First Time at a Beach in the United States - First Impressions #020

The university sponsored a beach trip for international students. Since it was free, I thought, why not go?

Even though I was tight on deadlines and assignments, I made this "sacrifice."

I was the only one in the group that they call "Latino." Well, there was a girl from Guyana, but she mingled with the girls from Jamaica. There were three Asians - one from Taiwan, one from India, and one from Pakistan. The Jamaicans formed a group, the Asians formed another, and the Africans made their own group, leaving me somewhat isolated. I talked a few times with a guy from Congo, but it was strange how people grouped together based on nationality/ethnicity. Since there was no one similar to me, it was just me by myself. At the university where I study, most students are African American, so I’m an exception to the majority. I tried to connect, without success, but at least I tried.

Now, talking about the beach itself

It wasn't any popular spot; we went to the most famous beach in the region, which isn't even in North Carolina. The beach is in South Carolina. We passed through some rural areas, and I saw some Confederate flags, which I found quite odd - just research the history to understand what I mean. We also passed some corn and peanut fields, which I found interesting.

We ate a chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A. I didn't even know this fast-food chain existed. The sandwich was tasty, not amazing, but simple and not bad either.

Upon arriving at the beach, there was a public restroom and some outdoor changing tanks where people could change clothes. I found the idea interesting; they could have something like this in Brazil. The only downside was that there was just one shower at the beach entrance for everyone. The city could add two more showers because it must be horrible on a crowded day to wait in line to leave the beach and wash off the sand.

The beach pleasantly surprised me. The sand was okay, but I found it uncomfortable when entering the water because there were many large rocks. The water was surprisingly "warm." My standard is the beaches of Espírito Santo in Brazil, where the water is freezing, but the Africans found the water quite cold, lol. It’s all about where you’re coming from. For those from Espírito Santo or further south who go to the beach, entering the water here would be fine. I thought the sea water in the U.S. would be arctic-cold, but in South Carolina, it was quite manageable.

The beach doesn't have a natural barrier or anything, so the waves hit the shore a bit harder at Myrtle Beach. If you have kids, be careful.

The beach’s shoreline reminded me a bit of Brazil. There were some taller buildings near the sea, but aside from that, the town had low buildings, giving it a small-town feel.

The souvenir and gift shops were very expensive. I decided to pay for a ticket to the Ferris wheel, which cost about $24. The price was okay in dollars, and the experience was worth it. I didn’t buy any souvenirs; I felt that spending money on the experience was better.

Beachwear and Crowd 

Most people were getting in the water fully clothed; only a few women were wearing bikinis. Wearing a Brazilian-style bikini would attract a lot of attention. No one wore Speedos, and when in Rome, do as the Romans do; wearing a Speedo would also draw a lot of attention. It seemed like there were many people from Latin America, many speaking Spanish. Based on their appearance and more Andean features, I believe most were from Peru and/or Bolivia. I also saw some Indians, along with white Americans and African Americans.

There were many families with children. I would go in the water with a child because, as I mentioned, I found the sea dangerous. I found it odd to see several teenagers openly smoking " the green plant" cigarettes, while just a few meters away, there was a group I believe were Jehovah's Witnesses. A thought crossed my mind: "Maybe here isn’t so different from Brazil; everywhere has different types of people and lifestyles."

Is it worth it? 

I liked it; I found the beach quite pleasant. I got thirsty, walked a bit, and went to a store called Dollar General to buy a $1 water. It would be a place I’d go with family.

It was the first time I saw seagulls, very beautiful, a spectacle of nature.

We also went to the city aquarium, which isn’t a place I’d pay to visit, but since I was with the university and it was on the schedule, I went. The species of fish and marine animals were quite surprising, but I feel sorry to see animals confined in small spaces.