Hi! My husband is going to be attending Ross in Fall 08, and my daughter (who will be 2) and I will be coming up in December once I finish my last semster of nursing school. Does she need a passport as well as me? I am feeling a little overwhelmed with planning for this. I know I won’t be up for a while, but I want to be as prepared as I can! Any help would be appreciated!
Gina

Hi, my name is Briana. My husband, John, and I will be coming in Fall ‘08. I am very excited to come. I am a social worker/therapist and have some questions about jobs in Dominica. I know it may not be possible to work while I am there, but I’d like to at least explore my options, even if they just include volunteering. Does anyone have any information on social work organizations in the area? Or even local schools/hospitals who have a continual need for social workers/therapists? Thanks!!

Welcome Briana! Really the only paid job around is the bookstore but there are volunteer opportunities at some local schools. You can email me at ejgranata@aol.com and I would be happy provide you with more information. I am a social worker as well. If you would like a sponsor the Ross Spouses Organization can link you up with another spouse who can answer any questions you have from now until when you arrive on the island. The spouse will also meet and welcome you and your spouse upon you arriving on the island. Let me know if you are interested. Thanks and welcome again. Ericka

My wife - Lauren - and I will be arriving at Ross in late August for the fall ‘08 semester. I’m a pastor (follower of Jesus Christ, worked in Baptist and Methodist churches, but I am less concerned about denominations and am more concerned about loving the LORD our G-d with all my heart, soul and strength, following the Rabbi, Jesus and loving my neighbors…), and our local church in TX is sending me as a missionary while my wife is studying on the island. I have been in youth ministry for nearly a decade, and I have a huge heart for boys growing up without spiritual fathers along raising awareness, etc. with social justice issues - globally and locally. What are the major needs around the Portsmouth area? I’m really excited about this new season in our life. Is there someone I can talk to who is involved in mission, counseling, church work, etc.? Thanks and G-d bless.
Peace
Ryan

What a wonderful addition you will be to campus life! There are a lot of volunteering opportunities in the area. Welcome also to Briana, Gina, and Jennifer! Ryan, there are several different Christian denominations that meet on campus, and even more around the island. Dominicans are a religious people in general, and I am sure you will be able to fulfill the mission the Lord will set before you. The largest Christian group on campus is the Ross Christian Fellowship, a non-denominational congregation of students, families, etc. I’ll try and dig up some more information for you, though I wouldn’t be surprised if someone reads your comment and all ready has the information available for you. Good luck in your preparations for life on Dominica.

thanks so much for the quick reply “star-fisher”. is there a contact person for the Ross Christian Fellowship? Thanks again. This is a great site!
Also, we are bringing our two mini dachsunds and are looking for a place w/ AC/generator/pets allowed/cable-internet and would love to be walking distance from campus, living next to the locals. do you have any suggestions?
peace
ryan

does anyone know how the pharmacy stytem works at Ross?
is it best to get insurance through Ross? do they accept all US health care providers and discount cards?
any hassles?
thanks
ryan

Hi Ryan-

My husband is a leader for Ross Christian Fellowship. The founders of RCF, Pastor Ed, a Baptist preacher from Oklahoma, and his wife Cindee are off the island right now, but will be back mid-June. We would love to answer any of your questions and help get you set up with somewhere to serve down here! My email is amankins@gmail.com and Kyle’s is morgankj@gmail.com. Feel free to contact us! We could also get you in contact with Pastor Ed.

As for your question about the pharmacy system, there is one main pharmacy in Picard located directly across from campus called Bullseye Pharmacy. There is no cost for services recieved from the student health center for you or your wife. Also, you will not need a perscription card or insurance to get medicine at the pharmacy, and most medicines are much cheaper here than in the US. There are hosptials in Dominica, the largest one being Princess Margaret Hospital in Roseau, where you can recieve additional care, though there you have to pay for services. The cost will be very minimal in most cases (my husband went to get an x-ray a few months ago, and it was 40 e.c., so less than 20 usd. You can only imagine what an x-ray would cost in the states!)There are also dental services here as well. Hopefully that helps answer your question! My husband and I use the school’s insurance, and have only had to use it once we were home during break and set up appointments in the US.

Awesome!
Thanks so much for your help. Much appreciated…
Look forward to meeting you guys!
peace
Ryan

Hi there!
Just wondering if any husbands of students are a part of the spouses organization? After years of following my husband with his Navy career, it is his turn to follow me to medical school. I’m going to be studying a lot, and I don’t want him and our 2-year old little girl to be lonely Any guys in the group?

Welcome Jesse and spouse! Yes, there are several men who are accompanying their wives/girlfriends/fiances on the island. They are very welcome in the group, and the group definitely benefits from their involvement. Since involvement in the organization is totally voluntary it’ll be his choice how involved he wants to be. There have been semesters where men lend their time and talents to help lead the organization, and semesters where none of the males take an active role in the group. Whatever works for him, he will be very welcome. Even dedicated stay-at-home Moms tend to take advantage of the part-time day-care available here. Play dates are oftens set up spontaneously and individually. Most of the families who really bond with each other spend the lunch hour together by the playground on campus. I hope that helps!

Thank you, ladies! I feel so much better knowing that my hubby will have a support network on the island. Looking forward to meeting everyone!

Hi everybody!
My husband is starting Sep08. We have a 10 month old baby. I was also wondering if we need to ship her crib or if we can find one there.
Would it be possible for somebody from the spouses organization to please e-mail me so we could correspond?

I just wanted to let our readers know that we frequently respond to these comments by assigning people a sponsor, or simply by e-mailing them directly. For those of you wondering about Karla’s comment “Hi all, I wanted to know if you guys think I can find another spouse to watch my son for me after school so I can study? …” We suggested that she employ a Dominican to be her child’s Nanny on the island, though finding a spouse is also possible. Most of the ’single’ mothers and fathers here find a Nanny to be the best solution to their unique needs.

We also appear to have a fantastic group of families coming to the island! This is good since more families left than came in the last semester, and there are lots of families leaving this semester. It’s also kind of bad because BABY CRIBS seem to be in everyone’s top concerns. There are a limited number of cribs sold from family to family as people leave the island, but I don’t believe there will be as many available as there are people seeking for them. I will check in Roseau on June 19th to review for you what cribs are available to buy on the island.
Until then, you may want to research other options. What I might do in your situation, is buy an inexpensive crib (either used or portable) and have it shipped to Tropical Shipping. I would call Tropical Shipping several days before they receive the crib to open an acount with them and to notify them of the incoming box. Then Tropical would ship it to the island. You would probably want to do this 3 weeks before you actually want to get the crib on Dominica. If the crib is sitting in customs for more than a week you will risk it getting lost. It is better to plan to arrive about the same time. Then you can hire a driver to pick it up for you. That’s just what I would do, but again, I will price cribs here since there are so many people looking for them in September. Welcome to Ross to all of you!

Hi everyone!
My husband and I will be arriving at the end of August for the Fall Semester. When will you be starting meetings? Is there any advice I can get on where to shop for groceries while we are there? When I visited him last semester the small stores near campus seemed really limited and expensive. Thank you for any advice and I look forward to meeting all of you!

Tori Hobel

The formal Spouse Orientation is usually the Tuesday after classes start, so September 9th will be the next one. There are lots of activities going on throughout the semester.
You are correct that the stores are small, limited, and expensive! The best places to shop are Astaphan’s, IGA, and Brizee’s Mart in Roseau. Prices are similar or less sometimes, but there’s a LOT better selection. There’s a free school transport to Roseau on Saturday mornings, and RSO does one trip a month where we pay the driver to follow us through all our shopping. See you soon!

Hi Tori,
You can order your meat through Malcolm Stephen’s who will deliver your order in front of the Shacks. He carries ground beef, ground turkey, pork chops, boneless, skinless chicken, shrimp, breakfast sausages and steaks. The only trick is, you must buy it in bulk. Please refer to the resources section where I have posted some information shopping for food. You best bet to save money on non parishable food items would be to send barrels of food.

Is it possible to ship a dirt bike to Dominica?? Has anyone done this before? Or am I nuts??

hi Lisa,
I don’t know about a dirt bike but a friend of mine shipped a bike that folds up and put it in a barrel (Along with other things). If you have a specific bike that you want to ship, my suggestion would be to call up Tropical Shipping or Amerijet to find out how you could pack it and what it would cost to ship it. The barrel is the best way since you culd avoid paying lots of customs tax on it but it is possible. Having a bike is convenient to go from home to school.

CRIBS
Lots of people have been asking about cribs. I went to Astaphans on July 19,2008 to check on prices. This is the only store I know of that sells cribs. Here was the price range:
1) Simple crib - white with coloured trim, the rail does not go up and down. Without mattress the price was $403 EC (Approx $151 USD) and $453 EC (approx $170 USD)
2) Sleigh crib - white in colour, rail does go up and down on one side, without mattress - $1353 EC (approx $506 USD)
3) Daybed style crib (covertible to a toddler bed) - white in colour and again without mattress is $1500 EC ($562 USD)
This is just to give you an idea of how much cribs cost. I’m sorry I can’t post pictures.

Thank you very much “mom2divas” for the information about cribs.

Hello! My name is Ivana I’ll be moving to Dominica in Jan. 08 to support my boyfriend while he is in school there. We have been looking at the housing database but realize that the majority of housing that allows pets (we have a dog) is 30 min. from campus. We’ll be walking to campus so we need something close. How far in advance do you suggest is sufficient to find housing? Should we put our deposit down 1 month before arriving to the island, or is 2-3 months best?

Hello, my husband and I moved to Dominica on Tuesday, August 19th. My husband will be attending Ross 08/08 and I am here for support. We found housing that accepts pets (yorkie and foxwire terrier)in Glanvilla. It’s a little far from the Univeristy but do-able. I also will be attending the Spouse Orientation and look forward to meeting and making new friends. I am also looking for a job on the side to make a little money… I love my AC : )

Hi, we’re planning to come to Dominica for the Jan’09 start and are looking for housing for me, my hubby, two kids (2 yr old & 2 1/2 mos. old) and our german shepherd. The options on the Ross housing database for pets are farther from the University than we’d like to be. Are there other options that aren’t listed on the housing dbase that someone could refer me to? I’d appreciate any help I can get. You can email me directly at melissarenee@bellsouth.net. Thanks!

Thanks so much for such a quick response. Hopefully you’ll still be in Dominica when we arrive. It’d be great to meet you in person. Thanks again in advance and for such a great resource. This website is amazing!