Nathan and Kate in
Coastal research
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Mary and Julian survey the |
Tuesday evening, Dr. Daniel Bennetti, the world’s leading specialist in open-ocean cage aquaculture spent an hour and half with us explaining his life work and outlining the current Cobia aquaculture project taking place offshore from the Cape Eleuthera Marina. He was funny, engaging and a great resource to have on campus.
Our third Community Outreach session went well Wednesday afternoon. The relationship between the younger local children of Deep Creek and us is becoming stronger and our role as their teacher is becoming more familiar. Later we learned of Arnold Schwartzeneger’s victory in the California gubernatorial recall vote which lead to the west coast faculty and students having a good discussion over current politics.
Thursday afternoon all research groups had to present their introductions to the community. Everyone worked hard preparing for it and had a pretty successful first run at public speaking. During free time that afternoon, Ashley and Morgan invited all of the girls down to their beautiful house for a few hours. We all agreed that the view from their house defines paradise. We made cookie dough, sipped lemonade, and created handmade belts and necklaces out of broken conch shells.
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Amanda, Catherine and Ashley |
Friday morning for exercise, we had a short run to Powell Point and then all found separate places to sit and watch the sunrise. It was beautiful and felt great to start the morning with a half hour of meditative time.
Saturday, we all waited in anticipation for the 20,000 Cobia fingerlings that were scheduled to arrive from Miami on a 727 jet. When the plane landed in Rock Sound, the fish were put on a flat bed truck and brought to the Cape by 10am. All of us went down to the marina to help unload and acclimate the 24 crates of cobia that were headed out to the off shore cage. It was exciting to be a part of the project and will be interesting to watch the fish grow over the next couple months. Our Saturday night was fun! For dinner and most of the evening, we all went out to Wemyss Bight (the settlement next to Deep Creek) for their homecoming. We all loaded up on conch fritters, french fries, ice cream and candy, which all tasted great. There were lots of young children there and the boys had fun wrestling with them, while the girls were dancing on the stage to music provided by a local DJ. It was nice to get away from the cape and to be part of the community in a social setting. We finished the night back at campus with a showing of “The Breakfast Club” and some vanilla ice cream.
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Chris Maxey and the students prepare |
Sunday was restful, with time to spend at the beach before having to do homework. Our art projects were due Monday, so a lot of us spent time taking digital photographs for an assignment that asked us to demonstrate our involvement in nature.
Yesterday was the start of a big academic week. We have papers due, projects to hand in and tests to take this week. There has been lots of preparation and review for the intensity of midterms and our first set of grades and comments.
This morning we had our longest run yet (over 6 miles) as training for the half marathon and it was a success. Everyone pushed themselves hard and finished in decent time. Our reward was a coveted glass of Gatorade at the finish line. Whew! Happy Birthday to Yolande!
This web update was written by Julian, Mary, Camden and Katherine. Below are messages from them to their friends and family at home.
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Sophie, Camden, Kate, Chris and Ella |
Julian – To all my people in the Bronx, Lawrenceville, all the Prep Niners, and of course my family: Everything is great here. I am learning how to dive and all that crazy stuff. I’ll be back soon. Stay true to the Yankees – we’re going all the way!
Mary – How’s everything in Mich? I miss you all but I’m having the time of my life here. Please write more! Kaela: Thanks for all the letters! Family: Can’t wait to see you all Parents Weekend! Nobody have too much fun without me! Lots of love.
Camden – Hey! Mom, Dad, Michael and dag: I love and miss you so much! To all my Lawrentians loving NJ especially my Kirby girls: I miss you all and will see you soon… AMTXXIX (huh!) BUTTAH KNIFE!
Katherine – Hello… Hi Mary & El: I love you and miss you. Mom: Happy Birthday! Dad: Keep smiling, I’ll be home before you know it. FH Team: Keep dancing. All my girls: CSH, CH, SB, KD, BL, LT, HK, NR, KS & everyone else I have forgotten: I miss you but am having the best time. To everyone who helped me get here: Thanks so much, I love it! Love you all.
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John shucks beachbean seeds for |
Lindsay and Kylie during freetime |