Submitted by Harshita Kanderpa on the 2016 winter session program in Martinique sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures…
What struck me the most after my first week in Martinique was the diversity in this country—the diversity in the people, as well as the diversity in the geography. We went on two hiking excursions as a group. One day, in the Presqu’île de la Caravelle (the Caravelle Peninsula) we hiked for six miles through the rainforest and reached unbelievable views on hilltops overlooking miles of peninsula and beautiful water. Two days later, we traveled to the south of the island and hiked for many hours through a desert, with dry, sandy cliffs and a few marshlands, all next to beautiful white sand beaches. It astounds me that there can be so many different climates on one small island. Furthermore, we learned quite a bit about the history of slavery here in Martinique, and watched a moving film about the middle passage. Many people inhabiting this island descend from a mix of many different backgrounds. Through museum visits, as well as from plantations’ visits, we learned that the people of Martinique have ancestors from Asia, India, Africa, as well as Europe. It is apparent as you walk through the streets—the variety of skin colors, hair colors and eye colors is tremendous. It is a beautiful island country with incredible, welcoming people.