Only in Dominica - The Corridor Physician

I was meant to have a small procedure at the hospital recently - which by the way was postponed. While waiting for the first four of what would turn out to be a six hour wait, one young woman came out of the ward dragging her drip stand, and shuffling down to sit near me, and about 4 other older women along the corridor.

She was apparently lactating, and had seriously soiled the front of her night dress since she, as she would explain, was not allowed to breast feed her baby. As she was sitting there, groaning and complaining, this is the conversation that ensued between herself, and the older women sitting there:

Older woman: "Girl... why you crying so? Ask de doctor to make you feed your chile!"

Patient: "I cannot. De doctor say is not good now."

Visiting woman: "Is true, depending on de tablet she taking, it can affect de chile."

Older woman: "But you not seeing is not a tablet she taking... is liquid she on!"

25 Random things about me

1. I'm not a fashionista. Never was, never will be. Taking the time to "dress up" simply depends on my mood, and the amount of free time I have.

2. I LOVE warm waffles!!... Ohhhhhhh.. :)

3. At a party, I'm the girl you'll find sitting on the back step, or under the tree.

4. My ears aren't pierced, simply because I don't want to- It is not a statement of social rebellion.

5. I rescue bugs and creepy crawlies if I find them in trouble (minus the mosquitoes and the cockroaches of course)

6. My favourite time of day's at night.. when everyone else is asleep...

7. I usual reflect the emotions of the people I'm around.. If they're sad, then I'm sad. I guess that means I'm not much of a mood lifter.

8. I'm completely comfortable with silence, as long as there isn't any animosity

9. I still want to learn guitar! Darn it!

10. I LOVE BREAD!

11. I despise dumb arguments and simply wont participate.

12. I wish I were wittier.

13. I think God knew what he was doing when he made me.

14. For some reason, I do care what the people I love think about me, and am constantly afraid of disapproval.

15. The idea of death does not scare me.

16. I write out my feelings more easily than I could say it.

17. I put ketchup on my scrambled eggs, and use chocolate milk with my breakfast cereal.

18. I like learning things... just about anything

19. I cook when I want to... and that's that.

20. I'm not a financial wiz!

21. I like poetry, and music, and art, and all things creative.

22. Doesn't like being the center of attention... and prefers anonymity.

23. I love my Dou Dou!

24. I'm afraid of grasshoppers, but I'm working on it.

25. I just used 25 minutes of my time trying to think of 25 random things about myself.

Only in Dominica - The Hitchhicker

On my island home, hitching a ride is not only a necessity at times, but it's an almost unavoidable part of our culture. As inconvenient, and imposing as it can be, it is what it is - With a transportation system like ours, face it, we have all had to tough it out on the shrubby 'highways' at one point or another.

Needless to describe how annoying, and disconcerting it can be for the person desirous of a ride... but what about that driver who stops, sometimes only as an after thought, or after being bitten by a persistent conscience?

My dad recounts this experience:

He had been coming from work one afternoon, and was meant to pass in through Salisbury. While driving, he had passed this man in Layou, who had flagged him down... hesitating, he stopped for the guy. Unknowing to him, a rather rotund woman who was also standing along side the road, hopped on. No comment from my dad- only the "Oh boy" look.

The male passenger disembarks in St Joseph, leaving only the woman on board, who, to put it nicely, would make no better company than a swarm of starving mosquitoes.

Upon arrival in Salisbury, my dad stops along the highway so the woman could get off.

Woman- "But is not der i going. Right Portsmouth oui I have to go."
Dad - "Lady, I have to go up to Salisbury."
Woman - "But why you pick me up if is der you going?"

My Dad cringes, sucks his teeth.. but says nothing.

Murmuring and mumbling as she wobbles off the vehicle, she marches up to the drivers window..."Well den give me $5 to pay my bus nah man?"

BOL' FACE!