Shining Through the Rain

The sound of rain darting on the roof of the dorms jerked us from our sleep before the rise of the Bahamian sun. Because we had our Wednesday sleep-in, we could go back to bed until 8 o’clock circle. We all got a much-appreciated break from the heat as we gathered as a community in the drizzling rain. Some Island School jumping jacks woke us up to jumpstart our day. Throughout the day, we focused on the importance of knowing our surrounding environment. Half of the community had a 3-hour SCUBA block, while the other half went on an island exploration walk. On the dive, groups of 6 students went out to Tunnel Rock. In the chilly air, the tepid water held hundreds of fish and coral for us to explore. We got to see the queen angelfish, stoplight parrotfish, and blue-striped grunt that we had just studied in class! During Human Ecology we all got a tour of the inner loop. Knowing the Island School traditions our teachers left the teaching to us! Each pair of students taught the rest of the class about a certain plant and how it is used.  This was a great way to know the environment we are living in and how we can best interact with it.  At the end of the class we all gathered our plants and made a delicious tea!  A fun DJ dinner put an end to an awesome day.

As caciques, we had a lot of exciting tasks on our plates.  We balanced exciting plans for the community with classes and other commitments, and had a lot of fun doing it!

This past Thursday and Friday were the Jewish Holiday of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, and one of the most important of all the Jewish Holidays. Here at the Island School we recognized this important day by having a small “service” of our own. With much work and dedication from Justin Wedes, we were able to get apples bread and honey, a symbolic treat especially for the new year. The sweetness of the honey is to represent the sweetness we hope to bring to our new year, and the round shape of both the apples and the challah (bread) is to represent a new start and the beginning of the new year. In addition to this traditional treat we also incorporated the beauty of our surroundings here on Eleuthera, Bahamas by adding a sugar apple to menu. Our small recognition of Rosh Hashanah was not only attended by those of our community who are jewish, but many others who were just simply interested.

For me, coming from a place where Judaism is such a part of my life, to a place without my comfortable jewish community was a new experience. Although it felt weird and unfamiliar to not be in services at home, or around the table with my family, this experience pushed me out of my comfort zone like so many other things here at the Island School. Instead I was forced to say my own prayers and do my own Tashlich service (a ceremonial throwing of bread crumbs into the water to symbolize casting away our sins – I used trail mix). Some may see my observance of Rosh Hashanah, which is such a major part of the jewish year, as crazy, but this has been one of my more meaningful experiences at the Island School so far. I was able to overcome any homesickness I was feeling around the holiday as I did my best to acknowledge it both on my kayak trip and back on campus.

The Island School is different from what I feel “comfortable” with in so many ways. From intense morning exercise, to math class on a sand bar, Island School has been far more than ever expected. As we end our 2 week orientation and get into the swing of academics, I am confident that there will be far more challenges and far more times for us to be pushed out of our comfort zone to come.

By Hannah Leeman

By Caciques Charlie Fichtner and Ashlie Thompson

Today was a very calm and relaxing day. Yes it was Sunday: our day off. We all awoke at different times, some early ready to jump into the day. Then the rest us enjoyed extra long sleep-ins, after our ceremonial run to High Rock to jump into the semester the day before. Many of us went to the beach to enjoy the beautiful weather. Then some went to the current cut to float around like a lazy river, after taking a visit to the coffee shop! Some had a delicious taste of caffeine.  It is the one time that we are allowed to have it on the weekends, so it was well savored. Others enjoyed treats like a turkey melt that was heavenly, and luscious key lime pie. While some us enjoyed activities, a few of us went to the Baptist church in Waterford to enjoy the singing and preaching. Once everyone had returned the campus we jumped into our work, preparing for the coming school day, where we would get our first chance to learn with our new class groups. Yes it was a very relaxing day.