A month ago, I never would have imagined that four weeks on a Caribbean island with 15 strangers would become one of the hallmarks of my college experience.
When people think of Caribbean islands, they think of clear water, white sand, palm trees, and perfect weather; I did too. Although Sint Maarten definitely has all of the aforementioned characteristics, it is also so much more. Being on Sint Maarten lead me to discover and learn about the beautiful culture and expand my viewpoints on the world.
For our final projects, it was vital that we were very observant when it came to the culture so that we could produce an appropriate campaign. This careful consideration of the happenings around me lead me to fall in love with the island and appreciate every passing moment.
I think the best thing about Sint Maarten is the people. They don’t call it “The Friendly Island” for nothing. All of the locals are so proud and so eager to share their home and everything it entails with tourists and other visitors. At the Sapphire, our hotel, the staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcomed. From the delicious breakfast every morning to helping us plan all of our excursions, they truly wanted us to get the most out of our experience.
Overtime, strangers on the island became friends. Cashiers at local bakeries started to memorize our regular orders and bus drivers (shoutout to Andre) became our most beloved local buddy. The people who we met along the way pointed us in the direction of other local businesses, whose owners also welcomed us with open arms.
Unlike the United States, I didn’t sense a whole lot of competition between businesses. Recommendations were given out graciously and this really instilled a sense of community on the island. This also made me more apt to be conscious about giving out recommendations for my favorite places.
For example on Saturday, a couple who had just checked into our hotel started a conversation with me near the front desk. They mentioned they were hungry and I suggested Mama’s- a nearby Italian place and a favorite of mine.
During this last week especially, my favorite moments were times we all spent together such as karaoke night at the hotel and the sunset dinner cruise. As we all knew our time on the island was coming to an end, it made those moments even more precious.
Coming into the trip, I knew the other students and I already had a common bond- The University of Alabama. However, I never imagined that the friendships I would soon make would be so special and so genuine. As a group, we clicked very quickly and loved exploring the island together. I truly couldn’t have asked for a better group of people- they really deserve credit for making the trip as amazing as it was!
Everyone who I met on this trip and every experience I had will always hold a special place in my heart. Until next time, Sint Maarten!
- EB Donovan
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