Top 10 Things I Will Miss MOST about Dominica

So as my time is winding down here on the island, I thought I'd make a list of the top 10 things I will miss MOST about Dominica (and the top 10 things I will miss LEAST about Dominica...to be posted later).  It's sort of sobering to look back on my experiences over the last 3 and 2/3 years here on the "Nature Isle".  As human beings, we sometimes dwell on and get obsessed about the "bad or annoying" things and overlook the good.  However, I've been finding as I reminise that I find it much easier to think of the things that I won't have access to anymore that I'll miss, than those that I won't (which is a good thing I think!).  So here goes!!!
10- Rainbows.  Dominica has by far the most rainbows that I have ever seen in one place.  No joke, you at least see one a day due to the fact that this is a tropical island with an average monthly rainfall of 6.35in (in Roseau which is more towards the coast and less in the interior.  There is more rainfall in the interior however than on the coast.).  On some days you see more than one rainbow.  I've seen tons of double rainbows and I've even seen a few "reversed rainbows" (meaning it goes ROYGBIVIBGYOR with no break...props to you if you figured that out without the explanation, or even if you figured out the explanation.  If you didn't, ask me and I'll explain better.)  I know that rainbows are found everywhere so I'll still be able to enjoy them back in the states, but just not nearly with as much frequency as I'm able to enjoy them here.
9-No "in your face" advertizing.  When you are in the islands, you definitely don't have access to all of the mass marketing things that overwhelm your life and senses in the US.  There are no "seasons" in Dominica, so you just go along your business from day to day and don't realize there's a holiday coming up until a day before (ok, so really maybe like a week prior to) the actual holiday.  No store windows with Valentines, Easter, Halloween, or Thanksgiving (ok, so realistically Dominica doesn't even celebrate those last two, but still) decorations or holiday specific candy (though we've gotten a small amount of holiday candy- like half a small shelf at the end of an aisle in the grocercy store) or holiday commercials on tv.  Definitely prevents over consumption of the (bad) food products and the lack of commercialism is so nice and calming.  And the next day, its back to life as usualy without the next holiday being thrown at you months in advance!
8. Cheapness of some things.  Certain things in Dominica I've found to relatively cheap...others, most definitely NOT!  Some of the things I've found to be less expensive that I will miss include electricity (This is probably just me as a user and not the cost of electricity itself.  Electricity is pre-paid, so when you run out of juice, you have no power.  It's also more apparent when you use certain things like the A/C because you can see just how much more electricity is being used up on your meter.  Plus here I can turn off all the outlets at the wall with a switch is I'm not using, so no phantom power drain; and I leave my windows open 24/7 for a nice breeze coming down the mountain.), gas (for your car... again, not because gas is cheaper...it's more expensive actually- about US$5+ a gallon...but I only drive 10 miles a day so my gas lasts longer in my car...I fill up MAYBE once a month.), massages (an hour deep tissue massage runs you on average of US$40, plus they come to your house so you can get a massage in the comfort of your own home), and pedicures/aethetician stuff (a pedicure is US$15 with OPI colors and it last PERFECTLY for a minimum of 6 weeks!).
7.  Chef Eric Subin's cooking.  Here's begins my food obsession (see #6 and 5).  Chef Eric Subin is a FANTASTIC chef!  One of, if not THE, best chef's in Dominica.  From eating on the beach at Red Rock, to fine dining and AMAZING brunches (my personal favorite) at De Champ, many of us have followed Eric where ever he goes.  I will definitely miss his unique take on food and though I know I'm going to be able to have easier access to fantastic food in the US, I know I'll definitely miss him (and his cashew crusted flourless dark chocolate tart)!


Fried bakes

 6. Bakes.  Bakes in Dominica are akin to biscuits or english muffins in the US, but 100x better (and most likely worse for you).  They have flour, salt, water, and baking powder and then they are fried (hence the bad for you thing) so they have a crunchy exterior.  They're so good but I've limited myself recently to having them only as a "treat". They are more commonly stuffed with saltfish or some other fish, but I prefer the ones for breakfast and I have mine filled with egg, cheese, and ham.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
5. Fruit and fresh fruit juice.  Now Dominica will make you a snob when it comes to fresh fruit and fruit juices.  Mainly because they're so plentiful and found year round, and you can pick them from a tree as you're walking down the road.  I mean, with the wide variety of fruit trees that are found by my house (see a previous blog), I will miss being able to get fresh limes, oranges, and mangos just outside my door.  And a coconut just off the tree (with juice and the meat) and fresh pineapples will be missed as well.  Also now I'm very picky about fruit juices.  I only want them "fresh squeezed" and not out of a box with all the added sugar.  I'll definitely miss fresh passion fruit, tangerine, and sorrel.


April 2012.  The last class with my regulars
(for 4 semesters) who moved onto the
US for rotations.  I miss these guys!

 4.  Teaching my yoga class.  The teacher in me will always prevail it seems.  From teaching anatomy in lecture or lab, to coaching gymnastics for 12 years, or teaching yoga...it seems I'm always going to be doing some sort of teaching.  When I first moved to Dominica, I was able to take Vinyasa yoga from the lovely Jess Trudeau (student spouse).  When her man finished up his time in Dominica, she obviously left.  Unfortunately that meant no "hard" yoga class (there's another lady who teaches yoga, but it's not my preferred style and not challenging enough for me).  So I volunteered to teach class (granted I'm not "licensed" or anything, but my 12 years experience coaching gymnastics and 3-4 years taking yoga classes made me knowledgeable...not to mention my ease in "lecturing").  I've been teaching a 1.5 hour Friday Vinyasa yoga class every semester for the past 2 and 2/3 years.  I've made lots of friends with the students and non-Ross people who've come to my class, helped others find their love of yoga, and enjoyed watching as people get better and learn new "tricks" that they never thought they could do.  I know the only way I'll be able to teach in the US, is to go through the training to be "licensed", but we'll see what I decide to do about that.  I will miss all my regulars (some of which have "moved on" from the island), but am glad I could be a part of their lives for a little while.  Not to mention I'll definitely miss the view during yoga (on a deck overlooking the caribbean ocean at sunset in 80 degree weather...go ahead and drool)!
3. Friends.  Yes, I've made quite a few friends here at work and outside of work (locals and ex-pats alike).  They've each touched my life and added some flavor and experiences to it and they will be dearly missed.  Most of it is personal, so I'm not going to dwell on it much here (since this is more of a Dominica blog and not a "me" blog), but some friends were definitely made for a lifetime. 
2. A variety of "adventure" at your fingertips. Dominica is an adventurer's paradise, and as I consider myself an adventurer, I'll definitely miss it.  You can go hiking everyday, in numerous different places, in places just outside your door, or off the beaten path (see the majority of my previous blogs!), with a variety of different levels of difficulty (and none are more than a 2 hour drive away!).  There's tons of water "adventures" such as great scuba diving and snorkelling with gorgeous non-bleached or tourist crowded reefs.  Boiling (both hot and cold) lakes, tubing down rivers, a waterfall or river for everyday of they year (seriously...someone actually counted them), rapelling down waterfalls in a canyon, "cliff diving" into the ocean or rivers, and so on.  This is not your average "tourist's" island (where things are very safe or organized, or you play golf, etc).  This is a paradise for thrill and adventure seekers who are willing to take a bit of  risk to enjoy the things that nature throws at you and that you don't get upset when things don't go according to plan (or what you paid for).
And the #1 thing that I will miss about Dominica is:  The Beauty of the Nature Isle.  I mean, this island is GORGEOUS!  Just look around.  Green covered moutains, with cloud cover at the top on some days, cerulean blue skies, millions of stars every night, beaches everywhere you look...I think it's amazing more people aren't in automobile accidents because they are too busy looking at the scenery and beauty of Dominica.  I will miss waking up to a view of a cloud covered peak every morning, or standing in my kitchen or hanging up my laundy and looking over the trees into the picturesque Douglas Bay.  Some people think that all caribbean islands are the same.  I can tell you they are most definitely NOT.  Dominica is the most beautiful.  Antigua, St. Maarteen, Bahamas, etc are all ugly comparatively.  I feel blessed to have lived here and experienced the beauty of God's creation and of unspoilt/undeveloped land.