Catching My Breath
Let me say that this week has been an absolute whirlwind. From the second the wheels of my flight touched down on the tarmac in Sint Maarten I have been busy, busy, busy! Meeting my new classmates and professors, getting settled in, and exploring the island filled this first week with so much fun and memories. I will admit that there were times this week when I felt very overwhelmed by it all. Sometimes I still can't fully comprehend what's happening. For some reason, my brain just can't understand that I'm here, in the Caribbean for four whole weeks. However, when it got too much I did what I always do when I get overwhelmed, I called my mom. As you will all soon come to learn, my mom is my best friend in the entire world. She will be visiting at the end of week three and I couldn't be more thrilled. I can't wait to show her all my favorite things about this beautiful island!
A Week of Firsts
This week is marked by the many firsts it has brought me. This week holds my first time in Sint Maarten, my first time traveling without my family, and my first happy hour at the pool bar which is a favorite around here. Change is unsettling, even when it is welcomed. This week has been the first time I have ever had to adjust to a new country that has its own unique culture and customs. I am a person who thrives in routine and is quite comfortable with predictability. This week has very much thrown me off my axis as it didn't just change my routine but completely demolished it. However, it was not hard to fall into a new routine in just a few short days. I love having breakfast every morning and getting to see my classmates before we embark on whatever adventure the day holds for us. I am sure by the end of this trip my new routines will feel as natural as those I have built at home!
A Play-By-Play
SUNDAY: I got to Sint Maarten on Sunday abroad a flight with many of my classmates. I was so thrilled to see how supportive and kind this group of girls is right from the start. From helping each other with our luggage to joking during the first ride from Andre, this group just clicked.
MONDAY: We had a driving tour around the island on Monday. It was so fun to explore the island but it was a lot of information at once. By the end of the week, I am finally starting to understand where all the places they took us actually are. We then had karaoke at the pool bar where I gave a dazzling rendition of Rockstar by Nickleback and a much rougher cover of Lose Yourself by Eminem. Cat and I also teamed up for Superbass by Nicki Minaj. I think my future definitely lies in the world of music entertainment.
TUESDAY: We had syllabus day and then walked around Cupecoy. We saw the restaurants nearby, the beach, and the grocery stores of which I am a frequent customer. After the tour, we went straight to the beach where I promptly got burnt. I am still recovering.
WEDNESDAY: This was our first real day of class. Classes were mostly introductory and covered some of the basics we will need to know to create successful campaigns. That evening a group of us went to get dinner at Mama which is a delightful Italian restaurant in Porto Cupecoy.
THURSDAY: This day was another day of normal classes. After classes a group of us planned to do some shopping in Marigot, however, we were very puzzled when we arrived and nearly everything was closed. A quick Google search told us that it was Ascension Day. Still, we had a delicious dinner where I had the best jerk chicken I have ever had.
FRIDAY: Boat day! On Friday we sailed around the island. We stopped to swim multiple times and I had a blast! We swam to and from lunch and on the swim back to the boat I performed an elegant running dive from the dock that I was told looked straight out of a movie. I don't have it on film but I will still be bragging about it for the next couple of months at least.
SATURDAY: The gang woke up and got some delicious brunch in Porto Cupecoy then enjoyed a relaxing day at the resort. It was so nice to have some time to relax. Then, we had dinner with Professor Daria at Bar Code. Cat recommended the chili and it was incredible, I will be going back.
SUNDAY: And that brings us to today! I had a nice relaxing beach day and worked super hard on my tan. Then we headed back to Sapphire to get some dinner and start our blogs! I got to FaceTime my entire family from my great-grandma to my baby cousins. It was so nice to see their faces and hear their voices. I am having so much fun in Sint Maarten but I can't wait to hug all of them again when I get home!
The Nitty Gritty
This week we only had class two days a week. We spent more time exploring the island so that we can build a campaign that accurately reflects what the friendly island is all about! I have loved getting to know the island and it is already feeling like home. I am so excited to really get started on our campaigns and keep shooting content! Sint Maarten is a beautiful island with so many interesting places to explore I don't expect to run out of content anytime soon.
Last Order of Business
I've decided that I am going to include a song of the week in my blogs. This week I choose Cruel Summer by Taylor Swift because I have discovered that so many of the girls on this trip are Swifties just like me. We had a blast singing (screaming) Cruel Summer on the catamaran and on multiple other occasions as well. Sint Maarten we've reached our first bridge of the trip.
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