Ross University Thus Far...

Hello my followers! It has been a crazy first two weeks, but one that I have enjoyed thus far.

To update everyone: first medical school exam was yesterday, got an 85%, so things are starting off in the right direction ! I learned a lot about my study habits, and the fact that I actually don't like group studying at all, I love colour coding (obviously), and there is such a thing called "over-studying". I learned that this journey is very unpredictable, but doable. I learned that making study friends is sometimes better than talking friends, because you actually sit and get through stuff! haha But in all seriousness, this journey will be extremely tough, and when every exam comes and goes, it is a nice feeling that I am getting that much closer to obtaining my M.D.!

The island life of Dominica is gorgeous, and the blogs that I have tried to find about Ross University before coming here really didn't touch on all the little things that make it great. One of the biggest things that I was worried about was safety, because we are uprooting ourselves, moving pretty far away from home, and plotting ourselves in the middle of the Caribbean at medical school. The one thing that I love about RUSM is the fact that security patrols the streets at all hours of the night. They have well-equipped trucks, and there are about two at every gate into campus. I wouldn't say that Ross is situated in a "dangerous" area, but I would definitely not walk home alone at night. We are still in a foreign country, and the locals know that we are not from here. The people are super sweet and the bread lady that sits outside of campus with delicious home-made bread will always make you smile. The coconut water/juice man with his trolly walking in front of the "shacks" every day will always make the time to stop and chat with you, and the locals that work at the gym will ALWAYS comment on how tall you are..ok..maybe that's just me haha

When you come to Dominica to go to school, vacation, honey-moon or what have you, it really is beautiful. Depending on how much studying I get done this weekend, a couple of us are going hiking to see this wonderful country that we live on. I always encourage travel. Yes, go home on every break is you absolutely have to, but when will you ever be this close LIVING near South America, Trinidad and Tobago, Martinique, Guadeloupe, St. Kitts, there are so many amazing islands to explore and this is your chance to see the world! We are going home at Christmas for two weeks and then back to the grind after visiting our families, but we will be staying during the breaks to enjoy some travel!

Well guys, I have to start studying this morning and even though we just had an exam yesterday, the work begins again today. Message me with ANY questions and follow me on instagram @d1todr !

Bye for now,

--E xo

Pictures:

Where I study :)

My grandparents watching my White Coat Ceremony from home!

Oh how I wish I had my long hair again :(

Hopefully going to be doing this this wknd!

Love him!

"No Set Date"

Hey followers!

After a week long of orientation, figuring out how to buy electricity in a developing country, setting up an router in Chinese, and knowing the closest laundry service is only a couple meters away (thankfully), you could say my first week on the island has been chaotic. But manageable.

When I have told people that I have been accepted to medical school in the Caribbean, the first response I get is: "ohhh wow! You are SO lucky!" The same exact response I got when I told people I received a full basketball scholarship which would pay for my entire education. "You must have won the lottery!" But at the end of the day...I have been resilient to get into medical school, making sure my applications were impeccable, grammar correct and syntax superb, nothing was out of order. Same with my basketball. I made sure I did everything correctly for coaches to recruit me and wanting me on their team. It has NOTHING to do with luck...all hard work, some tenacity, and having "no" as motivation to do that much better. Ross University is located in one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean and I am very fortunate to be here and pursuing my career, but luck has had no hand in why I am here. Every single person that I have met on Dominica, has a unique and amazing story...and makes me realize we are all here with a common goal..to obtain and M.D. and get out. We all want to be closer to home, closer to friends, closer to hospitals where we could be making connections and networking ourselves with our future colleagues..all benefits of getting into a Canadian or American University. But we are here, and let me tell you...the facilities are amazing. For anyone reading this and not sure about the Caribbean route...DO IT. The anatomy lab is one of the best equipped facilities in the medical world and our class sizes are not that bad. I think I have 250 in my incoming class. Back home in Canada, Queen's University takes the most students topped at 99. Not 100...99...I won't get into that here..it makes my blood boil too quickly haha But you know what? Everyone is SO excited to be here, from the students. the faculty, the support staff, CTL (center or teaching and learning) and they all want us to succeed. At the end of the day, whether you have went to the U.S, Australia, or the Caribbean, what hospitals want to see is that Step 1 score (if you are planning to do rotations in the states, and possibly residency later on)...we are all in the same boat when it comes to standardized examinations. Work hard here, and you will still have that M.D after your name like every other medical student. (Just my advice:))

I have titled this blog as "No Set Date" as this past week we had an amazing speaker who is an alumni of Ross and is now a Pediatric Hospitalist in California. She said something in her hour long talk that really stuck out to me. That always having a set date is going to drain the life out of you. If you are always thinking that assignments are only due on this day, or an exam in this date and then are "free", or after finals are over you can finally party and relax, whichever you prefer, will have you burnt out by the end of it all. Life should never have set dates, just let it happen.

You will miss all the small and amazing stuff in the middle of life if you are always looking forward to the end.

Be conscious of your surroundings, be happy, be healthy, and be present. Don't think about two weeks from now. Don't think of four years from now (I HAVE to stop doing that) and be here. Right now. It is 6:55pm on Sunday night and tomorrow is my first day of medical school. Am I nervous? Of course. But I am ready to conquer Day 1 and move on to Day 2 when that day is over. No set dates...you don't need them..the only day you need to worry about is today...and that my friends, is a beautiful thing.

Off to pre-read before my life-long journey of learning starts tomorrow, thank you for all your support. You make me want to keep pursuing this blog!

Bye for now,

-E xo

Pictures thus far on the beautiful island of Dominica!

Cooking in our apartment!

Our first big meal after the Portsmouth Markets. Amazing local fruits, veggies, and tuna!

I love him.

Our home :)..the yellow apartments!

Love these ladies!

Dominica Travel Tips..and oh yeah...we made it!

Well folks! We have landed! It was an adventure and a half that's for sure!

Travel: Toronto--> St. Martin/Saint Maarten--> Stayed the night--> Dominica

The tiniest plane will take you from St. Martin to Dominica and let me tell you....it is scary at first ...then when it finally takes off...it is okay. Just breathe. If Steve who is 6'5" and me who is 6'4" find it okay...I bet you will too. It really isn't that bad.

When we landed, we had to go through immigration. A tiny Ross University sign in desk is visible before you present your acceptance letter, immigration letter and your passport. It is hectic, but manageable as all you want to do is get to the other side to claim your luggage. A bus will take most students to Ross, which is another 45 min (windy) ride to campus, which I never knew about so I am letting you know now it is absolutely stunning. When we were in the bus, there was a light mist coming down, and over the palm trees with cows grazing amongst the intense green....I could only smile. It truly is beautiful.

As soon as we got to campus, we had to do a fast-paced check-in. Thankfully we stayed over in St. Martin the night before because it would have been an extremely long day. HIGHLY advise breaking up your flight and NOT FLYING through Puerto Rico booked by ProTravel <-- the travel agency Ross highly recommends...in my opinion..I am doing the same searches as them..and we found some cheap, direct flights. Some unfortunate students got stuck in PR due to wind and could not fly out until the next day. St. Martin is your best bet. Also, make sure to get here a couple days before your official start day of orientation...whether it be Jan, May, or September. You need those extra days to adjust, attend the campus tour, IT mandatory session, buying electricity, (which is not included in your lease), buying a phone and SIM with the local LIME service, buy groceries, and take a deep breath before the 8:30am-4:30pm orientation days that last all week. (highly recommend)

The wonderful people at Ross will contact your landlord to let them know you are here and that is such a relief as it was dark, and we had no idea which way to go. It was about 8:30pm by the time we got to our apartment and our flight landed at 4:05pm in Dominica. Our apartment is the cutest. A BIG change from a basement apartment in North York...it has SUNLIGHT yayyyyy. How studying will change with a bit of life in me lol That dark apartment was getting so depressing, and to even help the situation here, our apartment is bright yellow! I just love it.

Using our backpacks and running shoes, we got our "hike" mindset on and walked to the nearest IGA to get some food, which is about a 12 min walk from our apartment...and a 6 minute walk to the campus North Gates..so I absolutely love our location on Banana Trail..yes...Banana Trail. Just let that sink in for a second.

$200 later...we are packed up and ready for the week. The food is very pricey so make sure to pack your favs in a barrel...I would personally avoid food in your checked bag...you will be asked numerous times to declare food and that may hold you up if you have tight connection times.

Dominica is gorgeous and I can't wait to explore the island before Semester 1 starts on May 11th. There is a tour tomorrow that Steve and I have signed up for. A tour to see the Kalinago Territory and Emerald pool...you can google that now...yup..pretty awesome. We are going to jump in even though they say it is super cold...but seeing that we are from The True White North..I think we can handle it :)

Well fellow followers it is 10:10pm right now and we have to be at the gates at 8:45am for the shuttle for our tour. Want to get a good nights rest as it is a full day ahead. One week of orientation. May 11th first day. May 12th parents. May 15th White Coat...it's actually happening. I am going to be a Dr. Cronk!

P.s As I logged onto my computer after finally getting internet...D1toDR has hit 5,000 views! THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Bye for now,

-E xo

Dominica from today! Didn't have much time between pre-orientation events!

Our walk to the beach on campus!

At PBH down near the water.

Beautiful.

Perfect.

Sweaty and thirsty!

Ahhh a refreshing drink before our campus tour.