Welcome to the Bahamas!

When I first saw the west side of the Bahamas from my airplane window, I got a little choked up. Medical school in the Bahamas... I am constantly pinching myself.

The first week in the Bahamas was one of the greatest experiences of my life. The first day, however, was one of the worst...

[Some backstory] A couple days before I flew out of the Bahamas, my landlord emailed me to tell me that the condo I had signed the lease for was now being used by the owner's family, and I was being moved to a different condo. I had spent a significant amount of time going through the housing database to find the perfect condo, so this news made me extremely nervous. I asked for pictures, for which they didn't have any, but they assured me that it was not much different and that I would be satisfied. With only a couple days before I was to fly out, I decided I had no choice but to take their word for it...

My school picked me up from the airport using a big tour bus, along with other students who were flying in that day as well. I hadn't been paying attention on my flight to the people around me, but there were about 6 other students on my same flight (which accounted for a large majority of people on board since it was one of those small prop planes). We boarded the bus, picked up a few other students from other terminals, and then headed toward our various residences.  The housing coordinator was also aboard the bus, and he gave us a very friendly welcome speech and a few tips on how to manage the during next week (i.e. where to get groceries, how to travel, bike stores, taxis, buses, cell phones, restaurants, beaches, etc). He also gave us each a "starter" bag, consisting of 2 bags of top ramen, a roll of paper towels, a packet of microwave popcorn, 3 rolls of toilet paper, 2 bottles of water, and a Honey and Oats granola bar.

The bus dropped me off right in front of my building. I walked in, said hello to the receptionist, and then met my landlord. She took me up to my room, in a somewhat hurried fashion. She had other students waiting to be shown in to their apartments. We rode the elevator to the seventh floor, walked down the hallway a little bit, and then stood outside my soon-to-be new home. When she unlocked the door and pushed it open, I was filled with anticipation. I had no idea what to expect. And, unfortunately, I hated it.

It could have been that I was hot and sweaty from lugging my suitcases in the humidity and the heat, and that I was cranky from traveling all day, but the dirty, muggy, dingy apartment was nothing like the one I signed the lease for. She was in such a rush, and I was in such a state of shock, that before I could even wrap my mind around the situation, she was gone, and I was left standing alone in the entry way as the door shut behind me. I don't even know for how long I stood there. Eventually I made my way around the small space, inspecting every nook and cranny, and trying to figure out what to do. Do I unpack? I felt like to unpack would to accept this was my new place, and I couldn't bring myself to do that just yet. I went in to the dark bathroom, felt my way around for a light switch, found it, and then found that it didn't work. Nor did half the lights or outlets. I panicked a little. Thankfully the AC worked, for after opening the sliding glass door, the smell was a little better but the muggy heat was the same. The balcony was covered in pigeon poo, and the fifth that caked all the surfaces, nicknacks, candles, dishes and appliances was about three millimeters thick. I sat down on the hard, squeaky mattress, and tried to figure out what to do. I needed to contact Jake and my family, to let them know that I had arrived safely, and then maybe I'd ask them what I should do. So that's it, I thought, I'd set up my wifi and try to Facetime with someone from back home.

I unpacked the new Apple router I had just bought, and then followed the very simple directions for setting it up. Nothing happened. The router was working, but the internet was not. The light was yellow when it was supposed to be green. I plugged in the ethernet cord directly in to my laptop, and still, nothing. My mind started racing. No phone, no internet, and no one to help. On top of that, I had already been informed that it was a holiday in the Bahamas, so most of the businesses were closed. I started shaking and began feeling incredibly homesick. This was not how I pictured it. I got back in the elevator, and decided to ask the receptionist for some help. Sorry ma'am, but deed you call yo landlady? (That's my thick Bahaman accent). I politely told him NO, that I have no phone, no internet, no way of contacting my family to let them know that I am safe... I trailed off as my eyes filled with tears. My throat hurt with that achy lump and I was shaking. He could tell I was a mess. He told me that my landlady would be back tomorrow morning, and she could help me then. He offered for me to use his personal cell phone, but when I told him the call would be to California, I could sense he was nervous about the price. I thanked him, but with as much courage as I could muster, I told him I would be fine without it.

I went back up to my studio apartment and cried. I was tired and homesick, and I knew I'd have to wait until tomorrow. After a few minutes sobbing and partaking in some of the ugliest crying I've ever done, I decided to pull myself together. Immediately I started collecting all the decor around my apartment that I found hideous (for example, a little candle(?) vase with blue wax and a plastic sail boat inside caked in grime). Trinkets that aren't really my personal esthetic, the gold shell-shaped place mats, random nicknacky cluttery stuff... I shoved them all in bottom drawer of the kitchen. Then I went around with some cleaner I found under the sink, and disinfected almost every surface I could find. I swept and mopped. I lit some candles I pulled from my suitcase, and put up framed pictures of my loved ones on the newly cleaned bed stands. I covered the couch with an extra white sheet from home, and put the ruffly white pillows from the bed on the couch. And then finally, I replaced the ugly convalescent home sheets and pillowcases with sheets from home, and made my bed. I felt better immediately. When that was all done, I decided I could start unpacking my suitcase. It wasn't the apartment I signed up for, but it was no longer a disaster.

The next morning I got up early, made a list of things I needed to address, packed my backpack with water, my wallet, my iphone (now only used for picture taking), and my keys. I took the list down to the front desk. I calmly and deliberately read each item of my list to the landlord, pausing after each item and confirming she understood. I politely told her that I would be happy to sign the final piece of the leasing agreement, but that these things needed to be addressed before I did. She understood. And then I took off.

I had a map from the orientation guide book, but almost immediately I realized the roads were much bigger than they looked on the map, and that I was a little naive taking these roads by foot. Oh well, I thought, no turning back now. I walked almost two miles to the Port of Lucaya marketplace, when I ran in to a kid walking toward me. As he passed, he turned back and said, "hey, you a student?" I said yes and he told me a group of students were meeting to go to the grocery store in five minutes at his complex, right around the corner, and that I'd be more than welcome to join. Now that I write this, I realize how sketchy that sounds, but it wasn't. I felt so relieved. I had consumed the only food I had the night before (the two packages of top ramen and the granola bar), and I was in desperate need of some food. I followed him to a yard where about 8 students were gathered. We all introduced ourselves and then crammed in to a taxi bus when it arrived shortly after.

I got about $80 worth of food (which really isn't that much in the Bahamas) at a store that is their version of a Costco or Sam's Club. Bulk food. I looked for local items that would be cheaper. My proudest purchase was a large bag of frozen fish fillets, which I have seasoned and cooked almost every night since, for ten dollars. Rice, pasta, some local seasonings, a 6 pack of ginger ale, bagels, a bag of pretzels... I think that's about it for that particular trip. I only had my back pack and was sharing a cab full of students so I didn't want to overwhelm myself.

The cab driver picked us up, and all I can say about this man, who has come up several times since this particular cab ride, is that he's shady and he's aggressive. He told us the cost for a ride home would be $2 per person no matter where the destination, and as he dropped each of us off at our various residences, he changed the price on us. When one of the guys challenged him on it, he screamed in rage that the price of gas was really expensive. My fellow student politely said, "I completely understand that gas is expensive, but it's not the price, it's the principle. You cannot advertise one price and then increase it midway, you have to be upfront about it." I thought the cab driver was going to murder him. He stared at him with rage, practically foaming at the mouth. I told him to just give the driver the extra dollars and that everything would be ok. When it got down to three of us left in the cab, it became apparent that I would be the last one dropped off, and more than that, I'd be alone with this psycho driver. When we pulled up to the second to last stop, I felt a cool hard piece of metal against my shoulder from behind, and when I turned around, my fellow student, the one who recruited me in the first place, was passing me his 6-inch switchblade. I slyly put it in my back pocket and whispered "thank you, I'll get this back to you." He said, "no worries, just take care of yourself." And just like that, I was alone in an unfortunate situation, yet again.

I made polite small chat to the best of my ability, doing my best to remain confident and collected. His answers were short and bitter, his jaw still clenched, eyes squinted and his brow furrowed. I collected my groceries as we approached my building, and not too hastily, paid the man and got out of the cab. He creepily lingered a bit, I'm sure just to watch me walk away, but it gave me some confidence knowing he's eyes would eventually find that large blade sticking out of my back pocket.

When I got back to my apartment, it was clear someone had been there. The room was cooler (due to the AC being on) and the patio had been hosed down. I set the groceries down on the table, and checked the bathroom lights... They worked! With my hopes up, I checked the light on the router... IT WAS GREEN!!!! My entire world changed in that moment. I almost cried. I Facetimed my mom and Jake, checked instagram, checked my email, checked facebook, and just for the fun of it, I checked the weather. Everything was perfect. My apartment was perfect, the weather was perfect, my new friends were perfect, my fish purchase was perfect, my pretzels were perfect, my view was perfect, my bed was perfect... the whole world was perfect! THIS WAS MY DREAM!!!!!

It's amazing how drastic everything has changed since that first day. The following week was amazing. I walked a lot more around the island. I went to the Port of Lucaya Marketplace and looked around. I talked to so many friendly locals, giving me advice about places to go and things to see. I purchased an anklet. I went to the beach with some of my new friends and sipped on a cold beer while the waves crashed in to my legs. I went to Banana Bay, a crystal clear, stunning pool of ocean, where it does not get more than waist high and saw a sting ray and a baby shark swimming just a few feet away. I had watched Shark Week the night before, so while I thought it was magical, I also ran away as fast as I could (which in thigh high water is not very fast). I purchased a bike that week also, and spent a lot of time laying out by the amazing huge pool and soaking up some rays. One evening I went down there at sunset, and had the whole pool to myself. It felt warm against the evening air, and the violet pink lights of the sky reflected off the building. It took my breath away. I felt so peaceful and content.

I have to remember this whole experience. I don't know if I would have believed anyone that first day if they had told me how wonderful the next couple of days would be. I was in such a dark place. But those dark places are necessary for you appreciate good days, and I think I'm much stronger as a result of going through that. It was a character builder day, and I wouldn't change anything about it. I'm grateful it happened.

The night I swam in the pool...

The sunrise on the first morning in the Bahamas...

Banana Bay and the crystal waters...

 Always missing my better half...

The sting ray(!!)...

Suman was really excited about finding a sand dollar...

Billy found a cool shell...

 With the sluggy guy still in it...

More of Banana Bay...

Another sunrise from my room...

And shortly after the sun set (soooo blue!!!)...

The sunrise this morning...

Jake's mom, Pat, gave me a Prayer book as a going away gift, and a few days after I had happily settled in, I found a quote that spoke so much truth to me about my journey to medical school as a whole and my experience in the Bahamas thus far...

"Those who have to wait and work for happiness seem to enjoy it more, because they never take it for granted."

-Barbara Johnson

And it's so true. I worked very hard and waited a very long time, and I'm so, so happy! I might have to remind myself of some of these things while I'm spending the next four months studying every second, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there... ;)