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Posted: February 13, 2017

First Impressions of TCI

Turks and Caicos Islands

SFS students in programs around the world have arrived, and as they begin to settle into their new homes, we asked them to give some first impressions of the program. Nicole Sedran had this to say about her experience in the Turks & Caicos Islands so far:

Why did you choose to study abroad with SFS?
I chose to study with SFS because I heard a lot of great things about their programs through my advisor, my study abroad office and SFS alums. I decided to go and do the Marine Resource Studies program because I want to go into marine conservation after I graduate and this seemed like a great opportunity to get experience learning and doing research in this field.

What are your first impressions of the country?
My first impressions of TCI were when I was on the plane here. I just was amazed by how blue the water was. Provo and South are both very pretty islands, but not what you imagine a Caribbean island being like. They are very arid with a lot of shrubbery and almost no palm trees.

What are your first impressions of the field station?
When I first got to the field station I noticed all the murals from previous semesters, which made the station feel more like a family environment and not just a basic field station. Walking through I was so impressed with how open the station is and how amazing the ocean breeze felt.

What do you think the biggest challenge will be for you this semester both academically and culturally?
Academically I think the biggest challenge will be fitting everything into a day. There is so much to explore on the island and so many activities that I want to be involved in, including the temptation of spending most of my time in the water. Sitting down to do work or being in a classroom while it is so stunning outside will be tough. Culturally I think getting out and involved in the community might be a challenge.

What are you looking forward to the most about the semester?
I am looking forward to gaining experience in the field that I potentially want to go into. I am also looking forward to actually learning all the fauna that I see while snorkeling/diving and being able to identify them. Lastly, I am looking forward to finishing the semester with a bunch of new friends, who are basically family, who are from all around.