As the bus continues towards Grand Isle, the road narrows and we become the only vehicle in sight, drifting further from civilization. All I can see are marshes and the murky sea, with grass that almost seems to hover on top. In the distance, I spot a solitary fishing boat, with a man sitting alone, hard at work trying to catch his latest haul. The houses stand on wooden stilts, as if preparing for the coming storms. I feel as if I’ve been transported to a different time, as the sounds that flood my senses are the waves crashing against the shore and the cicadas in the trees. This is no longer the busy, industrialized city that I left behind. I sit quietly, looking out. The fear of the unknown rises within me and I retreat into myself.
Having not met anyone prior to this experience, I’m nervous about what the next month will look like. Too scared to approach people, I remain quiet. We all sit on the bus in silence, apprehension filling the air, until the radio, blasting through the speakers, starts playing country music. We all listen intently to songs we’ve never heard, as they tell stories of love and heartbreak. It wasn’t until a song about a tractor played that the mood lifted, and I found myself laughing with these strangers, soon to be my friends. The shared experience instantly brought us together, and we made jokes for the rest of the drive.
Life on Grand Isle seems slower, with the long beaches that stretch the island providing a relaxing atmosphere for moments of reflection. On my first day on Grand Isle, I go to the beach, kindle in my hands, feet in the sand, as I look out onto the shore and begin reading Kate Chopin’s The Awakening. Grand Isle serves as the vacation destination for the Pontelliers within the novella, with Edna finding solace in the sea, away from her obligations as a wife and mother. She searches for her own identity and sense of belonging within the book.
“The voice of the sea speaks to the soul. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in it’s soft, close embrace”
The attachment that Edna feels to the sea entices me, as it holds so much meaning to her and represents the idea of freedom. Back home, I avoid the water—often it is too cold to withstand—and the inability to know what is truly in the waters, combined with watching movies like Jaws growing up, instilled this fear. Today, however, I watch as the sun bounces off the waves, and while the waters aren’t crystal blue, the white foam encroaches closer onto the sand. Hesitancy remains in the back of my mind as I turn the next page of the book.
That evening, we gather as a group, playing cards as we get to know each other better, creating our own little familial bond. While in Grand Isle, the people Edna meets inform her awakening, from the desire she feels when she meets Robert to the influence of Mademoiselle Reisz, an unmarried, childless woman who devotes her life to music and embodies what Edna hopes to someday achieve: independence and freedom. I am a firm believer that people are what make an experience great, and I think this is true for Edna too, as she looks back on Grand Isle fondly, associating it with the start of her liberation.
“I’ve been seeing the waves and the white beaches of Grand Isle; the quiet grassy streets of the Cheniere; the old fort at Grand Terre”
The next morning, after being told of the peace of the sea visible from the porch, I wake up early to meet my new friends as a few of us venture onto the beach, getting closer to the gulf. The water is warmer than I expected and the sand soft on my feet as we walk deeper into the ocean. I submerge myself fully into the salty waves as they try to overpower me, but I stand strong, my eyes stinging from the salt and my hair now messy and wavy. While I didn’t experience any huge revelation, I did find myself in a state of calm, refreshed as I walked further up the beach.
The quick connection that Edna feels to the people in Grand Isle resembles that of my fellow peers, as we all prepare various dishes one evening to create a massive meal with everything you could want. We sit around the table, sharing in the joy of being able to share this experience. Though it has only been three days, I feel like I have known these people all my life. The location of Grand Isle serves as the perfect place to connect with others, with the quiet town allowing for meaningful and deep conversations, as well as moments of silence. Chopin writes in a way that makes Grand Isle a desirable location, and while the beaches aren’t as white as described, Grand Isle provides an ideal setting when you want time to feel like it’s standing still.
“On rainy or melancholy days Edna went out and sought the society of the friends she made at Grand Isle”
I will look back on my time here with feelings of joy, reflecting on the moments shared with my friends, the laughter over songs and terrible movies, and the fascination we held during the thunderstorms—from standing in the pouring rain to going into the sea, which I wouldn’t have done by myself. This experience allowed me to develop a newfound contentment with the ocean and the peace that comes with taking things slower.