GTM Community Service Project

It was finally Friday, November 13, 2015, the day a handful of Honors students (including myself), my humanities professor (Bobby Hom), and two other sweet chaperones attended a trip to the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (phew!). GTM for short! I could not believe the day had arrived so soon. I remember signing up in mid-September and talking to my mentors and best friends about the community service project like it was yesterday. Anyway, the anticipation was killing me. I really did look forward to this trip for some reason. It was as if I had to be there. At first, I thought it was my gut but strangely, it felt more than just my intuition. Whatever “it” was, I am glad it guided me towards this service. I arrived to Santa Fe in front of S-building at around 8:30 am, which was the estimated time we were to head out to our first destination in St. Augustine: Publix. This was the second time I visited St. Augustine. I had actually went with my roommate two weeks prior to the trip, but I was still excited because we went at night and the ambiance of places shifts depending on the time of day. As ridiculous as it sounds, I had never in my life been more excited to get lunch at Publix (I was craving a Pub Sub so I knew this day was meant to be). In the emails Bobby sent to us in preparation of the event, he told us were going to eat on Vilano Beach, which was literally right next to Publix. I had never heard of the beach nor was I aware that a beach was fairly close to where we live (yes, an hour drive is the closest I will get to an actual beach). The area we drove through reminded me so much of Biscayne Bay in Miami because of the beach, the high roads with long curvy turns, a vast ocean visible on both sides of the highway with buildings and several distant islands in sight. It was too mesmerizing to capture. My friend Mikayla and I were both nostalgic because of these familiar surroundings, and I could not help but think about Miami up until we arrived to Publix because, well, food! But, this also meant that once we were through with eating, we would head to the GTM and commence the service project.

Upon arrival at Publix, we quickly went inside to order our Pub Subs which was technically provided by professor Hom (you the best!) and then we walked to the beach. The weather was just perfect and the beach felt incredibly welcoming. We sat down together, side by side, and watched the ocean’s subtle waves. Because I had shotgun, I did not really get the chance to interact as much with my Honors friends, but once we were there, it felt as if I had known them all my entire life. We cracked some jokes and laugh at how some of our Pub Subs were falling apart, and how a mud bath seemed so appealing because we were expected to sink into a few inches of mud (which was a major understatement). We were also watching small birds we called the “Oyster Birds.” One of my friends informed us how that bird was common around the area because they help preserve oysters. For such a small bird, we were amazed at how much energy it had. Lunch time was almost over so we began to pack up our things. We walked back to the Santa Fe van we rode in and headed towards the GTM, which was a pretty quick and smooth ride.

The project director introduced herself to us and explained the purpose of the project as well as what to expected from there on out. Originally, the project we were going to partake in was the American Oyster Catcher Habitat Project, but last minute changes were made (however, it did not really affect anything because we still had the full blown experience of getting cut by oysters, and getting stuck in extremely deep mud). We instead participated in a shoreline stabilization (soil erosion) prevention project. In other words, we are constructing a living shoreline. Other goals of the project are toe to raise awareness of these ecological issues by reaching out to the community. They intend to develop partnerships that will support future shoreline projects. The project director also explained how recently, the frequency and density of oyster reefs in the area have drastically declined due to water pollution, climate change, rise in sea levels, and other ecological and social issues. You are probably wondering why oyster reefs sound so important. Oyster reefs actually provide shelter for many fish which means that not only are oyster reefs harmed, these fishes are also in danger of losing their habitat. Oyster reefs are also protect nearby shorelines from erosion, and that is mainly why we are there to help it do the job. I was not aware about how significant oyster reefs’ roles are, but I am thankful I had the opportunity to learn as well as be a part of this project. So after learning about the project itself, the real, physical labor started which was honestly my favorite part (in a way, the physical labor was spiritually and physically cathartic, and it was very much needed). We put on boots and gloves to protect our hands from any sharp oyster shells, which I thought was a joke until I got stabbed plenty of times even with the gloves. Teamwork and unity was definitely promoted. After loading 150 huge (some randomly small) and heavy bags of oyster shells, we were off to the estuary where the oyster shells were to be placed. But we did not walk there because walking is obviously overrated. Instead, we drove awesome golf carts! We drove them into a sketchy forest that looked like it came from a Jurassic Park movie (mind you my friends were not the best drivers!), but the scenery was breathtaking. I enjoy nature whenever I get the chance to be surrounded by it. It was cool, quiet, and very different from other forests I have walked through. It almost felt like we were entering an entirely different universe. When we arrived to the estuary, we proceeded to load the shells onto a small boat again in a train-like fashion (one person down the other). Two of my friends and I were the ones that pushed the boat filled with oysters with about 50 bags loaded on the boat the first trip. We were constantly pushing from different angles in order to make sure water would not leak into the boat and cause it get heavier than it already was. It is strange to say how we technically bonded while pushing a small boat for over a mile. We laughed at how gross our feet felt in the water and how the mud was beginning to reach up to our thighs (mud baths anyone?). It was such a workout and I knew I was going to be dreadfully sore the next day, but nonetheless, I was determined to push the boat with my friends. We had to make about three trip back and forth. From a distance, we saw everyone suddenly fall and get stuck in the mud. Seeing my professor and friends crawl around in order to get out of the mud was hilarious! I almost died from laughter. Sorry, guys! After about four hours, the job was done. We washed up and changed and called it a day by going out to eat an outdoor restaurant that was near the beach we were at earlier. Long story short: We spent about four hours in mud that was like quicksand and it was literally up to my chest. Two of my friends and I swam in contaminated water in order to push a boat full of sharp, heavy oyster shells that we all loaded (150 bags) while getting stabbed in the process by these shells. Several of us had cuts on our arms and legs that we did not notice until after we were cleaned ourselves up. It was pretty hardcore, if I must say. We also drove a golf cart in Jurassic Park forest AND got hissed at by a large snake when my friend Mikayla and I were walking back to the GTM to wash up. But in the end, who knew physical labor could be this fun? It was worth it all and the world gave me this beautiful view to end yet another eventful and memorable day. I love Santa Fe College and the Honors program for giving me the opportunity to undergo these experiences. It only reminds me of how proud I am to call myself an SF Honors student. I hope to be back to help the GTM again, hopefully for not this project because it will be successful, but with other ecological projects they will initiate.