Some of my favorite memories growing up take place on the island of Saint Martin. I can recall swimming and snorkeling in the clearest of blue waters, hiking lush green mountains, and relaxing on the beach with my parents. They discovered this seemingly secret paradise in 2002 and began to visit the island one to two times a year since then. We even spent a few Thanksgivings here and were welcomed into the homes of our friends who lived on the island to celebrate together. This island fully embraced my family and it quickly became a familiar and comfortable place for me.
A view of Saint Martin from a neighboring island.
My parents with their friends from the island during a visit in 2010.
Saint Martin is located in the Caribbean Sea, and it is a part of the Leeward Islands. A unique part of this island is that it is divided into two separate countries. The north side is the French area of the island and is called Saint-Martin, while the southern side is the Dutch side and called Sint Maarten. As a small island of only 34 square miles, you can drive around its entirety in a matter of hours. This island also encompasses 36 different beaches and multiple mountains. My favorite hike, and also the highest point on the island, is a mountain called Pic Paradis. From the top you can see a panoramic view of the entire county, the beautiful ocean, and even see the islands of Saint Bart and Anguilla on a clear day.
My best friend, Kassidy, and I during our Pic Paradis hike.
Last Christmas, I was able to go back and visit the island for the first time in many years. My best friend traveled with me, and we spent over three weeks exploring this place. Going back it was all so familiar, perhaps a little more built up and touristy, but certain beaches remained untouched and looked the same as I could recall from when I was younger. My favorite spot on the island is a beach called Mullet Bay. I remembered the secret parking spots my parents had shown me to access the more secluded area of the beach, and this was the first place I took my best friend. My heart was so full as we swam in the ocean of my most favorite beach in the world, and I told her stories of my memories of swimming here with my mom when I was little. During our stay here, this island became home to me all over again, and I cried as I watched it fade away from the airplane window when we had to leave.
Relaxing at Mullet Bay Beach.
With the news of Hurricane Irma fast approaching in the previous weeks, I began to worry as it looked like my slice of heaven would take a direct hit from this powerful storm. As the hurricane crept closer, it was confirmed that Saint Martin would be heavily impacted and perhaps never the same again. I couldn’t believe the images I saw, and it broke my heart as I read articles online confirming that this island was nearly destroyed. The French Interior Minister, Gerard Collomb, reported that the four strongest buildings on the island had been destroyed. When I read that I couldn’t image what the rest of the island was like because many of the buildings are not constructed with the idea that Category 5 hurricane winds of up to 185 mph will come in contact with them.
I quickly reached out to a friend on the island, Cee Marlin. He is the owner of the hostel, Vicky’s Keys, where my friend and I stayed last Christmas. I wanted to check in and see how he was doing and ask how we could help. Marlin responded to me in an email saying that the problem is, “material damages momentarily cannot be catered due to: 1. Hardware stores need to be open again, and probably need replenishing due to self-suffered hurricane damages. 2. There are roadblocks/ curfews still applicable, which leave a small window to do shopping. 3. No electricity, no running water, makes it difficult to do construction work. 4. Hurricane season is still not over, so we are watching out for the next possible hurricane happening until end October 2017.”
A rooftop view of one of the dorms at Vicky’s Keys hostel.
Marlin’s goal is to help and provide for the locals by giving them the chance to, “build back up their living environment, become earners again, provide jobs and the chance to become small entrepreneurs, the opportunity to become self-sufficient by learning aqua and agriculture, eco-housing (hurricane and earthquake proof), and more opportunities to make life on St. Maarten meaningful again.”
In order to accomplish this, he has a plan to create a local market in a section of the island known as The Keys. Marlin needs not only financial support but also individuals who are serious and want to help build up this community. This project is an incredible and super personal way to give back to this island and invest in something that can help make a huge difference.
Marlin is one of the most kind, caring, welcoming, and hardworking people I have met. I feel so confident in his goals and ability to give back to this island. If you are interested in getting involved in this project, please check out his site: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1810674458/the-keys-local-market-st-maarten. Or you can email him for more information and inquiries at info@vickyskeys.com.
The island of Saint Martin will forever hold lifelong memories for me. It’s a place I cherish so deeply in my heart; it’s more than just an island, it’s a home.
HC, Madeline Seiberlich