Today after our 7 am breakfast, we met Jennifer Keck for a quick lecture about the history of Roatan. We learned about the history of the island's discovery and the origins of its indigenous inhabitants.
After the discussion, we took an hour bus ride to the east side of Roatan. During the trip, Jennifer taught us about the current state of the island. We learned about how electricity here has progressed as a result of substantial investment from a Texas billionaire (tales were told of 6-8 hour daily blackouts prior to this), as well as shipping and agriculture.
When we arrived in Oak Ridge, known as ‘the Venice of Roatan’ due to boating being the primary means of transportation, we took a skiff tour with a local where he told us some history of the area. He drove us through the mangroves where we learned about their importance for coastal city protection, especially during storms.
As a fun surprise, Jennifer welcomed us into her family’s home on the island where we had a picnic lunch with a fantastic view of the ocean and got to play with a sweet dog named Maxwell.
- Cadet Yanna Albarracin
Professors Stephen Kielar and Ariel Setniker contributed to this blog entry.
Check back often and follow the adventure with our blog series that gives the latest news from the International Experience summer 2024 program traveling through Morocco and Honduras prior to returning to Vallejo on May 27, 2024.
Stay tuned for updates to the Follow the Adventure blog.
ABOUT CAL MARITIME
Established in 1929, California State University Maritime Academy is the only degree-granting
maritime academy on the West Coast. Located in Vallejo, California, the campus offers
undergraduate degrees that prepare students for careers in engineering, transportation,
international relations, business, and global logistics. Cal Maritime also offers
a master’s degree in Transportation and Engineering Management, as well as a number
of extended learning programs and courses.