Moving to a new place can be intimidating. Learning the culture of the community you now inhabit and the ins and outs of daily life in a new city presents some challenges but also many opportunities to try new things and soak up information about the new setting. Taking a semester to change location and
perspective by studying in Manteo is an adventure that we all welcomed with open arms. This new frontier that we are exploring together as classmates and research partners has prompted us to try new things, make new memories, and develop new friendships that will surely grow throughout the semester.
Manteo is very different than Chapel Hill, but I have seen several similarities in the way that we learn about and experience these places when they are new to us. Hearing advice from locals to watch your speed going down Highway 64 reminds me of the times during my freshman year when upperclassmen would tell me the best places to find parking at UNC. Going out to eat with housemates/suitemates at local Chapel Hill restaurants like Sup Dogs before the first day of classes was mirrored here in Manteo with a trip to the Olde Town Creamery where we enjoyed dinner and a sweet treat. And while in Chapel Hill we might spend our late nights under the stars on the top of Craige Parking Deck, in Manteo we admired the same beautiful night sky from the peaceful Nags Head Woods.
While there are many parallels in the way that we have experienced these new places, there are definitely some things that are exclusive to the Outer Banks that we have been lucky to experience in our first week here. We had the unique opportunity to view Roanoke Island from an aquatic standpoint as we sailed
around the island, gaining a new perspective on the quickly eroding shoreline of the island. We were also blessed with the presence of some wonderful dolphin friends in the sound! The wildlife here is truly diverse and reflective of the unique landscapes that characterize this rare type of ecosystem.
Our trip around Roanoke Island was followed by an early morning hike of the beautiful dunes of Jockey’s Ridge State Park. This excursion was my favorite field trip of our introductory week. Jockey’s Ridge is an awesome place with so many little nuggets of knowledge concerning wildlife, land conservation, erosion, weather patterns, and tourism
tucked away all over the park. We had the awesome privilege of being escorted around the park by the wonderful Ranger Jennifer! She was so kind to let us in on the history of Jockey’s Ridge and to explain the way that the weather has affected the topography of the land there. I would have never thought that the height of the dunes would vary so greatly with the changing seasonal winds and storm patterns. It sounds like our class may also be allowed to participate in a shoreline protection project at the park in the coming months!
All of these new places and experiences have really given our class great opportunities to learn more about each other and build strong foundations for friendships that will hopefully last beyond our time here at the OBX. We are so excited for all that this semester has to offer and we look forward to all the adventures we will encounter!