The new Bahamian skin lotion... our first science lab.

We arrived at the Island School campus last Wednesday, and as orientation comes to a close today, we look back on a very busy week! After going on tours and settling into our dorms on Wednesday, we woke up Thursday morning and snorkeled to a shipwreck just off the beach. Here at The Island School, five days of the week are started with morning exercise, an activity that so far has included snorkeling, a swim and run assessment, water polo, yoga and a five mile run to High Rock. While snorkeling, we have seen various types of fish and coral, stingrays, conch shells and even a dolphin!

After morning exercise, we have had chores around campus. It takes a little getting used to! Chores include feeding the pigs and chickens, cleaning dorms (and their toilets!) and landscaping. We then sit down to enjoy a very healthy breakfast, which is much deserved after being awake for two hours already. Breakfast is followed by lectures and discussions about how our community here runs. We have all learned about the facilities and how we are working to conserve energy and reduce waste.

Trust in our friends. Jolanda counts on her new IS friends.

After a lot of hard work, we were happy to have a day to sleep in on Sunday! We all enjoyed a good taste of Bahamian culture when we attended the local Baptist church. It was fun for a change to get dressed up and leave campus. For some it was a spiritual experience and others just had fun singing as loud as they wanted and clapping their hands to the beat. The rest of the day we had free time to go for a bike ride, float the cut, explore or soak up some rays.

We are now experiencing a weather pattern featuring lots of rain, thunder and lightning. Because of this, we have been unable to go SCUBA diving or kayaking, which resulted in two days of PADI medical training. Now we can say that we are medically trained and we can help you!!!

Students light candles under new gazebo during 9/11 vigil

We enjoyed a cookout at Sunset Beach to close out orientation on Tuesday. We played Frisbee and instruments and chatted with our peers. After a delicious dinner, we partook in a very special Island School tradition. In the Bull Dolphin, we all imprinted our hands on the ground with some very smelly paint to symbolize unity and the act of stepping outside of our "comfort zones." We then each gave up a personal object to the community basket that meant something to us and represented who we are. We've all been a little homesick, but everyone here is awesome and making it an easy adjustment. Thursday is going to get even crazier with classes beginning, but we have high hopes. We're all looking forward to lots of mail from home!

Lucy: Hey everyone back home!! Mom, Dad, Henry and Emily, and all my girls!!! I hope everything is good and school is good. It's awesome here and I'm having a great time!!! Keep sending letters and other stuff, I really appreciate it. Don't forget my b-day is coming up (oct. 15th) the big 16 alright! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH MUAH!!! xoxoxo

Students explore a mangrove forest.

Laura: Mom, Dad, and Steve- I miss and love you lots! Abby, Gen, -I miss you guys tons. Jessi- So far you're right, I'm having a great time and I hope you like NMH! Asher- The bikes here are not so good, but the view makes up for it. Ruthie, Chelsea, Christy, and everyone else at Hebron- I miss you and I'll see you in Dec. Miss and love you all more than Ben and Jerry's!!!!

Zindzi: Mutti, Daddy, and Tristi (and the rest of my family)-I miss you all so much and love you, be there when I call next Monday! All of my CHS friends-I miss you and I still can't believe that I'm going to miss homecoming…bummer. Kels, don't eat too many saltines without me, Oakley, sorry we're missing smoothie days, Becca, don't let the best friend position be taken over by a box of crayons and a journal again. I'm having a blast here, but I really miss home!!! Send me LOTS of mail! xoxo

IS group in front of Deep Creek Baptist Church.

Dane: Hi Mom, Dad, Karissa and Katianna!!. I miss you all except for Kara, no offense okay. But u know the bet and all…. And SPECIAL HELLO TO Tiger I miss him so much!!!!!!!!!. I hope everyone is doing okay because I am. I want to give a special, special hello to my Mary. xoxo.