Tag Archives: cacique update

Cacique Update November 2, 2011

Jane and Katie  11.2.11

A legacy is something you leave for the future. 

A big-cheeked smile, dripping with mango juice, came to mind while working on creating the grow-beds. My little sister cherishes a good piece of fruit more than anyone I know. “One of the goals here at The Island School is to have all our food grown right here on campus,” Cam shared with us in between shovels full of dirt.  I imagined my sister, a potential Island School student, passing by lavish grow beds that we had been working all day to install and grabbing a piece of fruit before class. I pictured the fruit in her palm being a reminder to be thankful for the opportunity she was given to come to school here. Although I wanted that for myself, thinking about it being available to my sister made me happy about the work I had done. We worked hard all day in the rain, filling and emptying wheelbarrows full of sand to lay out so plants could grow. It was a strenuous day but well worth the while, so that students just like us will one day have The Island School experience we had, with a little fruit to top it off.

Exploration time was quiet today. The rain and freezing temperatures, (freezing, considering we’ve been in The Bahamas for 2 months) made for a perfect indoor cozy-up day. After getting soda for our Legacy Day accomplishments, I ventured to the dining hall for a snack. I found Sam and Henry helping Mooch make our dinner’s bread, and asked if I could help. We kneaded the dough, rolled it out, had a miniature flour fight, but got the job done. Afterwards, Mooch let us make brownies for the community. Once the batter was in the tray, I sheepishly suggested, “I could go get some spoons…” Alluding to finishing off the batter. Mooch caught my drift. “No, no, no, baby girl. You’re gonna get me in trouble!” My heart sank a little, but then she added, “That’s a finger-licking job!” We all laughed as we took swipes of batter from the bowl that held enough batter to make 80 brownies. The brownies were put in the oven and served after dinner. As much as I enjoyed dishing out the brownies and devouring them, myself, the most memorable part of my day was licking that bowl clean with Mooch in the kitchen.

Cacique Update—Dangerous Dave & Killer Kate

Sipping a cold lemonade at the docks by the Marina Store, we gaze out at the never-ending sea, reflecting upon the events of the day:

Well rested from the hour long sleep-in, we felt replenished and ready to conquer the challenge that laid ahead of us as we rolled out of bed. The sound of the Bahamian National Anthem resounded off the dorms around campus, the team morale was at an all-time high. Shortly after breakfast, we rushed towards the boathouse, preparing the boats for our departure. Once all the gear was on each boat, the groups split off, heading in their own direction for the day.

It was our second day of scuba. Everyone was looking forward to furthering the process of our certification. We reached our destinations, strapped on the unwieldy gear, and proceeded to splash into the deep blue water. As we plunged down deeper and deeper, the vivid colors of the coral reefs became much more apparent. Fish glistened in the sun as they darted behind rocks and spongy plants, and the seaweed swayed in the gentle current. Our fins propelled us forward as we explored the reef and its inhabitants. Besides the bubbles grazing our cheeks, pure silence engulfed us. We felt at ease, all the worries of our Human Ecology Homework forgotten, as we glided through the bright blue ocean.

Later, after our underwater expeditions, we hopped on our bikes and pedaled furiously to the Marina Store. After a leisurely stroll down by the pier, a few of us purchased ice-cold refreshments, a perfect end to a perfect day.

Now, standing here, looking out at the horizon, we can’t help but notice the shimmering water that we dove into earlier today. We realize we have taken a giant step up the stairs that is our journey at the Island School; we have come that much closer to certification.