Before this trip, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. I did not expect the culture shock I would get especially when it came to the animals. The animals residing on this island are able to roam free such as cows, goats, and dogs. The most prominent animals on this trip were the dogs. Many of the stray dogs would hang out around the hotel we were staying at and “escort” us around the island. Without hesitation, these dogs were by our sides anytime we left the hotel, whether it be for shopping, dinner, or even adventurous escapades. On one of the days, we had decided to climb a mountain on our own. By this point, we were used to the dogs following us around. However, this day, they were nowhere to be found. In order to get to the peak of the mountain, we had to climb rocks. We were sad at the thought that the dogs were not going to be able to climb the mountain with us. However, once we had gotten to the peak, they had already made it way before we did. We were all in shock. The loyalty these dogs had shown us on this trip was phenomenal, specifically a dog named Ginger. Ginger followed us around everywhere we went and showed nothing but loyalty and kindness. One prominent memory I had with Ginger was when every time I walked up the stairs to my hotel room, he would lay right in front of our door and wag his tail every time he saw me. This trip made me realize how I wish it was socially acceptable to bring dogs everywhere you go in the United States.
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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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