Category: Caribbean

Submitted by Sonya LeFors on the 2022 winter session program in the British Virgin Islands sponsored by the School of Nursing…

My first week in Tortola, British Virgin Islands has been nothing short of amazing. The flight here started off my study abroad with a new and exciting experience. I have been flying in airplanes my whole life, but when I got to Cape Air, I had never been on a small plane before. When the agent asked me how much I weighed and I only saw six people in the waiting area, I got nervous. The view from the plane was beautiful and it was my first new experience of many. When I touched down in Tortola, the workers welcomed me and I was in awe of the island’s scenery. On the drive to our villa, I observed that the roads are very different than in Delaware. There are very, very steep hills, no traffic lights, and they drive on the left side of the road. The shop clerks, taxi drivers, and restaurant owners say good morning to all fourteen of us in my study abroad group. On our first day, we walked along the beach and picked up trash and a fishing net, which was a great way for us to give back to the island that warmly welcomed us. I can’t wait to learn more about Tortola and start our clinical experience next week.

Submitted by Kaitlyn Meagher on the 2022 winter session program in the British Virgin Islands sponsored by the School of Nursing…

My name is Kaitlyn Meagher, and this is my first week in the British Virgin Islands. It is an extremely gorgeous place. The sunset in Tortola is a view that I will never get tired of seeing. Every day I take numerous photos of the sunset, but pictures do not capture the real beauty of them. My first week here has been filled with many new and fun experiences, including hiking, traveling to Virgin Gorda, and exploring the island of Tortola. I feel very grateful to have this amazing opportunity to visit the beautiful British Virgin Islands and learn their culture and daily life for the next four weeks.

Submitted by Emili Rutkowski on the 2022 winter session program in the British Virgin Islands sponsored by the School of Nursing…

This first week has been everything I have dreamed and more. I have been trying to study abroad for three whole years and COVID has made that difficult. However, I finally made it and I couldn’t be happier that it is in the British Virgin Islands! Things here are a little different, but nothing overwhelming yet! Everyone is so nice and we say hi to everyone! I love that. I love that the culture here is  so communicative with those around you! I can’t wait to get to work in the hospital and view the other islands. I am so fortunate I was given this opportunity to take my education internationally! This picture is of me at the Virgin Gorda Baths. They are beautiful and have so much history behind them. I can’t wait for the rest of my program.

Submitted by Henna Castle on the 2022 winter session program in the British Virgin Islands sponsored by the School of Nursing…

This is a picture of me sitting in the co-pilot seat of a Cape Air hopper plane! I am currently completing a study abroad in Tortola, which is part of the British Virgin Islands. The airport on the island is very small and cannot accommodate huge international planes, so people visiting must land in a nearby country (typically the US Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico) and take a much smaller plane into BVI. Since the flight is only about twenty minutes from St. Thomas, USVI to Tortola, BVI, they use a hopper plane that fits only ten people including the pilot. The seat arrangement is done differently than we had expected. Instead of picking your own seat, they assign you by your weight in order to make sure it is evenly distributed. Somehow I was lucky enough to be chosen for the co-pilot seat. It was such a fun experience… I almost want to change my career path now!

 

Submitted by Heather O’Connor on the 2022 winter session program in the British Virgin Islands sponsored by the School of Nursing…

My name is Heather O’Connor, and this week is my first week in the British Virgin Islands. It is an absolutely beautiful place, with absolutely beautiful people. As you can see in the photo, the beaches are gorgeous, and the water is crystal clear and blue. All of the locals are so friendly and welcoming. Everyone says “hello” and “good morning” to everyone they pass, as it is a part of their culture. Additionally, I noticed that locals and travelers take COVID precautions very seriously. Indoors, everyone wears masks without argument, and it is customary to use hand sanitizer before entering businesses. Upon arriving in Tortola at immigrations and customs, one of the workers was in full PPE, with a mask and gown. It is very refreshing compared to how some States are handling the pandemic in the US.

Submitted by Michael Rechsteiner on the 2020 winter session program in Dominica sponsored by the Department of Geography…

On Tuesday, January 28, I had the privilege to join a wildlife conservation group to capture and eliminate invasive Cuban tree frogs. The Cuban tree frog is an invasive species that came to the country of Dominica via an import vessel, and because they are so much larger, they pose a serious threat to eliminating the Dominican tree frog. Thus, the work I did with the wildlife conservation group was very purposeful and fulfilling. Growing up, catching frogs was always a hobby of mine, so this experience was a dream come true for me. It was very satisfying for me to know that my frog hunting efforts were contributing to saving the indigenous tree frogs. While hunting, it was also cool to observe the environment that the tree frogs were inhabiting. I remember learning that the Cuban tree frogs could multiply so quickly because they can nest in any small pool of water, and low and behold, the area in which we were hunting the frogs was full of swampy puddles and short shrub like trees. Lastly, I was fascinated by the ease of catching the frogs once we could spot them. I learned that the frogs believe they are camouflaged, thus as a defense mechanism they stay as still as possible which is great for our hunting purposes.

Submitted by Cassiana Desir on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in Martinique sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures…

Week 2

On one of our (few) free days, we were informed that in Fort-de-France, there would be a carnaval celebration. So of course, everyone went to Fort-de-France to see it. And what we saw was truly amazing. It was a mix of passion, skill, and athleticism. The different carnaval groups were walking through FDF while some were dancing and others were playing large tambours. I’ve always wanted to see a carnaval in person and it was so interesting to see it done with Martinican style. It was such a fun and energetic atmosphere, that I definitely want to be in again.

Week 3

It’s truly amazing to be able to say you have climbed a volcano. We climbed the legendary Mont. Pelée, notorious for the 1902 eruption that destroyed the former capital of St. Pierre. Climbing that mountain was one of the hardest things I’ve ever physically had to do. The wet microclimate plus the steepness made it so physically demanding and taxing on the body. But getting back to the bottom of the mountain was such an empowering experience, because it reassured me that I can do anything I put my mind to.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 4

Today was my last full day in Martinique. As I look back at everything that has happened, I feel so blessed to have been able to come to this amazing island. I have met such amazing people, while strengthening my French skills and learning about their history. I wasn’t sure upon applying to the program whether it would be a good idea for me to go. But now upon reflection, this trip was the perfect opportunity for me to grow into a stronger person.

Submitted by Lindsay Johnson on the 2020 winter session program in the Virgin Islands sponsored by the School of Nursing…

As my program comes to a close, I have been able to enjoy the beauty of St. John through various hikes and day trips to different bays on the island. One of my favorite experiences was an all-day kayak and snorkeling trip with the Virgin Islands Expedition Company. While kayaking and snorkeling, we saw a wide variety of ocean life, including green turtles, stingray, and many kinds of fish and coral. This was a great activity to do as a group and everyone enjoyed working as a team as we explored. Additionally, I thoroughly enjoyed hiking the Rams Head Trail with a small group of girls, and our instructor, Diane Rudolphi. We hiked over long beaches of rocks, portions of sand, and over steep hills. Once we got to the top, the view was breathtaking. In that moment, I was able to admire the true beauty of the islands as I reflected on my time abroad. I am incredibly grateful for this experience and truly treasure the enriching culture and people I have met on this program!

Submitted by Austin Gray on the 2020 winter session program in Dominica sponsored by the Department of Geography…

Last night, we went hunting for the invasive Cuban tree frog.

Throughout our time on the island of Dominica, we’ve heard from a myriad of experts in the forestry and wildlife departments. They’ve defined invasive species and how they spread, their effects on the environment, humans, and our economy, and examples of invasive species that are present here.

We drove about an hour north to the town of Portsmouth to join a team of “frog hunters.” These people devote their time to ensuring that the native tree frog population is not put at risk by the invasive Cuban tree frogs, as they will eat just about anything that they encounter. It was crucial that we wore gloves while doing this, as the frogs can secrete a toxic mucus from their skin. While it is unknown just how much of an impact we are having on reducing the invasive species’ presence, participating in this project has allowed us to see first-hand the efforts to conserve the endemic species on this island for future generations to enjoy.

Submitted by Michael Rechsteiner on the 2020 winter session program in Dominica sponsored by the Department of Geography…

The Indian River is the most popular river in Dominica. It is most known for its complete submergence in nature as it winds through the rain forests of the island. I was able to take a boat tour along the river. The boat reminded me of a dual wide canoe big enough to hold up to 12 people. The boat had a small engine attached to the end. However, in order to see the most of animals it was crucial to stay as quiet as possible, therefore our guide rowed for most of the trip while pointing out facts about all sorts of plants and animals. Throughout the journey,  I was able to observe species that I have never seen in the wild, including iguanas and multiple species of waterfowl. I was also able to visit the setting of where multiple scenes of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest were filmed which was cool considering I had just watched that movie. The boat tour ended with the opportunity to explore the riverbed forest on foot. I observed a plethora of different plants and trees, as well as tons of scurrying crabs and geckos.