Blog

Name: Amanda Cole
School: College of Charleston
Major: Biological Sciences
Program: Marine Resource Management Studies, Turks & Caicos Islands

For the last 2 weeks, we have been working on our Directed Research projects. Some of us are measuring and analyzing coral. Some are catching and dissecting lionfish. Some are searching out and observing spotted eagle rays. Some of us are talking to fishermen and collecting undersized fish at the docks. My group and I are building our own individual social projects in which we interview the community to determine different aspects of local ecological knowledge.

As we near the end of our time here in South Caicos, I look back in reflection on all the adventures we have had, and I look forward to our last two weeks on this little piece of paradise with all the amazing people I have met here. We have had a relaxing and fun break in Provo. We have had adrenaline-packed encounters with barracudas, sharks, and eagle rays. We have eaten rice and beans for three days straight when our food shipment was late. We have had a bonfire and campout on the beach. We have learned a lot about ourselves, each other, and the marine environment around us. We are all looking forward to going home in two weeks, but we will dearly miss this place and these people that we have come to love.