You have to buy electricity?

Hi everyone! Orientation week is over with and it was filled with a lot of valuable information on what it will be like to live in Dominica, study at Ross, and prepare ourselves for our future as physicians. My favorite presentations throughout the week were those from alumni and current students. They seem to give things to you straight, which can either scare you to death or provide that extra motivation to help you achieve your dream of becoming a physician. One important thing that I learned: there will be at least one point where each of us will want to give up, quit, and move back home during our medical education here in Dominica. Every upper-level student has had it. It's just a matter of time till it happens. And I have been warned the sooner the better. But mostly everyone gets through it and that is a testament to the great student, faculty, and staff support system here at Ross. Everyone has been incredibly friendly and helpful. For example, you know when you are approaching someone walking on a sidewalk back in the U.S., and you both avert your eyes and don't say anything to each other...that never happens here. It's strange, but everyone really wants to talk to you and say hello, even the locals. Although it's a small thing, that's all it really takes for someone to feel more comfortable in their surroundings and ultimately enjoy this experience more.

 I thought I would share with you guys a little about how shopping is different here. First of all, Dominica uses the Eastern Caribbean dollar, which is approximately 2.7 U.S. dollars. It takes some time to get used to and keeps you on your toes with how much you are spending. It really freaks you out the first time you spend $30 on a meal, but then realize the $30 is in EC! Second, they don't have the stores we have back in the United States. Back home, we have Walmarts and Walgreens on every block. Here, we have one James Store. It really is the Walmart of the island. If you need something, they've most likely got it. But it's not set up like a U.S. store. James Store was made up out of a pre-existing house or apartment complex that has about ten different rooms stacked ceiling-high with merchandise. It's an experience just going in there and looking around. This is where I bought my fan for my apartment.

Next, they don't use the banks that we have at home. The two main banks here are: the National Bank of Dominica and ScotiaBank. ScotiaBank is the one in the picture to the right. This is where I opened up an account, so that I can use EC instead of U.S. dollars. One thing to keep in mind is that the city of Portsmouth keeps on evolving and developing as Ross University does. About a year ago, you had to travel an hour away to Roseau just to get deli meat. Now, we have an IGA grocery store in town that has a lot of American and local brands at reasonable prices. It's amazing how much Ross University and Portsmouth thrive off one another. It would be really interesting to come back in ten years to see the progress. By the way, shout out to Malt-O Meal in Minnesota. Your Honey Nut Scooters are getting me through the mornings! Delicious!

Another aspect of life that is different down here in comparison with the U.S. is that you need to be very mindful of your electricity use. Electricity is very expensive and, in fact, you need to shop for electricity before you use it. Each apartment/house comes with a meter that tracks your electricity use and warns you when you are running low. You can buy electricity at both the IGA grocery store and Ross University Housing. It's just another one of those things that always needs to be in the back of your mind. 

The shacks, in the picture to the right, are a place 

that I will be spending a lot of my time, especially since I am not planning on cooking too much. Ross University does not have a cafeteria, so local vendors sell food and meals out of these buildings right near campus. During orientation week the Shacks were not open, but when the semester begins on January 7th, they will be in full swing. On campus, there are a few other restaurants/vendors. My favorite already: SUBWAY! Yep, they have Subway here and it's located conveniently on the Subway Deck on campus. And yes, it's just like an American subway. I am going to eat there a lot! How else would I get my daily quota of cookies? Anyway, these were just a few places that I thought would be interesting to share and just to remind everyone back home that you CAN get by with very little.