See Four Countries!

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This northeastern corner of the Caribbean that we are at is a crossroad of countries, an international hotspot. Just from an eye’s view away I can practically see a mini-version of the United Nations everyday here. On a clear day from campus, it’s easy to see the UK, France, Netherlands, and St. Kitts and Nevis! Let me show you some pictures I’ve taken from campus.

We are in an international hotspot!

SINT MAARTEN (NETHERLANDS)

Capital: Philipsburg

Political Status: member island of the Netherlands Antilles (but soon to be Country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands on 10-10-10)

Area: 13.1 square miles

Population: 40,917

Distance from AUC: 0 miles

Currency: US Dollar, Antillean guilder (soon to be St. Maarten guilders on 10-10-10)

Med Schools: American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine

What’s there: Casinos, hotels, tourists, beautiful beaches, lagoon, people from all over the world, stray cats, speed bumps.

Dutch Sint Maarten -- Location of AUC.

SAINT-MARTIN (FRANCE)

Capital: Marigot

Political Status: Overseas collectivity of France

Area: 20.5 square miles

Population: 35,925

Distance from AUC: <1 mile

Currency: Euro

Med Schools: None

What’s there: French people, nude beaches, upscale French restaurants, croissants, baguettes, smooth roads.

French St. Martin, just next door to us.

ANGUILLA (UK)

Capital: The Valley

Political Status: British overseas territory

Area: 35 square miles

Population: 13,600

Distance from AUC: 8 miles

Currency: East Caribbean Dollar

Med Schools: St. James School of Medicine (Anguilla Campus)

What’s there: Shoal Bay East, Cap Juluca, lots of goats, lots of chickens, friendly people, half-finished buildings, road-side grills, driving on left side.

Anguilla in the background. French St. Martin in the foreground. Anguilla is the closest "foreign" island from St. Maarten.

SABA (NETHERLANDS)

Capital: The Bottom

Political Status: member island of the Netherlands Antilles (but soon to become a special municipality of Holland on 10-10-10)

Area: 5 square miles

Population: 1,424

Distance from AUC: 30 miles

Currency: Antillean Guilder (soon to be US Dollar on 10-10-10)

Med Schools: Saba University School of Medicine

What’s there: extinct volcano jutting out of the sea, pinnacle diving, cute white houses with red roofs and green window shutters, old women sewing beautiful laces, a cliff-lined beach that appears and disappears with the tide, no crime.

Saba -- visible on most days. On a clear day you can even see roads and houses!

SINT EUSTATIUS (NETHERLANDS)

Capital: Oranjestad

Political Status: member island of the Netherlands Antilles (but soon to become a special municipality of Holland on 10-10-10)

Area: 8.1 square miles

Population: 3,100

Distance from AUC: 40 miles

Currency: Antillean Guilder (soon to be US Dollar on 10-10-10)

Med Schools: University of Sint Eustatius School of Medicine

What’s there: Forts, historical ruins, the Quill

Sint Eustatius -- a saddle-shaped island with two mountains connected by plains.

ST. KITTS AND NEVIS

Capital: Basseterre

Political Status: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis

Area: 104 square miles

Population: 51,300

Distance from AUC: 50 miles

Currency: East Caribbean Dollar

Med Schools: Medical University of the Americas, University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Windsor University

What’s there: Old sugar cane plantations, Mount Liamuiga, Brimstone Hill Fortress, Alexander Hamilton’s birthplace, monkeys.

St. Kitts -- only visible on the clearest of days.
member island of the Netherlands Antilles (but soon to become a special municipality of Holland on 10-10-10)

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