For my blog topic I wanted to talk about being immersed into the culture of Union Island. Being able to participate in dance lessons of the Imani cultural dance class and walking to the local elementary school in Ashton was truly an incredible experience. First with the Imani group, watching them share their stories, compassion and love was already something to be seen, but being invited to dance with the dancers and the instructor herself is an experience I will never forget. What really drew me in was while watching these people express themselves through their dances, I could really see and feel the love and story behind every move to the point that I got chills multiple times on each dance routine. Then it was time for me to join in and I raised my hand right away when asked for volunteers. Now I'm by no means a dancer at all but it felt very powerful and uplifting learning the steps on a quick notice. Second, going to the school was a total other type of experience and being able to teach the kids a little about marine biology was awesome. But what I really took out of it was the perspectives of these kids. Some had never really been around different people other than those they grew up around, or other privileges such as an iPhone really drew in their attention. But what struck me the most was how loving and inviting these kids were, hugging and climbing me and wanting to know about my own roots brought so much joy to the end of this trip. One of the kids even found where we were staying and asked to play soccer with him and his friends, and of course I did even though my body feels like I'm 80 years old. All and all, it was amazing learning the culture and everyday attributes to people’s lives that in the US I would have never taken the time to understand. One of the best attributes to this trip!
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AuthorsThe authors of this blog are students enrolled in Tropical Marine Ecology and Conservation, field courses run in the Caribbean by the University of South Florida. During these courses, students learn scientific diving techniques over a 10-14 day period and carry out research and monitoring of coral reefs at various sites. Many of these courses are done in partnership with local environmental organizations, like the Union Island Environmental Alliance and the Soufriere Marine Management Association. In this blog, students will document their activities and how they relate to course material. Archives
June 2023
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