Machete Madness
By Kristine & Hema
We fell in love with the beauty of the blue holes as we did our first day of service with the Bahamas National Trust. We worked with a most amazing and knowledgeable employee from the Trust, Reveen, to clear and level a pathway through the foliage surrounding the blue holes. There is great hope that the land will be turned into a national park as to preserve the environment.
Although rewarding, today’s work was physically exhausting; chopping down trees with machetes and moving large rocks to level the pathways after they were cleared out. As we worked, Raveen taught us about the different plant species that can be found in Andros – especially poison wood, a relative of poison ivy, which we all fear we have touched and expect to break out in rashes by morning.
We all hope that by cleaning up the island of Andros and working in the natural environment we can inspire those native to the Bahamas to get more involved with the preservation of their environment within their own community.
Last night we all talked about what service meant to us which was a great way for us to learn about one another while talking about our passions for service. We had the opportunity to express our different views on the meaning of service. It was great to hear our various stances on this issue.
Overall, this trip has been a great experience. Every day that we are here, we learn something new about ourselves and about one another. This bond helps bring us closer together and strengthen the friendship that continues to grow.
Beautiful
Andros
Has
Always
Made
A
Statement!
Day 4: January 17, 2009 6:02 pm
Chop This Way
By Kristina
Wow, what a day. Today we began our service project. There are this areas of water, nature’s swimming pools, that are beyond gorgeous, but hidden to the general population (not many know where they are). Our project is around the idea of making pathways to these blue holes as the first step of making these areas into a park area. Although many people may not see this as an important task, it really is. Getting people of the Bahamas to recognize their beautiful country and the land they’ve been blessed with is a huge step in getting people to care about their environment.
Even more than today, I had a blast last night during our reflection. Raakhee and I (the two trip leaders) lead the group in activities such as a service barometer, the “starfish story,” and just a general discussion on what service learning really is. Everyone opened up and it was great. People had different ideas of what service learning really is and it was awesome to hear the different ideas about what service is. We did a service barometer where everyone would stand on a side of the room dependent upon whether or not they thought the act was service. Some acts we discussed were voting, being drafted to the military, helping your younger sister with her homework, donating money, or volunteering at events like Maryland Day (where a population at need isn’t necessarily being helped). We discussed the ideas of deep routed issues and whether or not they’re what makes service service.
I realized last night that one of the reasons I’m so in love with the Alternative Break program is because you’re able to take a group of 15 college students, take them our of the Terrapin Bubble and bring them together on a common interest such as community service learning, and that’s when you really get the minds going. We can have constructive discussions about our different ideas and opinions and that’s when you really get to know each other. In my three years here at the University of Maryland, I have seldom found any other opportunity where this is true. Just being here in the Bahamas is a reminder of all of this to me and I’m just really glad that this has been an opportunity that I’ve gotten the chance to experience.
Day 3: January 16, 2009 9:45 pm
By: Amy and Chinwe (The Big Island)
Today was extremely long yet very very eventful. At 6 a.m. we all woke up to catch the ferry at 8 o’clock. We arrived in Andros around 10:30 and were amazed how paradise-like everything seemed to be.
Although it was simply a two and a half hour ferry ride, we learned more about the Bahamian community issues and about ourselves. First off, we all got to know more about each other’s backgrounds and realized although we were all from different places, we all have a common interest in helping others. This was extremely uplifting since it shows that all people, no matter how different, could come together and work cooperatively for a common goal.
Pertaining to the issues of Bahamian community, we also realized the disadvantages of living in an archipelago. If there were ever an emergency on Andros, all victims would have to be taken directly to Nassau (since there are no major hospitals or clinics on the island). This would take 2 and a half hours on choppy sea waters, or force you to dish out major cash to take a small plane ride. Keep in mind, the two run on different schedules, and neither option is very wallet friendly.
In the afternoon we cleaned up a little portion of the local beach at the island of Andros. We realized that the island itself it is not hostile towards visitors but still focus on providing for themselves (in contrast to Nassau which depends on tourism). While cleaning the local beach at Andros we realized that if residents of Andros saw us cleaning the local beach it will encourage them to do so as well.
After having a homemade dinner we discussed our weekly plan towards our community service in Bahamas. We are very excited and looking forward to what’s coming ahead!
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