It is so hard to believe that two weeks have already gone by on this friendly island. It seems like this past week has flashed before my eyes. Honestly, it's been such a whirlwind of exciting experiences and adventuring that I had to look back through my camera roll to remember what I have done this week. From exploring places like Maho Beach, revisiting Sunset Beach Bar, climbing up Fort Louis, walking down the boardwalk in Philipsburg, the amazing Rhino Safari, going to the party at Loterie Farm, and seeing the live action Little Mermaid, this week has been nothing short of exciting and thrilling.
Maho Beach was such a fun and entertaining place to visit. It's the beach right by the airport where people try to touch the planes landing. I still can never get over the beautiful blue and clear water at all the beaches here. One thing that made Maho Beach even more fun was that Sunset Beach Bar is located on it, so we were able to get appetizers while enjoying the beach! The workers there were also very friendly and talkative toward us which I appreciated. Although the location was incredible, the thing that made the experience the most fun were the friends around me. They never fail to make me laugh and feel at home.
The day after Maho Beach, we decided to take a quick trip to Philipsburg to get more content for our Content Marketing class. I think I have decided that Philipsburg is one of my favorite areas in Sint Maarten so far. I love all the colorful buildings and the view of the water. I also love that it is the Dutch capital because my grandma is from the Netherlands and speaks very highly of the Dutch culture. I even noticed in Philipsburg, there is a tall building along the boardwalk that has a big windmill on the top of it. In the Netherlands, windmills are a popular form of architecture, so I can see how they carried that piece of their culture to this island. For Sint Maarten Tourism Bureau, I want to encourage them to incorporate unique features of their culture like architecture in order to attract an audience that enjoys learning new things and exploring.
By far my favorite part about the week was the Rhino Safari. My partner and I had the age group 30-35 for this week, and we immediately knew the Rhino Safari would be such a fun experience for parents with young kids, which fell perfectly into our age group. We've done our best to always be thinking of our client in whatever we do on the island. I've always been a huge fan of riding on boats or jet skis, but the race at the end of the Rhino Safari was arguably the most fun I've ever had. We were screaming at the top of our lungs, but it was screams of laughter and pure excitement. I was driving and, at first, I was a little afraid to go full speed because of the waves, but eventually I had it full throttle the rest of the ride back. My partner, Emma, and I both agree that we should have won the award for "most improved". We started at the tail end passed so many people that we somehow ended in second or third. As we were getting off the rhino, the instructor even said I docked it like a pro. That may or may not have gone straight to my head.
Every local here is quick to ask you how your day was or give you a smile in passing. I was very flattered today when a lady asked if I was from here. I don't know why she thought that but I like it! I love how everyone in Sint Maarten is always happy. Although the people are friendly, I think Sint Maarten should also be called "The Happy Island". Every person I've met is either smiling, laughing, talking with friends, singing, or dancing and having a good time. I aspire to carry the positive attitudes that I have seen from the locals around me back into the United States.
- Celia Spiers
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