Labor Day weekend

I don't even know where to begin. This weekend was so great and so full of new experiences! We started off Friday after school packing up the boats to head over to the Rock Islands. It took a while to get everything all packed up from all 30 teachers going, but we were finally ready to go. After a beautiful 45 minute boat ride, we finally arrived. The first thing we saw were stingrays! There were about 5 or 6 in the water around the island. The island was amazing! Perfect, white, sandy beaches, clear blue water, and amazing palm trees. We unloaded all our stuff and then went swimming! The water was so warm and everything was paradise. There were tons of teeny white crabs that covered the island, so many that I probably stepped on 10 the first hour we were there. After getting out of the water, we started to set up our hammocks to sleep in. We found some nice palm trees and set up camp. Victor found another camp site a little ways down the beach and wanted to move there, so we took down all our stuff and moved. Then Nelson came by and told us that the tide would cover us there, so we had to move all our stuff back. It was quite the exercise! After that we had vespers where Jesse and Hayley gave their story of why they were in Palau. We also sang songs and just relaxed around the fire. Nelson caught some fish and I kissed one! After that we sat on the beach and talked and waded in the water. We finally tried to go to bed around 10, but hammocks are so hard to sleep in! I tossed and turned and finally ended up laying face down with one leg off the hammock and the other one curled up under me.
Apparently that worked, because next thing I knew it was 5 am and I was getting up to take pictures of the sunrise. It was so peaceful and beautiful. Some of the staff's kids, Rosie and Joanie, were out in the water too. They trapped a fish and then picked it up with their bare hands! I got so many good pictures! Then we went back and ate breakfast and got ready for Sabbath school. It was pretty good, just singing together and reading the Bible. After Sabbath school we had church which was also pretty interesting. After, we had haystacks for lunch! So good! I haven't had haystacks forever! The girls made the lunch while the guys...waited to eat. It was funny. After lunch, because we can't swim on Sabbath, we laid out on the beach to get a tan. Some of the kids came by and asked us why we weren't swimming. When we told them, they dragged us into the water! It was so funny, and because we were already wet we just stayed in there for a while. Dr. Flores announced that we were going on a "walk around the island" so we all changed into our last dry clothes and got ready. I even brought my non water proof camera. Unfortunately, this walk was through the ocean and water up to my shoulders! We didn't wait long enough for low tide and so it was pretty wet. It was fun to see the President's island though and we even found a spot where they had just had a wedding. Tammi and I pretended to get married while the wedding party stared at us like we were crazy. When we were almost back, we passed a school of fish. Nelson had a machete with him and just started hacking at the water and cut up the fish! Sashimi...yea right. Victor actually ate the raw, still moving, fish right out of the ocean. I wasn't that brave, especially because it was still moving. When we got back we cleaned up a little and made dinner. Then we had vespers. It was the SM's night to be in charge, so we all talked about how we made the decision to come to Palau. It was so cool hearing what brought everyone else here! While I was talking, it started to pour rain! I mean, it was like sheets and sheets that hurt. It was kind of funny, because as soon as the last SM stopped talking, the rain stopped too. By then it was dark and so lots of people went to build a fire and get dry. The rest of us went spear fishing! It was pitch black and the boat was soaking wet from the rain. We went out to a spot in the middle of the ocean and dropped them off. Apparently spear fishing is something for men, so Tammi, Jeanine, and I stayed in the boat and sang songs! A few seconds later, Austin came up with a huge Red Snapper! It was so cool to see him take it off the spear and watch it flop around the boat. In all, the guys probably caught 5 fish, and then another 10 from Nelson. One wouldn't die though, so Ben had to hit it on the head with a paddle. While we were out there it started pouring rain. Jeanine was feeling sick so I tried to shelter her as much as possible while we were waiting...When we finally headed back we were so tired and cold but it was such an awesome experience. Back at camp, one of the guys fried them up and we got to eat them! Jojo tricked me and got me to eat the liver-so gross! Some of the old Palauan men wanted me to try the fish eye and fish brain, so after a seconds consideration I did it! I had to crack the skull with my teeth and suck out the brain and eye, but it wasn't as bad as it sounded. The brain was actually good! We finally headed to bed around 1:30 am, but the night didn't end there. At around 2:15, I woke up to Ben's face by my head. Apparently he was screaming but I couldn't hear him from all the rain! It was pouring-more rain then ever! We rushed over to the house that the Palauan's were sleeping in and brought our soaking blankets so we could sleep there. After we all got settled we looked around and realized that Jeanine was still out there. I went back and found her curled up in her hammock, waiting for the rain to stop. I tried to lead her back to the house, but because I didn't have my contacts in, I couldn't see! We were lost just feet from the house. After searching for a few minutes, we were able to make it back, completely drenched. I was shivering uncontrollably, and was wondering how it could be so cold in a place so warm! The boys and Palauan's had some left over dry and damp clothes so they put them in a big pile and let us have them. I got a semi wet tshirt of and some pants that were dry! We just laid down on the ground and tried to sleep, even though the floor of the hut was covered with water too. An hour later, after finally drifting off, I was woken up by a shriek. Apparently, the tarp covering the awning was so full of water that it snapped the stick holding it up. The water came crashing down on the people under the tarp, sleeping outside. After that was finally all settled, we went back to sleep for another hour before it was time to get up.
In the morning we sat around, soggy and wet, and laughed about the night before. Then we cleaned up the camp to go. They told us that we were leaving at 10:30, and when they said that I jokingly under my breath said, "you mean 1"? The worst part is that I was almost right! After making breakfast, packing up all our stuff, and loading the boats, we had to clean the island. We raked the sand and mopped the floors and made everything look awesome. Then it was lunch time! We finally pulled out around 12:30, and headed for Clam City! The diving was so pretty and there were lots of giant clams. Then we went to Jellyfish Lake! It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen in my whole life. After a smallish hike uphill on rocks and then back, we got to this perfect little lake. Once jumping in, we saw THOUSANDS of jellyfish. They were beautiful and soft and squishy! It was so fun to hold them and in some parts I couldn't even move without hitting 10 or 20. It was spectacular. When we were hiking back, Ben didn't have shoes so he wore his flippers. It was so funny! Our last stop was the Fish Cemetery. I thought it would be scary because of the name, but it was the most beautiful place. There were the most fish in one place I've ever seen. Jojo and some of the guys on the boat threw bread in the water and started a frenzy! The fish were all over me. Then he passed me some bread and I fed them straight out of my hand! It was such a cool experience. Of course, it had to start raining. The water got too choppy to stay in so we started the 45 minute journey home. When we got back, we unloaded and headed home. I knew I was going to be sick today. When I woke up with a fever and runny nose, it was unfortunate, but totally worth it. And we don't have school today because it's Labor Day! I even wore a sweatshirt and sweatpants for the first time here! Talk about a one of a kind experience.