by May Plaige

Created on: February 03, 2009

My family had drifted apart as one by one, my siblings and I had grown older, moved out, and started our own lives. I knew when my mother confronted us with an offer to help pay for a trip to the island of Dominica that it was at least partially a ploy to bring the family back together. It didn't sound like a bad idea, though, and apparently the rest of the family agreed. On a warm Sunday, seven of us boarded a tiny 8-passenger plane on St. Thomas, and we headed off for a few days of family togetherness.

The flight was shaky in the small plane, and the landing was just this side of nerve-wracking as we watched the end of the short runway quickly approaching. After a safe landing and friendly greeting by Dominican customs, though, we were out and looking for the rental car which was supposed to be waiting for us in the parking lot. We found it; a large van that could fit us all and our luggage if we squeezed a bit, but to my stepfather's surprise the steering wheel was on the right-hand side of the car. He had requested a left-hand drive vehicle specifically, because he knew that right-hand drive was the norm, but apparently the rental company didn't have a large enough vehicle that met that need. We laughed it off, and began a careful drive on the left side of the road in a right-sided van.

My mother had booked a guest house with a local Dominican family, and the family had insisted that we stop by their home for a light mean before settling into the house. The house was full with family members and friends apparently an after-Church norm on Sundays on Dominica. Everyone was friendly, the chatter was loud, and the food was great. Dominicans, we learned, were careful to treat visitors well since tourism is a core part of their economy. In fact, locals who treated visitors poorly were often confronted by neighbors and family members alike for their behavior.

We were recommended to a nearby shack on the side of the road where we could find some drinks and Dominican snacks. The people spoke French patois but understood English and took American money, converting the prices for us using a calculator. We bought some Cokes, which were in glass bottles, and were instructed to bring the glass bottles back so they could be cleaned and re-used by Coca-Cola. The level of recycling and preservation on Dominica continued to impress us throughout the trip.

The guest house was comfortable, clean, and had a beautiful Dominican view. My mother had already obtained directions to

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