Big South: We Got No Troubles, Life is the Bubbles, Under the Sea Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload was definitely challenging and demanding at times, but it also left room for us to work together as a group to get the work done. We could rely on the teachers for help and assistance with reading material. Being on an island with a limited library, and limited internet access it was sometimes hard to rely on the internet or library you were accustomed to from your home university. The grading system at times seemed unfair, or not necessarily well explained, but overall the professors explained from day 1 what they expected of each of us. Life at the center is really close-knit and in some ways feels a lot like summer camp. We wake up 7am to the morning bell, attend morning meeting at 7:50 and continue our day on a strictly hour by hour basis. Wednesday night evening activities and snorkel trips together have been some of my fondest memories at the center. Some challenges this semester was not having a wireless router at all this semester, and thus only relying on 5 research center computers to get all our research and readings done on.

On-site administration of your program

They are well connected with SFS and I was fortunate enough to be able to talk to another student who had gone through the SFS Turks and Caicos program before heading to South Caicos myself. I wish that there had been more students to talk to with that regard, but my school is just recently involved with SFS and I'm sure in another 5 years there will be many people at my home institution that could provide invaluable information to students interested in studying abroad with SFS.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We were in two separate wings (separated by sex- boys in one area, girls in the other). We were in rooms of about 4 or 5 students. Bunkbeds were used for beds, and there was adequate room to store your clothes and snorkel equipment. Housing is sparse, but it was definitely part of the whole experience of being abroad. limited showers, and limited needs, teaches you really what you take for granted, as well as what necessities you really do need to live a happy lifestyle.

Food came every two weeks or so on a food boat, so usually food would be excellent first week as all the students and staff loved when the food first arrived, However by week 2 we were living on cereal and canned foods haha. It was easy for people to be vegetarians, and in fact many students who werent did convert while abroad, as alot of the food served was heavy in pork or carb overload.Though I have to say I loved bagels, and cookie brownie snack times

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

To me, the social and cultural aspect was why I loved the program so much. The staff wanted us to be hesitant about local interactions, but to me I never once felt uncomfortable or threatened by the locals. I can say with confidence that I now know well about 100 locals or more: Children, teachers, fire fighters, fishermen, etc. I still interact and talk with them on a regular basis through internet connections. They have a rich love for their country as well as a strong history for fishing. I enjoyed playing basketball with the local boys every day at 4:30pm and I also enjoyed spending time down at the fishing docks with the fishermen. To me it is just as much about the locals and the location as it is the fish. Being abroad you need to mingle with the locals if you ever expect to learn anything about them, or about how things are different than the way you live. One memory, that I truly won’t ever forget was losing my wallet and creditcards here on South Caicos. My wallet one evening fell out of my purse and I was frantically trying to find it and retrace my steps. Little did I know that one of my basketball buddies had found my wallet. He promptly returned it to me the next morning with all the money and everything just the way I had left it. People have these premonitions that when you study abroad you can get pick-pocketed or never find things like a lost wallet ever again. But they proved me, and many of my fellow students wrong. I think I can attribute this kind act though to playing basketball with many of them. Many of the locals know who I am, and many of them helped me search and look for my lost wallet without me even having to ask them. This is when you really know that you have made an important impact on these kids lives, and they have made a huge impact on mine.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Overall I felt safe walking at night on the island, and I also felt safe participating in snorkeling or field trip activities. I did however have to go to the health clinic after being stung by a jellyfish. I had a pretty bad allergic reaction (fever of 93.8- as jellyfish reactions sometimes lower body temperature), and had trouble moving my body below the waist. Luckily they were able to give me shots and reduce the inflammation and I was back to action within a few days. The health system is different than America though. When I got to the health center there were 2 nurses on duty and no doctor in sight. They ended up having to call the doctor on their cell phones and do the shots step by step over the phone from what the doctor was telling them. So needeless to say, I was a bit freaked out by the whole experience. Also a few other students got hurt and needed medical help / were sent home. The health facilities just dont match up to the health care you get in the United States unfortunately.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

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• Dorm

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• Americans

• Hands on research and class time out in the water as well as community engagement (teaching swim lessons, interacting with locals)

• Student and facility interactions. Some students had issues with certain professors and when brought to their attention, things were not resolved in a proper fashion. I know professors change each semester or regularly so I doubt they are still there. It can be hard sometimes to separate classroom work with living with these professors. They see when you do homework, eat, sleep etc. For some students it was hard to adjust to because back in your home institution the professors only see you in the classroom. They do not know what you do with your free time once their class ends. Some students felt penalized by that aspect of the program.