Ally, Taylor and Kat tearing open their packages

This week marked the halfway point for the Fall Semester of 2004.  Time here has gone by fast.  It is hard to believe we’ve been here seven weeks already!  Anticipation is growing as we head into our kayak/down island trips/academic rotations taking place over the next three weeks. Baseball has been the center of conversation for the last three days as parents and teachers filled us in on the Yankees/Red Sox series.

Team bonefish heads out for research

Wednesday morning started with a much appreciated and needed sleep in.  We all seem to get tuckered out so fast.  After a breakfast of cold cereal the students went off to their designated work projects while the rest headed out on their third open water dive to our favorite dive site, Cathedral.  Students that stayed on campus to do work projects set up new flowerbeds and fixed the outdoor showers behind boys’ dorm. During the afternoon students left for Deep Creek for community outreach with the local primary and middle school children. 

Anna and Kathryn dispose of the murdered bat moths

Friday morning both dorms boycotted morning exercise and chores by hanging our flag and taking our first “freedom morning.”  We all woke just in time for a yummy pancake breakfast.  The rest of Friday was a usual day of classes. 

Saturday we were greeted with Friendly Bob’s big yellow bus, which took us an hour north up the island to Windermere High School where we took the PSAT’s.  After three hours of test taking both students and faculty enjoyed ice cream and other “rare” food items from the school store.  Saturday night was filled with fun.  We had a barbecue on campus complete with hot dogs and hamburgers (expertly grilled by Sam, Kirsten, Nick, and Dave).  Dinner was interrupted by an insane amount of bat moths.  Brooms and flip flops were wielded as weapons as the battle began continuing late into the night.  Those who were not defending campus played flashlight tag and watched a movie. 

Morning exercise on Monday was comprised of a 5.5 mile run for the students on the run track and 1.5 mile swim for the students on the swim track; the longest both tracks have accomplished so far.  It was also a happy sweet sixteen for Chandler on Monday, complete with cake after our evening community meeting.

Sunday was a free day, spent mostly exploring our exhilarating environment and catching up on work, except for some who opted to attend the local Methodist Church and an offered dance class.  Overall, the students had a fun yet relaxing day.

On Tuesday morning the northies of both dorms enjoyed Yoga for the second time while the southies played an intense game of water polo. Thanks to Kristin and her family, the community was ecstatic to find bagels as part of Tuesday’s breakfast. We were also glad to see Austin and Harwood return from their medical adventures off island. After dinner we rushed to the bulletin board to find out which kayak groups we were in for our upcoming 7-day adventure! The rest of the evening was spent working hard and studying for midterms.

SHOUTOUTS:

Grillmasters Patrick, Nick and Dave

Courtney: Hey to all my family and friends back in Minnesota. I miss you so much and can’t wait to see you when I get home. Mom and Dad thank you so much for helping to make this experience possible. Harry and Teeny good luck with the joys of Business Day! Dance people I know you’re working hard. I can’t wait to see the completed works when I come home. Blake juniors class I miss you so much and I will see you all for our second semester.

Mary: Hi Mom, Dad, and Pat. I hope everyone in Newington and at Porter’s is doing well. I miss everyone.  Thanks for all the letters. I’ll write back as soon as I can. 

Taylor: Hey Mom, Dad, Griff, the rest of the Fam, and everyone back in VT. Things are going great here. I look forward to the cold and snow.  I’m working on my tan ;). Thanks a ton for your letters, keep writing.  I love and miss you all! See you when I get home.

Stuart: What’s up Baltimore? Hi to Mom, Dad, Margs, Rob, friends, cousins, LAKERS, and everyone else. I am having a great time here at IS. We are ½ way done already…time flies. I can’t wait to see you all soon. Thanks for the letters; Mom- big thanks for the sports sections. GO: GWB, BO-SOX, RAVENS, BEARCATS and LAKERS…do well!