PARENTS: Please note that beginning Monday, April 25th, students will be, for the next three weeks, on their Down Island Trips, 8-day kayak trips, and academic rotations. Please find dates and groupings after the "shout-outs" below:

"And stretch!"

 This week’s morning exercises were really sweet!  On Tuesday, students split up into two groups to either play water polo, or to stretch out in yoga.  Those of us in yoga had a tough time doing a lot of the positions because some of us aren’t flexible at all.  Wednesday, we got to sleep in so there weren’t any exercises.  On Thursday, students broke up into either run or swim tracks.  Runners had a timed run around the 4 – mile loop and swimmers swam about a half of a mile.  Friday was another yoga/water polo day.  There was no exercise on Saturday because students left early in the morning to spend the weekend with their home stay families.

Dissecting a bonefish

Along with rigorous exercises, this was a work-heavy week with midterm exams.  It was hard to believe that midterms were here, but after a lot of studying, everyone came out with a solid grasp of the material.  When the week ended we had completed our science exams, math test, and the final draft of our Omeros English paper.  Friday night was a sigh of relief, and it was also our free night before homestays.  Lucas’ family threw a delicious ice-cream party with lots of goodies to pile onto our sundaes.  Everyone was stuffed as we headed to the presentation room to curl up in sleeping bags and watch a movie.

Scott, Ellen, Monique and Katie at a birthday party during homestays

Saturday, we all were allowed to sleep in after a fun Friday night. But we had to be at circle by 8:00 to have breakfast and then go to our homestays for the weekend!! The majority of the students went back to the same family as before, while some changed families. So by 9:00 we were all headed out to be reunited with our old families or to meet new ones. The day was filled with excitement as we participated in Bahamian activities with our families. Some had an intense day working or playing basketball, while others lounged and relaxed. That night, students partook in a variety of events. Those staying in Green Castle went to a fun-filled Bahamian birthday party and the Rock Sound visitors went to a carnival that was a fundraiser for the primary school. That night, we were all sad to be split up for the first time since kayak trips but everyone slept well after the enjoyable day. 

Sunday morning we woke up, still at our homestays.  We got to sleep in and then got up to go to Church.  Bahamian Church services are intense!  We enjoyed such delicacies as Fruit Loops, Apple Jacks, and Corn Pops for breakfast, which were all quite delicious.  Then we all spent the rest of the day with our families.  Sundays are days of relaxation, so we talked or played with the kids or watched TV, which was quite a change.  We interviewed our host families about the history of the old resort, and we all came back with a little more knowledge about Cape Eleuthera’s history.  Lunch was scrumptious, with lots of barbeque chicken, macaroni and cheese, peas and rice, and other Bahamian dishes.  Many students got to enjoy cake or ice-cream for dessert!  We were all picked up around three. Students had betwee a ten minute ride home from Deep Creek or a forty five minute drive from from farther North.  We were all stuffed to the brim with food and many of us had plates of food our families sent home with us to enjoy for dinner. 

When we arrived back at campus, a special surprise was waiting for us: MAIL!!!!!! Oh how we love it. Everyone grabbed their letters and spent the next hour or so before dinner reading them.  After dinner we started our homework in preparation for our last week of normal schedule before our kayak trips, down island trips, and eight-day academic rotation.  Tears were shed at Monday’s community meeting when Ben summed up the rest of our semester here!! We love it here and we love all the people here, and never want to leave!

Shout-Outs:

Annie: Hey Cleveland!! Mom, Dad, Margaret, Emily, and Katie I miss you all so much and I cannot wait until parents’ weekend when I can see you!! Maureen, Jessica, Katie G, Paul, Cam, Katie S, Wynne, Molly, and everyone else (sorry if I didn’t put in your name) I miss you all so much but I am seriously having the time of my life down here!! To everyone at the barn, I miss you all so much and you seriously have no clue how much I miss riding. Give Atticus a kiss for me!! Keep sending me letters and I’ll see you all June 8th!!

Lauren: HEY YALL!!!  I miss everyone in H-town SO MUCH!!  Mom Dad Scotty and Kristen- I love yall and miss yall and am counting down the days until Parents Weekend!! I cant wait until you see this awesome place!! Patsy and Mags- Yall rule at letter writing- I hope Spain is still awesome and I hope htown isn’t too boring without me!! I miss yall and love yall and cant wait until this summer!! LEELEE- Sounds like everything back home is going good- have fun with lax and I miss you and love you!! Alli- My favorite cuz! I love you and miss you!! Sarah, Baker, Pimpin and all my other JRZ- I miss yall like crazy! I am having so much fun down here but I cant wait to come home and tell yall all about it- I hope yall have an awesome end of JR year, keep the letters coming, don’t study too hard, GO MAVERICK LAX!!!

Sandy: Hey Mom, Dad, and Sky.  I miss you guys so much.  Mom and Sky, I wish you guys could come down to parents weekend. I know you’re really bummed you can’t, me too.  At least Dad is coming.  I can’t wait till we get to dive together during parents weekend.  It’s going to be so sweet.  For everybody else in Hanover, I just want to say what’s up?  How’s life in New Hampshire.  I miss you all a lot and I can’t wait to see all of you in June.  In the meantime, enjoy the spring and good luck!

Shannon: Hey everyone!!  Mom, Dad, Justin, Mikey- I miss you and I can’t wait to see you in a few weeks!  L’Ville- I hope you’re having an amazing spring term.  Take good care of the Aggressor (Clarkey).  STANLEY, Shouse!  I love you and I miss seeing your beautiful faces- Don’t cause too much trouble without me.  Reecie- I hope that you’re having fun in our big room and it’s not too lonely- feel free to use the sleep machine and splurt out random words from your IM conversation now. Doylestown girls I love you and will see you soon- keep writing!

Kayak 1 group and schedule:

Megan B, Jeremy C, Sandy F, Charlie M, Alice Mc, Camila P-G, Max S, Alex S, Caroline S, Katie W, Lauren W

April 25, depart on kayak trip; May 2, return to campus; May 3, day off; May 4, depart on Down Island Trip; May 6, return to campus in afternoon; May 7, begin 8-day academic schedule (on campus); May 14, 8-day academic period ends; May 15, day off; May 16, resume regular class schedule.

Kayak 2 group and schedule:

Abby C, Joanie C, Nick E, Alec F, Anna F, Kevin F, Nick K, Peter M, Leah M, Nina S, Brett S

April 25, depart on Down Island Trip; April 27, return to campus; April 28, depart on kayak trip; May 5, return to campus in afternoon; May 6, day off; May 7, begin 8-day academic schedule (on campus); May 14, 8-day acacemic period ends; May 15, day off; May 16, resume regular class schedule.

Kayak 3 group and schedule:

Molly C, Jesse D, Miles D, Monique G, Aaron H, Brittney K, Jane K, Sarah M, Melissa N, Ellen O, Isaac R

April 25, begin 8-day academic schedule (on campus); May 2, 8-day academic period ends; May 3, day off; May 4, depart on kayak trip; May 11, return to campus; May 12, depart on Down Island Trip; May 14, return to campus in afternoon; May 15, day off; May 16, resume regular class schedule.

Kayak 4 group and schedule:

Scott A, Stephen B, Rachael C, Billy D, Kendra M, Shannon P, Lucas R, Lucy S, Erica S, Travis V, Annie W

April 25, begin 8-day academic schedule (on campus); May 2, 8-day academic period ends; May 3, day off; May 4, depart on Down Island Trip; May 6, return to campus in afternoon; May 7, depart on kayak trip; May 14, return to campus in afternoon; May 15, day off; May 16, resume regular class schedule.