Students have now completed the first part of their studies this semester, including their field species identification skills program. These skills have been put to good use quickly as the students have been straight back into the field undertaking REEF fish surveys and REEF check ecosystem assessments. At the moment the students are in the middle of a week long exercise to survey the populations of Queen Conch both inside and outside of our local marine protected area. It has been a busy but fun time out on the water for everybody.
-Dr. Ben Holt, Lecturer in Marine Ecology

Student Reflections
I can’t believe we’ve nearly reached the halfway point already! Midterms were Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and just next Wednesday the mid-semester break to Provo begins. The rate at which time flies by here gives a whole new meaning to being on “island time.” I’ve already seen and done so many amazing things and it feels like I only just got here. My highlights range from holding a two-legged hawksbill named Lucky to working with the special needs kids at the elementary school to swim lessons with the high-energy local children.

During one particular swim lesson at the dock, I found myself paired up with a very enthusiastic little boy. He immediately impressed me with his swimming talent, duck-diving skills, and eagerness to learn the names of every little item he brought up out of the water. By the end of the lesson, we emerged from the sea with our arms full of a wide variety of shells and even a piece of beautiful old pottery. Although I was supposed to be the one teaching him, I realized he had taught me an important lesson about what lies just below the surface at our dock. He brought to my attention all the little things I normally would have overlooked while giving me a new appreciation for the variety and beauty that can lie within one little nook of the ocean right in my backyard. Although I am excited for our five-day break, I am already looking forward to returning rested and refreshed so that I can continue learning from the wonderful professors, curious community, and my new friends in South Caicos.
-Lynn Sperry, Franklin and Marshall College

Exams, exams, exams. No fun at all, but nonetheless a necessary part of the education down here. For the past week we’ve been holding intense study sessions in preparation for midterms that took place last weekend. With each exam completed we all breathed a deep sigh of relief, some more than others, as seen from the picture. Luckily, however, they are all over and its time to get back to normal classes and activities. This week we’ll be working on an intensive conch population/age assessment survey all around South Caicos. The goal of the assessment is help local resource managers better understand the crucial conch fishery of the area.

For those of you who don’t know, when we’re not studying we take our ping-pong and volleyball very seriously. Screams of joy and agony, along with rowdy spectators are not uncommon after lunch or dinner when the competition takes place. I currently sit second on the ladder, just beneath Dr. Claydon, the center director. I’ve lost to him twice now, but I’m gaining on him. In our last match, a post-dinner spectacle, all the students gathered around, oohing and aahing as I failed miserably to take on “the man.” I’ll get him eventually…I hope.
-Dan Myers, Dickinson College

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