Island Med Student

Please note the pic of an opened fruit. I bought it at the market last Saturday. When I got home today I sliced it open to have a fresh-n-fruity snack. But when I opened it, I couldn’t find the edible parts! It looks like it has tentacles and I tried licking the entire thing. Nothing! If anyone can tell me what this thing is, and how to cook it, I’ll give you two points.

Also, check out the second pic. These are the fruits and veggies that I just picked up at the mini market. Please note the large, round, brown object. That’s an apricot. Yes, an apricot. In Dominica, all the fruits are totally on roids.

Today was day 2 of the Ross University new student orientation. We were introduced to the dean; learned about the academic grading and promotion system; were advised of the academic success program; learned about the campus facilities, security, and health insurance; and were introduced to campus life. There was also a BBQ, which I decided not to attend because of my free food phobia (okay, not exactly, but I’ll explain later). I really enjoyed all of the presentations, and am beginning to have even more confidence in Ross. I really got the feeling that they care about the success of their students, and are not just out to make a buck.
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An experience the other day evoked strong emotions within me, but I tried to suppress them at the time. A few minutes ago, the emotions bubbled up again, and I felt compelled to do some good ole fashioned ranting. Last Sunday my classmates and I visited the Carib Indian Territory. This territory in Dominica is the home of the only surviving Carib Indians in the world. While we were there, we stopped inside a little shop to grab a bite to eat. Another first semester student was standing in line in front of me. I watched a Carib Indian man walk inside the shop and approach the student. The Carib man asked the student if he was Carib, as he had very similar features to the Carib Indians. The student basically scoffed at the man, and rudely told him no. Eventually, the Carib man walked away, looking somewhat confused and obviously offended.
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The local kids in the neighborhood are exceedingly cute. I love taking their pictures, and they love having their pictures taken. Here are two pics I took yesterday afternoon.

Things are much different here on the island than they are in the states. Yes, that’s an obvious statement, but it’s the little subtleties that really make me happy.

Yesterday, Micah and I dropped our laundry off at the laundry mat, which is only a few houses down from us. They were supposed to return it to us at 6:00 in the evening. However, Micah and I went to the Ross orientation, and didn’t get home until after they were already closed. As we walked home, we realized that our only bedsheet was in the laundry, and I was thinking how much it was going to suck to have to sleep directly on the sketchy matress.

However, when we arrived home, our laundry was sitting perfectly bundled up on our doorstep. We hadn’t paid the laundry people a cent, yet they washed it, dried it, folded it, and set it on our doorstep.

I am really starting to love it here.

There are a few of our neighbors who have goats. They keep them tied up in their yards, and I can frequently here them making goat noises as I walk by the houses. For any of you out there who don’t already know, I grew up on a goat farm. When I hear the sounds of the goats, it takes me back to my childhood, and a warm, happy feeling washes over me. I keep trying to get close enough to the goats to get a good picture. It seems like everytime I start sneaking up through the grass to capture a pic of a goat, the owner comes out, sees me sneaking up on the goat with my camera, and smiles. I think they think I’m totally crazy. It won’t be too long before I’m known as the Goat Lady. Check out this pic! Bob – this is for you!

I just got back from my first official Ross University orientation. It took place in the Annex building, which is where I will go for all of my first semester classes. The classroom is brand new, huge, and totally wired with plenty of large screen projectors and plasma TVs.

The first presentation was given by Mary Taylor, the Director of Campus life. She covered many topics ranging from how to prepare the local food to safety and security.

The second presentation was given by Lennox Honeychurch, an anthropologist and Dominican historian. He taught us a lot of interesting facts about the history of Dominica and it’s culture and evolution. It turns out that Dominica has the highest concentration of potentially active volcanoes on the planet. Cool! We also learned that Dominica’s pre-Columbian name was Wai’tu kubuli, which means “tall is her body.” Of course, that’s why the beer is named “Kubuli.”

On the way home, Micah and I were followed by two local dogs. At first we thought they were after the cookies in Micah’s pockets, but I came to believe that they were “escorting” us home. When we got home, we split a hotdog in half and gave them each a piece. I’m hoping they will walk me home from school everyday. Micah’s hoping I don’t give them all of our hotdogs.

Yesterday, Micah and I went on an all day trip to visit the Carib territory and the Emerald Pool. It was an absolutely amazing adventure. We traveled across the island to the Atlantic Ocean side and got to see even more of Dominica. After traveling to the top of a mountain, we met the only surviving Carib Indians in the world. They did a drum and dance performance for us, and we looked at their baskets and other trinkets for sale. The Indians have a Chief who helps to educate people around the world about the Carib culture. Many of the Indians are becoming Americanized due to the influence of cable television and advertising. They’re trying to keep their culture alive through education and performances.

After visiting the Caribs, we made our way through a rainforest to the Emerald Pool. The site has been in movies, and it was absolutely ephemeral. Surprisingly, only about 20 of the 140 people on our trip actually got in the water. I of course, was one of the first people in the water. I also jumped off of the rocks, through the waterfall into the pool, which only a few people were brave enough to do. The water was a perfect temperature, and a brilliant shade of green. The entire experience was dreamlike and rejuvenating.

Click Here to View a Photo Essay of The Carib Territory and Emerald Pool

Micah and I got up this morning at 5:00 a.m. in order to make it to the Portsmouth market where we could buy fish and meat. It turned out that we were too early for the fish, but there were tons of fresh fruits and veggies for purchase. I made some friends, bought some fruits and veggies, sipped on a freshly cut coconut, and then met some friendly Dominicans on my walk back up the Banana Trail.

Click Here to View a Photo Essay of The Portsmouth Market

This is the moment you have all been waiting for: my first Podcast. I need to give thanks to Vince for letting us borrow his video camera (and by borrow I mean we took it with us to the island and I’m hoping that he doesn’t get mad at me when he reads this). Also, I’d like to thank Micah. He took all the footage, and used iMovie to produce a work of art! Please keep in mind that this is our very first podcast, so please be kind in your review. If you have a video iPod, or if you just really like our movies, please do subscribe to the Island Med Student podcasts. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.