Enjoying the History, Culture, and Cuisine of Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is a southern coastal city with rich history and culture. It is known for its delicious seafood and Gullah heritage. The weekend beginning NC State’s Spring Break, our UPP students from both NC State and UNCG were able to learn even more about southern US culture while experiencing the history of Charleston, South Carolina.
Prior to the trip, staff had discussions with students to help them learn more about black history in the US as well as social issues and racism. The intention had been to ensure that students had a basic understanding of American history as well as how to show proper respect when visiting certain historical sites.
Friday
Departing from the UPP Office on Friday afternoon, a group of staff and students boarded a charter bus together to begin their adventure. Along the way with movies playing, plenty of snacks and traditional stops for fast food and gas, the students were able to experience the road trips that many Americans often recall from their childhoods. By Friday evening at 11:00pm, we arrived at the hotel, ready to head to bed and looking forward to a bright and early start the next day in Charleston.
Saturday
After everyone woke up and ate a continental breakfast at the hotel, we gathered on the bus in preparation for the first stop of the day, the South Carolina Aquarium. Despite the cold, rainy morning, there was excitement in the air as we proceeded to the aquarium.
Upon our arrival, we were greeted by a pod of dolphins swimming in the bay behind the building. The students were very excited for these photo opportunities and the chance to see aquatic animals in nature. They also enjoyed the opportunity to interact with and pet stingrays and horseshoe crabs up close and personal in a shallow pool. As the students entered the building, they were greeted by different exhibits of underwater life and South Carolina coastal wildlife. They broke off into different groups taking pictures of fish swimming in tanks and looking at the varieties of marine life. It was fascinating to see sharks and jellyfish swim alongside tropical and local fish in the large tanks.
For lunch, everyone enjoyed a variety of seafood dishes at Shem Creek Crab House, from soft shell crab sandwiches to shrimp pasta with everything in between - some even tried clams! Eating delicious food while enjoying views of the coastal plains proved to be a memorable experience.
For the rest of the day, students had the opportunity to learn about the history of the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum on the USS Yorktown Aircraft Carrier, explore the colorful downtown Charleston, and shop at the nearby Tanger Outlets while enjoying dinner of their choosing on their own.
Sunday
On our last morning in Charleston, we took the students on a quick beach trip so they could experience the South Carolina coast, many seeing a US beach for the first time. Students were captured by the beauty of the sand and the ocean and the clear blue sky. Although it was cold and windy, they took many pictures on the beach, and some even said that this was their favorite part of our trip!
Before returning to North Carolina, we took the students to Magnolia Plantation to get an understanding of the impact of slavery in American history and modern day racial and social issues. The students explored the grounds of Magnolia Plantation and visited modern attractions such as the petting zoo and the botanical gardens. Prior to the students exploring on their own, we encouraged them to reflect and take in the history of the plantation while remaining respectful of the site. We then ate a traditional cafe style lunch at Magnolia Plantation’s Peacock Cafe and loaded the bus one last time to head back to North Carolina.
On the bus ride back to UNCG and NCSU, the students took naps, watched movies, ate delicious snacks, and reflected on their weekend in the beautiful Charleston, South Carolina.
