Today it feels as if there is a million things we COULD do, that we have wanted to do, and now we can. I can’t properly express that feeling. Every morning since I have started in Dominica, I awoke at the crack of dawn already panicking about the endless amount of material set on my plate. Today I refused to get out of bed and slept like 12 hours. Imagine my shock when Melissa walked in to my room and told me it was 3 PM.
We have spent the last two days doing much of nothing relaxing, watching movies, and running errands. We bought electricity, cell phone minutes, obtained our visas, confirmed flight plans and got some lunch. For dinner the three of us went to Roseau and ate at the Fort Young Hotel. The food was excellent. It was by far the best food we’d had since coming to the island. With that in mind, the food was also pretty pricey. My meal alone was over 60 US dollars. The bill for three of us was 450 EC. Nonetheless, it was nice to get out of the house after locking ourselves in for finals.
We are now awaiting our grades to see whether or not we will all be second semesters or not. It is really nerve racking when your score on a final determines whether you move on or not. Equally annoying is that you may have passed every class and come short 1 or 2 questions in one subject (usually biochemistry) and you have to repeat the whole semester as if you had failed all the courses. For now, however, we do not have our grades and it is all speculation. Melissa and I have TRIED, unsuccessfully for the most part, to not worry about it and enjoy our first few days on the island with nothing to do.
For the first time today we visited the beach, had lunch at PBH and sat out by the pool enjoying a book and not Ross packet, although, those are a blast too. As I write I am making dinner for us as it is Sunday and ALL restaurants except Brother’s Chinese restaurant are closed.
Tomorrow Melissa and I are on a plane back home and already we have started to worry about how the return trip to Dominica. What a depressing trip that must be. Until then, I will enjoy my time back home with family and friends.
Until next time,
Michael
Our Finals are Over! Our Semester is Over!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Posted by M & M at 11:46 PM
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6 comments:
Hi, I found your blog from another blog. My husband and I with our two young boys are planning on moving to the Island in September 2008, my husband is planning on attending school there. My main concern is the safety of my children and myself while living there, it seems like Nick ( husband) will be so busy with school that the boys and I will be alone most of the time. What is your HONEST opinion? We are thinking about making a trip when we get our passports to check out the Island but do not want to waste the money if it is not safe
here is our family blog address
http://millerfamily101.blogspot.com/
Thanks
I am glad you have found our blog to help your move to the island. I think the island is safe. Other people i know dont think so. The only crimes that have occured did so when students and professors walk alone at night or in one case when two female students were walking home at night. I dont walk home at night i take a bus, or the one time i did we walked home in a group of 5 or 6 and there was no problem. Though i think the island is safe, i think it can also be tough. Certain products and foods you are used to may not be found on the island. I found the following website for the ross spouses organization. Many who join this group have children and know exactly how to deal with their schooling and what not. I think they would best be able to help you. http://www.rossspouses.org/
But still, if you live in a nice apartment (Coco mango, Fortune and others) and do not walk alone at night, you should not have any problem.
Thanks Michael,
Your blog has been very helpful, I have checked out the spouse website and plan to make contact while we are on the Island. We have decided to check out the Island prior to making a commitment.
My husband is waiting to hear back from the school to see when or if the interview would be ( we are assuming he will get one with great GPA and good MCAT scores, but you never know) One of the main reasons why he was not accepted to any of the US schools was due to lack of medical/volunteer experience, but with working a full time job, going to school full time, a wife, two young children and still finding time to get some job shadowing in. so we think Ross is our smartest route? We are not sure if putting in an extra year of medical experience will really up his chances of attending a US school.
I have read that the September class is already full? Do you know if that is true? I am hoping if everything works out that we can start in January instead of September, we have so much to do before the HUGE life change and I am not ready.
Is theft the main crime? rape, murder, assult, etc?
Thanks
Jen Miller
As far as i know, theft is the only crime. When it occurs (twice last semester) the individuals are just after money to get food or their fix. I really do not think the island is "unsafe". Melissa, who also writes on the blog, has walked home at 3 AM by herself and while I think she is crazy for doing so, nothing happened.
I have never heard of any rape or murder in the past and know that there was none last semester. Surprisingly, many people here have families and they At the end of the day they come home and the spouse has taken care of the errands, booking flights and food, all of which take up alot of our time that can be used for study.
Also, i am sure you know and have been told, but Dominica is not the United States, there is a lot of poverty, stray dogs, etc. Still after being told, many people arrive here and expect it to be like the U.S. With that said, there are beautiful mountains, Cabrits park is very nice, and plenty to with the little ones.
Since the decision to move here involves the entire family and not just one person, i think its best you guys visit before deciding.
Thanks, it is great to hear that many students do have families.
Jen
It so weird how you dread returning to Dominica...When I leave Dominica to come back to school here in the states I cry my eyes out everytime. I really don't know how you Ross kids hate such a chill and beautiful place.
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