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!
Unexpected House Guest
I may be leaving Dominica in two days to go home for break, but I tell ya, the adventure never stops for a second. I was lying in bed watching episodes of "The Office" when I started to hear rustling sounds among my papers and books on my desk. I looked up from my bed but I didn't see anything moving so I paid no attention. I hear all kinds of noises in my room all of the time so I didn't bother to check it out. A few minutes later, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a black blob on my curtains. So, I look up from my laptop and clinging to my curtains with its little black wings is a flippin’ BAT. I wish someone could explain to me how a bat found its way into my apartment and into my room. Somehow my room is a haven for the tiny creatures of Dominica. Throughout the semester, I’ve had unexpected roommates such as birds, spiders, bees, mosquitoes, beetles, and now bats. How lucky am I?!
Just like the bird fiasco, it took about 15-20 minutes to catch the little guy using tools such as a broom and filing box. After we caught him, we let him go free from the balcony… but not before I snapped a few pics!! Take a look…
Givin' Ya What Ya Want!
Hey Guys,
I have received TONS of e-mails asking for the "Complete Guide to Ross." Well, I want to preface that I compiled this "guide" from a VARIETY of sources off the internet (mainly ValueMD) BEFORE I came to Ross. Now that I have been here for four months, I can see that some of the information I originally found is outdated. I will try my best to work on updating the guide but I promised a few people over e-mail that I would post the original guide so they can get a feel for Dominica and Ross. I read over some of the guide and while some of it is a little outdated, for the most part a lot of the information is correct and still applies. When I update the guide, I will post the new one for everyone out there planning on coming to Ross. Have some patience, there is a lot to write about!!
Here is the download link (no virus, I promise!) to the old, slightly outdated guide:
