mix of nervous excitement and understated fear!!!

[dingaling]

less than a week before I'm on my way. Pigging out like crazy on all my favorite foods the last couple of days. I'm packing on the pounds for a rainy day. ahhh... is anyway else freakin out!!! currently in a mix of nervous excitement and understated fear!!! is there affordable psychiatric care available?

[RossMD2006]

Good luck.

I remember when I first went off to the island. When you are there it seems like an eternity but when you get back to the States and reach graduation it seems like things flew by so quickly.

Make sure u bring 3 essentials:

1. Flashlight
2. Sturdy, large umbrella (like the ones they use for golf)
3. Any munchies (candy, snacks)

[awdc]

Some more essentials:

- sunscreen
- mosquito repellant
- topical analgesic

[alpathmd]

less than a week before I'm on my way. Pigging out like crazy on all my favorite foods the last couple of days. I'm packing on the pounds for a rainy day. ahhh... is anyway else freakin out!!! currently in a mix of nervous excitement and understated fear!!! is there affordable psychiatric care available?

just keep your cool, and study hard.

organize your time between studying and relaxing and you will succeed.

good luck,

[liqu0rleadstocha0s]

hey dingy...i feel u! i leave on saturday and i've officially gone mad...MAD I TELL YOU..MAD!!! i actually packed all of BJ's, costco, walmart, CVS and Publix into my barrels. lol ... yes i went insane

[falconsvictory]

I leave on Thursday so I'm starting to get a little anxious about the things I've packed and not packed. I'm excited but scared.

[DC2BMD]

I am going through the same emotions as the OP; Eating like a pig the last few weeks. I am in hibernate mode. :) Don't really know how many of those calories will be useful once on the island.

I still have to start packing, I leave in less than a week, and I have not done anything yet. Gotta shopping this week for things. And the barrel, still have to do that. Nothing like procrastinating, huh?

[liqu0rleadstocha0s]

where are u shipping the barrel from DC? i got mine out today and im gonna go back tomorrow to ship the other one. it wasn't as bad as i had thought it would be. the guys at tropical are great...5 mins after i got there my barrel had tape around the top and was being forklifted into the warehouse. as for packing, i haven't even begun to dismatle my room!

[DC2BMD]

I am shipping from NJ. Probably will use Tropical as well; It'll leave here Thursday and they said it'll take 2 weeks to arrive on the Rock. I hope I can get it out in 2 days...still have to work the next few days :(

[liqu0rleadstocha0s]

2 weeks isn't that bad at all. i'm in miami so mine takes a week. i just finished packing the last of it. i think packing is a lot harder than actually taking it there and doing the paperwork! hehe....its $80 a barrel..in the end its worth it!

[monkeydoc]

I shipped my barrels from NJ and it will arrive to Dominica tomorrow as promised. I was told by students that you should try leave all your food on top of the barrell, since the tax on the food is the cheapest. Cloths and personal hygine things are expensive so try to put it at the bottom they may get tired to check the entire barrel and just judge from what they start searching first.
I packed my stuff two weeks ago which I had this info. Good Luck.

[Chianti]

Good luck to all of you.

I remember 4 years ago when I was anxious and nervous and reading all of this board.

Buckle down and study hard! Don't listen to stupid rumors or waste your time with a lot of the immature losers at Ross.

I start my residency in July.

[liqu0rleadstocha0s]

i put all the expensive things and important things i don't want them to see on the bottom but i got tired of packing the damn thing and it was 500 degrees in my garage so i just started throwing things in there as organized as possible! one thing i forgot to do was take off the price tags off the books...the prices were in EC and i got them from someone here in 5th term. i hope they don't make it that far down and don't tax me too hard...i even forgot to do the whole customs bag full of goodies thing. i hope they don't jack any of my ***** noodles...i need my ***** NOODLES!!

[missdr]

not to worry, there's plenty of ***** on the island and its cheap!

[liqu0rleadstocha0s]

really? nice nice...i don't cook food so i'll be eating ***** and dinosaur meat

[AxlFoley]

Barrels huh? Thats probably one of the best ideas Ive heard. Luckily, I had my whole family come down with me....(and two large suitcases for each person) so I stocked up big time first semester....and plus I had my parents fed ex additional food, etc. Although barrels are prob a better idea. Just make sure not to mix "wet" food with clothes or other "stainables" or perishables. I had 3 medium boxes full of campbells soup/chili ....and two of em got pretty badly damaged and liquid started leaking during transit I guess. It was smelling pretty bad and I had to chuck one of the boxes. But then again, barrels are ALOT more sturdy.

Dont worry. It goes by fast, real fast (surprisingly). Just keep your head up and TRY not to get caught up in all that random ** that goes on down there. Remember why your there...and you'll be off the island in no time. Good luck man.

Besides....I hear theres actually a Subway on the island and its actually quite authentic.

[liqu0rleadstocha0s]

they don't use cat meat?

[islandthrift]

They do not use cat meat (I hide my kitty just in case) but they also will only give you 3 slices of onion and one piece of an olive! And do not ask for a fork as they do not give them out. You must buy a salad to earn a fork...hehe

[OleshkaX]

Can some one please tell me where i can get these barrels and how does the whole process of sending your stuff out occur. I am going for the sep 2007 class and wanted to know when should i actually start doing all of this ???
THANKS

[rainne symphony]

anti-itch cream.
Candies.
COLORFUL PENS AND HIGHLIGHTERS.



oooh and those travel mugs that can hold hot tea/coffee.

[liqu0rleadstocha0s]

Can some one please tell me where i can get these barrels and how does the whole process of sending your stuff out occur. I am going for the sep 2007 class and wanted to know when should i actually start doing all of this ???
THANKS

tropical shipping does the barrel shipping. This is the only company i know of that does the barrel thing. there might be more so if anyone knows bout them they can tell you. The 75 gallon barrel costs $28 and $80 to ship it. there is no weight limit. They ship out of NJ and miami. from NJ it takes 2 weeks and from miami it takes 1 week to get there. from miami the shipment leaves every wednesday so u have to get the barrel in by 12 noon on the tuesday before the barrel leaves. this is the site for the one in miami: Barrel Trade (http://www.tropical-lcl.com/barrel/barrel_trade.htm)

[DC2BMD]

I shipped my barrels from NJ and it will arrive to Dominica tomorrow as promised. I was told by students that you should try leave all your food on top of the barrell, since the tax on the food is the cheapest. Cloths and personal hygine things are expensive so try to put it at the bottom they may get tired to check the entire barrel and just judge from what they start searching first.
I packed my stuff two weeks ago which I had this info. Good Luck.

Hey where did you buy the barrels from in NJ? Tropical said they do not sell barrels at this place. Thanks

[BrotherMan]

If you are a cooking afficianado, bring spices and beloved ingredients, as they may not be available in Dominica. I brought with me a cast iron skillet, as it was impossible to obtain one anywhere on the island.