Good afternoon!

Since day one we have been in motion—everything from exploring the island to meeting all the amazing people here. We have been learning the ins-and-outs of scuba diving which has been an eye-opening and incredible experience. While the first breath underwater naturally elicited a panic response, after a stress relieving circle beneath the surface, everyone conquered their fears and embraced the opportunity.

Exploring during our first dive, we encountered a sight that won’t be easy to forget. There was a stingray swimming along the bottom, and after closer look, we saw that a fish was floating just above it. Though entirely different species, the two were supporting each other. Their mutualistic relationship mirrors everything we are doing at the Island School. We are all from different parts of the world and have different backgrounds, but we still strive to build a community and progress as one.

Already, despite the fact that it has only been a few days, people can’t stop saying that they feel as though they’ve known their classmates far longer than the short amount of time that we’ve been here. This shows how well everybody works together both in the water and on land. At this point, everyone can match names to faces and is becoming closer and closer by the hour. We are all teeming with excitement to find out what the next adventure holds for all of us.

From your caciques,

Fred and Elyse