Eve of Adventure

Today we shuffled into class, quickly taking our seats while memorizing last minute information. As the dreaded tests were passed out we were comforted by two things: not only was this be the last test of the semester, but in less than 24 hours we would be on a plane headed to the Eleuthera! After taking the tests we began to cover logistics for tomorrow’s voyage to Bahamas. Our passports were handed to us and we checked into our flights. With each passing moment the anticipation grew, bubbling out in the form of excited chatter that filled the classroom. As each detail was explained, and our flight reservations were confirmed the upcoming trip became more and more of a reality.

After a quick break, during which we discussed packing and the weight of our suitcases, we watched an episode of The Blue Planet entitled Coral Seas. Mr. Daly and Ms. Post rushed to finish grading our tests while students watched colorful fish drift throughout stunning coral reefs. It was hard to imagine that in a matter of hours we would be witnessing similar sights with our own eyes rather than on a TV screen. When the episode was finished a chant of “BRING BACK JOY” erupted and Mr. Daly and Ms. Post eventually had to surrender. Joy Reidenberg is the charismatic and quirky marine scientist who stars in the show “Inside Natures Giants”. The series displays dissections of the earth’s largest animals and we previously viewed Joy and her team’s dissection of a sperm whale and a giant squid. Back by popular demand, we were able to watch the dissection of a great white shark. Though the video eased some of our qualms, as we learned that great white sharks are not nearly as violent as popular movies depict, with its enormous jaws filled with ferocious teeth, it’s surely an animal we hope to avoid during our two weeks in the Bahamas!

Joy stands by the fearsome great white before the dissection begins

http://scienceblogs.com/tetrapodzoology/2010/09/01/inside-natures-giants-ser-2-shark/ 

We were dismissed at lunch time so students could finish, or in some cases start, packing and attempt to get a good night’s sleep before 4 am tomorrow. Yes, you read that right, we will be meeting at Hawken Lower School at four in the morning! In just a few hours we will be drowsily shaking sleep from our eyes as we board a bus to Akron-Canton airport, but though the start of the trip may be rough, the end result will no doubt be worth the sleep deprivation.

-Parker and Patrick