Category: Caribbean

 As week two comes to an end,  I am finding myself more educated about Dominica than I ever thought I would be. This past Thursday, instead of driving along the coast, we took to the mountains and traveled to the areas of the island that were hit hardest by Tropical Storm Erika that came through back in August 2015. Walking around the damaged areas made it seem like everything had just happened a few days ago, like time had frozen, but in reality no one has the financial means or time to recover from everything that has been destroyed. Houses were collapsed and abandoned. Roads were still blocked by fallen rock and down trees caused by landslides to the point where our drivers had to turn around and find detours to get around. When we arrived, everything was dusted in dirt and rocks and newly formed streams. Walking around, I found shoes and broken televisions half exposed in the rubble and cars that had been torn apart as if they were composed of paper. It was one of those moments where I realized the impact that nature truly has on our lives.  Among all the damage, there were still hibiscus flowers and coconuts planting their new roots wherever they had landed. Words and pictures can’t do justice  to the feeling that I had walking through the disaster area and feeling so small standing next to piles of rocks knowing that everything had just been sitting for months and people are still displaced from their homes. As I continue to learn more about this beautiful place, I start to see the scars it has developed and I hope they start to heal in the near future.

Submitted by Jayme Soyak on the 2016 winter session program in Dominica sponsored by the Department of Geography…

Every car ride amazes me here. To me, it is a perfect example of the topography of Dominica. There are winding and steep roads climbing up the mountainsides to provide access to more remote parts of the island. The people here have figured out a way to work with the land and also use it to their benefit. Though I’m sure it could get challenging, the people have been able to create this dynamic in order to create transportation and not destroy the mountains and valleys. At home, I have seen tunnels through mountains or dynamite used to create an easier path from point A to point B. This is not the case in Dominica.

Though it is helpful, it also poses a few other issues. Being in the Caribbean, Dominica is subject to a lot of rain and many tropical storms. This precipitation allows for lush vegetation to sprout all over the island. However, given the right conditions, the vast amount of rainfall can lead to landslides. The combination of steep mountains and cliffs, paired with occasional drought or dry seasons gives rain the chance to cause some serious damage. The roads that are built high into and around the mountains can easily be covered or destroyed. In the four months since Hurricane Erica, many alternative roads have had to be built due to the immense damage done to the roads. This is a problem that Dominicans face with every new street or road near or on the mountain.

The topography of Dominica is beautiful, intense, helpful and sometimes scary. For years, the people of Dominica have been trying to figure out how to work with the land in creating the most useful, helpful and safe environment for development and survival.

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.

Submitted by Jayme Soyak on the 2016 winter session program in Dominica sponsored by the Department of Geography…

Because Dominica is in the Caribbean, I was expecting bright white, sandy beaches, tons of palm trees, cabanas and a resort-like stay.  I was shocked to realize that I would be staying in a place for over four weeks that was nothing like I imagined.

Starting with an hour and a half drive from the airport through mountains and dense rain forest, taking hairpin turns and steep climbs, I knew this trip would be an adventure. Once class started, I learned that Dominica is known as “The Nature Island of the World” and though I wasn’t sure at first why, I am now. Dominica is one of the most environmentally sustainable places on the planet. With rich forests, beautiful rivers and waterfalls, vast hiking trails and shores made of volcanic rock, it is much more exciting than white sandy beaches.

For only being here a week, we have already experienced so much of the beauty Dominica offers. Close by, there are scenic botanical gardens. The nature here seems to run the island and provide natural beauty for its inhabitants to enjoy daily. One day, we decided to go to the beach and one of the locals suggested we go to Scott’s Head Beach. Little did we know that this “beach” was very rocky with barely any sand. With this group, we decided to take this opportunity to explore. We hiked up an area that provided an amazing view over the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

Though I was surprised at first, I am so excited that Dominica has much more to offer than what other Caribbean islands do and everyone on this program is ready to take advantage of this incredible opportunity.

Submitted by Jane Gosling on the 2016 winter session program in Dominica sponsored by the Department of Geography…

When you think of the Caribbean Islands, tropical beaches and all-inclusive resorts come to mind, but Dominica has a much different vibe. It is known as Nature Island as it is relatively untouched and has much less commercial tourism.  Upon flying into the island and the initial drive from the airport to the hotel, my first impression was how the whole island is mountain peaks and small valleys.  The communities are all located along the coast, in flatter regions, with some isolated homes built into the sides of the mountain. From our hike at Scott’s Head we were able to see the Caribbean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and multiple communities sandwiched between mountain peaks in every direction.  It is spectacular to see land untouched by humans and how the locals work with nature rather than against it.

Submitted by Emma Richmond-Boudewyns on the 2016 winter session program in Dominica sponsored by the Department of Geography…

Arriving in Dominica, the sun had already set. Although the dark 90 minute drive through the mountains to Rousseau on the other side of the island didn’t allow for much visual stimulation, it gave us an opportunity to feel the flow of the island as we drove through the persistent mountainous landscape. Waking up in the morning and looking out the window, there was a tremendous view of towering mountains, and you could hear the live and bustling street that had been sleeping the night before. After our orientation to our surroundings, we visited the botanical gardens, went on a short hike to the top of a peak that allowed us to  have a colorful view of the whole city. One of the most wonderful things of this city is the use of color. The vibrant colors found throughout the buildings, art and clothing seem to mimic the bright pinks, yellows and greens found in the vegetation. These colors also seem to reflect the colorful culture in the area. This is seen in the positive attitudes of the individuals on the island. Although everyone seems to radiate positivism, poverty seems to be a major influence on the island, especially in Rousseau which is like many major cities. I am very excited to be able to enjoy the next three weeks in the nature island of the world and continue to learn about it’s effervescent culture.

Submitted by Abigail Vanover on the 2016 winter session program in Dominica sponsored by the Department of Geography…

It’s almost been a full week since I’ve been out of the country for the first time ever. Not only is this my first time abroad, but I’m doing it without my parents, my friends, anyone I know – I went into this experience knowing no one. You could say I’m very, very out of my comfort zone.

I always wanted to study abroad, to explore the world, instead of just seeing and reading about other people’s adventures. I’m quickly finding out that studying abroad is nothing like what I expected. It’s a whole other sort of challenge. So far, I’ve been constantly forced to re-adjust my opinions, preferences and habits because of the country I am in and the people I am with.

This isn’t a bad thing. In the long run, I know it will be an experience that I will never regret and will take away more than what I lose because what I’m losing are my fears and my prejudices. The trappings of privilege that I did not earn, but was rather born into because of the work of my parents and their parents before them.

Here in Dominica, the lifestyle is different and so is the level of wealth. Here in Dominica, I quickly realized just how much I depended on a mass availability of goods and services to keep me happy and occupied in the United States. You know what they don’t have in Dominica, or at least none that I’ve come across? Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts. You know who buys coffee at least once a day when in Newark, DE? Me. I also don’t have regular access to the internet or my phone here. I’m lucky to check my email every couple of days or to have steady WiFi for twenty minutes. What I take for granted in my daily life is a privilege, not a right, in a country like Dominica.

It’s a little bit of a jolt to go through these realizations and it can even be a little uncomfortable. It’s not pleasant to realize just how many biases lurk beneath your own awareness. However, I know that you can never learn by kicking back in your comfort zone and calling it a day. It takes effort to get out, explore and have the kinds of experiences that you’ll never forget. Dominica 2016 is out of my comfort zone. It’s an entirely different kind of adventure for me, and one I’m looking forward to living in for the next few weeks.

Submitted by Amber Perlmutter on the 2016 winter session program in Dominica sponsored by the Department of Geography…

“Plastic: the gift we leave our children, our children’s children, their children and every generation for next 450 years.” This is the sentence displayed on the child sculpture made out of plastic bottles and bottle caps.

It is amazing to me how even a small, developing country such as Dominica can be so aware of the negative environmental effects that plastic can leave behind. In general, Americans do not think twice about the plastic they use and abuse in their everyday lives. If an island as small as Dominica (~70,000 people) can be environmentally conscious, then the rest of the world should be able to, as well. As an environmental science major, these images make me feel optimistic that there are still people out there who are mindful of the fact that materials such as plastic water bottles end up somewhere other than our trash cans. They are not, in fact, out of sight out of mind. The island of Dominica is truly a model of conservation and environmentalism.

Submitted by Lisa Pham on the 2016 winter session program in Martinique sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures…

On Saturday, we hiked through the beautiful La Savane Des Pétrifications in the south of Martinique. We saw cliffs overlooking the breathtaking sea and cacti lining our muddy path. Never before have I seen such diversity in nature. Since I’ve begun my studies here, I’ve noticed that Martinique, a small island territory of France, is a wonderful mixture of several types of cultures, lives and people. These aspects don’t blend in together, there’s no overpowering of one over the other; instead, they move and mingle with each other, meanwhile keeping their very distinct characteristics. That’s what I’ve discovered about Martinique: despite having had a gruesome history of slavery and oppression, it has maintained a cultural richness that’s hard to find anywhere else. 

Listen to local conversations and one would hear either French or Martinican creole. Tune in on a performance or event and one would hear music from other Caribbean islands, France, and, of course, Martinique. It has, as I had just learned today, an “identité hybride” or a hybrid identity, combining French and Caribbean characteristics into one tiny island. The people here grew up in an environment that embraced all its different influences. They are incredibly welcoming of everyone, including confused American students who mercilessly butcher the French language. 

Coming to Martinique from a country that calls itself the “melting pot” of the world, I’m beginning to realize that diversity comes in different forms and that “culture” is something impossible to define.  And it’s not necessarily something I want to define. In the next couple of weeks, I simply want to live and experience. Eat foods, listens to people speak about their land, and buy ridiculously overpriced products imported from France. As I continue to traverse through Martinican deserts and plains, I hope to discover more about the diverse people and land of this incredible island.