I think my study abroad experience came at the perfect time in my life. Here I was in the middle of my college career, not really knowing what to do with my life, but having a passion for the environment, scientific research, and community outreach. Before going to Bonaire one thing I knew I wanted to do at some point in my life was live in a tree-house away from the world for a while and to just be in nature. Sounds like a lovely plan, right? After my time spent on the small island of Bonaire, I realized that by living away from the world I would be avoiding all of the world's problems, in denial of anything wrong, and oblivious to those around me. In a time where our society needs not people who live in denial of problems, but those who confront them and try to solve them, I realized that I could not just stand by and ignore the world like a coward. Our Tropical Marine Conservation and Biodiversity course not only highlighted things I already knew about the environment, like pollution, overfishing, our dependence on oil, and deforestation, but it also taught me that there are ways to combat these terrible issues if only people were educated and aware of them. We learned about Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that close fishing in certain areas, but that eventually result in larger and more numerous fish elsewhere, helping restore fish populations. We learned that not many people on Bonaire except well-educated tourists even have a clue about climate change. My time on Bonaire, both on land and underwater, has shown me that I cannot just sit back and watch the world's ecosystems suffer from further degradation, but that I can be one who does something about it. I'm not talking about saving every ecosystem and coming up with a miraculous alternative energy and then curing cancer, but I can do something. What that is, I don't know yet, but I think that's the beauty of the promise of the future.
Something else being in Bonaire has taught me is the importance of doing what makes me happy. As cliche as it sounds and as simple as it may be, I have learned how great it is to do something you love. Oftentimes I would do things because I knew that they would enhance my resume or help me appear "well-rounded," but my current motivation is to do what I find interesting and to let the pieces fall where they may. My experiences in Bonaire have shown me that I have an incredible passion for marine research and conservation. I guess that might not be much of a shocker for those of you who already know that I've spent every summer since I can remember at the beach and spend my free time wading in the salt marsh with my friends. I needed Bonaire to help reiterate what an impact the ocean has on my being. You have no idea how much I wish I could just don my bathing suit, walk ~70 meters and jump into the ocean right now (which is what I would do every day in Bonaire). With this passion I now have a little more focus to what I want to do with my life, but then again who really knows.
My time in Bonaire has also helped me to slow the heck down. If anyone saw me at all last fall semester at Conn, I'm sure you were frightened by how frazzled and crazy I was. I had planned every hour of every day with what I was going to do, and although I managed to do everything I set out, I had hardly any free time. Looking back on it now, I took way too much on last semester and never want to do that to myself ever again. In Bonaire, I would actually go with the flow. This may be hard to imagine, but I think I used my planner maybe three or four weeks out of the 16 that I was there. The laid-back vibe of Bonaire rubbed off on me immediately upon stepping out of the plane back in January. I have never been more relaxed in my life than I was for the last couple of months. Although things in America work at a much faster pace (I was overwhelmed by the highway when I got back - it's crazy!), I do hope to stop planning everything I do and to just go with the flow.
Bonaire has also shown me just how wonderful of a support system I have. Going to school just an hour away from home was a luxury that I did not realize I had until I was in another country for four months. I was completely on my own and couldn't just call up mommy if I needed something or text my sister when I found something funny. Although I made wonderful new friends during my time in Bonaire, it was encouraging to have so many loved ones back home to talk to and who I knew understood me. As wonderful as it is to embark on independent adventures, this experience has shown me how great adventures can be if you embark on them and share them with people you love. I look forward to the day when I can bring my mom and sister to Bonaire and really show them what it's like.
I am so glad to have had the incredible opportunity to study in another country for a semester and to have met so many amazing people in such a short time. Even though us students came from completely different backgrounds, as soon as we were together, it was like we already knew each other. We were a bunch of science nerds and I loved learning, living, and laughing with them. They made the experience one that I will remember forever. They pushed me to be more adventurous, more relaxed, and even more academic (which is hard to imagine, I'm sure).
Thank you all for supporting me during this wonderful journey. I loved recounting my adventures and sharing all of my stories with you!
Love,
Catalina
Thank you all for supporting me during this wonderful journey. I loved recounting my adventures and sharing all of my stories with you!
Love,
Catalina
No comments:
Post a Comment