Rain, rain, and more rain

Tuesday, we woke up to the sound of thunder and the pounding of rain on our rooftops.   Hoping that exercise would be canceled, we slowly sagged out of our beds.   We quickly found out that the teachers wouldn’t let a little rain get in our way.   Throwing on our raincoats and getting drenched with water, we ran outside and circled up around the Bahamian flag.   People were late so we had to do push-ups in the puddles, getting soaked at the same time.   We felt as if we were in boot camp.   But it was still a fun experience to run in the rain and through the 12-inch puddles.   This day was the day where we were training for our half marathon in November.   We ran, and ran, and…ran.   Those who were swimming still swam too.   We couldn’t escape the rain.   It followed us that whole morning and on until the afternoon, flooding the campus..

This is so cool!

Wednesday, we had our work projects or SCUBA depending on what group you are in.   We were also supposed to have community outreach with the children from Deep Creek but it was teacher appreciation day so the kids weren’t in school.   Since we didn’t have anyone to mentor, we ended up setting up a projector in both the presentation room and the girl’s common room to watch the movie “Amistad”.   The movie was an epic and it related to many themes we have read about in “Omeros.”    

The flag waves high!

 The next day we took a short run to the dump followed by a biogeochemical lesson.   We learned how trash takes a very long time to decompose.   We expected to take a short jog back, but of course, a longer run was in store.   Yeah morning exercise! We ran out on a different variation of the loop, and everyone finished strong. Today it rained…again!!   And yes we exercised, of course!   It was still a lot of fun doing run and swim tracks in the rain.   The rain cooled the runners and was an interesting effect for the swimmers.

Saturday morning was really awesome!!!It was one of the best morning exercises we’ve experienced so far.   We awoke to the noises of fire crackers and bottle rockets being set off in the circle.   Our dorm was then raided by a crazed gang of pirates, led by the fearsome hooknose (Justin). We were rather confused with the machetes being brandished around our beds as we were waking up, but alas, PIRATE DAY!!   The girls thought that that guys were pulling a prank on them, and the guys had no idea what was going on. Once we were at circle, we were told to get into our fish groups and figure out where we would go from there. ARRRR!! The plan was to go on a hunt for “booty” (pirate treasure).   Each group was given a treasure map and directions on where to run/swim and what to do.   There was a rope that was to be held the entire time we were doing the treasure hunt.   If anyone was to let go of the rope the whole group would have to do push-ups.   Also, the pirate flag had to be held up in the air the whole time.   Each group was a pirate ship, so they had to stay together.

One of the hunts we went on was pushing a car around the campus with a person in it steering.   At the end we received a coconut.   Another hunt was swimming out to the ship-wreck at the boy’s dorm beach.   We had to find a golden conch shell.   Another “station” was running to the House of Pain and picking up a boat, putting it in the water and paddling with our hands out to another boat with a bag of rocks for treasure.   The last activity was at the Marina.   Here we had to swim across the cut while avoiding the pirate ship and the “sharks” (teachers with their fins on).   We had to get a ball past the sharks by throwing from one person to the next in our group.   If a shark caught it, they would throw it back to where we started.   Our goal was to get to the other side of the cut, where we would find a silver platter (a plastic plate covered in aluminum foil).   This was the last treasure we were to find. We kept these booty treasures into a bag and brought them back to the flagpole at campus.   Then each group was given a list of treats that they could trade their booty treasures in for.   There was a choice of cake, brownie mix, one gallon of ice cream, a bag of ice, drink mix, and popcorn.   This was going to be saved for that night…Junkanoo.   Junkanoo is a celebration that all the people of the Bahamas have twice a year.   We were given a small taste when local Eleutherans came from Green Castle to play the drums, cowbells, and horns for us in an impressive Junkanoo display.   We all thoroughly enjoyed the interaction and the great “booty” that followed.

Maxey and the boys.

Sunday was a phenomenal field trip.   After lunch, we piled into Friendly Bob’s school bus and headed over to the windward side of the ocean for a day at the beach and a burger cook out at Half Sound Beach.   Maxey surprised us with ice cream on the way there, RAH! The beach was awesome, as it was the first sunny windy day we have had in a while.   Some of us swam out to the barrier reef near the rolling waves. We headed back after dinner, studied, and geared up for the next morning.

FREEDOM! The students decided to take a break from strenuous morning exercise and take their freedom morning.   The guys piled into the girl’s dorm early in the morning and locked the doors and windows, barricading themselves from the faculty.   The “Free-Dumb” flag flew high in the sky until the faculty had morning circle without us and decided it would be best to set fire to our handmade flag (aka Nate’s bedsheet).   The students held strong through morning exercise, and the day went on as usual.

Shoutouts:

Luke-   Hellllo everybody.   I’m having a phenomenal experience thanks for all the inquiring letters. Keep sending mail it’s thoroughly enjoyed!   I know I have been a little lazy with the letters back but the workload here is rather intense.   I’ve been kept ridiculously busy. Hope everything in Easton is going great, thanks again for the mail it’s a great, rare connection with the outside world.

Fink- How’s it going back home. Everything is super busy here. Never a dull moment I hope everyone is happy and healthy. I would love to get letters here so I know what is happening at home. Best wishes to Mom, Dad, Carly, Otis, and Milo.

Cassidy- Mom, Dad, and Jack: Hey guys!   Sooo much happened this week.   I talked to you on the phone last night but I didn’t get to talk to dad.   So dad I just wanted to say hey. I am still enjoying my time here and making the best I can out of it.   I can’t wait until parents weekend! Amanda, Lauren, Tram, Melissa, Tiffany, Corinne, Michelle  Heyyy guys!!! OMG I miss you guys sooo much!!   I’m really sorry I haven’t really gotten to calling you but I only have 20 minutes a week. I love you guys soooo much. 

Kara: I love you soo much Mom, Dad and Kate! Can’t wait to have you here for parents weekend, it’s going to be fun!   Thanks everyone back at Edgewood for helping me come here. Hello to all my friends I love you all, can’t wait to see everyone up in Ohio, and sorry I haven’t gotten a chance to write, we are so busy around here but it’s really fun.   Thanks everyone for helping me to come here and can’t wait to come home and tell everyone about this amazing experience.   Love you Kate! Mom and Dad see you soon (I love you mostest!!!!)