To the left is a picture of a HUGE Iguana that was right in our front yard!! I was inside our house and Justin runs in and says “Liz you’ve got to see this!!” So I grabbed my camera and went outside. As soon as I saw this thing my heart DROPPED into my stomach. Now the one above really isn’t that big from what weve heard. People say they’ve seen much bigger. I think they look like Dinosaurs!!
Also – above is a video we took the other day of our dogs trying to catch a lizard. These things show up often and our dogs are fascinated with them. We found one dead on our porch one day and I have no idea how they caught it – those lizards are incredibly fast!!  

This morning I went to Roseau with 5 other spouses. We did a half day trip and it cost $30EC (about $12US) a person. That’s not bad considering we took a 16 passenger van, the driver takes us to three different stores and waits on us, and he drops you off at your door to help you unload your groceries. Its about a 45 minute – an hour drive and is 30 miles away. The road is extremely curvy and most people get car sick. I get a little nauseous but not too bad. Above is a video of one of the grocery stores in Roseau – called IGA. It is like a small Kroger with a very limited and inconsistent selection. Below is a list of groceries and the prices we pay for them in U.S. dollars.

8z Pompein Olive Oil                             $9.92
Chef Boyardee Spaghetti                      $2.25
Duncan Hines Brownie Mix                   $5.20
409 Kitchen Cleaner                              $5.82
Alum. Foil (generic) 75 sq. ft.               $6.00
16z Nesquik Choc Milk                          $4.35
1 lb 10z Ragu                                          $4.13
12z Hershey Choc Chips                       $5.37
18z Peanut Butter (HyTop)                   $3.92
32z Clorox bathroom cleaner               $7.37
12z Oscar Meyer Beef Bologna            $6.42
Butter – 4 sticks                                      $3.20  
8z Kraft Shredded Cheese                     $4.05

OK – so those are just a few things that I bought today but I wanted to give you a little idea about how much things cost around here! Some prices are comparable – some not so much. Some people have asked what can they send us. Well – groceries are costly down here and we try to eat in almost every meal so food would be a huge blessing to receive! The packages are expensive (about $150 for a 50lb DHL box) to send but my parents and Justin’s parents are rotating every month to send us one. So if you would like to buy food and give it to them or give them money to put towards the package we would appreciate it!!

We got our two packages!!!! My parents and the employees at my dads office sent us two packages via DHL last Monday. Usually we get DHL stuff within three days. But last week Monday and Tuesday were holidays here (Carnival) so that is why I think they were later getting to us. Because they were actually on the island last TUESDAY!! The people in Roseau just didn’t bring our slip to campus until Thursday. When you get packages here they arrive at the Canefield Airport in Roseau first and then someone from DHL in Roseau brings a slip to campus that goes in your mailbox. Once you get the slip you take it to Alexis Taxi Service and they will go pick it up for you. It cost $20EC per package. He will bring it straight to your door.
Well for some reason this time didn’t go so smoothly! I was at Alexis’ with my slip when he opened on Friday morning at 10:00 am – because I thought surely if Im there early I will definitely get my package that afternoon. So they close at 6:00 so I went by there at 5:30 to see if my package was there so that I could just take it home myself. They weren’t even back from Roseau yet. The lady there told me she would for sure make sure I got our packages when they got back. No such luck! So this morning I called to make sure my packages were there and I took a taxi to go pick them up myself because she said her driver wasn’t delivering packages until this afternoon. I wasn’t taking any chances! AND we didn’t get charged any customs! They said it was because the driver got to DHL late and the driver had to beg the man to let him have the packages and the DHL guy said he would let him have them if he would buy him some beer. So he did and the DHL guy didn’t want to deal with all the customs charges since it was so late so we didn’t get charged!! That is unheard of around here to not have to pay customs!
The first package I opened had the dog treats in them so the first thing I did before unpacking any food was give the dogs some treats! They were so happy!
My favorite things we received:

Crisco sticks – so that I can make my dads FAMOUS chocolate chip cookies

Bath & Body Works Hand Lotion – we’ve been using Palmolive to wash our hands!!

PAM cooking spray – its so expensive down here!

I’m sure Justins favorite thing will be the Ranch Style Beans – you cant even get those down here. We are so thankful for all of it and THANK YALL a million times for sending everything. And a SPECIAL thanks to Nicole - for making all this happen!!
Above are some pictures of everything we got!

Above is a very short video of worship time at Ross Christian Fellowship. Sorry Its not a very good video but I wanted to try and give you somewhat of an idea of our “church” here. We have actually just recently moved to the above location. It used to be in a wider room that was somewhat of a classroom setting. There are two worship times, one at 11:00 a.m. and another at 5:00 p.m. The first time we went we went to the evening service. I immediately called my Granny when I got home and said “Granny – you would love church here – its just like yours!!” Because during the evening service we sang out of the Baptist Hymnal with one keyboard. Not that there is anything wrong with that – we just enjoy more of a contemporary worship. We didn’t know that there was a difference between the two services the first Sunday we went!! So the next Sunday we went to the morning service. It is student led and more of a “contemporary” type worship. As you can see from the video – there are three guitarists that play and a “worship team” that stands with them. No one has a mic so Im somewhat confused as to the point of the worship team – you can’t hear them so its not as if they are “leading” worship. We still haven’t met any Christian couples yet really. I mean – we have MET them but this place is like anywhere else – everyone has already formed their friends that they hang out with. I am glad that we at least have SOMEWHERE to go though and the students that lead do the best that they can with what they have to work with. But truthfully – we miss the fellowship we had at our church and our friends from our community group.
On another note – Justins hives are back. We cannot figure out what is causing him to break out like this!! Yesterday it was looking like he was getting better and then this morning they reappeared!!! I don’t know if you can really tell by the pictures below but this is what they look like. His hands are also swelling up and itching. Please continue to pray for healing. This is quite possibly the worst time for this to happen. He has his huge test in 8 days.

Justin is feeling better today. Thanks for the prayers!! He is feeling a little nauseous and blah today but has been studying all morning – trying to play a little catch up from being out so much due to going to the doctor almost all afternoon yesterday. Today we had lunch delivered to our house from a restaurant called The Tomato – a somewhat nicer restaurant across from campus. We got chocolate chip cheesecake and it was the best thing we’ve had since we’ve been here!!
So the other day I decided to take Ellie to the pool. She was so happy. The only reason I let her in was because the only two people that were there were me and my friend Sarah. Well – about 10 minutes of her being in there – here comes Security. I think someone told on us because Security never randomly just walks around – they stay at the gate all day. So in he walks and asks me why I have her in the pool – I said “There is no sign anywhere that says NO DOGS”. He had no argument with that one!! But he told me to keep her on her leash and that she couldn’t go in the pool. I wish she would have bit him. So Justin told Ellie that someday we would have a house with a pool. I thought that was sweet. Even though Ellie will probably not be here to see the day when we get a house with a pool!!! Anyways – so after Ellie got kicked out of the pool she cried like a little baby because she couldn’t go back in. So Sarah and I took her to the beach. She swam for 2 hours!! She was happy but we had to sit in these rod iron type chairs that sink really far down in the sand when you sit in them – so it wasn’t very comfortable for us! Above is a picture of the pool we go to.
Justin’s big test is one week from Monday!! And his first Lab Practical is one week from yesterday!!! Time has gone by so fast – I cant believe his first test is almost here!

So about a week ago a “bump” appeared on Justins palm. He thought it was just a bite of some sort because it itched. So about four days ago it transferred to his other hand and both of his hands were like swollen and red and they itched really bad. Yesterday his bottom lip was swollen and his head and neck was starting to break out in hives or something. So today we went to the clinic on campus. We got there at noon and left around 2:00 p.m.!!!! The doctor there said that Justin was having an allergic reaction to something. We have no idea what he could be allergic too. He has never been allergic to anything. So she gave him an IV of cortizol (I think) – Im not really sure what it was really - I just know he got an IV of something and a shot of something else. I was in the room but obviously not watching any of this (I don’t do well with pain and needles). Anyway – throughout the time he was laying on the table he was saying that it burned, it was painful, and so on. After we left he told me she stuck the IV in one arm and it hurt so bad she had to take it out and stick it in the other arm. So he now has a prescription for a couple of things – one which will make him drowsy for a couple of days. Which – when youre in med school you really cant afford to be “drowsy” for a couple of days. Especially when he has a huge test in 10 days!!! Please pray that he will be healed and will be able to stay focused on school.
The above picture is of him after the shot and IV!!

So not much has really been going on down here. It has been raining a lot off and on pretty much ever since last Saturday. I have been to the beach a little and Justin has, of course, been studying. I am so proud of him. He really has been so disciplined and is working his butt off. His days are getting longer and I think Biochem is a little discouraging but I think after he gets the first Mini behind him he will feel better. The Mini is a huge test that has stuff they’ve learned from the beginning of school. From every subject. Except Anatomy I think. I believe that’s a different test. Sounds like I need to get Justin on here one day to explain a Mini!!!
So yesterday I had to get up early because Magdalenes (the laundry service) came to pick up our laundry. We had so much stuff. We had two weeks worth of clothes, sheets, and all of our towels (we only have 5). So imagine a huge garbage bag full and a medium garbage bag full. They brought it back at 8:30 pm. It only costs $50EC (about $20 U.S.). Wouldn’t you love it if someone did two weeks of laundry for you for only $20?!?! But don’t be TOO jealous. I have no dishwasher and no vacuum cleaner. Considering we eat lunch at home almost every day and the fact that I cook every night – that’s a lot of dishes to wash!! I feel like I wash all day. And don’t make fun of me for complaining about no vacuum. Please tell me when was the last time you actually swept with a real broom and bent over and swept it into those things you sweep it into?? So when you start complaining about your Swiffer or your dustbusters – think of me and be grateful for them!!! And if you live in the states and you are still using a broom – let me enlighten you – there are better ways!!
Above is a picture that has nothing to do with this blog but is a picture of a house in Portsmouth that I love!! Its a small two story but I think that little building that you see in front is their outhouse?

I have had a few emails from incoming students about what to expect when you come here. Well let me just tell you about our experience. First of all – we brought two 70 lb dogs (actually Ellie is only 65 lbs). That for me was the most stressful. I cried every flight. I was lucky enough to be able to see them both get on and off of every plane. The only reason that happened is because the Lord knew that I would have been an even bigger wreck if I hadn’t have seen that! There was not a direct flight to Dominica from Arkansas so we had to spend the night in San Juan. I am so glad we had to do that because I was so stressed out and I felt like the dogs needed a break. So we flew out the next to day to Dominica. The plane is a small prop plane. I was used to those planes because that’s what we used to fly out on from the town I’m from. So on your dissent down to the island – its kinda freaky. You are extremely close to trees and are flying in between mountains. The pilot even comes on the speaker and says “Americans usually get scared at this point”. And the whole plane was full of Ross students so were all just looking around like “What in the world is fixing to happen”?

So we get to the smallest airport in the world – I really don’t think Im exaggerating – its small. You go through “customs” – which is pretty much a joke and then you stand around with about 100 (at least) other people waiting for them to bring in your luggage. There was a plane that came in about 30 minutes before ours so that’s why there were so many people. So when I say they bring in your luggage – Im not kidding. It doesn’t come on one of those round things. There are two men that bring in each piece one by one and set it on the floor in front of everybody and then if it’s a black piece with no tag about 10 people go see if its theirs. Then you go wait outside for a transport (a 16 passenger van) and they take you to Ross. Since we had two huge kennels we were the LAST people to go. OH – and when we were in the “airport” Justin and another man were picking up Fisher and his kennel to take it outside and the man DROPPED his half. Everyone gasped and I seriously thought Justin was going to punch his lights out. So me and Justin get the dogs outside and then the man has the NERVE to come ask for a tip. Justin said “NO WAY MAN – YOU DROPPED MY DOG”. Oh and another thing that happened while we were in the airport was that I thought that this one guy told me to come with him to get our luggage – so I followed him outside to where the luggage was. A huge guard then proceeded to come up to me and tell me that I couldn’t cross the “line” that I crossed and told me he was going to put me in the office. I just turned around and went and stood by Justin. OOPS!!! So anyway since we have the dogs we were the LAST people to get on a transport. The dogs rode in the back of a pick up truck behind us. Take non drowsy Dramamine on this trip!! It is very windy. Even if you don’t get car sick. So we were fortunate enough that since we had the dogs and the lady in charge of transportation knew our landlord – they took us straight to our house. We get to our house and the electricity is out. So my landlord and I walk back to her house to order Chinese food while Justin and her husband were flipping switches trying to make it work. It came on about an hour later. So there we are – sitting in our house around 8:00 pm (we got to Dominica at 3:30 pm) – finally getting to eat our Chinese take-out. I just look at him and started BAWLING. To say it is a culture shock to come here is an understatement. It is a third world country. It takes a while to get used to but as long as you have a good attitude about it you will be fine. I was miserable until I made an attitude adjustment. And now I love it here!!!

Above is a picture of Justin and the dogs on a beach in San Juan!

So today Justin didn’t have school because of a “Holiday”. The holiday is called Carnival. The only way I can describe Carnival is that it is somewhat like Mardi Gras – without the beads. One of our friends had heard that there was a parade at 8:00 a.m.  The parade is supposedly some floats with people (locals) dancing around with them in crazy costumes. So Justin and I and three other of our friends went down to Portsmouth (the town it was in). We got there – no parade. So we asked someone when it was and they said 11:00 a.m.!!! Well we obviously couldn’t stay there till then because Justin and the others had to get back to study. But there was a large gathering towards the end of the street so we were like – lets see what’s going on down there! Oh my gosh – this was like nothing Ive ever experienced. Now I’ve been to Mardi Gras and I have to say I was more comfortable there than I was in the midst of all of this. First of all – it was ALL locals. The five of us were the only ones there not from Dominica. So right off the bat we felt out of place. And there were people dressed up alright – but not in the elaborate costumes we had heard of. There were men dressed as women and women dressed – well – inappropriately to say the least. And there was one LARGE man in a bikini that didn’t fit very well and he came up to us and asked if we were from Ross (the med school). We said yes. He then proceeded to turn around, pull down his bikini a little and showed us a “cut” he had. He asked us if we could stitch him up. Justin said “GROSS”. I can’t believe he didn’t get knocked out. We said no and headed the other way – the way we came. Then we came upon a fight in the middle of the street and a local ran up to us screaming “LEAVE!! LEAVE!!!” – because we were just standing there watching. Not sure why. He was also yelling “CALL THE POLICE”!!! So we imagined that everyone was just going to start knocking people out like a bar fight in the middle of the street – and that’s why he told us to leave. So Justin “thanked him” and we kept walking the other way. I found it very funny that Justin said “thank you” to the man. We then started the walk back home.

The above picture is of their “speaker system” at Carnival. Its just a bunch of speakers piled on the back of a truck.

So today we slept in. Till 9:00 a.m. That’s pretty late for Justin considering he gets up at 6:30 every morning. Then I fixed breakfast – ok Im lying – we ate cereal. Justin had an Anatomy session today with his lab group and two T.A.’s (3rd and 4th semester students) at 11:00 a.m. So Ellie and I went with him. I took some pictures of the campus and we went to the beach that you can walk down to off of the campus (Above is a picture of the stairs on campus that lead to the beach). Ellie attempted to play in the ocean but the waves were a little too large today. She didn’t want to quit but I was tired of seeing here being engulfed by waves. I think that she thought she liked it – but it wasn’t safe. So then we went up by the sand volleyball area and I threw her toy around for awhile. Then she pooped on campus and I didn’t have anything to clean it up with. I looked around me and noticed that someone had thrown down an empty plastic cup and a plastic spoon. So I just scooped her poop into the cup and threw it away!! It was pretty gross but at least I killed two birds with one stone – cleaned up poop and someone elses litter!! Then we came home and ate lunch. Now Justin is studying!!! It is rainy today so I cant go to the pool or anything.

So Thursday our (Justins) favorite show premiered. (“LOST”) And the weirdest thing happened. We weren’t 10 seconds into the show and all of a sudden a computer screen pops up on our TV. Windows 2000 actually. It just looked like someone moving their mouse around the screen – opening up random programs. We could still hear everything that was going on on LOST – the picture was just of someones desktop!! The cable here is somewhat normal. We get all the stations we got in the states. It’s just that some of them appear to be from San Juan and some are from New York. Like ABC for instance – a commercial comes on often that says “ABC Puerto Rico” – yet we get the local New York news. And on some of the channels the commercials are in Spanish yet the shows are in English. Well – were just thankful we have cable!!
Have yall heard the song “Praise you in this Storm” by Casting Crowns? It isn’t brand new but an awesome song!! The following verse is from that song….
I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."  Psalm 121:1-2
This verse reminds us that Justin cannot do this alone and that his help comes from the Lord.