Since I'm going home tomorrow for a break and won't be on line too much, I thought I'd summarize the questions that will come up in the next two weeks (they always do. You can do searches for more detailed info:

1. If you notify the school when you are arriving, a taxi driven by Manny will pick you up (at either the airport, or Ft. Bay). He drives a blue van, and is a very, very nice guy. The school picks up the first ride charge. Look for him and he will take care of getting you where you need to go. Get his phone number, you might want to call him later on (throughout your stay on Saba).

2. There is a better than 50% chance that all of your luggage will NOT arrive on Saba with you, thanks to WinAir. Don't panic. It will most likely arrive in the next 24-48 hours. Manny picks up the luggage that has School luggage tags at the airport, and takes it to the school. If you miss your luggage, check at the school for it. It will be in the very large mass of other luggage at the Cafeteria.

However, because of this, it might be a good idea to have a few necessities in your carryon luggage.

If you arrive on the ferry, you're responsible for your own luggage.

3. Most likely, the weather here is quite a bit warmer than what you're used to. It's also very humid, which makes it harder for your body to lose heat. So, take it easy, and drink lots of water. Cool, lightweight, light colored clothes are best.

4. You can drink the water out of the taps. You can also filter it, or buy bottled water. I filter my coffee water because I brought a Britta pitcher with me, and drink bottled water for convenience, but don't have any problems drinking the tap water.

5. There are few places to eat on the island, and they close early - 9 PM at the latest. Don't wait to eat until late and go wandering, there won't be very many (any) places open. So, it might be a good idea to get some food put away early on.

When you do go out to eat, it will take at least an hour. All the food seems to be prepared just for you. Sometimes the restaurant will be out of a menu item - usually a good sign, it means a lot of people have ordered it. Adapt.

In your first wanderings about, check out My Store - the big grocery store in the Bottom. For about $8 you can purchase a case of 1.5 liter bottled water (12 bottles) and they will deliver it to your dorm for free. Just ask them to deliver it. My Store offers a 10% discount on Wednesdays and Saturdays, also. They accept Guilders, US Dollars, or credit cards (but you don't get the discount on credit cards, I think).

All the grocery stores are closed on Sunday (as are some of the restaurants). There is no place to buy food EXCEPT the grocery stores, unless you go to a restaurant. There is no 7-11 on Saba.

6. This is not the States (or Canada), and the grocery stores are NOT a Safeway, Albertsons, or Loblaws (sp?). They probably have (between all the stores on the island) any items you really need. They may not have the brands you are used to. Get used to it, it won't kill you to try new things.

7. There are two kinds of cell phones on the island - TelCell, and Chippie. TelCell is sold at Satel (the phone co, which is just across the street from My Store) and works everywhere but Fort Bay. Chippie is sold near the Chinese Restaurant (down the road from Family Deli) and works everywhere but Ft. Bay and Lower Hells Gate (not sure about Upper, either). They cost about the same.

8. Try and get around on the island before school starts, and check it out. You can hitch hike pretty much anywhere during the day, assuming that there is traffic (morning, noon and late afternoon is better). Women are pretty safe during the day, but if I was female I'd be cautious at night, go with a friend and be careful (like you would anywhere). With your cellphone you can call a taxi driver (Manny, for one) and he'll give you a ride pretty much anywhere for $10 or less.

If you go walking at night, take a flashlight with you. The drivers here are ... sportsman. Give them a chance to see and avoid you.

Be sure to get to Windwardside and locate the ATM, ICS (even if you're not planning on using their service), and the stores. Saba is a tourist destination (no, REALLY!) and the stores are used to people wandering in and out.

9. Say hello and smile at other people when you pass them. Wave at them when they drive past you. It's the Saba way, and it will go a long way. Sabans are very chatty people (compared to most places) and if you don't chat back, you reinforce the bad reputation that the students have.

10. If you get here very early (a week or so), consider getting dive certified - there are three dive shops on the island, Sea Saba (the first thing you'll see in Windwardside when you drive in from the Bottom), and one at Scouts Place (between ICS and Big Rock Market, also in Windwardside). There is also a dive shop in Fort Bay below "In Too Deep", which is a great place to get lunch if you're down there. Diving here is like diving in an aquarium, and having something besides medical school to think about every now and then will help keep you saner.

11. Now, for those of you who are demanding some study advice, because you're OCD/ADHD (hey, all of us in medical school are to one degree or another):

Don't fall behind in any class - you can't get caught up. Study every day (especially anatomy). Get the word docs from last semester and read them the day BEFORE the lecture. The professors may have revised word docs, if so thats great - but show up to class with a basic grounding.

You can't physically read all the required and recommended text books. Don't even try. This is a lecture-driven program, and the lecture materials have ALL the information you need to do well. Limit your books to those necessary.

Anatomy (especially) is all about memorization. There are 6000 structures to memorize in the next 100 days. You don't really have much to 'understand' but there is a LOT of memorization. Figure out a way to deal with it quickly.

Want book advice? Do a search, or bring: Netters, a Histo atlas, BRS for Anatomy, Histo, Embryo, ONLY. Bring two boxes of gloves, and one box of scalpel blades - #10 or #22. You don't need a dissection kit. 2 sets or more of scrubs (you can have your name embroidered on them, unless you're a tool, just do your first name). Any color is OK.

Set up (and stick to) a schedule for studying. Schedule yourself to study from (say) 7-10 pm every week night, and M, T, Th, and Friday you will study Anatomy, and Wed you'll work on Histo. Weekends study 3 hours each day. Work on your informatics projects (when you get them) and embryology. If you can get a solid grip on embryo, you will get a 'bonus' 15 or so points on the Anatomy block exams. Blow it off, and you lose those points.

There are few good places to study in a group, except in someones dorm room. The library is for quiet study - so be quiet there, please . The tables in the cafeteria are available at night for discussion groups. Keep in mind that there might be several other groups there too. The light is poor, there are few electrical outlets, but there is wireless internet (802.11b/g) available.

Days to blow off studying: The evening of Block exams - go to Swinging Doors for a BBQ dinner (Tuesdays and Fridays, Windwardside).

12. Finally, one last piece of advice: RELAX! You've made it, you're here, in Medical School! Just how great is that? Don't start studying anything until Day 1. (Yes, I know that I said you should show up having read the word docs, this is the one exception). There will be enough to study then. In the mean time, take it easy, find the Gazebo at school (you'll spend a lot of time there), and locate the Histology lab (on your right, from the gazebo) and the Anatomy Lab (on your left). You'll spend a LOT more time in both of them.

Some students will share their fears with you - especially those that were around last semester. They'll tell you how hard this class, or that class is. Well, they are, medical school isn't supposed to be easy. But, it can be managed. Have confidence in your professors (the Anatomy Professors, Dr. Rao and Dr. Samuel, are really EXCELLENT, I don't know the Histo prof), and if you have any difficulties, any concerns, any problems, anything...talk to them. They will bend over backwards to help you out. And don't listen to others tell you how terrible it will be - it won't be. Just work hard and do your best.

Welcome to Saba, and if there's anything I can do to help you (once I get back here), I'm Rick de Castro (the old guy) and I'll be in Classroom 1. I'll help you in any way that I can, if you ask.

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"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."

--Theodore Roosevelt

This is very very informative. You are always one of the first to answer my questions.

THANK YOU

And about the scrubs- I work in a hospital now and have some of their scrubs: plain blue but with the letters on them. Are those ok to wear? I also have cute colorful scrubs, what about them?

wow. amazing post. thanks dude.

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Any of them are fine.....LOL, the questions you 'younguns' ask. I can't believe how we change here!

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"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."

--Theodore Roosevelt

You're welcome. It was about 87 degrees here today (and 80% humidity), acclimate yourself in a steam room in Alberta

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"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."

--Theodore Roosevelt

I have to say it, too- great post!!! reminds though that I have two weeks to pack and I'm very behind

thanks for kicking my butt into gear rdecastro

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__________________
*The most violent element in society is ignorance*-Emma Goldman

* Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. It is about learning to dance in the rain.

[quote=bhs2a]This is very very informative. You are always one of the first to answer my questions.

THANK YOU

And about the scrubs- I work in a hospital now and have some of their scrubs: plain blue but with the letters on them. Are those ok to wear? I also have cute colorful scrubs, what about them?[/quote]




since you must know...
women's scrubs should have a deep V cut top and bottoms should be form fitting.

mens' scrubs should be baggy, nobody wants to see your bulge.

any color/pattern is fine.

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The Last Bus Driver

You Guys ARE So Great!!!!!

Thank you so much.

Such kind acts reinforces my decision of attending Saba.

that is all i can say.. thanks alot... im yashar yousef.. i ll make sure to come and see ya
ciao