Hey Everybody

here are just a few experiences I have had in Miami. Hope they are of assistance and if you want any more info, check out www.rossmiami.com

Miami Traffic and saving Time

For all of you going to Miami, I have found that living in Miami near the airport is the best place to live as for convenience. It is only five minutes from the Ashe auditorium downtown (where you will meet once a week every week) and it is only 15 minutes from the 7000 building (where you will also meet at least once a week). As for ALL other rotations, it has been anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes from my apartment. So if time is a virtue for you, I would suggest living near the airport. The reason is because you are going in the opposite direction of Traffic. For example if you live in Kendall, it will take you an hour to get downtown in the morning and another hour to get home in the evening, and this is a generous estimate.

No offense to Miami, it is a great town, but the traffic here is atrocious. Traffic jams appear out of nowhere and not just during rush hour but even in the middle of the day. There is no rhyme or reason just traffic accidents, "rubber necking" and people driving 45 in the fast lane Sometimes it is worse than Asia, Cleveland and even some of the smaller cities like New York and New Jersey. JK Just like to rib my Jersey friends

Most of the rotations are Northwest of Downtown except South shore which is right across the bridge in Downtown Miami. So while everyone is trying to get downtown, you are traveling away from it. And even if you are going downtown, it only takes 5 minutes even in rush hour because you are so close.

Housing
Housing in general is anywhere from 500+ per person in Miami. And 500 is hard to find and it is usually a room in someone’s apartment. 600 is more the average and that is only if you have a roommate. This usually requries a deposit and first month rent.

I am staying at the "Airport Villas" with my two roommates. It is perfect, we share the car and the rent is split three ways for a single. There are one and two bedroom apartments all fully furnished, with ALL utilities included and no deposit or lease required. In fact you can rent for 9 weeks or 9 months. The apartments and pool are all enclosed within two parking lots with gates surrounding the entire complex which are only opened by your own personal remote. Also the place is very safe.

If you are the type of person who is always on the go or thinks there are never enough hours in the day and or just plain doesn't like sitting in Traffic, then a place like this is perfect. The price well serves the mean.

Start thinking about a roommate and or carpool partner now. You will all be parried up for rotations. Dr. ********* will give you further info on that when he comes to the island. (Class rep will set something up). It is not cheap in Miami, but neither was Dominica. However it is quite manageable with a roommate. Like I say if time is critical to you, check out "Airport Villas" contact Iris *****

Airport Villas
Airport Villas is five minutes from Downtown, and two large shopping malls. It has taken us anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes to get to all of our rotations. Three are 27 of us staying here now, but we were limited d/t there were only a few units available when we moved in.

The apartments are fully furnished with the exception of the pots and pans and your computer. Full utilities are included including cable TV, DSL air conditioning and local phone. They even supply a TV and DVD or VCR player.

The Manager is Iris ***** and she has went out or her way to help us. You can contact her for reserving a unit. There are more units available for your semester S4 than there was ours, but they go fast. We got the last unit and we reserved it 3 weeks in advance. So as the end of the semester approaches you might want to drop a line to this email or you can even call Mrs. *****. Here is a copy of her add:

Furnished 1 bedroom apartment complete with TV cable, Internet access, microwave and all kitchen appliances. $1.200/per month includes utilities.

Furnished 2 bedroom apartment complete with TV cable, internet access, microwave and all kitchen appliances. $1400/month includes utilities.

Apartment complex has secure parking, swimming pool and is near all Ross facilities. View our website:

Apartments are limited. Please inquire to Iris ***** 305-649-9000 or by e-mail iris@airportvillas.com

http://www.airportvillas.com/


Miami Academia

As for Miami AICM, it has been an excellent help in applying the knowledge base we have learned in a practical sense. There is everything from Cardiology to Family practice rotations. Furthermore lectures are on main focuses of today’s Modern medicine as well as review of important topics covered in the USMLE.

People will tell you oh Miami is so hard. It is like the "Little brother routine” where you are the target of kind harassment till you get a little older, a little smarter and a "little brother”. In fact I have found time to study for the USMLE I and take up golf. I think it is much easier than the island. If you can survive the "the Rock and the shacks” then you have nothing to worry about in Miami except the traffic. Good luck in Miami and don’t' stress about exams.

Repsectfully

Fred E. CLark III