Overview
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For six weeks, the island of flowers, Martinique, provides a unique backdrop for engaging with issues surrounding the slave trade, colonization, race, exceptional biological diversity and environmental fragility. This rich literary and cultural powerhouse has inspired intellectual movements across the US, Europe and Western Africa for centuries. Join resident experts in their fields as they guide the exploration of these topics in and out of the classroom.
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Get to Know the French Antilles
Martinique Quick Facts
- Principal Préfecture City : Fort de France
- Official language: French
- Population: 375,554
- Currency: Euro
- Average temperature: 80F
In the heart of the Caribbean archipelago, Martinique is an overseas territorial region of France, and a part of the Lesser Antilles or, Windward Islands. About the same size as New York City, stunning beaches face the Caribbean Sea to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east while the interior is mountainous with volcanoes in the north.
Just under 400,000 inhabitants make up a multi-cultural society. As the official language, French is spoken everywhere but one also hears most Martinicans speak Creole, a mixture of old French, English, African dialects and some indigenous Carib terms.
This diversity illustrates the history of the island, its melting pot derived from successive residents: Arawak, Caribs, Europeans, Africans, Indians, Middle Easterners and Asians. Le pays des revenants is home to exquisite cuisine and exhilarating zouk music, perfect ways to experience this remarkable blend of cultures.
Orientation
The first week in Martinique is comprised of an orientation with APA, held at the tropical UCPA – St. Pierre. (subject to change) Explore this sunny location and take part in various cultural activities all while getting to know your home for the summer. This will cover:
- Preparation and Guidance: Exploring cultural differences and preparing for homestays
- Health and safety overview
- Finding your way: Practice using buses and public transportation
- Initiation in Antillean Creole: Learn key phrases and practical use of this widely used language
Students stay in double rooms with bathrooms and receive full board with traditional, home-made Antillean cuisine, comprised of local produce and ingredients. Truly farm to table!
Explore the outdoors with a line-up of captivating excursions:
- Kayaking tour in the mangroves
- Introduction to navigating a traditional fishing boat, the yole
- Hike and swim at the Couleuvre Waterfall
- Discover the Caravelle peninsula: explore the rainforest, swim, visit a rum distillery
- Scuba diving initiation