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| Caitlin welcomes her family |
It is unbelievable to think that this is the last web update of Fall 2003. It was an amazing week on campus with lots of visitors - the homestay families were here for the Art Gallery Opening and a thank you dinner and then we welcomed over 90 family members for Parents Weekend.
It all started Wednesday evening with the Art Gallery opening. Our friends from the surrounding settlements came and it was our turn to host them and thank them for all they did to make the homestay experience such a positive one.
Thursday was a day we had all been waiting for. Our parents and families were coming to campus at 5pm! It was a busy day in preparation for their arrival. It started with an 8.5 mile run out to the old airport and back and the afternoon owas spent prepping our research presentations. There were a lot of hugs and tears at 5pm when the car loads of family members started to pull in to the driveway. We showed parents campus and then all met around the flagpole for dinner circle. Parents left around 8pm that night leaving behind some brave siblings who opted to stay with us in the dorms.
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| The Parizeau's at High Rock |
Friday morning was a cold game of water polo, chores, breakfast and then our parents arrived back on campus at 9am. We presented all 5 research projects to them and were really pleased with how they turned out this time! That night we had another large dinner on campus before the Junkanoo celebration began. It was a lot of fun to have live music on the dining hall deck with non stop dancing for 45 minutes.
Saturday all of the parents reported to campus by 6:30am for exercise. We ran to highrock and watched to see who was brave enough to make the plunge! That afternoon families had the option to do some sea kayaking, SCUBA diving, snorkeling and some even had luck with some fly-fishing. We had dinner at school that night, followed by a coffee house and then a slideshow of the entire weekend. It was a great day – but by 10pm everyone was really tired. Parents went back to their houses and campus became quiet pretty quickly.
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| Sophie and Connor |
Sunday was a day to explore Eleuthera with our parents. We woke up early, got directions to certain places (Lighthouse Beach, Governors Harbour, Tippy’s, Surfers Beach etc.) and spent the entire day off campus. It was great to show parents the island and to have free time with them until 10pm. When parents brought us back to campus that evening we had to say goodbye to them and tell them we would see them in 2 weeks!
Yesterday was a normal Monday schedule except we celebrated Kate Parizeau’s birthday and went on a night dive. This morning we split up for exercise with half of us playing Ultimate Frisbee and the other half doing a run swim. We have the ½ marathon in 4 days! In Humanities class we are in the middle of a section on Tourism and have had guest speakers from the island present to us. This morning Victor Sloss, of DP Fox, gave a presentation on the potential development project of Powell Point. It was interesting to see what will possibly evolve in our own backyard and to be able to ask him questions about its construction and the possible impact it will have on the people of S. Eleuthera.
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The Sugiyama's swimming at High Rock |
It has been an amazing semester for all of us – before we know it our bags will be packed and we will be heading home. Thanks for reading our web updates and keeping up with all that we have done down here. We are excited about our last days and will tell you all about them in person when we get home.
This web update was written by Kate Parks and Travis (with help from Tim and Geoff). Below are messages from them to their friends and family at home.
Kate- Hey! Mom, Dad and Clare: Thanks so much for a great weekend. I love you tons. Andrew and Merrill: Hold it down for me ‘till I come home. I miss you both like crazy. To all my friends: I’ve loved your letters and miss you so much but have had an awesome time. It is bittersweet to see it wind down but I know I can’t wait to see you! XOX.
Travis- Hey ya’ll. I’m having fun here, keeping the tan, but the academics are kicking in these last 2 weeks. I loved being with the family – not too much longer till I’m home. Shout out to the four horseman Frank da, Tank, Bob and Gomer. See ya’ll soon.
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| The Klems with John Schatz |
Liz with her Dad at High Rock |
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A brave brother takes the leap at High Rock |
Chris Maxey and the Danforths |
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Emily and her dad on dish duty |
Kate, Caitlin and Mary before presentations |