Life in Dominica: The First Days.

I travelled for nearly 20 hours and close to 4,000 miles to the Commonwealth of Dominica (also known as the “Nature Isle,”) an island nation in the Caribbean. At first I was very excited to begin my career as a medical professional so I didn’t mind the long trip, however, once I arrived my perspective changed very rapidly.

I landed on Melville Hall Airport’s extremely small run way on January 1st, 2010, so I got to spend my first day of the new year on the island I would be spending the next 16 months. This is by far the smallest airport I have ever visited, even the Yuba County Airport in Northern California is bigger and it receives 0 passengers annually. There was a slight drizzle upon arrival, but what else can we expect from a tropical island…snowfall? I quickly walked into the shelter of the airport to check in and proceed to immigration, which is a very strict procedure for Dominica. You must show where you are living, have the proper documents to prove your stay, and then you are cleared for baggage claim. The area to claim your luggage is directly behind the immigration officers resulting in a large number of people in a very small area with TONS of luggage. On this particular day, 2 flights from San Juan arrived in Dominica 20 minutes apart, which resulting in having close to 80 people in small area (not sure the actual size) filled with luggage. Luckily, all of my luggage arrived safe and sound. Once you have collected your bag, you have to clear customs, where the officers can search your bags for any illegal material or anything they feel needs to be claimed. Finally, I cleared customs and was getting excited. I walked out of the double doors and saw more students/parents with more luggage! The university decided to send trucks to load the luggage and drive it to the school. I believe it took 4 trips to get all of the luggage to Ross University and they had 3 trucks operating…that’s a lot of luggage. We crowded around a Ross University representative to await be loaded onto a bus heading towards the campus.

A few pieces of luggage.

The ride to the university was one filled with twists and turns, steep inclines, and breath taking views. However, more than one person on the ride felt sick due to the windy nature of Dominican roads…luckily I took a Dramamine pill prior to the journey and was able to withstand the motion sickness. During the ride, it continued to rain and all I could see was the high volcanic peaks populated with tropical greenery. At first it was beautiful, but then it became oppressive. There were palm trees, banana fields, ferns, grass, tall grass, and several plants I have never seen. I really didn’t know what else to do at this point so I closed my eyes and hoped we would get to campus quickly…a wish that was granted within 15 minutes! Maybe I should have asked for something else???

As I mentioned before, it took the trucks 4 trips to get all of the luggage, and guess what trip my luggage came on…that’s right, the fourth trip. During this time I heard a number of conversations of students, parents, and spouses not receiving a single piece of luggage at the airport, so I quit whining because it would have been much worse. The rains continued as more people were dropped off and it seemed as if the humidity had increased 10%, which could have simply been my anxiety getting the better of me. Next, I was dropped off at my apartment and met my landlord (Ushem) who is great. He’s very nice, patient, and helpful, which is something I needed. We walked to my small cottage from the backside of the apartment because it was a short cut, however, the path was rather muddy and rocky, resulting in the shoes I had gotten cleaned earlier in Sacramento being completely covered in mud…UGH! So, as far as my small cottage is concerned…you walk in and immediately to the left is my bed and sitting area with a desk on the right side. You walk a little more to the bathroom and at the very back is a small kitchen. The place isn’t much, but it will serve it’s function. I have hardwood floors in the bed area and tiles in the kitchen. I have several window that have screen on them to make sure the insects don’t come in. Did I also mention I can hear the geckos scurrying on the outside of my house to eat their dinner. It’s a little unnerving to hear random “footsteps” and wonder what this animal is doing but I guess in the end it’s helping me by eating the insects, so rock on little guys!

The cottage...any engineers wanna tell me what do you call this type of support sytem?

I slept well the first night, which was mostly due to the fact I was extremely tired and didn’t want to have to think about anything else. So I showered, cleaned up, and hit the sack. The next morning brought sunny skies and of course humidity. The weather currently is in the low 80s but with the humidity it feels like it’s in the high 90s. I have only been this hot in the summers of California when I am playing tennis on a 100 degree day…I hope that gives you an idea of the type of weather here, and by the way, it’s winter in Dominica! Fortunately, I struck up a conversation with a guy who was sitting right across from me on the flight so we planned to explore the campus area a bit. We ran some logistical errands and were quickly becoming more comfortable with Dominica. We went on a campus tour and signed up for some free tours of the island, which we hoped would help us appreciate our surroundings.

The following day we went with several others to see the Carib Indian Reservation and Emerald Pool. The journey to Carib Territory was once again very curvy and I remembered to take a Dramamine pill early to make sure it would kick in on time and I was able to give it to a friend in desperate need…she ended up taking 2 pills. Okay, so back the Carib Indians. The first people of Dominica are the Carib Indians, with a population of 4,000 people (there are a total of 70,000 people in Dominica). The British government gave them a total land area of roughly 11,000 square miles (don’t quote me on this) of land, in which all of the tribes reside. In addition, there are no tribal wars and the Caribs coexist peacefully with other Dominicans. The Caribs still make many of the crafts of their ancestors and live life in a similar fashion.

Quick stop at a Vista Point on the way to the Carib Indian Reservation

When we got to the reservation we were greeted by Carib Indians and escorted on a tour of the area. We were told a number of details including how the Caribs live their lives today, how the past and present have fused to form a harmonious bond between the different tribes, and what the future holds. Midway through the tour we were taken to see traditional Carib dances. We saw the “Welcome Dance,” the “Harvest Dance,” and the “Coming Together Dance.” Each was beautiful with different movements and musical rhythms. After we watched the dances, we were invited to participate in the “Moon Dance,” which is performed during the full moon or during a spiritual ceremony along with the “Snake Dance,” which basically ends up being a long line of dancers following the main dancer while holding the hips of the person in front of you…it was fun!

The Carib Band

The Carib Dancers

Once the dances where completed we finished touring the area and met back at the entrance point. Near the entrance you can buy several gifts and eat native Carib food. I didn’t buy anything because I don’t have a use for it at the moment, but I did drink some amazing passionfruit juice…much better than anything in the States.

Following the trip to Reservation we made our way to Emerald Pool, which takes it’s name for the green pond at the bottom of the waterfall. It’s a quick 15 minute hike from the parking lot to the waterfall and you can swim in the pond if you desire, but the water was pretty cold, which felt great in the heat. There isn’t much to report on this area since we walked alone and had no guide to provide information, however, it was a beautiful spot.

The last tourist thing I did before orientation started was the Indian River Boat Tour. There are 365 rivers in Dominica, one for each day of the year, and the Indian River is approximately 4 miles long. If you watched Pirates of the Caribbean 2/3, you might recognize this area because it’s the same place the Vodo Witch (I forget her name) lives. On this tour, we file into a boat that is rowed by a guide up the river to a bar, where we can enjoy a drink and see the natural beautify of the island.

View of the Indian River

The tour lasted approximately 2 hours, in which our guide informed us of all of the plants growing on the river, educated us regarding the birds we saw, and told us that the geckos are OUR friends and to not scare them away since they eat the insects that would typically bite us. He also had a great line for how women behave: “Women are like the volcanos of Dominica, one day they may be quiet, but the next they can explode!” I thought this was really funny…but some people disagreed…gosh ladies, relax. ;-D

The next several days were spent in orientation where I was getting tons of information thrown my way, but not really worrying about it. You may have received a facebook message or email from me during those times since I took my laptop to the orientation. One day I was walking back to my apartment and decided to watch the sunset. Most of the beaches on Dominica are black, due to the fact it’s a volcanic island…I believe there is only one white sand beach. So I made my way do to the beach, listened to music, and relaxed…which was a great help.

Sunset at the beach...picture was taken with my iPhone so sorry if it's not the best quality.

Overall, my experiences in Dominica have been diverse. I have felt strangled by the greenery, irritated at the humidity, blown away by the views, and amazed by the friendly people. School is starting soon so I am enjoy my last free weekend. I hope you like this long blog entry but hope you have an idea of how I am doing in Dominca…I’ll be perfectly fine! After all, I can always change my career and become a beach bum!

Avatar – The Movie

Today my family and I, which ended up being a group of 8 decided to go to the movies to watch the much acclaimed film, Avatar. We arrived 45 minutes early because I know from my prior experience working in a movie theater that Christmas is one of the busiest days of the year. The theater was 60% full when we arrived and ended up being 94% occupied when nearing the start time.

The movie starts with Jake Sulley (Sam Worthington) cremating his twin brother while two government officials are trying to recruit him to take his brother’s shoes in the most hostile territory known to humans…Pandora. The year is 2154 and the Americans have found a planet which contains a native species known as the “na’vi” and one of the most lucrative elements in the  universe. These blue humanoids stand 10 feet tall are connected intimately to their planet and resist all human culture. Jake is stuck between the role he needs to complete as being his brother’s twin and the heavily trained military mentality he forced to operate in. Jake is assigned to work with the Dr. Augustine, who is the head of the Avatar Program as a body-guard. However, the military want him to infiltrate the Omaticaya Clan (1 of 4 clans on Pandora) to gain usable intelligence in a military siege.

The way Jake can get into the body of his genetically matched na’vi, is he simply enters a cryogenic chamber, sleeps, and wakes up in his “other” body. During a trip with Dr. Augustine, the group is attacked by a native predator which causes Jake to be separated from the group. He has to survive the night on Pandora and nearly dies when Neytiri (a native of Pandora) saves his life. Jake has three months to learn the ways of the Omaticaya Clan, in which time he questions his countries motives and begins identifying more and more with life on Pandora. He falls in love with Neytiri, who serves as his teacher of the na’vi ways.

Jake finishing his hunters training.

However, Colonel Miles Quaritch has other plans. The military is after a precious metal found on Pandora and are willing to destroy everyone who stands in their way…even their own people. Soon Jake chooses his loyalties lie with the Omaticaya clan and mount a resistance against the alien humans, which serves as the climax of the film.

Scene of final battle

I personally liked the movie a lot. It has created a new dimension in American cinema by utilizing a variety of computer graphics to enhance the film. But it does make you wonder if Americans need all these “bells & whistles” to remain engaged in a film…are we not intelligent enough to think???  The culture, world, language, and creatures on Pandora show a tremendous amount of creativity and imagination, which leaves the audience wanting more. The are dynamic characters that fit into the story line well and serve as a good support system to main characters, such as the characters that play the environmentalist vs the industrialists. In addition, the na’vi represent how our world has become so global. Each of the na’vi is connected to the planet, just as we are connected to others. The na’vi respect this relationship and understand it’s immense value, as humans are finally beginning to understand. Furthermore, the scenes James Cameron created are beautiful, vivid, and almost remind you of being on an acid trip (or at least of what I think an acid trip would be like). You can watch the movie in 2D or 3D, I would recommend 3D…it adds to the experience. ENJOY!

People of the Book

The novel “People of the Book” was referred to me by my fellow blogger and friend, Lynn Jacobs. This book is an excellent fusion of three major religions of the world: Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Even the title of this book incorporates these three religions. People of the Book is a term used to designate non-Muslim individuals who practice faiths which have a prayer book, which mostly included Judaism and Christianity, but now the term has been adjusted to include other religions as well.

The story of this novel follows Hanna Heath, an Australian who has her Ph.D. in manuscript conservation. She is offered a job to help restore the Sarajevo Haggadah, a very important Jewish book that originated in the 15th century in Spain. When Hannah accepts the job and begins to investigate the haggadah, she discovers several interesting artificats in books binding. She finds an insect wing, a wine stain, traces of salt water, and a white hair. The novel is broken down into chapters that flip-flop between Hanna’s journey in restoring the book along with her personal life, and the past which explains each of her finding in the haggadah. Eventually, we discover how Hanna becomes a person of the book by placing her own mark on this famous text.

Now, I must say, I believe each time the story backtracked into the past it was more interesting than following Hanna’s narrative. Furthermore, each chapter that is used to explain the origins of the haggadah travels further and further back into time and takes into account the culture, beliefs, and practices of the time which enriched the novel tremendously. Although Hanna’s role in with haggadah is vital, there is a very crazy twist at the end of the book that felt a little out of place and underdeveloped.  Overall, I would recommend this book but the ending has left a little disappointed.

Om – The Universal Sound

The Sanskrit word Om has been used for thousands of years by numerous people, but how many of us know the true meaning of this powerful word? I ask this question because I participate in a meditation practice which incorporates the Om, but I never truly understood its power and deep meaning.

Om has also been referred to as the Universal Sound due to the 3 distinct sounds it makes when the word is broken down. The first is an “auhhhh” sound, which we make when we are surprised. If you close your mouth and make the “auhhhh” sound you will feel vibrations in your abdomen area. Now, do you know what vital organs are located there? Yes, there are many but the ones I’m talking about are your reproductive organs. This sound helps stimulate both male and female reproductive glands.

The next sound is the “oooohhh” sound, which we often make when we may hurt ourselves or stub our toe. Once again, when you close your mouth and make the “oooohhh” sound you feel the vibrations in your chest area. In this part of the body we have the heart and lungs, the organs that sustain the body.

Finally, the last sound is “mmmmm,” which resembles the sound we make when are enjoying our favorite dessert. When you close your mouth to make the “mmmmm” sound, you feel the vibrations in your head, which is were the brain is located. Also, this area represents either transformation or destruction.

I know at this point you might be wondering how does this tie into the Universal Sound or even why this is important. Here is it, think about anything that exists on this planet…let’s take a plant for example. The first stage is the plant is created via reproduction (the first sound). Then the plant has to sustain itself to survive (the second sound). Finally, the plant is either transformed into something else – perhaps food; or is destroyed (the third sound). Therefore, when we chant Om, we are transferring the energy from the first stage to the second to the third in our bodies, which is the cycle of the universe.

Lastly, when chanting Om, 2/3 of the breath is dedicated to the first two sounds, which when saying the sounds continuously sounds simply as “auoohh” and 1/3 of the breath is dedicated to the last sound. Now you are well equipped with the knowledge of Om and can at the very least impress some people at a fancy dinner party.

Scotland, Birthplace of Golf

On a trip I took to the United Kingdom in 2008, my cousin and I went to Edinburgh, which is also the capital city of Scotland. My own reasons to go to Edinburgh was in hopes of spotting J.K. Rowling, the author of one of my FAVORITE books; the Harry Potter series. But to my disappointment, we didn’t see Rowling, however, we did go to the coffee shop where she starting writing her world-famous books.

Elephant House Cafe: The Birthplace of Harry Potter

I dragged my cousin Harpreet all around Edinburgh until we found The Elephant House, which confusingly enough has 2 branches, both situated near the university but only the original coffeehouse is the place where J.K. Rowling wrote her books. The vibe in the coffee house is great. Tons of students, faulty, local musicians, and the occasional traveler seeking a sight of the “birthplace of Harry Potter.” I bought my youngest sister a black shirt for nearly $40 from this coffee house and I think she wore it once, so don’t get this as a gift unless you know for a fact it will be used. The coffee is very good and there is wide range of pastries as well. So when you go to Edinburgh, please visit the Elephant House and if you see J.K. Rowling do get a picture or let me know!

Another great aspect of Scotland is it’s progressive nature. The city is a combination of old-classic elegance in concert with new modern radiance. For instance, the Royal Mile is the historic street that houses many of Edinburgh’s great sights, such as: Edinburgh Castle, Whiskey Tour Shops, boutiques, ancient churches, pub that have seen more Highland Games than the Queen herself, and a collection of tourist shops all playing load bagpipe music. At the end of the Royal Mile is the newest addition to the lively city…the Scottish Parliament Building.

View of Scottish Parliament Building

From the very beginning this building was surrounded by controversy, ranging from location to architecture, to the construction company to the design were all criticized by the media, politicians, and the Scottish public. Many architects submitted their plans for the new building, and the winner was Enric Miralles of Spain, who unfortunately wasn’t able to see his dream become a realty due to his death prior to completion. In addition, many individuals did not favor the sharp edges and asymmetrical walls because it did not complement the rest of the Royal Mile, which is decorated in mostly in English Gothic style (but don’t quote me on this.) A prime example is this is showcased by the fact the parliament building sits directly across the Palace of Holyrood House, which is the official residence of the Queen in Scotland.

As someone who knows very little of modern design, I was fascinated by this building.  Every corridor had a plaque that would describe it’s function and an interesting piece of history. Also, every sign is in both English and Celtic…anyone read Celtic??? You can take tours and get some great nik-nacs from the gift shop. Thanks to my cousin dragging me to the parliament building, it has now become on of my favorite buildings on Earth.

Finally, at the base of the Royal Mile (where the Palace and Parliament building are situated) is a beautiful hill termed “Arthur’s Seat.” Many people hike and bike up to the top for some breath-taking views of the city. Any by breath-taking, I am indeed also referring to the fact you are out of breath by the time you reach the top. However, it’s worth the time and energy to climb the lush green landscape of Scotland and see great city of Edinburgh for what it truly is…AMAZING!

View of Arthur's Seat

P.S. Yes, I know I did not mention anything about golf but I didn’t know what else to title this piece but you can go to St. Andrew’s and have an amazing game of golf…you need to have a certain handicap and be able to prove it prior to getting a reservation time.

Ninja Assassin

I am a big fan of marital art movies. Ever since I watched Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, I have enjoyed this genre of films. So, I went to see Ninja Assassin with a good friend of mine. The opening scene starts with a group of what the audience assumes are drug lords hanging out, when an ancient-looking envelope sealed by a wax imprint is delivered. Out of the envelop falls black sand, the signal of death. Everyone in the room is murdered by highly trained ninjas, and fountain of blood squirts from each victim. If you don’t like a little bit of gory and blood flowing freely this movie isn’t for you.

Scene of the ninjas being trained.

As the story develops, we find out Mika (Naomie Harris) an agent from Eurpool is investigating a number of assassinations to which she believes ninjas where utilized. Soon, her investigation leads this once believed myth to become a reality for the agency. This in turn causes the ninja’s to target Mika and silence their coveted legacy. However, Raizo (played by Rain) is a ninja gone rogue and begins to protect Mika. Raizo has a complex past with the Ozunu Clan, the party responsible for teaching Raizo in the ways of the ninja.

As for myself, I liked this movie. It had a good mixture of action scenes and created a new idea on the whole “ninja” movies. Instead of being simply great martial artists, the ninjas (both male and female) are trained to kill, feel no pain, and follow orders without hesitation. There are a few scenes where Raizo takes on close to 20-30 ninjas and ends up surviving, which is a bit of a stretch, but that’s what you expect in an action packed movie such as this. There is also a love story, which serves as a sub-plot and is interesting to follow as well, but it’s not the major theme of the movie. Overall, I would recommend this movie to watch at least once.

Step Brothers

Step Brothers is a comedy film starring Will Ferrell and John Reilly. The basic premise of the story is Brennan (Ferrell) and Dale (Reilly) are 40 year old men with no job, no goals, no ambition, and no girlfriends. They live in a life of fantasy and believe they will be taken care of for the rest of their lives. Brennan’s mother falls in love with Dale’s father and eventually get married. This forces Brennan and his mother (played by Mary Steenburgen) to move into Dr. Doback’s house (Dale’s father). The rest of the movie portrays Brennan and Dale behaving as children stuck in an adults’ body. They enjoy kung fu, porno magazines, and a common dream to start a full service entertainment company. The more you watch this movie, the funnier it gets!

The Handmaid’s Tale

The Handmaid’s Tale was recommended to be my my good friend Jessica and is simultaneously one of the most beautiful and devastating books I have read recently. I know these two adjectives may not used by everyone who has read this book, but I think it’s important to understand the grace and elegance of Margaret Atwood’s writing, while considering a potentially horrific future.

The story beings in the “Republic of Gilead” which was the former United States of America. A military coup had killed the President and removed Congress of all power. They assure the public it’s only temporary, and new elections are on their way…but the elections are never established. Soon gays, lesbians, atheists, and women who are able to reproduce are being captured and “re-educated.” This book follows the story of Offred, a slave name meaning “Of Fred” indicating to whom the Handmaid belongs to. However, Offred lived in the former U.S. and therefore, can remember how her life was prior to the revolution. The novel jumps from the present narrative to the past to allow the reader to better understand the protagonist. Each month, Offred has to lay on her back and pray the Commander makes her pregnant, otherwise, she can be sent to the Colonies (where the Unwomen are sent).

The beauty of this novel is in the imagery Atwood creates. You can visualize the way this totalitarian government is controlling the populous and the lengths the characters go to in order to feel in control of their lives. The setting and circumstances surrounding this novel pull the reader in, enticing you to read more. The novel is devastating due to the harsh conditions each character faces, despite the fact it may appear men are in control, they too have a story to tell. The ending of the novel to me is the best part…it forced me to think of all the possibilities of Offred’s life since the author does not bring the story to a typical conclusion. You are left wondering what will happen to Offred…is there a sequel…will she survive???? I HIGHLY recommend this book!!

One Hundred Years of Solitude

One Hundred Years of Solitude was written by Nobel-prize winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez and is considered his magnum opus. The story takes place in a fictional village called Macondo and it’s unclear if the book spans 100 years or longer. Let me preface this blog entry by saying, this is one of the toughest books I have read to date.

The best way for me to describe this book is by saying it’s very mystic. It has incorporated many different writing styles including fantasy, romance, and history. For example, there is a period in the book when the entire town suffers from insomnia and they slowly begin to lose their memory. However, a gypsy is able to help the town by telling them the cure for such a disaster. Also, there is a time when it rains for 4 years straight…causing death and destruction in the town. Another challenging aspect of this book is that many of the male characters are named after their father or grandfather and many of the female characters are named after their mother or grandmother. Thus, it becomes a little difficult to remember the relationship and what generation this child belongs to. If you do not keep track of this the rest of the novel becomes more confusing…so take notes!

At the moment, I am on the fence regarding Marquez. I find this style very unique and interesting, but at the same time he is difficult to follow. This isn’t a book you read half-heartedly, you have to be fully engaged to keep track of the many changes and complex plot line. But, I would recommend everyone to read at least one of his books to get an idea of this unique style.

The Dragon Heir

So I completed the trilogy with The Dragon Heir. After the end of the second book, the entire magical world is turned upside down. No one can be trusted, the Roses (the rival houses) are killing each other off, and the town of Trinity, Ohio is the only safe place left in the world…or is it?

In this last book, most of the plot is dedicated to resolving who will be ruling the magical guilds. Many wizards, enchanters, sorcerers, and seers are flocking to Trinity to claim sanctuary.  However, a few spies and assassins have also crept into the town to eliminate the competition. Safe guards are put in place to protect the city and both sides are recruiting for a battle that can’t be delayed any longer. Who will win…the Roses? or the town of Trinity???

As was the case for the second book, The Dragon Heir spends a good amount of the pages describing the situation. To a certain point it becomes frustrating to read because nothing is progressing. Some of the characters are very hard on themselves and blame all of the problems of the world to their existence…it get’s tiring after a while to keep reading about these characters. The climax of the book is good, but everything leading up to it is not that great. The story moves too slowly for my liking. Overall, I would say read some other book.