I finally get some time to myself to write about my trip to and the events that took place in Sint Maarten. I don’t have internet in my apartment at the moment. I’m working to get that problem fixed. The thing that sucks about not having internet is that blogging becomes that more difficult. Basically when there is internet access there is no time and when there is time (like when I’m home) there’s no internet.

Anyways, I’m exhausted right now. Its only 12 am here and I am done. My brain wants to shut down... Onwards…

I missed a couple of days but I’ll try to get all that down now.

January 3^rd, 2010

I managed to sell my car the night before. Finally, I was freed from the weight of worrying about where to park the car, how to get the parts for the car to fix it, who was going to move the car during alternate side parking, and if I were to park the car in the garage how much money would be needed (money that could be spent up here.) It was definitely a blessing.

Ride to the Airport:

I was up at 4:30am. I got ready and drove my ex-car (we definitely had some good times) to the guy that purchased it.

At 7am my family consisting of my moms, pops, sister, and cousin together with my girlfriend piled into a big taxi, squashed like sadines. My three big bags, my carry on and my laptop bag were snuggly packed in the vans sizeable trunk.

There was no traffic so we made it to the airport in 45 minutes, about 2 hrs 45 min before my departure time. The airport was crowded and the check in line was about two or three manhattan (street) blocks long. My family was worried that I wouldn’t make it in time to catch my flight. I wasn’t worried though, standing in line slightly tilted backwards due to the weight of my laptop bag. This is what I get for fitting in what I could into this bag.

Everything went smoothly… By 1115, ie. After a 45 min delay my flight was up and away, and I instantly passed out.

Arrival in Sint Maarten:

As the airplane got closer to Sint Maarten a few other small islands came into view. The Caribbean sea was lit up as if an invisible hand had turned on an underwater light on; gorgeous barely surfices as a description. I was enthralled as I stared out the window in between listening to the old man, seated beside me, advising me not to go to the casino.

The airport was nice, small and very clean. Walking through it I could feel a difference, feel it in my body. No one was rushing to get anywhere. Everything and everyone moved at a pace much slower than NYC…

By the time I made it outside customs the person that was to pick me up had already departed. This wasn’t a good thing; I didn’t have the address to my apartment. Luckily as with every airport there were numerous cabs waiting. I asked the cab driver to take me to the security office at AUC where I could hopefully be pointed in the right direction. In short it all worked out. Security pointed me to the office where I was to pick up my keys for my apartment.

My apartment here is three minutes walk to the AUC campus. It is owned by a management company called Solutions. “Solutions” owns a few other apartments in the apartment building. The rest are either privately owned or are the property of other management companies. No one management company owns all the apartments.

At the solutions office, I met my first classmate, V. V graciously together with a gentleman working in the solutions office helped me transport my luggage to the apartment. Yes I had that many bags.

By the time I was unpacked it was late. Later at night V and I went out to the casino nearby to grab a bit to eat, chill and watch the Jets cream the Bengals.

01/4/2010 Monday

First Day of Orientation:

Registration only took a few minutes, probably because V and I got there at 8am, when registration started. Next there was a business fair, which had representatives from the banking, phone, internet and posting services. After this we had a wellness lecture with Dr. A, to prepare us for the rigours of Medical School, to instill in us the right mindset to succeed in medical school. I thought it was really good but way to long. During break, I purchased my white coat and got the notes needed for the first exam from note services. Afterwards we met up with our orientation advisors.

In between our orientation activities, V and I took his rented car to grocery shop. We went to a big supermarket called Cost U Less, quite some distance from the our building. During the ride, I glanced out the window taking in the sights. This island is really pretty.

When Orientation was over, I went with B, another first semester, to play pick up soccer.

My opinion overall: everyone is friendly and supportive.

Of note: I finally got to meet Benji, whose blog helped paint a picture of life on the Island, a picture of how the first semester is organized, and ways to prepare for my trip up there. If you are considering AUC definitely give his site a read!

01/06/2010

Today we really start our semester. The first lecture begins at 8 am and the last lecture ends at around 12. Then, theres a 2 hour break before we have anatomy lab.

I woke up around 5am and did my routine push up’s and sit ups. Now I’m heading to class.