A group of Island students had the opportunity to learn first-hand about the lifestyles and culture they only knew about from books.

History and Geography students from Berkeley Institute spent eight days visiting St. Kitts to see the things they had read about.

In some cases the adventure led to discovering relatives they did not even know.

While there, students visited many sites, toured some of the major factories and even had the opportunity to attend church.

Some of the major differences that the students noticed were the size of roads -- larger than Bermuda's -- and corrugated iron roofs. Poverty was also prevalent.

A visit to Washington Archibald and Basseterre High Schools had them sharing their own culture with the students there. They also attended some of the classes and met many of the teachers there.

Later they made a trip to the St. Kitts Children's Home, described as their version of Bermuda's Sunshine League, where they presented many of the children with gift boxes.

Students were amazed at how little the children in the home had -- learning that was the nature of life in St. Kitts.

They also had the opportunity to ask questions of some of the market ladies.

These ladies grew fresh produce and then carried it by whatever means possible to the market to be sold.

Students asked about how the ladies grew their vegetables and brought them to market.

They also learned about the island industries like sugar and beer production.

At the Sugar Factory they saw how sugar cane was processed and raw sugar was made. At the Carib Beer Factory they saw how beer was made, processed, packaged and then prepared for shipment to various retailers both on and off island.

But the most exciting part for some students was a visit to the Historical Society.

There they were able to research their family names and find some historical links between their families in Bermuda and families in St. Kitts.

Some students even had the opportunity to meet with long lost family members and old friends of the family.

In the end the students came home with a better understanding and appreciation of where is was they came from.