A zealous crowd cheers for legendary pirate Jose Gasper as he returned to invade Tampa Bay, equipped with a crew of Buccaneers and a fully-rigged ship called the “Jose Gasparilla.”
Dominican Republic native explores the cultural landscape of Tampa Bay
As an international student, attending Tampa’s Gasparilla Pirate Festival for the first time was an excellent way to see how the people here celebrate.
Apart from my fears about the “wild” festival – which were mainly invoked by several warnings from fellow classmates – I found the event was entertaining, safe and diverse.
The effort everyone put into crafting their costumes and decorating their ships was astounding.
It was particularly pleasant to see multiple generations come together in one place just to have fun.
The experience reinforced my belief that immersing yourself in a new place is extremely important.
International students: I highly recommend exploring this country as much as possible, because it really has a lot to offer.
Often, many let everyday worries prevent them from seeing the qualities of their new surroundings, while others fearlessly embrace it.
At first, being in a new city in a foreign country is a little intimidating – it certainly was for me when I arrived here six months ago.
And sometimes, you simply don’t have enough time to venture out with all the tests, assignments and other responsibilities.
But in the end of this adventure, besides the knowledge you’ll gain, it’s equally important to get to know the people, culture and traditions of the area.
That’s why I and my friend from Hong Kong decided to reserve one day after class each week to discover something new in St. Petersburg.
The best part? We always feel like we have no idea where we’re going. It’s refreshing to just explore and uncover all the city has to offer to its visitors.
As well, going out introduces you to different types of people, giving you a fresh perspective of life. By talking to strangers, you get the chance to escape your comfort zone and jump into the unknown.
These practices also help erase preconceived prejudices and biases, which will simply help you grow into a better human being.
Of course, it’s important to have good grades and to accomplish your educational goals.
But try to relax and live life to the fullest while you’re at it.
