Day 3

Hey everyone. Day 3 is over. It was an amazing and awesome day. We had a great breakfast at 8 am so we had to wake up at 720. That sucked but it was worth it. We went to the rec pool and did the pool test to test our swimming skills. We had to swim across a full Olympic size pull and back, hold our breath under water the whole pool, tred water for 5 min straight without hitting the bottom or going under. We had to doneach thing 3 times besides for the treading water. It was so much harder then you think. I could only hold my breath for bout half the pools length. Some people who scuba and snorkel regulary were about to go one way and back half of it. It was unreal. After that, we got to test out our cameras underwater which can go 33 ft deep. The pictures are very clear and can do some neat things. Then we got to put on fins and a snorklel max and practice snorkeling. I had been before so it was easy but it got me so excited for we go to the kelp beds off one of the channel islands. After it was all done, it was twelves and we went back to the dorms and showered. We went to dlg for lunch and I was starving so I pigged out. After, we went to the marine classroom and had media camp where we reviewed our pictures from yesterday. A national geographic photographer is here as a leader and gives us tips on how to photograph and improve our photos. Some of the sites he has seen and taken pictures of are amazing and unbelievable. After this, we did a community circle activity and we presented everything we brought from home..everyone was amazed will farewell is from irvine and couldn't believe it haha. This took us to dinner at 6. I went and sat with the middle eastErn students to learn information frommthem. Ntheyntough me Arabic phrases to say and told me about their lives. We need to feel lucky how nice we have it. The Egyptian kids told me aboutnthe riots and how they were apart of them and when they got democracy how they partied all day and night. The palestinen and Iraq kids talk about shell bombings and they hate being occupied by American troops. The lebianan kids talked about the fig with Israel and having a drought. This really put into perspective how good we have it. They all dress like us too which I didn't know and have allnthe same music and tv shows and movies which is cool. After dinner, we went back to the marine center and we all recieved a copy of the national geographic and chose two photos that popped out to us and why. We received a he assignment tonit to describe our fondest memory of the ocean. Tomorrow we are going to Henry beach and checking out the river and doing a beach clean up. Then we are going to Ventura to visit students studying the kelp forrest and receive a lecture from them. I may not be able to blog tomorrow cause we will be gone all day..we have to wakenup at 630 and be on the bus by 745! Immreally enjoying my time here and hope you all are enjoying reading this. I miss everyone and hope your all safe and having fun. Much love...randy