Yong ’27 and Chuck ’26 share about their first day in Florida and their “Cypress forest wet walk” adventure.
The day started with an early 4am wake up. The squad gathered their things and met in the hotel lobby, waiting for their shuttle to Bradley airport. The transition through security was smooth and we only had a few bags get held up by security – not too bad for a group of 13. After a sleep-filled flight, the squad landed in Fort Lauderdale and immediately set out for lunch at a nearby Publix (a massive Florida grocery store). From there, we set out for the Everglades and, upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by the large collection of alligators and other wildlife. Then, we rallied the squad once more for what is called a “Cypress forest wet walk” into the vast everglades. As we trudged the sludge, things quickly escalated when Mr. Jan spotted an alligator in our vicinity. Like the hero he is, he moved the squad out of harm’s way – even though the gator was on the smaller side. As we drew closer to what they call the “gator hole” in the Cypress forest, the dark water became deeper and deeper. It was at this moment that Rich reached for a leaf, not realizing it could cause a rash. Luckily, our guide pointed it out, and Rich opted not to touch the leaf. The squad then left the Everglades National Park for the hotel, but first stopped at a convenience store. After a much needed snack, we easily arrived at the hotel, and we are now awaiting the adventures ahead.
