Classes at the Ross University School of Medicine are now in session and with the exception of a few minor complaints about the housing situation, students appear to be satisfied.
Barbados TODAY visited the Sir Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Center-based campus this afternoon where a newly-refurbished building was buzzing with activity. Students, mostly first year, who were having their first taste of the Ross University experience, were pleasantly surprised with the school and its new host country.
Kelly Pedraza, a first-year, first-semester student who has only been on the island for a week said: “Everything has been great. The people have been really welcoming, which I am kind of surprised about.
“Today was our first day [of classes] and everything was pretty introductory, so I’m not very worried yet,” she said with a smile. “I think that after the initial adjustment period, everything will be really smooth.”
During her short time on the island, Pedraza has also paid a visit to a few of the country’s popular landmarks.
“I’ve been to Carlisle Bay. It’s really beautiful there. Everybody’s been really warm and understanding about the fact that I don’t know a whole lot [about the island]. I’ve been to Oistins. That was the first time I tried shark and it was really good, so no complaints,” she said.
Kinza Javed, a first-semester student from Connecticut noted that “the campus is beautiful on the inside and the professors and faculty have been very helpful in creating the perfect environment so far for me personally.” She added that the first few days had been surprisingly smooth.
“I actually thought it would have been much more difficult to adjust than it has been,” she said.
Despite the regular campus shuttle service, Kinza said transportation had been an issue and accused some taxi operators of attempting to scam students.
“Everyone charges you different amounts for going to the same places. I wish people would appreciate Ross students’ business a little bit more and not charge us crazy amounts as you would for tourists. We’ve been scammed a little bit,” she said.
As it related to the contentious issue of housing, Kinza told Barbados TODAY that conditions could be a little better. Without going into detail, she said: “A lot of students are having major issues with the housing. It seems like it was a little bit rushed, but other than that, all other accommodations relating to the school have been great. All members have been very helpful, both Barbadian and American.”
Ryan Nguyn a Canadian of Vietnamese decent agreed that the housing situation was “a little bit rough right now”.
Nevertheless, he was happy to “have clean running water, an AC unit and a roof over [his] head.”
“I am by all means happy with what I have right now,” he said.
The Canadian student whose goal is to one day specialize in internal medicine is also very happy with the hospitality shown to him by locals.
“It’s been phenomenal. The ‘Bajans’ here have been very helpful, very friendly. . . I am actually very surprised with the community here, with how everything is turning out. I didn’t have any issues moving in, so I’m actually very surprised that it has been a very smooth transition.
“We just had our first class today, in biochemistry and a little biology. It was good,” he said, while adding that amid preparations for the start of class on Monday, he too was able to enjoy many of the activities offered on the island.
“We’ve been to the (St Lawrence) Gap so far, we went to Oistins fish market, the Boatyard as well. Those are phenomenal places. It was a time just to get all of the first-year, first-semester students to get together and interact and talk to one another about where they’re from and what they’re doing,” he said. [email protected]
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Yes we had the pleasure of a few at http://www.marcopolobarbados.com last night – #barbados
Enjoy yourselves students and your accommodations. Let the haters hate
“Despite the regular campus shuttle service, Kinza said transportation had been an issue and accused some taxi operators of attempting to scam students.”
“Everyone charges you different amounts for going to the same places…. We’ve been scammed a little bit,” she said.
This is the same thing I wrote in response to the “No Uber” story on October 4. Rather than embrace the new business model and prepare to equip themselves with technology, taximen prefer to stand around all day on Broad Street — peeing in any alley — and outside the Bridgetown Port waiting for a job to see who they can scam. In that post I stated:
“Listen to the taxi operators who resisted having metered rates, overcharge passengers from job to job, and believe that a passenger should pay additional for air conditioned comfort, raising hell about the proposed Uber service.
“Taximen charge passengers three different rates on three different days at the same time of day by the same taxi driver for a ride from Broad Street to Oistins.”
Ross University students will be seen as easy prey to rip-off by unscrupulous taxi operators and other service providers. Hopefully the relevant agencies and student services will provide them with “street smart” information to avoid these scammers.
Some taxi drivers are no better than those uncouth ZR/PSV operators. It is unfortunate that a few dishonest ones can tarnish an entire group and create an unpleasant first-time experience for the Ross students.
They could end up doing some free advertising for Barbados by inviting family and friends to come and join them on the beaches for spring break, crop-over, kite flying easter and whatever other excuses they use to have some fun in the sun.
True Carl. Scamming the students is a sick and illegal. It is stealing! It is immoral!
Anyone caught doing it should have their car in pounded for three months the have to pay a fine to get it back.
Time alone will tell!
Well said Carl Harper! The students had just heaped praises on the Island and complimented Bajans for their hospitality, and then, along come these shameless taxi drivers to sully our reputations again.
I am happy that Barbadians are being themselves and are being nice and helpful to these students. The comments I heard on the news last night from our visitors was a pleasure, especially in these crazy times. I really hope the positive experiences remain high among the groups, all politics aside.
Yup, if I worked late I would catch taxi home, and I got 3 different rates for going the same place.
We welcome these students to Barbados. I know that they will have a great experience. We will treat them as new members of the Bajan family.
Make they were non Nationals that looking for a job .and I would love to see who treat them like new members of the Bajan family
Thought that one SHERON INNISS said there WAS unrest at ROSS ? the only UNREST could be that in her HEAD.
INNISS… you in hear that there is UNREST in GEORGE STREET too?…SERIOUS UNREST after that 30 to NOUGHT drubbing and ENHANCED over the APPOINTMENT of the MOST EXPERIENCED LOSERS to be PRESIDENT and VICE PRESIDENT?
….daiz the UNREST that YOU got in ya HEAD…early warning signs towards MADMAMSHIP
…and CROW ,stop looking for good name…do what you are known for …eating DEAD ANIMALS and GARBAGE ..do your part JOHNNY CROW…. put all politics aside and help make BARBADOS CLEANER… that way their experiences would remain on a HIGH…hope ya doan TEEF none of the DEAD ANIMALS and GARBAGE and caah home by YOU AGAIN,since CROWS are also known for TEEFING.
btw ..JOHNSON CROW that DEAD RAT whose stench you have been complaining about since that WIPE OUT… you teef it or was it HOMEGROWN?
harry..u dont know when and where. u just cant help it..i am beginning to think u had a love affair with the dems and fell out…they seen to be haunted u..poor soul..i know u will rebut…it is in ur bones
Maybe the university should have a couple mini vans just to take them where they have to go and let them pay less than what a taxi would charge.This vehicle would be own by Ross sort of like a tour bus only for students.
@Carl
You are right
I know that this dishonest behaviour can only stop if technology is employed.
Depending on a taxi driver’s morals is taking a huge risk