Wrapping Up in Paradise: Week 4 in the Caribbean

By: Ava Kaspari

I seriously can’t believe our month in the Caribbean is already over. This final week was such a mix of getting things done and soaking in every last moment. It honestly didn’t feel real that we were packing up and heading home by Saturday. I’ve loved every second of this experience, and the last week was the perfect way to close it out.

On the school side of things, this week was all about finishing our campaign books. My group worked so well together, and I’m proud of how we got everything done. We used class time to really focus, but we also met up outside of class to stay on track and make sure everything looked good. I definitely learned a lot throughout the whole process, especially with how to divide up work, stay organized, and make sure the final product feels cohesive. I know all of this will help so much when I take my campaigns class back in Tuscaloosa this fall.

Even though we were busy, we still made time to have fun and enjoy our last few days together. Monday was our last karaoke night. Karaoke nights were honestly some of my favorite memories from the whole trip. Everyone would come together, sing (even if we were terrible), and just hang out in such a fun, laid-back way. For the final night, it’s a tradition to sing "Sweet Home Alabama" as the last song and then everyone jumps into the pool right after.

On Tuesday, we went shopping in Philipsburg. I got a T-shirt for my dad and perfume for my mom, and it was nice to pick up a few things to bring back. A bunch of us also ate lunch with the prettiest ocean view.

Wednesday was all about relaxing. We had a beach day, which felt so needed after a busy few days. That night, we went out to dinner at a seafood restaurant near our hotel. I don’t eat seafood, so I got grilled chicken and it was actually really good.

Thursday was a mix of work and fun. We spent a lot of time putting final touches on our campaign books, but it was worth it to sit down and knock everything out. Later that night, a bunch of us stayed in the classroom and watched a show together. It was fun to hang out and chill for a bit. One of the hotel cats even sat with us while we watched, which made it even better.

Friday was my favorite part of the whole week. We had our sunset dinner cruise, and it was the perfect send-off. We all dressed up, took a ton of pictures on the boat, and had dinner while the sun set over the water. It was so pretty and honestly felt a little bittersweet. We all knew it was the last big moment we’d share together here.

We left Saturday, and even though I was excited to head home, it was definitely emotional saying goodbye. This trip gave me so many amazing memories, and I’m really thankful for the people I met, the things I learned, and the chance to do something so different. I’ll never forget my time with UA in the Caribbean.