Category: Caribbean

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

I am extremely humbled to be one of thirteen girls on a nursing study abroad program to the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. As someone who has not traveled a lot, this opportunity has allowed me to immerse myself in a historical and enriching culture, as well as experience a type of health care different from the United States. This week, I have accompanied two other girls to the Ginger Thomas Residence of the Lutheran Social Services of the Virgin Islands in Frederiksted, St. Croix. This facility is an assisted living home for adults with disabilities, such as those who have grown up with traumatic brain injuries, cerebral palsy, and more. I have been able to work on my communication skills with those who are not able to use words to communicate, as well as develop the philosophy of presuming competence. I have found joy in bringing life to these patients by making them smile and laugh through activities such as coloring and games, or simply singing songs and talking about the lovely beaches of the islands. By bringing new adventures to these individuals, they are able to relive and imagine a world they cannot experience each day.

As I have spent more time at the facility, I have found the residents will refer to others as their “sisters” and “brothers”, and sometimes their “mothers”. Similarly, other individuals around St. Croix will do the same, contributing to the element of family and loving one another. This sentiment holds true to me, because ultimately, giving the gift of laughter, love, and happiness helps the world become a better place, and will allow my patients to heal.

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

Today was our third full day in Dominica. We took an excursion to the stunning Scott’s Head Beach, which overlooks the Soufriere Bay and the Caribbean Sea. Throughout the excursions that we’ve taken over the past few days, we’ve come into contact with many people of African descent, as to be expected.

In the past year, I’ve been in quite a few situations that have put me out of my comfort zone, specifically as it relates to my racial background. Being the minority ethnicity in a country is quite a different feeling from being the majority, and I can only begin to imagine how minorities in the United States feel all of the time. Through this, I’ve come to recognize the unconscious bias that still exists in my brain as a white male. Although I’ve actively worked to overcome these biases and remove the negative stereotypes from my thoughts, it’s obvious that they still exist. I can see this in my unintentional hesitation to make conversation or even simply acknowledge some of the locals who have the best intentions, but have unfortunately picked up this disgusting reputation that has been engraved into my brain, having been raised in a privileged, white household. Hopefully, through this program, I will be able to fully immerse myself in the culture and let go of the stereotypes that are in my mind, while enjoying the stunning views and learning about the physical aspects of the Nature Isle of the Caribbean.

Submitted by Victoria Blankenship on the 2020 winter session program in Dominica sponsored by the Department of Geography…

We have only been in Dominica for a few days and I have already learned a lot. Today, we went to Fort Shirley and learned about the history of Dominica and the different animals. While driving to our destination, we got to see many different kinds of houses. A lot of them seem run down but that also seems to be the normal here. I find it very interesting how different their daily lives seem to be compared to my own. Where we are staying is right in the city and the first day we were here it was extremely crowded and loud. There were so many cars going by and honking, but today (Sunday) the roads are quiet and most of the stores are closed. I am excited for our stay here and to continue to learn about a new culture.

Submitted by Hannah Horne-Fiducioso on the 2019 winter session program in Barbados sponsored by the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences and the Department of Hospitality Business Management…

After being in Barbados for almost a month, I will miss the clear beaches and warm sand. One of the most eye-opening experiences I have ever had was on this beach while I was talking with a local man. After declining a jet ski ride, I talked to a nice older man named Isaac. While chatting, I told him that their beaches are absolutely lovely and I wish that the beaches at my home were similar. He reminded me that the beaches in Barbados were mine just as much as they were his. Isaac also told me that we cannot own the ocean and that we are to all share nature together. I feel like in America, we are so quick to label things as “mine” and “yours”. With his help, I was able to look at the world around me with a different perspective, and I am forever appreciative.

Submitted by Hannah Horne-Fiducioso on the 2019 winter session program in Barbados sponsored by the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences and the Department of Hospitality Business Management…

Although this is one of the most popular places to visit, it has been one of my favorite tourist sites. For those of you who are not aware, singer Rihanna was born and grew up in the beautiful country of Barbados. During our country tour, we were able to stop by the house where she grew up and take pictures. Although I was ecstatic to visit her previous home, I was also disappointed. As you can see, the house is painted in bright colors and blue and yellow for the representation of Barbados. I, and many locals that I have talked to, wish the house remained the same as when she was living there. Since it is now a tourist destination, it has been painted and improved, which does not show where she truly came from. I think it is important for people to see where she grew up and how far she has come.

Submitted by Hannah Horne-Fiducioso on the 2019 winter session program in Barbados sponsored by the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences and the Department of Hospitality Business Management…

On my first day of my internship, I was nervous, but overly excited to meet all the students and staff. When I first got to the school, I was surprised at what it looked like. There were four separate buildings which housed different grades of students. The classrooms were painted in bright, cheery colors which made it seem like learning would be a bit more fun. Every morning, the students ran to hug me and touch my hair. The students were also allowed to go in and out of the classroom as they pleased, even though they were 4 and 5 years old. It made me think about schools in the United States and how children would most likely not be allowed to run up to me right away and not be given that much responsibility at a young age.

Submitted by Erin Sudol on the 2019 winter session program in Barbados sponsored by the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences and the Department of Hospitality Business Management…

As this program comes to an end, I have been reflecting on my interactions with the local people. The people here are very friendly and open to speaking with tourists. While walking down the street, strangers will greet me and ask how I am. When I go out, I have many conversations with locals of all ages and backgrounds. They are excited to share their culture with me and also want to learn about my culture. I have learned that the Bajan people prioritize enjoying life and family. Many are less worried about advancing in their career, but rather, if they enjoy their career. I have talked to many locals who work on boats and the beach. They tell me that everyday is amazing, and they can’t imagine having an office job. Americans highly prioritize having a good career and making a lot of money. I found this to be a big difference between the two cultures.

Submitted by Sara Dooley on the 2019 winter session program in Dominica sponsored by the Department of Geography…

Monday January 28^th

We had a short class today where we just reviewed our material and went over our plans for the rest of the week. After class, we decided to go to Mero Beach again. At the beach, we relaxed, explored the rocks, swam and played a few games of volleyball. We had many of the locals come up to us and talk to us and continue conversations we had with them the last time. It felt good to be recognized and treated as locals. The vendors are also giving us what they call the “locals prices” as opposed to the “tourist prices”.

Tuesday January 29^th

Today was by far the most difficult day we have had so far. Today ,we hiked to the Boiling Lake and it took exactly seven hours! It was a very hard hike. There were lots of ups and downs, but the views from the tops of the mountains were breath-taking. We stopped occasionally for water breaks and to take pictures in all the really cool spots. The weather didn’t necessarily like us today, it was raining on and off the whole hike which made the trail even more muddy. There were some points where it was more of a climb than a hike, but they were actually quite fun. We had to use a rope to climb down a mini waterfall and climb up some rocks and those parts felt more like climbing than hiking. When we finally reached the Boiling Lake, I couldn’t actually see anything, it was so cloudy out and the lake was producing so much steam you could barely see the water unless the wind blew. But it was very beautiful when the wind blew the clouds away! I myself got injured not long after leaving the Boiling Lake and with the help of our guide Columbo I got up the toughest part and then I pushed through the rest of the hike! The second half of the hike seemed to go much faster because we had a better sense of where we were and how much time we had left. I have to say I knew this hike was going to be hard, but looking back on it I’m not sure if it was harder or easier than I thought it would be.

My injury is doing much better and has not stopped me from completing any other excursions!

Wednesday January 30^th

Today we were all absolutely EXHAUSTED so we decided to relax and catch up on some work. Then later that night, we all got dressed up and we went to the Cultural Extravaganza. Here, we got to see an art gallery filled with multiple styles of art all done by one artist. Then, we got to eat and watch a group of Kalinago people and some locals perform traditional dances and sing. It was amazing to be able to witness those parts of their culture and to get to interact with them. They were very welcoming and answered any questions we had.

Thursday Jan 31^st – Friday Feb 1st

We have spent these few days souvenir shopping and going on some excursions to a few different waterfalls. They were gorgeous despite us having to hike through the rain to get to all of them.

I think we finally are starting to realize that we are leaving in less than a week and we are not excited considering back home is having “The Polar Vortex” and our everyday weather for the past month has been 75-80 degrees.

Saturday Feb 2^nd -Sunday Feb 3^rd

This weekend, we really did not do much. On Saturday, we just kind of relaxed and did more shopping. And that night, we went out for a really nice dinner and the food was delicious, I had shrimp Alfredo. On Sunday, our group spilt up. A few of us went to the Fort Young Hotel and got a day pass for their pool and we relaxed by the pool all day. The rest of the group stayed back at our hotel, did some homework and then went out and did some exploring of Roseau. A few people stayed at the Fort Young to watch the Super Bowl, but the rest of us stayed at our hotel and watched.

We know these next few days are going to be so bittersweet. 🙁

Submitted by Erin Sudol on the 2019 winter session program in Barbados sponsored by the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences and the Department of Hospitality Business Management…

During this program, we must complete a fifty hour field placement. My placement is at Lawrence T. Gay Memorial School. It is a primary school and I am working with six- to seven-year old children. I visit three different classrooms to observe the teaching styles, lesson plans, and how the children interact with one another. This school has similarities and differences to the schools in America. The children receive more breaks such as snack time and longer recess. They have more freedom and are allowed to roam around without hall passes or traveling in a line. Corporal punishment is sometimes used by the teachers. The children are very bright and more advanced here. They are also very kind and willing to share with me and their fellow classmates. They sometimes misbehave and have trouble focusing, but that is universal with all children. Every morning, they pray and sing church songs. They have religious classes and God is talked about frequently. I am very much enjoying my time with these students.

Submitted by Andrew Evans on the 2019 winter session program in Dominica sponsored by the Department of Geography…

On Tuesday of this past week, the hike that everyone had feared became a reality. It was time to conquer the Boiling Lake hike, a hike that we were told would take us  a minimum of six hours to complete. We were told that the hike would be harder than usual because the trail still had not been fully restored after Hurricane Maria. I personally was more excited than I was scared for this hike, as I had done some challenging hikes before in Yosemite, but this hike would surely test my abilities.

The trail started out pretty mild and immediately it started raining, but honestly it would not be a hike in Dominica without a little rain. As we continued, everyone started to feel comfortable with the hike until we reached what our guide called phase two. This was basically an hour straight of climbing a steep incline until we got to the mountain peak outside of what they call the Valley of Desolation. We took a nice long break before we began the descent into the valley. The descent was not too bad, but all I could think about was the fact that whatever parts we go down we, have to climb back up. Once, we first got a glimpse of the valley, it was absolutely breath-taking as you could see steam erupting from the ground.

Now it was time to start phase three of the hike, the final stretch to get to the Boiling Lake. Walking through the valley was amazing as you could feel the heat from the steam all around you, and the different colors of the rocks from the sulfur and other mineral deposits was beautiful. We cleared the valley and the last feat was about 30 minutes of incline until we arrived at the Boiling Lake. It was unimpressive at first as you could only see a wall of steam, but minutes later a gust of wind cleared the steam and you could see the roaring bubbling of the lake down below. Just seeing the raw power of the lake made up for the whole hike in an instant. There was only one challenge left now, getting back knowing how far we had come.