Blog

Name: Doug Rice
School: Clark University
Major: Environmental Science
Program: Marine Management Studies, Turks & Caicos

What did you like most about the SFS experience?

Being in the water everyday.  If I can live my life without my swimsuit completely drying, I’ll be happy.

You’ve been in the country for a full semester – tell us your impressions of it now.

I love it here!  There are certain things that seem really backwards and everyone runs on island time, but that’s how life is here and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

What is life at the field station really like? What are the best and the most challenging parts of living at a remote field station?

Absolutely amazing!  The best part, for me, was the people.  These are the some of the greatest people I’ve ever met and I’ve definitely grown as close to them as anyone else in such a short amount of time.  A large part of that is a product of the Center itself.  The only challenge for me was that no clothes or sheets ever got clean, but if that’s my worst complaint then I’ve got it made!

What ended up being your biggest challenge this semester both academically and culturally?

Academically was dealing constructively with differing points of view between students and a member of the faculty. Culturally it was going up and talking to random people for my Directed Research.  Everyone on the island is extremely friendly if you get past the initial awkwardness of the whole thing.

What is the best memory you have from the semester? Give some highlights.

Impossible to pick one.  Diving in some of the most diverse waters in the world at least twice a week (almost every day during DR); duck-diving with eagle rays; Sunday afternoon adventures to Dove Cay, Shark Bay, Coast Guard; and finally, every minute spent with the most amazing people I’ve ever met.

Give three adjectives that best describes how you are feeling right now.

Devastated (that I have to go home), Enlightened (about how to spend the rest of my life), and Loved (I may never see some of these friends again but I will certainly never forget them)