2012 Barbados Study Abroad

by Danny Herrera A wise man once told me, “We are not counting days anymore, we are losing them.” We are in the final days of the final week of the program and we have to make the most of them. I can finally say that I’ve swam with sting rays, sharks, and now sea…

by Danny Herrera At the beginning of the third week, we had the privilege to cook with Mrs. Reid. From her cooking lesson, I learned different ways spices are used here in Barbados and among my peers. We used mild peppers to add flavor to the ground beef. Then there were spicier peppers that we…

by Danny Herrera My first weekend here in Barbados was spent at the Crop Over 2012 Opening Gala. The aroma of delicious food filled the air along with the sound of Barbadian music. Admission was $15 Barbadian dollars ($7.50 USD) and it was well worth it because we got to watch young Barbadians perform at…

by Ryan Trinidad Today I visited the local clinic in the Black Rock neighborhood. With a major climate change and difference in my diet, came some feelings of tiredness and dizziness. I have been having these feelings for the last few days and thought I was just tired because of the heat. But I was doing…

by Ryan Trinidad Barbados is simply beautiful. Pamphlets show off the typical clear blue waters and sandy beaches. But, there is a lot more to this place than brochure regular photos. I've always been interested in bright colors, shapes, and living things. Flowers being all three, here are some photos of just that. (All photos…

by Ryan Trinidad Today we took our first excursion around the island. We planned on visiting St. James Parish Church, Animal Flower Cave, Harrisonʼs Cave and St. Nicholas Abbey Plantation. Unfortunately we weren't able to visit St. James Parish Church because there was a funeral being held. So we went on to Harrison's Cave located in…

by Danny Herrera UW students arriving at the airport in Barbados Twenty-one University of Washington students left Seattle and made it to Barbados in one piece. On the way we laughed together, ate together, and survived the 10-hour flight together. As a group we expected sunlight, not for it to be raining like Seattle weather.…

by Ryan Trinidad Today was a special day, Mauricio "Mo" Manriquez' 22nd birthday. It's not every day that you spend your birthday in Barbados. Great food, even better conversation, and most importantly a memorable time spent with my group. Happy birthday Mo! Mo's card and cake The group making faces on the way to Cafe…

by Ryan Trinidad Statue of Errol Walton Barrow, Barbados' national hero Today we traveled to Bridgetown, Barbados' capitol city. As we caught what was known to many as a "bus,” I believe many were surprised to see what came next. With Tro-tro experience on my side, I felt right at home and felt nostalgia as…

by Ryan Trinidad Staying at the University of the West Indies (UWI) at Cave Hill is amazing. Aside from the beautiful campus, and matching weather, there are amazing things hidden on campus. With no intention at all, there was an amazing connection between Barbados and Ghana. Even between the Pacific there is a huge connection…

by Ryan Trinidad It still isn't real to me that I'm in Barbados. I never thought that I would make it to the Caribbean, but I am more than happy to be here. The people are welcoming and warm as the weather. It reminds me a lot of Ghana; the people, the houses, the weather.…

by Danny Herrera My name is Danny Herrera and I am currently a senior at the University of Washington majoring in American ethnic studies with a minor in Education, Learning, and Society. I was born and raised in Yakima, Washington, and graduated from A.C. Davis High School in 2009. I am Mexican American and a…

by Ryan Trinidad My name is Ryan Trinidad, communications major and diversity minor at the University of Washington. As seen by the posts below, I started this blog one year ago in connection to my exploration seminar to Ghana, Africa. Simply put, the trip changed my life. It opened my mind in a way that…