Lifting up for a slam dunk during team building

Week Two:

Wednesday:  The largest group of free-divers the island school has had excitedly woke up early on Wednesday morning at 5:30 to go for an early morning free-dive.  Chris Maxey and Justin Symington took us out and showed us how to hold our breath and dive deep down along the coral.  We saw many fish and a beautiful sunrise. We got back and split up into two groups, one group went to scuba orientation and the other worked on the legacy project. In the afternoon we all worked on our various research projects and finally went to bed after a long hot day in the sun.

Thursday: On Thursday we did our fist long distance swim so as to acclimate the students to swim track, also further preparing us for our choice of exercise, either swimming or running. Some students got as far as triangle cut, but everyone got a taste of long distance swimming. In the evening we had a full moon party on the boy’s dorm beach, Justin lead a discussion about the moon, Dimmel cooked hamburgers and hot dogs to be eaten with our hands, and it was somewhat messy but still a good time.

Friday: For morning exercise on Friday we split up into different groups and set off to experience various team-building games and exercises. Afterwards we had regular classes and finished off another day of exercise and academics with good food in the middle.

Saturday:  We started off the day energized for our physical assessment consisting of a timed quarter mile swim and two mile run.  The day of classes went by quickly due to the fact that we were all looking forward to our Saturday night activity: DANCE PARTY!  We boogied the night away with treats such as cookies, popcorn, and juice.  The night ended with a moonlit swim off the boy’s dorm beach.

The beautiful moonrise during our fullmoon party!

Sunday: HOMESTAYS!  We all woke up and were driven to the various settlements in South Eleuthera where we would meet the family’s we would stay with for the day. We had a great experience with the Bahamian culture and met many new friends. Quite a few of the girls got their hair braided in the local Bahamian style.

Monday: The normal day of classes started with either an exercise of Yoga or Water polo. After dinner we had our second community meeting of the semester discussing issues and saying Kudos (words of appreciation to a certain someone).  We then hurried off to finish our homework and first research paper.

Tuesday: This was the first morning we split up into our groups for either swim or run track.  After a strenuous exercise we met at the flagpole and diverged to our various chores before a yummy pancake breakfast!  We had normal classes in the morning and research in the afternoon.  A night class of Statistics took place to help us with our research projects and students headed off to bed to face another day.

Shout outs:

Sponge research team eagerly awaits field class (and swimming with baraccudas!)

 Meghan Weiler- HEY EVERYONE! I’m here in the Bahamas working hard and having a great time. Mom and Dad- I hope you had a good time in France.  I love and miss you, give the pugs a big hug and kiss for me! Kate and Michael- Hope work and school are going well; I always think of you guys when I do my run swims in morning exercise…You would absolutely love it here. Noblers: Hey guys! I hope everything is going well and you guys are holding down the fort without me.  We had such a good time together before I left; I hope you are all keeping that up. Good luck with sports, GO BULLDAWGS!!!!  I miss you! Keep the letters coming, I LOVE them!

Campies: My Peeps! I miss you all so much! Rina- Don’t get another scooter buddy, I miss you.  Freaky- I’m super serial when I say the letters are fantastic and stop changing my facebook! Haha can’t wait to see you.  Lauer’s- Thanks for that awesome Luau before I left, I love you guys.  I miss chilling with my PEEPS and there are definitely no AWKWARD turtles down here, they stay in Brewster. 

I love and miss everyone, keep up the great writing!

Corenthea- Hi Mom and Dad! I love you and I miss you and I want you’ll to know that I am doing fine and doing my best. Dia I love you and tell my nephews that I’ll be home soon. I can’t wait to see you’ll and I’ll talk to you’ll soon.

Robb Post- Hey Mom, Dad, Katie, family and friends.  I am having a great time at the island school.  I am learning new fun things and meeting a lot of new people.  I have been getting in the water and seeing new aquatic life every day.  This is a completely new and interesting experience for me and I couldn’t be happier.  I miss you all and I can’t wait to see you all again.