Submitted by Andrew Evans on the 2019 winter session program in Dominica sponsored by the Department of Geography…
I ending up traveling to Dominica a week before the program started with my mom to get a head start exploring and learning about the island. On the first night here, we were trying to find a place to eat not knowing that after all the recent holidays most places were closed early for what they call Merchants Day. We finally came by one open restaurant called the Escape Bar and Grill. In the restaurant, we happened to get the last available table and shortly after, a lady walked in with nowhere to sit. We offered to let her sit with us and she seemed surprised that we had asked, but she was pleased. We talked to her for a while and learned that she worked for the credit union on the island and that the Escape Bar and Grill was one of her favorite places to eat second only to another place called the Kozy Niche.
After we ate, she offered to give us a small tour of the city which was amazing because we had absolutely no idea where anything was. She showed me where the hotel was where I would be staying for the program, and also where the gym, market and pharmacy were located. As we were saying good-bye, we offered to take her out to the Kozy Niche later this week. She got very excited and said she would meet us outside of the hotel at 7:15pm sharp on Saturday. When Saturday came around, we weren’t sure if she would actually show up, but just like that, she was waiting for us outside. We went to the restaurant and she was explaining to us all her favorite meals on the menu. I ended up trying the Lobster Alfredo and my mom had the shrimp and streak. The food had a bunch of new spices that I have never had before in my food, but the flavor was amazing. After we finished eating, our new friend handed both my mom and I bracelets that said the words Live Dominica on them. She said to us “I am so glad I met you guys and I hope whenever you look at these you think of me, Wendy.” This experience really showed me how friendly and kind the people are here in Dominica. I was so excited to meet more people like Wendy and I knew this program was going to be one of the greatest experiences of my life.
