First Official Week in Dominica

Well it's official I work up today and realized that it was one week ago that I woke up and left for Dominica......here dear friends, family and followers is a recap of this week in Dominica. After days of goodbyes and phone calls to family abroad we were ready to finish up our packing and head to Dominica and here is where we shall begin.

It all began like any other trip where you are leaving the country for the next 16 months....you have over packed your bags beyond the seemingly generous (although very limiting in actuality) weight requirements of 50lbs a checked bag (although we found others were held to the 70lbs total for two bags rule so really who are we to complain). As we weighed the bags over and over (taking out the peanut butter and coffee were NEVER an option) trying to get that perfect weight we left behind books and sweatshirts (believe it or not we told to bring a couple) and at last we were able to pack what we so naively thought at the time was "All we would need."

Kelsey and I lugged our bags into the car at 3:30am on Wednesday morning we tried to rack our brains always wondering "Did we remember to pack X?" (name any item you would love to have if you couldn't have it for 16 months). At 4:30am (yes we only got one hour of sleep) we were groggily up and in the shower. By 5am we were on our way to the Philadelphia Airport leaving the comforts of the great USA behind. Thankfully I (Nicole) have an awesome mother-in-law who saw that there was no running to Wegman's at 5am and got us muffins, chocolate, trail mix and dried mangoes for our adventure the day before.

Once there we lugged the large army duffel bag, the black duffel bag, the two black suitcases, two backpacks, my (Nicole's) big red bag and a brown carry-on, which if either the red bag or brown carry-on were to be weighed we would have been thrown off our flight indeed. It was a scene from Amazing Race as we packed and shifted our items to hit the magic number of 50.5lbs. Brilliant husband that Kelsey is he noticed that we don't get charged for excessive weight until 51lbs...talk about hitting the max! Finally through security (with mild alterations to our carry-on bags) and on the plane to San Juan we felt like we were rock stars having put on the performance of a life times as we had "all that we needed" despite the limits of the baggage system. Kelsey clothed in a t-shirt, button down shirt, sweater and suit jacket was a site to see but we were there and we were on our way.

Arrival in San Juan was less than spectacular (and if you have ever been in that airport you would understand why). We waited at the gate and eyeballed all the other passengers, looking for back packs and multiple carry-on bags but non were found. We then began to see multiple people holding "Ross University" papers and soon felt like 1: Yay we have found students and 2: why do they have papers we don't? As much of this process for us, we missed the table for Ross as we were tunnel focused on finding our gate. Luckily the student next to us showed us where we could find the paper.....

With paper and customs in hand we felt like we were prepared for anything. And boy did ANYTHING come. We soon walked out to the tarmac to get onto the small toy plane that would be our ride to Dominica (if you think I am exaggerating, we had to wait an additional 45 minutes because half of the passengers bags had to be flown on a second plane). So on the toy plane I begin to see the beautiful ocean and the various islands below, as I prepared myself to land on a quite little strip of runway (having flown to St. Kitts a year earlier) I was taken aback as we approached Dominica and the mountain to my left got closer and closer and closer until it was a mere 20 ft from the plane...although I have not seen the movie, many on the plane referenced "Apocalypse Now" when recapping the life-flashing-before-my-eyes landing that is the Dominican Airport.

Bags in hand cleared through customs we awaited our ride to Ross. We had been told it would be a bumpy ride and to take Dramamine...this road had more twists and turns than a gym full of teenagers at a school dance. By the time we arrived at Ross I couldn't wait to get off the bus! Immediately we were allowed to call home and let family and friends know we had arrived safely. Then Judith - our landlord- came and picked us up to take us to what would be our new home.

HOME:
Now in the US when an apartment is referenced as a one bedroom, the assumption is that the bedroom is separate from the living-room, kitchen, etc. When Kels had discussed such one bedroom accommodations with our landlord we had been assured that we were moving into an apartment that was more suitable for a couple. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE.

We arrived to find a large room that had a kitchen that had a 3/4 wall cutting this small room in half. Luckily we had actually signed a lease for a different apartment (long story) so we were able to switch to a studio ish apartment across the street.

Pluses of our new home for 1st semester

• Close to the annex where Kels has classes ***Update as of May 3rd we found out classes will be had on campus this plus is now a minus
• Across the street from Tina's - best grocery store (and I use the term loosely) in town
• Across the street from gas and electric (yes think of prepaid cell phones and you have their electricity system down)
• Closer to Portsmouth the closest town with markets (sat only) for veggies and fruit and fresh fish any day of the week.
• CHEAP RENT

Minuses:

• Freezer has yet to FREEZE anything
• 20 minutes from campus
• no fan - although awesome spouse sponsor is loaning us one!
• ac - but ac is a luxury here that you can't afford to have it on all the time.
• small one room only
• only one closet

All is not lost, we have unpacked and met our neighbors and are hoping to find a better spot for Aug. (my main mission this semester).

The best things so far have been the great students and couples we have met and the trips that we have gotten to take for FREE (you know it's not free when you're paying $15k a semester but it feels FREE at the time). We saw the emerald pool, water falls, and a trip to the market where I finally got some veggies and bananas. Although I have to learn how to shop for a week at a time and how to buy veggies and fruit so that they don't spoil to soon. Best thing about the food is it's organic no pesticides (i think) and you get it done all by 6:30 am on a Saturday...(insert sarcastic tone here). YES you heard right to get the best fruit and veggies at the Saturday Market you need to be there by 5:30 or 6am which isn't as big of problem as it sounds considering the roosters start crowing around 5am and the cow may be mooing by then as well.

Part 1 Ending -

All in all it is going to be quite an adjustment for Kelsey and I and not as exotic as some of our other trips oversees, but I know that God has us hear for a reason and we will if nothing else have great stories for our kids one day.

Part 2 of 1st week to come tomorrow.