From Cambridge to Aride: A volunteer’s experience with ICS

My name is Cai, and I’m from Cambridge, UK. I studied Natural Science at university and have had the privilege of volunteering on Aride Island for the past 4 months. This article is a glimpse into the wonderful life I have discovered here in the Seychelles.

Life on Aride is surprisingly difficult to describe. Before I came here, I expected that nature would be at my doorstep, but I didn’t quite realise that it would also be in my hair and between my toes. My sleep schedule is decided by shearwaters, my kitchen overrun by skinks and my free time controlled by turtles. Every night I fall asleep to the sound of mosquitos in my ear and wake up to the insistent call of fodys at my door. I wash my clothes and hang them outside my window to dry, however the constant monsoon weather means that they remain as wet as the day I put them out.

To those who have never been to Aride, these may sound like complaints, but strangely, they are some of the many reasons I find it so hard to leave. There are few places in the world that feel quite so alive. Wherever you look there are creatures staring curiously back at you. Whether it's the white tail chick hiding beneath a boulder, the tortoises demanding a neck scratch or the charming magpie robin following you dutifully through the forest - it is apparent that while we may be there to monitor the wildlife, more times than not, we are the ones being monitored by them.

Coming from the UK, I had experienced island life before. Of course in my case, I had shared the island with 65 million other people as opposed to the 11 neighbours I currently have. My old layers of evening jumpers have been replaced by layers of suncream, and my salt and pepper spice drawer has exploded with the colours of turmeric and chilli. As you might expect, I have adapted enthusiastically to warm weather and tasty food, although life here is not always stress-free.

Following the plane ride, ferry trip and motorboat journey it took to get me here, the extreme disconnect with my life back home became evermore apparent. I found myself waking up with new bites and bruises every single night as the forces of the island took their toll on my soft English feet. I would try to call my family for a bit of comfort, but the broken phone signal would leave me feeling even further away. However, these challenges were quickly forgotten as I began to know the island. The warmth of the Aride community made me realise that while I might be far from home, I had found a second home right here. As was explained to me after a particularly unsuccessful fishing trip, my family might be far away, but the islanders were happy to step in and take their place in the meantime.

If there is one thing I have learnt from my time here, it is that Seychelles culture is best explored through food. Through island barbecues outside Steve’s house and fresh fried fish at Jean Claude and Laurette’s, I quickly learned that the colourful, warm culture I experienced with the islanders was perfectly mirrored by the food they eat. Having enjoyed a selection of especially tasty meals, I found myself eager to absorb as much of their culture as possible. As it turned out, the Secyhellois’ desire to teach and share matched perfectly with my own desire to learn and eat. I found myself being generously welcomed aboard the fishing boat and I learnt how to detangle my line and even catch an occasional fish for dinner. Mealtimes became the perfect excuse for weekly social gatherings. It was around these barbecues that we would spend hours discussing the details of our past lives while enjoying a seemingly endless supply of freshly grilled fish.

Around the world, Aride is known for its pristine white beaches and stunning variety of seabirds. While this is undoubtedly true, what made it so special to me were the people who inhabit it. I would like to take this chance to thank everyone on Aride for making this small granitic island so extraordinary.

In 1787 Jean-Baptiste Malavois provided the first written description of Aride as “…just a pile of rocks covered with some bushes.” He could not have been more wrong.

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