Papayas, white sand beaches, coral reefs, and baleadas were common fair the last two days on Roatan. Sunday morning began with a church service at Infinity Bay Resort and it proved to be a very interesting experience. The resort is located on pristine sandy beach right next to the blue ocean, to say it was beautiful is a massive understatement. The service itself was very evangelical with members of the congregation interacting with what was being played and said in ways unfamiliar to many of us in our group. To say the least, it was a new and fascinating experience that put a few cultural things in perspective for us-on the island especially.
After the service was over, we had free access to the resort for the day and unlimited access to the ocean! Although it was a very populated beach, the water was crystal clear and prime for snorkeling. Thankfully, someone who worked with the clinic some of us are interns at was at the beach with us and volunteered to take us out to the best reef spots in that area. We started out into the calm blue waters and swam only a little ways until we found a massive coral reef. The reef was absolutely breathtaking and it was a phenomenal experience to observe such a vibrant ecosystem firsthand. It was hard to get out of the water, but eventually we had to go in to the shore for a tour of the island with a local.
The tour van we had was packed full of Luther students and faculty, and we rode the bumpy roads of Roatan to see the beautiful sights and tragic lives of some that live right on the island so close to the rich resorts that produce so much revenue. Our guide’s name was Elias and he had lived on Roatan for about 25 years. He was extremely knowledgeable about many things on Roatan and informed us of cultural, political, geographical, environmental, and economical topics and issues that arise on the island frequently. Many of us thoroughly enjoyed the tour and felt a lot more oriented about our surroundings.
On the 7th, we were able to tour the sites of our internships that we start on the 8th. The first place we visited was the Bay Island International School which was a private institution and had their first day of class when we were there. It was a great experience seeing the children come back to school and see how the dynamics of the school worked. We also visited another private school called the Bay Island Academy. Something I learned after talking with the administrators of both schools is that the private school system in Honduras and Roatan is far less than satisfactory for many people, so a thorough education is often only offered to the privileged few or lucky few with scholarships.
We also visited La Clinica Esperanza which was a non profit clinic for anyone on the island. They provide services for around $3 per visit and help treat preventable and easily treatable diseases that many people have on the island. It is very oriented around universal publicly accessible healthcare. It was a very inspirational place and many locals talk frequently about it and its founder, Miss Peggy.
Lastly, we went to the center that housed School of Life (SOL) and Bay Island Conservation Association (BICA) that operated as an after school programming and recreation center for students in the public school system. They offer free classes to the students while focusing on legislation to further the conservation of the Bay Island area.
After the fascinating tours of internships, we had a free afternoon to explore more of the island! Everyone in the group coincidentally ended up in the same area of the island called West End. It is a rather touristy spot, but the ocean is still fantastic and it is very interesting to check out the local shops and restaurants while relaxing on the beach.
It has been a very eventful and educational few days on the island, but we all can’t wait to hear more about its rich culture and history as we continue to inhabit this beautiful and vibrant place.
Stay tuned for more of our island adventures!
