Welcome

Welcome, family, friends, and wayward travelers of the internet. I don't know what you expect to find here, so I'll give it to you straight. My A/C is off, and I've been sitting in my humid room in my underwear waiting for the rain to subside. I've been here since last Thursday, and Orientation is finally starting in a few hours. In that time, I've unpacked my luggage, explored the waterfalls, plantations and natives of the island, while also setting up my bank account, electricity, and registering for the school. I have a shopping list longer than the clothesline I cant hang (damn my lack of a balcony!) and a toilet that always runs (I guess I never have to bother flushing). My neighbors are a nice couple, one of which attends Ross with me during the day, and the other is a bartender that serves drinks to me at night. I like the Yin/Yang feeling.

I live in a yellow building named Henry Apartments. Its short for "Henry Didn't Give A **** How Close He Should Be To The School". OK, thats a lie, its only 7 minutes away, but 3 minutes is all it takes most days for you to be completely covered in sweat. The bug situation is mostly under control, with one potential fly/mosquito still patrolling the air in my room. It woke me up this morning and caused me to slap my own face. Good time. Other interesting events of the week include spotting a lizard on a tree about 50 yards out, tasting the Coca fruit and sugarcane, seeing Iguanas crossing the campus road, and eating chinese food for three days straight. Oh, and mistaking a local working on the roadside for a goat while being beaten mercilessly by a child holding a wooden snake.

I've met lots of interesting students this week, with a fair number from Ohio, but truthfully from all across the states  (California, Boston, Long Island, Pennsylvania, etc). Some are quite worldly, while I get the feeling that others have never ventured outside their state, much less beyond the continental US. My fellow Canadians are mostly Montrealers, as I have yet to find another Torontonian, but many students have family in Brampton or Mississauga. Quite a few MERPers (ie they attended a Pre-medical semester offered by Ross) who have a bit of a leg up, but I consider that a fun challenge. Before arriving, I stayed overnight in Barbados, where I similarly met an interesting Taxi driver and security guard who regaled tales of partying hard during Carnival and on nearby islands. I also had some mind-blowing Baha-style fish, which I've only ever had once before.

The week I leave, turns out Bin Laden gets caught and the NDP are close behind the Tories in the election. Sounds like a time of change for everyone.

Time to get started on my day, catch you cats later.