Traveling to Culturally Significant Locations (6 points)

 

Traveling to Culturally Significant Locations (6 points)

This past summer, I traveled to Nassau, Bahamas. This experience deepened my appreciation for the

cultural richness of the Bahamas, especially through food and music. As the capital of the Bahamas, Nassau

is an archive of history shaped by African heritage, British colonialism, and Caribbean resilience. One of the

most meaningful ways that I connected with Nassau was through the cuisine. I was able to try conch, which

is prepared various ways including stewed, fried, and cracked. This allowed me to participate in a tradition

that has shaped Bahamian culture for generations. Dishes like baked macaroni pie and rice and peas were

reflections of the African influence across the Caribbean. Ultimately, eating the local food was about more

than flavor. It was about understanding how history, trade, and migration shaped the availability and prominence of resources. Overall, my time in Nassau reminded me that culture is best understood through immersion. The trip encouraged me to think more critically about how traditions preserve stories of struggle and triumph, and how places like Nassau continue to honor their past while shaping a dynamic present.

- Jordyn Smalls