Dominica's Roads

Without question, the roads in Dominica deserve their own little shout-out.  My first introduction to the roads was the trip from the airport to Picard, where Ross is located.  After flying for 20ish hours, we got off the plane and got right out onto the road.  And it was terrifying straight from the start because they drive on the left side of the road!  (The native drivers will tell you that the left side is in fact the "right" side of the road....for now I will agree to disagree with them lol).   It was pitch black with no street lights and dim headlights.

So not only are people driving on the opposite side than I am used to, but the roads are very narrow, very pot-hole filled, and don't have guard rails.  The narrowness and the lack of guard rails are particularly disconcerting because the road is right on top of cliff. Basically within 2 feet of the side of the road, there are 100 foot drop-offs in some places.  AND generally at the top of these cliffs, there is a sharp pin-point turn which just adds to experience of the roads.

On the island, there is one nice "modern" road.  There is even an attempt at guard rails on this road.  The Chinese government built and maintains this road so it stays in decent shape.  Normal people would see this road and think "Whew finally a safe place to drive" but nope, the Dominica drivers think of it as their own personal NASCAR track.  One of the times I was being driven on it, the car I was in kept taking the turns so fast that the tires would squeal and fishtail around the turn.And there weren't any seat belts in the car. Definitely quite the experience!!!

It is also custom to just hitch rides with random cars/pickup trucks because the majority of people don't have their own vehicles. What people do is stick out their hand and wave it up and down, which causes the driver to stop. Then they jump in the back of the pickup and cling on for dear life while they go speeding around turns and up the hills. I haven't decided if they are incredibly brave, stupid or reckless.

One of the nicer roads on the island.  There weren't potholes because it was made of poured concrete instead of pavement. 

Picture this road, with another car barreling up it on what you think is "your side of the road".  You hear a faint honking (how they warn oncoming traffic that there is another car coming) and then all of sudden you are mirror to mirror with the car, while going 60mph.  The tires squeal and you see the manic grin of the person hanging on to the back of the pickup that is passing you.  Yup, you have just pictured driving on the roads in Dominica.

Dominica Trip

Last week I traveled to Dominica to get a closer look at Ross University and I was very surprised by what I found.  Reading the various forums online as well as looking at both the University's and the Island's websites does not give an accurate description of what life is like down there.  I was pleasantly surprised in many of the aspects surrounding the actual school.  The classrooms look high-tech and all the lectures are recorded and then put up online.  The anatomy lab is huge and state-of-the-art.  Also I was able to meet some of the faculty who were very friendly and did not appear to have the "attitudes" that many of the comments on the internet forums implied.

However, nothing prepared me for how rural the island is.   The area surrounding the school as some basic things such as a grocery store, taxi service, and some restaurants.  The apartment buildings surrounding the school are much more developed than the nearby town of Portsmouth.

The roads are so ridiculous that I am going to write a separate entry about them so everyone can get a clear picture of how TERRIFYING they are! The rest of the island, including the capital of Roseau, is definitely different than what I am used to.  People live in buildings that are not completed/ buildings that would not pass fire code.  Most people get their food from their little plots of land or from the local markets. In general though, I think it will be eye-opening and I will learn a lot about a friendly new culture.

Alright stay tuned for more fun stories about my trip!

Reunion Zero

Reunion Zero was a major success!  We had over 90 recent graduates come back to Ithaca.  Friday, after almost eating the Nines out of pizza and drinking a significant portion of their beer, we made our way up Ho Plaza to the Arts quad.  Some of the highlights from the Tent parties at the arts quad were seeing Bill Nye rocking out to a 60s cover band, watching the amazing dancers at Jazz/Swing tent and of course hanging out with fellow Cornellians.  The Saturday BBQ was tons of fun too and thankfully did not get rained out. Special thanks to WVBR for DJing.  

I think my two favorite memories from the weekend were 

1. seeing the adorable Class of 1957 with their AWESOME red vests excitedly pointing out various things on campus as they walked along East Ave.  I saw three couples walking arm and arm, deeply engrossed in conversation and looking like they were having the time of their lives.  Hopefully I can be that adorable when I am back 55 years from now.  

2. The view looking down over Thurston Ave Bridge and seeing the message spelled out in the rocks....

"You are home"

Reunion Zero definitely made me want to come back for my 5th year Reunion.  It was awesome meeting everyone and hanging out!  

On a non-Cornell related note, I head down to Dominica tomorrow morning.  Joys for the plane leaving at 5:30 in the morning!  At least I will be able to sleep on the plane.  My dad is really excited because it is his first time out of the country.  Stayed tuned and once I get back to the States, I will let you know how the trip went. 

Why Blog?

Those who know me, know that writing is probably my least favorite thing to do.  I tend to write how I talk, fast with my own unique ways of saying things (I say my "As" funny).  I also don't bother proof-reading and I don't particularly remember all the rules from my 6th grade grammar class.  So why I am I deciding to write a blog?

Four years ago, I was dead set against coming to Cornell for college.  I wanted to venture out to California or Florida, far away from my Buffalo home. I wanted to be warm.  After 18 years of icy cold Western New York weather, I wanted to be in sunshine and to be in place that I could wear flip-flops in January.  However, after one fateful visit to my sister at Cornell, I was hooked.  I applied early decision and never looked back.  Now, as my time on the hill is rapidly coming to an end and when the majority of the Class of 2012 has already left, I realize how coming to Cornell was the best decision of my life.  I even got to wear flip-flops in January! (Granted I was walking through a foot of snow instead of warm sand, but still).

The past weekend, the Class of 2012 celebrated our graduation.  This was an absolute whirlwind of emotions--excitement, sadness, nervousness, happiness, love and so many more.  The hardest part of the weekend was saying goodbye to amazing friends.  I will miss each and everyone of them but I know that whenever we get together again we will be able to laugh and recount our days back on the hill.

Still why the blog??
I want to keep people connected! In order to keep people posted on how things are going, I have decided to chronicle my "Life After the Hill" via this hopefully funny, interesting and sometimes inspiring blog.  It will mainly consist of the sleep-deprived musings of a coffee-addicted medical student.