Students pose after dinner circle

In the past week, our campus has been very busy with visiting scientists and other guests. On Tuesday we had three interesting speakers who talked to us about Bonefish, Reefs, and Bahamian culture. We also had our first big rain of this semester, which was followed by a beautiful rainbow. We completed the day with our first weekly Fish Identification quiz!

On Wednesday we split up, with half of us doing work projects in the morning and the other half SCUBA diving at Cathedral Rock. The dive was amazing and it was our deepest, we went to 50 ft! On the dive, we saw many fish and swam through a rocky tunnel. On Wednesday after lunch, we all loaded in the vans and drove to Deep Creek for Community Outreach. It was awesome to finally meet our buddies and we all had a great time teaching and playing with them.

Jonny, Jensen, Chris, Matt, Rano and Zach

We woke up Thursday morning and set out on our first long run around the 4 mile loop. It was a challenging morning exercise, but we had a few small rain showers along the way that cooled us off. The rest of the day was filled with academics, as we continue to read Omeros and work on research and other projects. Thursday night Rob led our Bloomers, which was a fun game that we played in the circle… a nice break from a hard night of studying!

Friday was also a full day, which we began by dividing into two groups again. Half of us did work chores, and built a whole new wall of palm fronds by the garden. The other half of us went on a run with calisthenics. This coming Friday the groups will switch activities. We had our first test in the afternoon, which was a Geology test on the formation of the Bahamas. Friday night was a fun night for the Girls. We were led on a night snorkel in the cut by our dorm mom Ashley, and Morgan. The excursion was an awesome experience and everyone had a lot of fun, especially when we arrived back at the Island School and were greeted with delicious hot chocolate and marshmallows!

Alden and his primary school buddy

We woke up on Saturday to a beautiful morning, and half of us took off on a run swim around the marina. The other half of us stayed here and did yoga on the dining hall deck. This was another morning exercise that will rotate this week. We spent a few hours in our research classes diving even deeper into our projects for the semester. Those of us who had not done SCUBA on Wednesday got a chance to go out to Cathedral Rock after classes. Everyone got together on the Boy’s Dorm Beach during free time, and had a lot of fun hanging out. Later that night, Andrew took many of us to the cut for another night snorkel. After floating the cut in a very fast current, we jumped out and walked to the old water tower and went inside, which was really neat. We all returned to campus and got in our beds anticipating the sleep-in on Sunday.Sunday was spent at the beach for most of us, because the wind finally died down, and everything was warm and gorgeous. Rob, Andrew, and Maxey took a few of us out on the Cobia to free-dive. It was an awesome new experience that hopefully everyone will get to try by the end of the semester.

On Monday morning we went on a run around the Marina and out to No Name Harbour (4.2 miles). Everyone did a fantastic job of pushing themselves and finishing hard. It has been a busy week both physically and academically, but everyone is working hard and enjoying the time that we have here!

This web update was written by Hillary Bunn, Adwoa, Zack, and Alex. Below are messages from them to their friends and family at home.

Zack: Whaddup fam, hope everything’s alright up in A-Town. Tim- Hope lacrosse is going well. Yo dudes, this place is incredible. Everyone at EHS: Whaddup. Don’t forget about me. Macgoo boys keep it real. Woooot.

Adwoa: Hey girlies, I miss you much, but it is getting so awesome down here.

Be proud of me Sami, I’m coming along. Nick, can’t believe we got cut off! Love you guys. Holler to Afua, mommy, Ama, Jessica, Nick, Sami, righty Bam-Bam, and my invisible Felipe.

Hillary: Hi Mom, Dad, Elizabeth, Annabelle, Lville and Springfield friends! (especially Stanley & Kirby girls!) If the girls in Spain can read this-you too! I love and miss you all but I am having such a good time! Thank you so much for all of the letters and pictures!

Alex: Hey Mom, Dad, family etc. What’s up? I miss you all and love you guys. Dad-props on the boat, that’s awesome “Pysched”~ To all my friends at home- miss you guys. Letters rock, “hint hint”. Peace out!

Making a filipino fence on the farm	A project crew poses after a session on the farm