Yes, there is a window but why would you want to live there? I was on the welcoming committee last semester and almost everyone that I gave a tour to who signed a lease for RUH prior to arrival asked me how to get out of it.

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For some reason there's a waiting list for that place and as long as they can fill your room, you get your deposit back. Otherwise the worst thing that happens is you lose your deposit.

RUH is lot better than many of the apartments in New Jersey and NYC - let me tell you from experience - recently I went to see apartment (as I was working on contract job in New Jersey) based on description and pictures and that was worst I have ever seen even though rent for NJ apartment was $1200 per month for studio.

RUH is located behind PBH - you can walk to PBH and beach from RUH.

RUH has a window, and is livable. It might be good choice to get before arriving in Dominica as it frees you up from stress of finding the place in one day. This studio comes with bed, pillow and linen and towels, desk and chair, microwave oven and refrigerator, place to hang your clothes (similar to typical Econo Lodge and Comfort Inn - no door), book case, 110V Power (RUH has transformer in each room) and energy saver air-conditioner. In some room (near swimming pool) free wireless Internet connection. Also you buy electricity at RUH office - electricity is pre-pay in dominica (see below). They also have maid service to clean room - once a week and if I am not wrong, than they also change the linen and towel.

Ross puts you and your familiy at RUH for one night, and than you are on your own - I believe you can stay there temporary for few days by paying the daily rate or at PBH which is next door.

Ross will take you on house hunting trip on second ady of your arrival unless you came in by noon. Others who came with you or previous night will be with you on this trip, and you will be competing with all to sign up on apartment.

I will recommend that if you can get in the RUH on your first semester take it and than look for apartment for 2nd through 4th semester. This will allow you to use your time to open a bank account ande get local cell phone while others are looking for apartment. If you come just day or two before the classes starts, than this is even more important as you will not have enough time to open bank account and get cell phone - big lines at each place.

Once you settle down in 1st semester, it allows you to look at various apartments - where your friends might be staying - as well as hear about good apartments from words of mouth. Also you get familiar with various areas and apartment locations - walking distance from Ross, whther they are noisy or not, landlord, etc. This will help you in deciding where you want to live and than getting that apartment when 4th semester student leaves.

Electricity - In Dominica it is pre-pay. You buy units and enter the code (you will get when you buy units) in to the meter. When unit are close to run out, it indicates and than you go to RUH office or agents authorized by Dominican Power to buy units. Average use is 3-4 units per day unless you keep your A/C on while in class.

Bank Account - You will need one to deposit your GradPlus or other loan money so that you don't have to carry all that cash with you all the time. It is better to use EC$ than US$ in Dominica. It also helps, if you have to get money transferred from US in emergency. There is a Bank branch on Ross campus.

Cell Phone - Your US Cell Phone (I know Cingular works) will work but you will get roaming charge. (Cingular Family plan does not cover Carribean, and therefore, you will be charged roaming charges every time you use it in Dominica). Therefore, it is better to get cell phone locally for use locally (like calling taxi or friends). Overseas call from this cell phone is little cheaper than calling from US to Diminica. There is no charge for incoming call on cell phone. During start of each semester cable & Wireless has special and you get there cell phone for free when you sign up with them. It is pre-pay plan. Cable & Wireless has a office on Ross campus.

Do not be fooled by what docdad has posted. I stayed at RUH before going on the housing tour and I couldn't WAIT to get out! I had cockroaches in my room and the room was dirty. I asked to change rooms for the night and they looked at me like I had two heads, laughed and walked away. The room is small, dark and much worse than my dorm room in college. If you are looking to save money than RUH is where to stay but personally, I believe it is a dump and I can't believe they actually offer those rooms for rent. It is NOT like an Econo lodge or Comfort Inn. The pool isn't maintained throughout the semester, just at the begining and thne it isn't cleaned again until the begining of the next semester. No one actually uses it because it isn't clean. Unless you plan to spend little to no time in your room it is NOT the place for you. If you plan on cooking at all, this is NOT the place for you. There is one communcal kitchen for all of RUH and it is never very clean. My friends who lived there last semester said the maids were supposed to come once a week but they were lucky if they saw her twice in a month. I don't know anyone who was actually HAPPY to live there. Just a fair warning.

RUH is fine if you do not plan on spending any time at your apt. It is close to campus, but that's about the only positive I see. If you want internet in your apt then you have to pay about 100EC a month in addition to your rent and electrical costs. The floors are gross and the apt is overall small. If you don't mind feeling couped up in a tiny room with just a bed and a desk then I guess you would be ok with RUH, otherwise find an apt when you get here! I got here 2 days before orientation and found a great apt with separate living and bedroom. The rent is obviously more expensive but it is definatly worth it. Trust me you want to be able to go home and study or relax and feel comfortable. And DO NOT try to open a bank account the first few days when arriving to campus unless you want to wait in line for 3 hours!

i think that people come expecting a lot when there isnt much here, the lower your expectations the better experience you'll have here.

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If you want to do something, then you will find a way.
If you want to do nothing, then you will find an excuse.

do the luxury apartments have generators and all the other services that old Avie's has? i saw the pics of the luxury ones. they look nice.

So what's the deal with laptops breaking down in Dominica? I'm getting mixed messages... Some say Dell laptops breakdown...others say the Gateway is worse....Is this really true?
Which laptops are NOT breaking down in Dominica?
Is it that it's not easy to get Dell fixed once you're down there, or they really just dont work well?

I haven't heard of any laptops breaking down. The only thing I can advise you to do is buy an international warrenty when you buy your computer. There are no places in Dominica for repairs BUT there are other islands in the caribbean that you could send you laptop to on the off chance it does break down. If it DOES happened, there are computers to use on campus while it is being fixed. Again though, I haven't heard of this problem from anyone that I know down here.

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