About Life at Dominica

[Voldemort]

Hi guys,
I want to know about the crime rate in Dominica. are there serious crimes? what should i be worried about when in the Dominica?

Are there tranchula or Scorpions? Are there any loose dogs?

what are the gun laws in the DOminica? do the locals own guns? Are they friendly?

What are things that might offend them or make them angrey that one should not do, intentionally or unintentionally?

are there any recent photos of the student activity in Ross?

[Terminator X]

u sound scured:rolleyes: :lolup:

[queenofspades11]

what about snakes, big, bad, poisonous snakes ?

[Dru]

Honestly, Morty, you probably have more to fear right here in the good old U. S. of A.

As for crime:
The crime rate in Dominica is medium compared to industrialized countries, with the important exception of murder. An analysis was done using INTERPOL data for Dominica. For purpose of comparison, data were drawn for the seven offenses mentioned above. Dominica compared with Japan (country with a low crime rate) and USA (country with a high crime rate). According to the INTERPOL data, for murder, the rate in 1999 was 7.89 per 100,000 population for Dominica, 1.00 for Japan, and 4.55 for USA. For rape, the rate in 1999 was 19.72 for Dominica, compared with 1.47 for Japan and 32.05 for USA. For robbery, the rate in 1999 was 80.20 for Dominica, 3.34 for Japan, and 147.36 for USA. For aggravated assault, the rate in 1999 was 682.39 for Dominica, 15.97 for Japan, and 329.63 for USA. For burglary, the rate in 1999 was 1735.56 for Dominica, 206.01 for Japan, and 755.29 for USA. The rate of larceny for 1999 was 17.12 for Dominica, 1267.95 for Japan, and 2502.66 for USA (data for Dominica were from 1998--no data reported in 1999). The rate for motor vehicle theft in 1999 was 77.57 for Dominica, compared with 34.01 for Japan and 412.70 for USA.

As for evil bugs,
I don't believe that teratulas are indiginous to Dominica, but there are varieties of other stinging insects. Your best bet is to always wear protective shoes (ie-don't go into grass barefoot or flip flops), and always wear bug repellent. The best one is Avon's BUG GUARD and BUG GUARD PLUS. They have a nice light uni-sex odor. Both work for 8-12 hours. They do not contain DEET, and both work VERY well. The PLUS contain sunscreen, which is a very desirable thing to have for daytime use. They also have stuff called EXPEDITION, which doesn't smell as great, is more oily, but works for a longer period of time.
Most all Carib islands have sand fleas in the mattresses, and if you allergic to their nibbles, your best bet is to pack a plastic mattress zippered mattress cover. You can get it at WalMart for about $7.
Millipedes are about the size of small snakes, and although they look icky, they are only poisonous if you eat them.

As for sssssssnakes:
There are only 5 different species of snakes on the island, and NONE of them are poisonous. The most harmful one would be the boa, and they won't mess with you unless you are messing with them.

As for weapons of mass destruction, I have never seen a local packing a pistol, but this is not to say that they couldn't do it. Most of them are toting macheties, but this is more often than not, the tool of their trade (for harvesting bananas). What angers locals? I think the most provoking factor is when visitors treat them with disrespect. They like honesty and polite behavior. I'm not saying you have to lick their boots, but if you come off as omnipotent or arrogent, they WILL treat you like dirt.

As for Dogs, they are running wild. They are usually malnourished looking, and many bear the scars of accidents and mistreatment. The natives of Dominica do not view dogs as we do. They rarely have any domestic animals, and more often than not, they are fearful of canines. They are often seen shooing them or even being abusive to them, so most of the dogs there cower away from any friendly advances.

For great photos of student life, take a look the Ross photo album at:
http://www.valuemd.com/gallery/browseimages.php?c=1&userid=

[indiansurprise]

the banana trail dogs are cool..they'll escort you to your house and make sure you get home safe...if your scared you can just stomp your foot and they go whimpering away

[sarahtarah]

oh gosh, i hate dogs. i just hate em. they scare me crazy, i hope there arent that many

[phisigman03]

Any big Bugs on the island??? Do you find them in your apart. often????? i.e roaches, anything with more than 4 legs and can fly and huge

[djnitin]

No way, there are no bugs like that on the island. Only nice, small, friendly bugs.

[desai29]

No way, there are no bugs like that on the island. Only nice, small, friendly bugs.

nice bugs in your SI and LI?

[Dru]

OOPS...
The centipedes WILL bite and ARE poisonous. They look like this:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/66/Centipede.jpg



Millipedes, on the other hand are the shiney black things with a hard black shell. They don't bite, but they're poisonous if you eat them. They look like this:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/dd/SL22millipede.jpg


Sorry, I got my bugs mixed up.

[HN_MD]

So have actually seen these? if so, how often? Are they aggressive (the centipedes that is)? Do they show up in your living quarters?

[Dru]

Centipedes are often lurking in the grass, so wear your shoes. My kid killed one in the apartment. They don't come in if you keep a saucer turned upside down on your shower drain.

[evil mcnasty]

i dont think you guys have been looking around enough. it doesnt matter if you spend all day studying in the library, mpl, or your apartment... these things are out to get you. im not even kidding, ask any current student, there is a nice assortment of crazy insects, animals, and people running around.

you guys can join the sinister P.E.T.A. on campus. the People for the Elimination of Terrible Animals [thats an evilmcnasty copyright]. its a national past time here.

http://static.flickr.com/49/126467110_df445c7734_m.jpg

this little guy was right outside of classroom 6.

[Manny22]

it's cute, i can't believe you killed it.. (who am i kidding) ... my only reason for letting a grossness like that live is cuz i don't wanna have to clean up the guts afterward... just scoop in flick...ty n see how for you can toss one a them things............................................ .. a fun thing to do would be to see if you can "tag" your fellow classmates with it

[sarahtarah]

^ the heck? tagging with centipedes? :no:

im taking tons of raid

http://static.flickr.com/1/126467781_435c2c7452.jpg?v=0
mcnasty heck is that?

[evil mcnasty]

^ the heck? tagging with centipedes? :no:

im taking tons of raid

http://static.flickr.com/1/126467781_435c2c7452.jpg?v=0
mcnasty heck is that?

we have only had two run-ins with this odd creature. the first time we saw it it was on its hind legs. it was flesh-colored and reminiscent of an odd looking fetus, so we dubbed it the "embryo bug" then drowned it in insecticide foam.

[sarahtarah]

it looks like some hybrid created after massive bombings.

scary

[djnitin]

A few days ago, I found a lizard in my bed. One of those small, color-changing ones. Speedy lil bastard. His name is Gonzales. Put a leash on him and walked him to my neighbor's. You need more than raid for those - you need some cajones.

[MarkJafr]

what about the locals? are they friendly?

are there clubs? recreational areas?

[phisigman03]

Looks like I will be packing some moth balls or something to keep those things away from my living quarters. I can probably do the island/people/school but not the centipedes and insects maybe I should just bring some bats.

[jsmason83]

Dont forget about the Land Crabs one see's every so often.. They can sneak up on you, walking home late at night...

[evil mcnasty]

Looks like I will be packing some moth balls or something to keep those things away from my living quarters. I can probably do the island/people/school but not the centipedes and insects maybe I should just bring some bats.
oh yeah...theres no shortage of bats here either. and not the kind you play baseball with. if you wonder what those things swooping at your head are on your nightwalks back to your apartment, rest easy my friend, theyre the friendly neighborhood bats. i had one crash into my thigh because it must have been attracted to my flashlight. as far as crabs go, those things are menacing.

http://static.flickr.com/48/126730472_9134f4999f.jpg

[HN_MD]

So are these things (centipedes) present regarless of where you live? or do the nicer places (ie avie's ville) have it better?

[indiansurprise]

no it really makes no difference...were in a jungle..all the housing is situated in the jungle...paying more for an apartment doesnt create an imaginary forcefield arond it

and sidenote..since you mentioned avies ville...who picks purple as an exterior color and green as an interior color for an apartment building?

i cant complain..good ol Avie is gonna pay for my road to get paved!

[bkpride]

Looks like I will be packing some moth balls or something to keep those things away from my living quarters. I can probably do the island/people/school but not the centipedes and insects maybe I should just bring some bats.

They sell moth balls there.Good thing you be thinkin cause during rainy season (coming up real soon)everyone that dont throw some moth balls in they closet starts to smell like a moldy butt crack.Boy,I sure do miss the smell of moldy butt crack during pharm.Throw some in yo barrel when you leave too cause its gonna sit in a warehouse on the rock then a storage shed in miami.

And dont foget those big a$$ed beatles runnin around and them HUGE roaches that are everywhere.One thing that always creeped me out was lookin at the streetlights at night and realizin that they looked like a giant bright q-tip...not cause I be cryin to get out of there but because there were so many dang bugs flyin around.And how may of yall that been there or there now heard a lud BANG at yo window and you think its a hamburglar only to look out and see one of those big bugs flyin into yo screen.And when we all be walkin down the road at noght with our flashlights attractin bugs which in turn attracts bats.Boy,New York never seemed so good.

And them a-gooties or whatever they called them-yo a transport driver ran one over once.I thoght we hit a student.We gets out and there be the biggest rat I ever seen in my life!That boy say they dont like the word rats and they call them a-gooties or a cooties or some word.He say he gonna come back and give it to his cousin to make a freakin agootie pie!Yo I couldnt eat my cheeseburger in paradise the next day no matter how many frozen veggies he put on it,knowin that may be my homie the gootie.

Word to yo gootie

[Manny22]

um, bk, what semester are you in

[bkpride]

um, bk, what semester are you in

doin my last core rotation.finally.left the island in december 04

[bkpride]

oh yeah...theres no shortage of bats here either. and not the kind you play baseball with. if you wonder what those things swooping at your head are on your nightwalks back to your apartment, rest easy my friend, theyre the friendly neighborhood bats. i had one crash into my thigh because it must have been attracted to my flashlight. as far as crabs go, those things are menacing. ive got a picture (http://static.flickr.com/55/126467036_a248ed09f7_o.jpg) of one on my site (http://evilmcnasty.blogspot.com) too. enjoy.

http://static.flickr.com/48/126730472_9134f4999f.jpg
[made this my first semester at ross]

yo dude-you got some good pics on yo site.I love the PETA one.Gives me as many flashbacks than my bro sukhtinder.and by the way-where you at with yo songs,bro?

[queenofspades11]

bk pride, are you serious about the moldy smell?
gross,
anyway, do the moth balls help at least?

[bkpride]

yes and yes.we all get used to the foul smells of eachother.Its so messed up cause as crazy as this sounds we all start smellin like the locals.The spices and whatnot...well,do this and THEN say if I am right or wrong.The day before you come home on break,put an item of clothes,like a sweaty t-shirt in a PAPER bag and throw it in yo suit case.A few days after you get home (put the shirt far away from you while you wait-but take it out of the bag)and have showered and washed yo clothes,take it out.You will be amazed that you actually do smell like that dude drivin yo transport.

MMMMMMMMM-mmmm -- moldy dominican butt crack.

Its an acquired taste

[Voldemort]

what about hepatitis in dominica? Any info on that?

I have already taken Shot 1 and Shot 2 of the Hepatitis B vaccine ( not taken Hepatitis A yet).

[HN_MD]

It's required by the school as part of your mandatory immunizations

[Voldemort]

what are the mandatory immunizations? Is there a list so i can check ?

[indiansurprise]

its in the welcome packet

[sukhtinder]

welcome to hell.

[onelifetolive]

Man, what am I getting into?

[Voldemort]

welcome to hell.

why do you say that?

[McGillGrad]

welcome to hell.


Hahahahaha

:-D

**I imagine you as that dude behind the dude who just jumps in during the horror stories and throws that in for maximum effect**

[Voldemort]

OKay,
Here is a question
do you find doritos chips in the shops or do i have to buy them off and take them with me?

generally are grossaries much like the USA? Like Yogarts and milk in closed containers or you buy them off from a cow owner and then boil it?

[indiansurprise]

hahaha

thanks..i needed a laugh today

[Dru]

I saw yogurt in Dominica. The milk there is very different than what you are used to here. I can't even begin to describe it. Never seen Doritos, but I wasn't really looking for them.

[WinebarVIP]

HAHA lol

Yes ... Ross is hell ... but now I am lovin it cuz IM GOING HOME SOON TO CIVILIZATION..and yes I am in 3rd.....got madd lucky on 3rd mini.

For ppl coming here, COME AS LATE AS POSSIBLE

AND I still think this place is idiotic as my boy says "We are inferior to US students and they want us to do 2 yrs in 16 months when the US students have A FULL FARKIN semester extra.

2nd flew by fast....so much information...so little time.....

ANYWAY.................IM GOIN HOME

[Skydiver]

Do they have skim milk?
I hate the taste of whole milk :(

[Lufega]

Take comfort in knowing that we are ALL scared. I start in May at UNIBE in the Dominican Republic. I am totally wigging out! I'm so freak out I don't know what to do. That's considering that I've been to the Island twice already. That will all pass once we're there.

Luck!

[ydobon]

^ the heck? tagging with centipedes? :no:

im taking tons of raid

http://static.flickr.com/1/126467781_435c2c7452.jpg?v=0
mcnasty heck is that?

Looks like some deviation of vinagaroon. They tend to live in tropical climates.

I gotta tell you, though, I've missed those little color changing lizards. I've always thought they were cute. The only reason he was in bed with you was because he wanted to snuggle; he likes your body heat.

[ydobon]

You read this...

I saw yogurt in Dominica. The milk there is very different than what you are used to here. I can't even begin to describe it. Never seen Doritos, but I wasn't really looking for them.

And you think...

Gee, if I bring some yogurt cultures, I bet I could grow my own yogurt! I wonder how well yogurt grows with goat's milk? Are the Dominicans milking any of their other animals? What DOES that rat bkpride saw taste like? Does Evil McNasty have any good recipes for cooking land crabs? Kamusta ka?

[curiousspouse]

You can get yogurt from Mrs. Lambert"s shack in the shacks. Tina's grocery store also gets milk in about once a month. You can buy it and freeze it. Tina's also gets a huge shipment of different varietys of chips (Doritos) about once a semester. When we were on the island we bought a bunch when she got them in so they would last us the whole semester. If you see something in the grocery stores that you like buy a bunch of it because it may not be back in the store again for a while.

As for the bugs you don't need to bring a bunch of raid because you can get that at James store.

To all you newbies it is normal to be scared. You are moving out of the country into a third world country. My husband and I took our three kids down to Dominica. I was scared out of my mind when we first got there. Once we got adjusted to the change we had no problems. Our kids loved it there.

[Voldemort]

Can people discuss security?

Has the security issue improved in Dominica?

Do students still get robbed or their dorms or houses broken into ?

What defensive procedures does the school have in place?

[jim]

hahahaha..this whole thread is hilarious! dont be afraid kids, thousands have gone and survived, you will too!
as for crime, 99.9% of teh stuff island wide is petty crap. and dominicans are a different sort. had a freind who had a guy pull a knife on him on moo-cow trail, and my friend berated him and said he should be ashamed of himself. the dominican apologised and left money-less. as for the critters, before hurricane lenny in fall of 99, the crabs were horrendous. you would walk home in the dark and it felt like you were walking on a cobblestone street. but you were actually on crabs! cars would drive down the road and all you heard was "thump thump thump" as they ran over em by the dozens! hurricane lenny wiped em all out though. afterwards we didnt see too many of them. as for "raid"....that stuff is weak. when you get to the rock, buy yourself some "BOP" . that stuff is more toxic then the stuff Saddam used on the Kurds.