Day 1- Travel to FLorida
On Friday, May 22, 2015, I woke early and carpooled to Indianapolis, IN to check-in at the airport and prepare for two flights for the day. We flew Delta both times. My dad drove 4 girls and I to the airport and it was nice to arrive with a group to find our flight counter and make it through check-in together. We spent a little time grabbing breakfast and snacks in the airport before we passed through security. After security, we found a spot as a group to congregate near our gate and spent more time exploring the airport and eating. We flew from Indy to Atlanta, GA for the first flight; grabbed some more food, killed some time, and boarded a plane to Ft. Lauderdale, FL where we stayed for the night.
After we had our introductory meeting in our hotel in Ft. Lauderdale a group of us decided to go explore a local restaurant- the Rustic Inn Crabhouse. We split a crab sampler and orders of coconut shrimp and grilled shrimp. It was a good, authentic adventure! We played Heads Up in the parking lot waiting for our shuttle and once we got back to the hotel. It was overall a fun first day of travel!
*history lesson- Andros island
Something new I learned on this adventure is that the Bahamas is a collection of over 700 different islands, cays (keys), and islets in the Atlantic Ocean. Some of these are inhabited, some are not, some boast a large population or tourist attraction and some do not. Andros Island is the largest of the 26 inhabited Bahamian Islands size-wise (it is 104 miles long by 40 miles wide at it's widest point) but the smallest of the significant islands population-wise (approximately 8,000 people). This is because Andros is bordered on the East by the Andros Barrier Reef- the world's sixth longest barrier reef at 142 miles long and the 6,000 foot deep Tongue of the Ocean.
Tourism is Andros Island's largest industry and largest private employer with nearly 400 rooms available in hotels, motels, resorts, guest houses and lodges on the island. Tourists are mostly drawn to this area for the barrier reef, Tongue of the Ocean, the Blue Holes, bonefishing anglers, or simply relaxation. Andros Island is the site of two of the first dive-dedicated resorts in the world, and the first in the Bahamas, both founded by Canadians. The first was Small Hope Bay Lodge near Fresh Creek, founded by Dick Birch in 1960. The second was Forfar's at North Blanket Sound, which was founded by Archie Forfar in 1962. After his death in a diving accident in 1971, his property was purchased by International Field Studies, Inca. (IFS) of Ohio in 1972. It was renamed Forfar Field Station and has been adapted for IFS programs, of week, month, and semester duration, in science, sailing, diving, and culture.
Tourism is Andros Island's largest industry and largest private employer with nearly 400 rooms available in hotels, motels, resorts, guest houses and lodges on the island. Tourists are mostly drawn to this area for the barrier reef, Tongue of the Ocean, the Blue Holes, bonefishing anglers, or simply relaxation. Andros Island is the site of two of the first dive-dedicated resorts in the world, and the first in the Bahamas, both founded by Canadians. The first was Small Hope Bay Lodge near Fresh Creek, founded by Dick Birch in 1960. The second was Forfar's at North Blanket Sound, which was founded by Archie Forfar in 1962. After his death in a diving accident in 1971, his property was purchased by International Field Studies, Inca. (IFS) of Ohio in 1972. It was renamed Forfar Field Station and has been adapted for IFS programs, of week, month, and semester duration, in science, sailing, diving, and culture.
DAY 2- TRAVEL TO ANDROS ISLAND, BAHAMAS
This obviously provides some backstory for our accommodations while on the island and it is so interesting to see the place and purpose related to this history. As far as the logistics of Day Two (Saturday) of travel- we arrived in the International Hangar of the Ft. Lauderdale airport to "Hurry up and wait" as Dr. Lisowski described. We waited several hours before having our luggage weighed and being able to board our international flight. After arriving on the island, we went through the small immigration and customs office at the airport before waiting as a group to taxis to take us to Forfar Field Station. After arriving at the field station, we had a quick lunch (salad and lunch meat) and went on our first snorkeling adventure to Dave's Patrie Reef. A group of us played sand volleyball for a while before cleaning up for dinner (tacos) and then we had our first science class. Dr. Marilyn Lisowski took us on a walk around the field station and showed us hands-on what the native flora and fauna looked like. We saw sea grapes, sessel, love vine, almond tree, hibiscus, banana plant, poison wood, and lizards. Following that, we had an introduction from our Forfar staff and interns about the rules and procedures of the field station before we enjoyed our first sunset on the beach.
DAY 3- SNORKEL & EXPLORE
Several people each day made the decision to greet this beautiful Sunday by watching the sunrise over the ocean! What a tremendous idea! You will not have this opportunity often in your life- so take advantage of it! You can sleep when you get home! :) For any exercise buffs, my friend Katie and I decided to go for a run several mornings while we were on the island. This is an awesome way to get your bearings quickly, get your muscles warmed up for snorkeling, and experience the island without traveling by it quickly in a vehicle. And can I just say- running along the beach as the sunrises over the ocean- PRETTY AWESOME! However you choose to greet the morning- breakfast is at 8, so don't be late!
We took out the Big Boat and Androsa Rose to snorkel Staniard Reef and Staniard Wreck for most of the day. We saw fire coral, flounder, and a multitude of other fish. We had lunch and spent some time on TWO MILE BEACH, followed by more sand volleyball before class that evening. Throughout our classes, we studied the NGSS science standards, the four basic parts of NGSS, and formed connections to the standards. In addition, we presented our unit research and lesson plans surrounding a particular living organism part of a coral reef ecosystem. Following class and dinner we walked to the local shops, hung out on the beach, played cards, and prepared for another busy day!
We took out the Big Boat and Androsa Rose to snorkel Staniard Reef and Staniard Wreck for most of the day. We saw fire coral, flounder, and a multitude of other fish. We had lunch and spent some time on TWO MILE BEACH, followed by more sand volleyball before class that evening. Throughout our classes, we studied the NGSS science standards, the four basic parts of NGSS, and formed connections to the standards. In addition, we presented our unit research and lesson plans surrounding a particular living organism part of a coral reef ecosystem. Following class and dinner we walked to the local shops, hung out on the beach, played cards, and prepared for another busy day!
DAY 4- BEACHES, BATIK, BLUE HOLES, AND BASKETWEAVING
Following a run and a delicious breakfast of peach pancakes on Monday, we ventured to the Batik Factory and learned about the process of creating the material that our Forfar shirts are made out of. Next, we went to Fresh Creek to snorkel where we saw an eagle ray, a starfish, and of course many other types of fish. We traveled to Somerset Beach for lunch and spent some time beachcombing- I found a sea biscuit, a sea urchin, and some found sand dollars. One of the favorite spots of the trip was Church's Blue Hole where we jumped off the platform and swam in an incredible freshwater blue hole for hours! We really didn't want to leave!
DAYS 5 & 6- teaching at Stafford creek primary elementary school
On Tuesday and Wednesday our group broke up into those teaching at Fresh Creek Primary and those headed to Stafford Creek Primary School. Prior to leaving for the Bahamas, we were paired up and assigned class levels to prepare lessons for two days in the class room. We were uncertain of class size, prior knowledge, class resources, and cultural barriers when preparing these lessons. Having a co-teacher was a resource in planning and preparation but teacher with-it-ness to adapt to unfamiliar situations was the greatest asset to aid our teaching. When we prepared lessons for two days we took into account that it was the end of the school year and students would be looking for some fun activities from us. The activities my partner and I developed were:
- Planets: Book, Coloring Activity, and Fly Swatter Vocabulary Game
- Water Cycle Lesson & Bracelet Making
- Math Flashcards/ Around the World
- Spelling Sparkle
- Spelling Tic-Tac-Toe
- Music Time (download favorite songs for dance and singing breaks)- THEY LOVE TO SING!
- Icebreakers: Name Game with beach ball
- Letter Writing to USA 5th Graders
- Science experiment
- USA/Bahamas social studies trivia
- Math stations
We really enjoyed two days of observing the students' interactions, getting to know fun things about them, and making some new memories with them. We hope we exposed them to fun learning games, some basic subject content, and gave them a picture of what life is like in the United States. We were very sad to leave our new friends but were thankful for the time we were able to spend with them!
- Planets: Book, Coloring Activity, and Fly Swatter Vocabulary Game
- Water Cycle Lesson & Bracelet Making
- Math Flashcards/ Around the World
- Spelling Sparkle
- Spelling Tic-Tac-Toe
- Music Time (download favorite songs for dance and singing breaks)- THEY LOVE TO SING!
- Icebreakers: Name Game with beach ball
- Letter Writing to USA 5th Graders
- Science experiment
- USA/Bahamas social studies trivia
- Math stations
We really enjoyed two days of observing the students' interactions, getting to know fun things about them, and making some new memories with them. We hope we exposed them to fun learning games, some basic subject content, and gave them a picture of what life is like in the United States. We were very sad to leave our new friends but were thankful for the time we were able to spend with them!
"Bahamian teacher talk"
One evening after dinner and class, we met with the principal of North Andros High School, Mr. Rolle. He talked to us about the history of schools in the Bahamas, socializing problems on the islands, the phenomenon of migrating teachers, the Bahamas Junior Certificate and much more. Initially schools in the Bahamas were started by Catholic Church groups trying to educate slaves which grew to overtake government schools in leading the country. Eventually a shift in education happened and there are now 166 schools government owned and operated in the Bahamas. However, one of the serious problems with these schools is migrating teachers. Teachers might be drawn to the Bahamas by the incredible scenery, the thrill of adventure, or maybe the rental subsidizing available. It is difficult however for them to stay in one place and the toll of migrating teachers is discontinued programs and unqualified teachers managing a variety of grades and ages of students. Mr. Rolle also talked to us about the Bahamas Junior Certificate and the National Exam requirements. Hardships such as poverty, the economy, and political influence take a toll on the students and their families with less than 5% of Bahamian students going to college. One thing that was very interesting that we noted when we taught was the approach to discipline. Not only is corporal punishment not considered abuse, but it is often seen as a highly effective method to get a student's attention. In schools now only administration can discipline them, but it is not often that bullying and fighting take place due to family's interconnectedness and closeness on the islands. It was very interesting to hear Mr. Rolle's perspective on education and his insight into the Bahamian educational system. Learning about the similarities and vast differences between our countries in this regard was very eye-opening.
DAYS 7 & 8- sun, sand & swim
On Thursday, we visited Morgan's Bluff, which is the highest point on Andros Island, and Morgan's Cave, which was said to be the site of hidden treasure by the infamous 17th century pirate, Sir Henry Morgan. Following group pictures on the Bluff and a look at the Cave we ventured to Money Point Tidal Pool. Here we were able to see live urchins, sea stars, and brittle stars. Regatta Beach is a beautiful place to picnic for lunch, snorkel, or toss a ball around on the beach. We were treated to an authentic Bahamian meal of conch fritters, conch salad, slaw, and rice and beans for dinner- YUM that was tasty!
On Friday, we saw some incredible things while out on the boat. When we were snorkeling at Rat Cay and investigating an oceanic blue hole we came across a nurse shark! Of course many panicked, even though the shark truly wanted nothing to do with us, but it was a scary and cool experience at the same time. At Saddleback Cay we saw an abundance of hermit crabs on land while we picnicked for lunch, but also had the opportunity to beach comb! This was one of my favorite spots because I found nearly 15 sand dollars! About 7 of them made it in one piece back to IL, so it was a good thing I started with an abundance! Truly cool! Finally, one of my favorite snorkeling spots was Turtle Reef. Unfortunately we didn't get to see any sea turtles, but the sea floor was deeper here and the ocean life was incredible. Watch out for those jellyfish, though!
Finally, we had our final class, received class awards from Dr. Lisowski, and had our final dinner on the island. We bought FORFAR tshirts made out of batik material to commemorate our trip. To end the night we had a bonfire on the beach with the retelling of the Archie Forfar ghost story...
On Friday, we saw some incredible things while out on the boat. When we were snorkeling at Rat Cay and investigating an oceanic blue hole we came across a nurse shark! Of course many panicked, even though the shark truly wanted nothing to do with us, but it was a scary and cool experience at the same time. At Saddleback Cay we saw an abundance of hermit crabs on land while we picnicked for lunch, but also had the opportunity to beach comb! This was one of my favorite spots because I found nearly 15 sand dollars! About 7 of them made it in one piece back to IL, so it was a good thing I started with an abundance! Truly cool! Finally, one of my favorite snorkeling spots was Turtle Reef. Unfortunately we didn't get to see any sea turtles, but the sea floor was deeper here and the ocean life was incredible. Watch out for those jellyfish, though!
Finally, we had our final class, received class awards from Dr. Lisowski, and had our final dinner on the island. We bought FORFAR tshirts made out of batik material to commemorate our trip. To end the night we had a bonfire on the beach with the retelling of the Archie Forfar ghost story...
DAY 9- return to civilization
Today, I left the island with reluctance- it had truly become my sanctuary. I left my phone on airplane mode all week. To be able to unplug, unwind, and invest in nature and the people around me was an indescribable feeling. I truly was reluctant to return to dreary IL after such an incredible trip. We always tell ourselves "we'll never forget", "I'll remember this forever", and "I can experience this again", but I truly believe this was a once in a lifetime trip. To be able to experience a different country, a different culture, and go on numerous adventures with some of your closest classmates and friends was incredible! I hope the one thing I always remember from this trip was how FREE I felt. Free to adventure, free to travel, and free to live as I please. That is a feeling that is sometimes fleeting for 22 year-old new college graduates. There will be many changes and challenges in store for me in the next year, but I hope I can use my experiences and reflections from my time in the Bahamas to keep myself moving forward and facing those changes and challenges head on. From awaiting our international flight back to Florida to our layover in Atlanta and our final destination of the Indianapolis Airport, I tried my best to remember and reflect. Not only on the physical events and activities that happened but upon my thoughts of my first world travel experience and how I was truly bit by the travel bug! I can't wait to see where this fresh passport and a mind for adventure takes me next! I hope you've enjoyed reliving my trip with me and find your own motivation to Travel. Study. Live.!!!!