Ice Cream Shop Flag
Summer Bridge Reflection
The instant I stepped off the ferry and onto Tangier island, it felt like I was in another country. Tangier island is a small island that is quickly disappearing as a result of rising sea levels. Learning about Tangier is very intriguing, but experiencing it was unbelievable. When we got to Tangier, with people I had known for two days, it was undoubtedly my favorite day; we walked most of the island observing the environment, checking out gift shops, and we even made a stop to get some delicious ice cream and crab cakes! A few unusual sights we noticed included seeing only two cars there because everyone rode on golf carts, a wide variety of pets, and an incredible sense of safety and community on the island. Like stated before, it is hard to describe Tangier as it is something one must experience for themselves. After visiting the island, our LIFESTEM group had a big discussion about what we learned and the observations made; this got me thinking a lot.
When discussing pollution in the Chesapeake Bay, it is easy to imagine the effect on the native animals and plants, but it is harder to think about the effect on people. This island is visual proof of how the unhealthy conditions of the bay have effected real people. I come to think of the past, present, and future of Tangier when contemplating these ramifications. For the past, I wonder how Tangier would be now if the oyster reef was as abundant now as in the 1600s. I feel like the people of Tangier would also be able to use oysters as a huge source for their economy. Along with oysters, if the water still had incredible clarity, tourism would be an even larger income for the island. For the present, we see that Tangier is very codependent on the federal government, due to protecting their island. Tangier needs to get federal funding for another rock wall to be built, so hopefully this gets done sooner rather than later. Lastly, for the future, I wonder what other solutions could help save Tangier. When a speaker from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation came, he discussed something called the swift project and I began to wonder if it would help Tangier.
To fully save Tangier, unfortunately, it will take a global effort to improve the world’s condition as a whole. I loved learning and experiencing Tangier Island. I hope it stays around for many more centuries to come.