23:15 Currently it is raining lightly and the power keeps tripping on and off, which is really quite irritating for everyone - students, cooks and staff. Just before this started we were enjoying a bonfire for independence day where we shared marshmallows, and the cooks brought out a chocolate cake with sparklers whilst people were telling some "true" American ghost stories… (I do not believe a good one exists…). I did get some good photos until jumping past the fire to avoid some floating cinders and then fell attempting to save my camera, but didn’t anyway. So sadly it has been written off as the second camera of mine to be ruined.
After
the fire a large Crayfish was found in the stream off of the path to the dorm
house, I tried to hold it for a photo and failed as he was quite big and
unexpectedly powerful despite his previous slowness. I had to leave him until I walked to the lab
and back to grab DL's new waterproof cameras, which made me realise I definitely
need a camera for the diving or snorkelling in the Caribbean.
During
the day I went for the quick optional snorkel session, then I arranged, washed,
dried and stored all the fins/masks (49 sets) by size class into labelled tubs.
The cooks tried throwing Frisbees at me, I retaliated of course - they love to
muck around behind a more serious front, then Caballo made dough into funny
shapes whilst I took a pinch of flour before telling her "I want to tell
you a secret." Once I got her she tried the same so I grabbed a spare small
bag of talcum powder and dumped that on her. She then got me with a handful of
flour and me back at her with another. She showered and I threw some cold water
through the small window (think wooden mesh, no glass), and vice versa when I
took one though a shower curtain shielded me on their attempt. They giggled and
we called a truce shaking hands soon after.
I
was laying in a hammock where I came up with a few challenges; firstly
"sloth-ing" under the hammock moving from laying to below without
touching the floor and then getting back in, and then secondly moving from
laying to being sat in the two connected trees (and back, which is easier) -
again without touching the floor. A
couple of students witnessed me doing it, and a couple later got involved in
the little fun challenge.
I
spent the rest of the evening collecting firewood (driftwood) with the
students, then tidied the whole lab, packed and did some laundry where I
spotted a mouse sat on the floor staring - I think it fell on its head as even
though it appeared normal I knew something was up.
ML had also told me a funny story before bed, but I did not write anything in my journal so it is probably not a story to mention.
ML had also told me a funny story before bed, but I did not write anything in my journal so it is probably not a story to mention.