Day 8 - Where is "Away"?

The Story of Stuff

            With the morning air smelling of wet clothing, ocean spray, and dew, the Island School crew rolled out of bunk-beds with apprehension: would today be the day we went on our down island trip? Promises of tents, misquotes, cultural immersion and, not to be forgotten, Scotty’s cooking could be hampered only by the prospect of day three of Eleuthera’s newly capricious rainstorms. So at 7:05am, with our fingers crossed and our shoes sopping, we hustled to the Octagon to meet only to discover that the downpours of yesterday would carry into the day’s activities. The news was met with sighs, both of relief and of disappointment as we realized that the camping trip was postponed to tomorrow. So, while the day was still young, we took out bikes from our old sleeping quarters, the bike shed (no longer dubbed a hotel), and scooted on down to the marina to play SPUD: a game that brought back many a memory from schoolyard and neighborhood play.

            We could smell breakfast as we pedaled back to home base, the wind carrying the sweet scent of cinnamon. French toast was a favorite amongst the crew, and many found comfort in the fact that, while we didn’t have syrup, we did have honey. With our plates cleaned, we hopped back over to the Octagon to immerse ourselves in the study of plastics and how they affect the oceans. Swirling around what are known as the five gyres, plastics wash up on beaches all over the world and can be carried from just as far. Their effects are detrimental to both the environment and the wildlife. We saw heartbreaking images of seals with six-pack plastic wrapped around their necks and the pre-industrialized form of plastic known as nurdles floating in the water only to be mistaken as fish eggs and gobbled up by unsuspecting sea life.

            Breaking for lunch - a hearty serving of buckwheat, chicken, and fried rice (salad optional) - we returned to find Max snoozing on the porch of the Octagon in the sun. Something tells me he’ll be smelling fingernail polish for quite some time…

            Looking to apply our studies of plastic to a more personal front, the crew bumbled by van to a gated community known as Cotton Bay where we passed pastel villas overlooking the ocean on the other side of the island. The beaches there were gorgeous - stretches of dark reef hidden by cusping waves that, when caught just right by the light, looked like finely crafted glass. Carried by the surf are plastics, ropes, Kate found some sort of soap dispenser, Rachel a fully intact lightbulb, Ben a tuna hook, and a plethora of other useless tidbits tosses thoughtlessly, lost, or otherwise discarded into this beautiful ocean.

            With our findings, we returned to campus and began upcycling: creating something new using only the recycled material found. Ben, Zack, Brian, and Max quickly squared away a driftwood menorah, Kate and I created little ocean terrariums out of glass bottles, Liz built a glass-piece fish, Rachel and Anna worked on jewelry, Vanessa learned the ropes of weaving, Isabella and Court wove, Wes worked on a picture frame, and Jenny created a pretty neat basket.

            Downtime followed and the crew split, some finding solace in a book, others biking down to the marina to sit on the docks. Ben, being the fisherman he is, dusted off the rod and hooked a barracuda and a jack which he released back into the water (don’t worry parents, he’s got pictures on his phone).

            But even our lasagna dinner couldn’t sate the hunger for home many of us were, and continue, to feel. With talk of warm beds, milkshakes, Chipotle, mom’s cooking, long showers, family, friends, dogs, cats, and yes, even classes, we’re missing everyone back in Cleveland (although it seems we’ve brought the weather with us). Tomorrow we will head out for a three day hiking trip, so you won’t hear too much while we’re trekking through the bush, but don’t be discouraged: when we get back, there will be a handful of posts highlighting our expedition.

            Until then, much love from the Bahamas! One more week!

            Alix Prybyla