Wow..so glad to hear he isn't blind after that incident!! The fact that it happened to begin with and that they put up a notice in our classroom the other day saying who to contact if we feel we are being harassed by locals makes you wonder just how safe they make this island out to be, but yet again I find myself regretting that I even posted that the incident occurred since no one else bothered to do so. Should have went with my gut instinct and kept away from this place. Hopefully though the new students won't be mislead into believing Bonaire is crime free like the email I just received from SJ bragged that it was. Good luck all!

No offense CGLASS, but I was there for 16 months and left during only one break, the only problems any student had were when they caused it with the locals. I think in some cases it was about illegal activity at that also. I'm not making this up and Bonaire is considered one of the safest Islands , Crime on Aruba is 10X worse then Bonaire, Did you forget there have been out right Murders on Aruba? How many Murders on Bonaire? How many in places like Baltimore MD? How many Muggings in New York City? Would you go walking in Central Park at night alone? I think a good perspective is needed too. There are more Dangerous places then Bonaire, I worked in Atlanta where I was shot at in some Bad neighborhoods doing my job as a Nurse, I was threatened, I have been scared, never while on Bonaire.

So I cannot agree with this view Sorry.

I understand you are unhappy and I know of why, I'm not as pleased as punch either. But I understood some of the setbacks of SJSM before going then found more, I have always tried to be positive for my own sake but try to post the truth, I know you have always posted the truth and people should read your posts and experiences they help I think. When CGLASS posts something know that it happened. Just as much as my point of view also is valid, my clinicals are going very well for instance.

I think there are better schools then SJSM no doubt but in the end I also think SJSM is not all bad and there are some good things and that your education is up to you, no matter what school you go to you are the one who studies and who passes and becomes the Doctor not the school.

Good Luck everyone.

__________________
I'm Busy with clinicals and study, If you wait for a response on a thread or PM it may take a week or so.

ive been on this island for 16 months, although i dont go to the school (technically) i do live in the school lounge, although i am a future md1 student this coming January!, so now i can actually go to the MD building, i hope we take the MD1's building, i hear theres gunna be 50 of us going in the same class, which is kinda huge for a december class!

MYMD,
Totally understand where you are coming from as usual. Just think it isn't right for SJ to send out an email (and yes I kept it if no one believes me or wants to say I am making it up) stating and obviously quoting right from the email here, "
First 16 months of basic science you study in Bonaire, a crime free and quiet island in the Caribbean . Rest 24 months of clinical training in US. Hospitals, guaranteed

". Just don't want incoming students to let their guard down just because they are being told this. You have experienced life (as have I) more than some of these young kids coming in here that might not know to always, no matter where you are, keep an eye out and think before you get yourself into a situation you will regret!

Do not bring anything with you that you are going to be devastated if it gets stolen. Unlike what was sent out in the email from SJ, there is crime on this island. People do get robbed (mainly tourists but it does happen). Check out bonairetalk.com and they have reliable postings on the robberies and such that occur here that are edited by the moderators there that stipulate that a police report has to be provided before they will allow the posting to be viewable by the public.

So glad you did not have to experience anything bad while you were here MYMD and I only can hope that myself and my children do not have to experience anything either. But the island is changing even from the short time since you left. There are landlords on the island not willing to rent to students anymore that did so in the past and the locals are becoming more intolerant of the students. The other students that have been here for longer than I can say what they want about their experiences here as I am sure some of them have had a fine time here, but I have been through this first hand with both events and have no reason to lie about what I have been through here.

Incoming students, pay attention to all those lessons your mother taught you and you will be just fine!

cglass, That's good advice, and I agree that students should know that Bonaire is not crime free (although I also agree it's a whole lot safer than most places). As for the attitude of locals and landlords, students have gotten a bit of a bad rep, and some of it is deserved. An idea to remedy that might be for the SGA to give a brief orientation to new students on Bonaire and its language and culture. Treat people with respect and an acknowledgement that you are living on their island. It's amazing how far a 'bon dia' and a 'danki' will get you. Dress appropriately (NOT like tourists) in the stores and don't loudly complain or laugh about the choices available. When you enter a government building or office and one person is standing at the pay window and the others are sitting in chairs--those people are in line, not just hanging out . A few tips like these might help students fit in more. I also think they'll get more from the experience of living in this unique place. I'm not sure what can be done about the landlords--too many students have skipped without paying, often trashing the place, leaving pets behind, etc., but hopefully now that the school is more established and turnover is lower, they will realize the risk of that happening is lower.

If the students make an effort I think local attitudes towards them will change, pokopoko .

Yes I think you are doing great posting and telling us these set backs, Really I understand also. I guess I just think that Bonaire is pretty safe but I also believe that no where is perfect and safe, crime happens everywhere,

There is a history of students that have not paid landlords and wrecked places and left the island owing utilities. Some were SJSM and some were from the old X school the went to Aruba. The locals see all students the same, As you know some of our fellow students have no manners, they do not know how to act, they expect way too much from the locals, they expect things the way it is in the USA, when I was there and welcomed students, as SGA member, I told them "We are Guests" even though you are paying for everything you are not a citizen of Bonaire and we are allowed to be there on the "Pleasure" of the island, Tourists are more wanted then students, Tourists spend way more money and are only there for a week or two, we stay for 1.5 years and draw on resources. Students may spend more money on the whole but if we cause trouble and do not pay for things then we become something the locals hate. If we have problems with Cable/internet/immigration and go in kicking and screaming ( I have been with students in the past that did this for real) then we are seen as rude outsiders. You see you pay for the idiots that came before and it gets turned around by people with good attitudes and manners showing the locals we are glad to be there and look forward to learning about the place they live.

(To add there were some Bar fights while I was there between students and locals over, what else, women, but they were drunk also. Seems to be normal to me)

__________________
I'm Busy with clinicals and study, If you wait for a response on a thread or PM it may take a week or so.

When is everyone getting down there?

im goign to be there on janurary 5th as a first semster med student. i still need to buy books lol. does anyone know which books i need to buy exactly? i havent gotten my welcome packet yet, but everythign else as far as immigration and stuff is concerned...is finished.

__________________
<------- oooooooo yeaaaaa lol

The school website is where I went to look up what books I needed to buy. The ISBN numbers are all listed also. I spent roughly $160 on all the books including the reference materials on amazon.com I got them all used though and most are in decent condition. Good Luck i'll be there on the 5th also.

how is the housing search going for ya? or are you planning on searching when u get to the island? haha i still need to find a place, and i called up every single real estate agent, and they are all booked, caz i guess its "high season". so....yea....im screwed lol, but hopefully someone has an extra room.

__________________
<------- oooooooo yeaaaaa lol