This week in class we continued to learn about Sprinklr, a Customer Experience Platform that allows companies to monitor all forms of social media engagement. Specifically, we talked about Lead Generation and Crisis Research. Lead Generation is the process of analyzing consumer interest in any given product or service. On Sprinklr specifically, this is done by building a keyword list, a single list of words or phrases that can be used in multiple query builds. Crisis Research was particularly interesting to me. I learned that it is crucial to be proactive rather than reactive. This means that brainstorming potential crises and solutions before they happen is vital to an organization’s success as there is limited time to execute a resolution, let alone develop a plan.
Our extra curricular activities were particularly memorable this week. On Monday evening, a group of us went horse back riding at sunset. My horse’s name was Prince and had a sister named Madonna which I found quite amusing. The trail we followed was a narrow path on the side of some cliffs over looking the ocean- presumably as equally terrifying as it was beautiful. When we got to the top, we gave the horses a break as we roasted smores around the campfire and took in the view. After descending down the hill, we took the horses into the shallows of the ocean. It was definitely an experience of a lifetime!
On Tuesday we got to ride Rhino boats, which are basically just inflatable dinghies but faster. Sierra and I were partners for this, which was a good thing since we both wanted to go fast and zig-zag across the water. Halfway through the tour, we stopped at one of the best snorkeling spots in St. Martin and got some really cool underwater pictures.
On Thursday, we went on my favorite excursion so far, a catamaran that took us around the island. We set sail around 9 a.m. and despite an early start time, everybody was so enthusiastic to be on the boat. We listened to some music and ate some charcuterie while enjoying time spent all together. For lunch, the catamaran anchored about 100 yards from the shore. We got to swim up to the beach restaurant to eat a delicious meal. I had chicken, fried plantains, a salad, and rice. Everyone in the restaurant was telling us that the food was as authentic as you could get on the island. The workers shared this part of their culture with us with such great pride.
Besides the beautiful beaches and crystal clear water, that is what I love most about St. Martin. Locals are proud to be just that and eager to show travelers what the island is all about. When people call St. Martin “The Friendly Island”, they really mean it!
From the security guard at the nearby market to Juggy, the owner of a local bar, I have had very many genuine conversations with the locals- meeting as strangers and parting as friends.
Although I can’t believe that our time here has almost come to an end, I’m ready to soak up the last fleeting moments of paradise.
-EB Donovan
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