It has been a full week since most of us arrived here on Eleuthera and as students we are learning to get the hang of life at The Island School.
After a morning full of class and small group discussions, K1 and K2 had the opportunity to go on a tour of the different sustainable systems on campus. We toured the farm at the Island School, the Center for Sustainable Development (CSD) and the Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI). At the CSD, a particular project really caught my attention as we learned how cooking oil from cruise ships gets turned into the fuel used to power all the school’s vehicles. It’s amazing how it only takes 12 days to produce biodiesel from oil that would have otherwise gone to a landfill, and give it a second purpose.
K3 and K4 spent the day working towards their SCUBA certification. Despite being rained on mid-dive, everyone excelled in their first open water dives at the Saddle. Practicing skills to get comfortable underwater is a major component of SCUBA. One of the hardest of these skills is the full mask fill and clear. At 25 feet underwater, one has to fill their entire mask up with water and then blow out of their nose to get ride of all the water. Despite the slight sting of salt water in the corners of our eyes, everyone kept a positive attitude and encouraged each other through it. SCUBA is just one of the few ways we are strengthening our relationships with each other and building a strong community.
Another sunrise, another run swim. It almost seems like we are finally getting into a routine.
After battling the waves and learning how to drain a kayak in the middle of the ocean we were asked the question, “What did today teach you?” My answer would definitely have to be that that strength is not everything and that even the most strenuous activities require more of a soft touch. Kayaking was truly amazing; it allowed us to gain a personal connection with the environment, while learning a new skill. It felt like we were captains of our own mini ships, in full control of our speed and direction.
Even though it’s always fun relaxing at one of the many beaches at school, it was eye-opening to go out and see the settlements of South Eleuthera. We headed straight to the airport, but unfortunately we had arrived there too late: it had already been shut down for a few decades. We learned a lot about South Eleuthera’s tourism decline on the car ride over to our next destination. The blue hole was a sight to see—truly breathtaking.
Everything is becoming more comfortable. Though it is only our sixth day, we already feel like a family.
Breaking the surface of the water, we pulled off our masks and cheered as loudly as we could. K1 and K2 had just received their SCUBA certification! For the past three days, the two groups have worked tirelessly to master all of the required skills to be eligible to graduate to PADI Open Water Divers. Congrats everyone, well, everyone in K1 and K2 that is!
Having performed their final skill, these students are now fully certified divers.
While K1 and K2 were mastering their SCUBA skills, K3 and K4 had the pleasure of having their first class! After a fun filled morning of discussions, K3 and K4 had a first hand go at Querencia, an alone time for individuals to reflect on their experiences so far.
Summer Term students gathered on Boys Dorm Beach for a Fourth of July bonfire.
By evening time, K1, K2, K3 and K4 were finally united again to celebrate the 4th of July! Armed with cameras, we progressed to the Boy’s Dorm Beach to end the night with a BONDINGfire. Our Island School term warmly welcomed Camden Hills and Ocean Side schools who will joinging us on campus for the next ten days! After a very long photo-shoot, with many blinding flashes, we roasted marshmallows and set off fireworks. #USA
Calling it an early night, we all went to bed tired and excited for a new day!
8 o’clock never felt so good. Day Four was our first sleep-in of the term, although tons of students opted to run and continue to physically stretch themselves. As the sun grew hotter, K1 and K2 prepared to SCUBA dive and K3 and K4 were off on their down-island and kayak adventures. The five veteran divers were quick to get ready and were eager to embark on yet another thrill ride in the Saddle, while the rest of the novice divers worked diligently on their open-water skills, pushing towards their certification.
After another great day, a delicious dinner and dish-crew a capella, our first Natural History of Marine Ecology class rolled around. The classroom structure was unique and quickly began to teach us the importance of one of the three pillars of the Island School: Developing a Sense of Place. As soon as class commenced, the central theme of asking questions became evident, as Peter hysterically disagreed with all of our answers to his question, “Why do we teach you to breath underwater?” This encouraged us to keep thinking and come to a conclusion as a whole.
Each day continues to help us grow academically and physically, as we learn new and different techniques to enhance our learning experiences. We keep pushing our limits and impressing ourselves everyday by overcoming all of the challenging but compelling obstacles down here on South Eluethera. #FUNINTHESUN
You cannot forget the first time you look up from the ocean floor and see your bubbles rising quickly to meet the surface. Even though waves and currents affect the surface seen from land, from below, it is a humongous mass of water, which is unhindered by anything but its own ebb and flow. It is surely frightening to be so far removed from the air you are accustomed to breathing, but after a few deep breaths through your tank, you can calm down and start to realize how incredible it is that you are thirty feet underwater.
Today was the first day that we really focused on developing our sense of place here on Eleuthera. One of the “three pillars” here at the Island School is sense of place, and this week during orientation we are focusing on establishing that. Students were divided into K1, K2, K3, and K4 groups that would determine their schedules during orientation week, and throughout the whole week the final goal was to establish sense of place through land, sea surface, and under water. Each day, each group embarks on a different journey in hopes that they will familiarize themselves with the land and the people.
K1 and K2 would spend the next two days focusing solely on scuba diving certification, which aimed to familiarize the students with the ocean and the different species we will study in the coming weeks. To those who have never dived before, it is an incredible experience to view an entirely different world, to forget what land feels like, and to be able to stay underwater longer than you can hold your breath. All of the students, from those who have been already been certified, to those who have spend little time in water, let alone under it, have taken the challenges in stride and have had a great time getting to explore an unfamiliar place.
The down-island trip stopped for a snorkel expedition and this picture was taken looking up from an ocean hole.
K3 embarked on their first down-island trip to visit different spots on South Eleuthera, stopping at different settlements to learn about each one along the way. On their journey, they visited a beach in Deep Creek where they snorkeled and saw a lot of fish and even a few sting rays, they walked through caves that were the home to hundreds of bats, they shopped at a local market, they jumped into “Ocean Hole” in Rock Sound, and they finished off their journey with a local favorite “Papaya cups” that was a delicious popsicle like treat made from fresh local papayas.
K4 set out on a journey to get to know the water from the surface, on a kayaking trip. They went all around Eleuthera, stopping at different beaches, and practicing new skills they would need for their longer kayaking trips in the future. One of the guides, Nick, helped the students build a fire on the beach and rumor has it some students managed to make quesadillas with the fire. All of the students are looking forward to the days to come during orientation.
Pushing off the sandy ground into the water for the first time, many different emotions raced through my mind. Having grown up in Tanzania, this is my first time in the ocean—and one of the most door-opening experiences I have had so far on my journey here at Island School. With the help of the faculty and the encouragement of all my new friends, I am feeling much more comfortable in the water. My goal is to join everyone else in the run-swims in two weeks, and, even now, I can begin to see that dream come true. Everyone else was able to complete their swimming test, and had their first real taste of what the run-swims will be like. We are all excited to see how far we come on this journey together as a team.
Apart from the swim test, we had our first exploration time. Most of the students biked to the Saddle—a dredged section of the old marina—and got to snorkel around with their buddies for the first time. Looking out into the distance, several students pointed out a spotted eagle ray to each other. As the days continue, we hope to see many more fascinating organisms. There are so many other places to explore, like High Rock and Fourth Hole Beach, and we simply cannot wait to get out there and experience them for ourselves. Island School is already becoming a part of us.
The Island School, Cape Eleuthera Institute, and Center for Sustainable Development have a number of internship and work opportunities still available for the 2014-15 academic year. You can learn more about all of the opportunities on our websites. For specific questions, please email info@islandschool.org.
From Tanzania to San Francisco, our community is a diverse one, but it can agree on one thing: we are all excited for the month to come! Although a few are still trickling in, we have all arrived safely on the beautiful island of Eleuthera, thanks to the dedicated and inspirational staff’s leadership. First day jitters jumped away as everyone rose bright and early to come together as a group, sing the Bahamian National Anthem, and hop in the water for an early morning snorkel.
As we went on this bonding snorkeling experience, friendships were not only made with our fellow students but also with the sea creatures we encountered. We got the chance to hold a giant starfish, West Indian sea eggs, brittle sea stars, and even donkey dung (sea cucumber!) and sea slugs. The donkey dung shared some of its fluids, so we had some good laughs. An hour came and went, the staff led us back to land, and the rest of the day flew by. Students toured campus for the first time and found their bearings on the boathouse and in the classroom. After hearing the academic and social expectations last night, we have high hopes for the rest of the month. The community is growing fast, and there is no telling how strong we will all become. #NOCEILINGS
Your Day One Caciques (student leaders for the day),
Eliot, Malik, and Clay
A Summer Term 2014 advisory prepares for the wreck snorkel.A student examines a massive sea star.
