Monthly Archives: April 2017

EMERGENCY UPDATE (not really an emergency don’t panic (but panic a little))

This is a live update from the computer room!!! Humidity has hit 200% here on the island. Today in the hopes of having a comfortable nights sleep I put all of my bedding and pillow out to dry in the sun. They have been getting a little bit musty from the rainy humid weather that we have been having. It is now 8:45pm and I am thinking of crawling into bed. I walked outside the computer room to discover that it is pouring rain and I forgot to take my bedding off the line. I took a selfie to forever capture the horror and sadness of this moment. Look like its going to be another moldy night folks.

Type 2 Fun

In case you didn’t know there are three different kinds of fun. Type one is the kind of fun that is fun in the moment and fun afterwards. Type two fun is not fun while its happening, but you may look back and say wow that was fun. Type three fun is never fun, you look back and say well that sucked.

Yesterday we decided that since we are leaving in two weeks we want to see the whole island before we go. The island is pretty small mind you, only 8 miles long. Finals were over and we had nothing better to do, so some friends and I went on a casual 16 mile run, because our exams hadn’t been enough suffering this week.

The next day I’m feeling hungover, or like I’ve been hit with a small car. My lips feel like they’ve been injected with botox from the sun exposure, but I look back on the day as a beautiful run across dessert and island cliffs with some pretty rad friends. Classic type two fun.

(This is before our feet fell off our bodies. What a good time!)

(Guess who realized the gravity of this run first, hint: it’s Bree)

(Still got jumps 8 miles in, Bree, Me, Nat, Corndog, and Ben)

Rodeo Queen

(Cat and Corndog with green sea turtle)

Yesterday we went out turtling, which means driving around on the boat looking for turtles swimming in the shallows. After a turtle is spotted, we chase it with the boat until we get close enough for someone to leap from the boat onto the turtle. You wrestle it to the surface and bring it onto the boat. This is called a rodeo.

Once the turtle is on the boat it is identified and measured. If it is a green turtle we release it, and if it is a hawksbill turtle we tag it then release it.

Little did you know that last summer I worked on a cattle ranch as a farmhand and official cowgirl. Needless to say, I’ve been to a couple rodeos in my day. This is why when our professor Aaron asked who was going to be the one to do the rodeo, I was nominated. The only person on the boat who didn’t want me to be the the rodeo queen was Conner (otherwise known as Corndog), who was seeking redemption for missing a turtle the other night.

We spotted a turtle and began the chase with everyone in the boat on their feet. I ran from port to starboard to port, ready to jump at any moment. Finally, the turtle comes right under the boat and Aaron yells “JUMP!” I leap overboard, arms out in front bracing for contact and come up with nothing. I missed it! I open my eyes and see the turtle a couple feet in front of me swimming tiredly, so I begin the chase. Arms like propeller blades I swim like a madwoman after the little guy.

The boat comes back around with Conner perched on the gunnels rearing for action. They make a pass and Conner dives off the boat. With a streamline swan dive to make his 9th grade swim coach proud, he comes up screaming with turtle in arms.

I swim over to Conner and together we bring the turtle back to the boat full of cheering students. Maybe I’m not as big of a rodeo star as everyone expected, but at least we put on a show. As for the turtle, he was not harmed, and was quickly released.