Today was all about understanding culture and the cultural heritage domains. We were given explanations and examples about all domains and we discussed how we will learn more about this through experience in the coming week and later in our lessons at school.

We looked at the various arts and crafts at the local market of Saint Pierre. We saw, for example, woven baskets, various musical instruments and woodwork. There were also countless types of rum to be found. We are going to learn certain cultural techniques ourselves in the coming week, such as weaving baskets and playing musical instruments.

We then visited the rum museum. Through an audio tour we received information about the importance of rum in the culture on the island of Reunion and what skills are needed to make these special types of rum. A hodgepodge of cultures and skills have created a special type of rum.

Today we started off with introducing the course and culture. After a brief discussion session about culture and what we already noticed about it in the Island or Reunion we went for a small tour through the market place. I recognize a lot about the other islands I visited. A lot of local crafts, like instrument, clothing and beverages. 

After the market visit we drove to another important part of the island culture: rhum! We paid a visit to the Saga of Rhum museum. With an audiotour we strolled along the different phases of making rhum. It was very interesting to hear where the rhum making on Reunion differs from, for example, the West-Indian rum making. Reunion was an island that was unpopulated until the Portuguese discovered it. During the years culture was ‘introduced’ by the different people who live there. That’s what I learned again today: culture is not an exclusive thing of a certain group of people or a certain area. Culture is a hybrid thing, that develops and adjusts from time to time, influenced by the people and different era’s. Like the sugar cane that was brought to Reunion, resulting in the rhum culture there is nowadays. Culture, it’s constantly moving, changing and redefined. That’s what makes and keeps it fascinating, everywhere you go.