out at clubs all nights of the week, and having buckets of beer at Joes or somewhere else on a Sunday night. I personally believe we shouldn't be judged for doing this, but the fact is that we are.

Another point, is that almost every waitress on island has a bad story about students not tipping them. You ask any waitress that his been here a long time and they'll tell you they've had problems. I went to one restaurant, and I received the worst possible service ever after she asked and we told her we went to SMU. She probably assumed she wasn't going to get a tip anyway, so why work hard to make us happy. I tipped her well despite her attitude in hopes that maybe she'd realize that not all students don't tip well.

In conclusion, I obviously think her outcry on the radio is a summation of other problems that she sees stemming from medical students. I believe students can remedy the problem if they realize all eyes are on them in the community. Your rent and utilities should be paid exactly on time if not early. You should tip your waitresses at least 15% even if they were the worst servers ever. Us students should be more involved in community service endeavors, and if we are religious we should attend local religious affiliations in order for them to see us in their setting, and to understand that we're not monsters that some make us out to be. As medical students, and soon physicians, we have an obligation to set an example because peoples' eyes will always be on us whether we want it or not.

[JTP73]

I've only been on island for 8 months now, but it in that time I've seen a growing animosity towards medical students. I don't necessarily think it's illogical that she is complaining about SMU students.

First, a lot of us students are disrespectful to the people that live here without even realizing it. After a few months of being on island, a lot of students feel so comfortable that they act as though they own the island. I hear students saying, "It's stupid that nothing's open on Sundays." I also hear, "They're a bunch of religious nuts."

Secondly, some students get drunk and do stupid things. I can count three students that I know first hand that have been pulled over for DUI, but were just fractions under the limit, or they let them go because they got a call. However, there are "famed" stories floating around the island of drunk students racing down the middle lane at 4 am in the morning.

Thirdly, they see us out all the time. They assume we're in medical school, and should be studying, but instead they see us out at clubs all nights of the week, and having buckets of beer at Joes or somewhere else on a Sunday night. I personally believe we shouldn't be judged for doing this, but the fact is that we are.

Another point, is that almost every waitress on island has a bad story about students not tipping them. You ask any waitress that his been here a long time and they'll tell you they've had problems. I went to one restaurant, and I received the worst possible service ever after she asked and we told her we went to SMU. She probably assumed she wasn't going to get a tip anyway, so why work hard to make us happy. I tipped her well despite her attitude in hopes that maybe she'd realize that not all students don't tip well.

In conclusion, I obviously think her outcry on the radio is a summation of other problems that she sees stemming from medical students. I believe students can remedy the problem if they realize all eyes are on them in the community. Your rent and utilities should be paid exactly on time if not early. You should tip your waitresses at least 15% even if they were the worst servers ever. Us students should be more involved in community service endeavors, and if we are religious we should attend local religious affiliations in order for them to see us in their setting, and to understand that we're not monsters that some make us out to be. As medical students, and soon physicians, we have an obligation to set an example because peoples' eyes will always be on us whether we want it or not.UFTim is right on the money. I am often ashamed to be associated with some of the other SMU students, many of whom do not seem to respect others in many different ways. UFTim provides several more serious examples; look at the classroom after class, the bathroom at the end of the day, the library at any given time, and you will see trash scattered throughout. And this is our school. If they cannot behave according to the rules in their own "home", why would we expect to have them to do any differently while in society? Granted stress makes people act differently; this is about as good as excusing oneself for behaviors while intoxicated. Nice try. Personal accountability for behaviors and character integrity are instilled during childhood and adolescence. For many of those who choose to behave in the aforementioned manner, for whatever reason, maybe they missed out on these lessons. Intolerance to these behaviors with consequences to fit accordingly (and better screening for candidates who are of sound moral character) are likely the only ways to combat these poor examples of medical students before the reputation of SMU is permanently tarnished.

[albans]

I've only been on island for 8 months now, but it in that time I've seen a growing animosity towards medical students. I don't necessarily think it's illogical that she is complaining about SMU students.

First, a lot of us students are disrespectful to the people that live here without even realizing it. After a few months of being on island, a lot of students feel so comfortable that they act as though they own the island. I hear students saying, "It's stupid that nothing's open on Sundays." I also hear, "They're a bunch of religious nuts."

Secondly, some students get drunk and do stupid things. I can count three students that I know first hand that have been pulled over for DUI, but were just fractions under the limit, or they let them go because they got a call. However, there are "famed" stories floating around the island of drunk students racing down the middle lane at 4 am in the morning.

Thirdly, they see us out all the time. They assume we're in medical school, and should be studying, but instead they see us out at clubs all nights of the week, and having buckets of beer at Joes or somewhere else on a Sunday night. I personally believe we shouldn't be judged for doing this, but the fact is that we are.

Another point, is that almost every waitress on island has a bad story about students not tipping them. You ask any waitress that his been here a long time and they'll tell you they've had problems. I went to one restaurant, and I received the worst possible service ever after she asked and we told her we went to SMU. She probably assumed she wasn't going to get a tip anyway, so why work hard to make us happy. I tipped her well despite her attitude in hopes that maybe she'd realize that not all students don't tip well.

In conclusion, I obviously think her outcry on the radio is a summation of other problems that she sees stemming from medical students. I believe students can remedy the problem if they realize all eyes are on them in the community. Your rent and utilities should be paid exactly on time if not early. You should tip your waitresses at least 15% even if they were the worst servers ever. Us students should be more involved in community service endeavors, and if we are religious we should attend local religious affiliations in order for them to see us in their setting, and to understand that we're not monsters that some make us out to be. As medical students, and soon physicians, we have an obligation to set an example because peoples' eyes will always be on us whether we want it or not.

Great! You are exactly correct! Good post. (I wouldn't give 15% if it was the worst ever service though but if they do their job, I would)

[AmericanIMG]

some students are studious, some are not. some are tools, some are not. same as in any population i suppose, but back to the initial post...i don't know of any students that are holding jobs (i don't even know when they would have time), nor do i know of any employer that would be stupid enough to hire someone that does not have a work permit (they would get severely fined and sanctioned). anyone remember the student that got in trouble for hiring someone to cut their grass? you cant even pay a random person like 20 bucks a month w/o giving them a work permit! i am sure the lady was just frustrated and mouthing off in ignorance...

[desai29]

Oh Wow... Problems everywhere... no perfect medical school! :cry:

[onelifetolive]

Yes...there are problems everywhere...thats true this is nothing new...but I think that what might help is a proper orientation for future SMU students. To actually present the issues and make them aware of it...and to remind them to behave because if they don't its affecting their chances of securing a good residency...

I think awareness is very important because perhaps these students who are messing around don't understand how their actions are affecting the school-community relationship... I know its pretty obvious but idiots like that need to be told about the effects and consequences of their actions...

Personally, I would kick those students out for such foolishness as DUI...

[HR Manager Cayman]

onelifetolive;
I will reiterate this in the next orientation to all incoming students.

As I said; If any of you have any questions in regards to employing someone or looking for employment please come see me and I will glady assist were I can.

[AzDaku]

I've only been on island for 8 months now, but it in that time I've seen a growing animosity towards medical students. I don't necessarily think it's illogical that she is complaining about SMU students.

First, a lot of us students are disrespectful to the people that live here without even realizing it. After a few months of being on island, a lot of students feel so comfortable that they act as though they own the island. I hear students saying, "It's stupid that nothing's open on Sundays." I also hear, "They're a bunch of religious nuts."

Secondly, some students get drunk and do stupid things. I can count three students that I know first hand that have been pulled over for DUI, but were just fractions under the limit, or they let them go because they got a call. However, there are "famed" stories floating around the island of drunk students racing down the middle lane at 4 am in the morning.

Thirdly, they see us out all the time. They assume we're in medical school, and should be studying, but instead they see us out at clubs all nights of the week, and having buckets of beer at Joes or somewhere else on a Sunday night. I personally believe we shouldn't be judged for doing this, but the fact is that we are.

Another point, is that almost every waitress on island has a bad story about students not tipping them. You ask any waitress that his been here a long time and they'll tell you they've had problems. I went to one restaurant, and I received the worst possible service ever after she asked and we told her we went to SMU. She probably assumed she wasn't going to get a tip anyway, so why work hard to make us happy. I tipped her well despite her attitude in hopes that maybe she'd realize that not all students don't tip well.

In conclusion, I obviously think her outcry on the radio is a summation of other problems that she sees stemming from medical students. I believe students can remedy the problem if they realize all eyes are on them in the community. Your rent and utilities should be paid exactly on time if not early. You should tip your waitresses at least 15% even if they were the worst servers ever. Us students should be more involved in community service endeavors, and if we are religious we should attend local religious affiliations in order for them to see us in their setting, and to understand that we're not monsters that some make us out to be. As medical students, and soon physicians, we have an obligation to set an example because peoples' eyes will always be on us whether we want it or not.

Someday a student is going todo something really stupid, and we are all going to be treated like crap or even worse SMU will get kicked off the island. We should not behave like a bunch of dumb drunken fools. If you go out drinking, dont do anything dumb that attracts attention. Remember attention is positive or negative, it goes both ways. Plus this, if you get caught and imprisioned, i remeber it takes a cayman citizen to get you out of jail, so be nice to them, because if you mess up really bad, your gonna need their help to get out of jail.