Week Six

This week was quite busy, filled with exciting classes and activities. Morning exercise is continuing to progress, with the swim track swimming up to a mile and a half, and the run track running between 5 and 6 miles a few times a week. Yeah run and swim track!

Not only are we challenging ourselves physically, but we are also working very hard academically. During the week, we all worked together to prepare for our first science reasoning exam. Although it was challenging, we all felt very proud of ourselves for surviving the first exam!

Nicky and his homestay family

Curt, Henry, and Richie fishing in Rock Sound with homestay families

Later in the week, all of our hard work seemed well worth it when we were rewarded with our overnight homestays. We all had an amazing time getting to know the people of different Eleutheran communities. Whether we were swimming, fishing, helping cook conch, or going to church, we all were excited to share our new experiences with each other.   This week we have our final SCUBA certification dive.  Everyone is excited and is hoping that the weather holds up (fingers crossed!!!).

Unfortunately, we are about half way through our semester. We have gotten to know each other so well it feels as though we have known each other forever. We feel that in order for future students to have the best experience they possibly can, we should give you a few important tips.

1. Though you may be shy at first, try as hard as you can to get to know everyone around you. We challenge you to be the first person on campus to know everyone’s name! (like Addie this semester)
2. When you first get here, you may miss home. However, be sure to appreciate all that is around you. In a few short weeks, you will feel that this place is your home.
3. Bring a small, squeezable water bottle for our intense, but satisfying, runs!
4. Pack a small fan that can go next to your bed for cooling off at night (Muy Importante!!!)
5. Become friends with Chris Maxey.  He is the funniest, coolest guy you will ever meet.
6. Even though the faculty are your teachers, you will soon learn that they will become your good friends. Open up to the entire community, because there are a lot of cool staff members with amazing life stories. 
7. Bring lots of bug spray for those nasty no-see-ums!
8. Do not stress over academics. As challenging as they may be, the experience is what counts. Sign out as much as possible.
9. Love your community.
10. Bring pictures of your home and your friends, because you will want to show them off to your mates.

Shoutouts

Addie:  Hey everyone! I’m having such a good time here; it really is everything I could have hoped for. Mom and Dad, I miss you so much! Thank you so much for writing all of the letters. I have them all posted next to my bed so I can look at them and think of home. Mom, give Otis and Tia kisses for me, and tell David I miss him a lot. Nin and Ian, I miss you guys! I wish you could see everything I’m doing here. Linds, I hope student teaching is going well. I know you can do it! Ian, I hope MSU is fun and you’re being the awesome filmmaker I know you to be. Buddies, I hope the semester is going well! I miss you guys a ton, but I love it here and have so many good stories to tell you. Take care everyone, keep sending the letters. I love you all!

Curt:  Mom and Dad, thanks for all the letters, I miss you guys and can’t wait to see you in November. This place is unreal; I can’t thank you enough for this opportunity. Maggie, I hope your first few months of high school aren’t too stressful… it’s never as bad as it seems. Scott, Chickering is just as fun as it was last year I’m sure; don’t forget to keep updating me on the Pats and Sox! Nobles, miss you all. TP, save a box of Grapenuts for me. MP, don’t get too jacked this season. SP, I’m bummed I can’t watch the season, keep it up. LM, deep convos? WR, BK, IG, CH, and HW, I can’t wait for next summer. LR and HA, don’t forget to keep me informed. Jake, Billy, and Mike, I hope the hurricanes are treating you well.  

Meagan G.:  Hey everyone back home! Mom & Dad, I love you guys! This place is truly amazing! Give Bear, Zoey, and Pearl a hug for me! Ryan, I hope you’re having a blast in Australia; bring a kangaroo home for me! Shane, I found your fort and everyone keeps telling me stories about you when you were here! I hope you’re having fun at MSU and that the skiing is great! Grandma, I can’t wait to see you on Parent’s Weekend! LS, congrats on homecoming queen! CB, I love it here and can’t wait to tell you a bunch of stories! ES, I miss you so much, I hope you’re surviving AP English! To everyone else, thanks for all the letters and I didn’t forget you! I miss you all and I’ll see you in December! 

Nicky:  Mom, Poppi, and Rosie, I love you and miss you so much--‘nuf said. Noah+JGild+Piscitelli+Max, I miss my brothers. MVC crew, I miss you immensely. Keep the hood fresh.  Windward kids, I miss you lots. Send me letters and other random stuff. Shouts to Malcom, Moni, JBeezy, Emi, Alex, Aaron (both), Daniel, Abe, Bobs, Molana (where’s my shirt), and everyone else.