The morning came early, especially for JJ and I who slept in the living room on the East side of the house, which is lined with windows. However, it reminds me of waking up in my bedroom at home, as the sun creeps in early in the morning. At the first crack of light, the room started heating up as well, as the direct sunlight seemed to make the indoor temperatures rise.
Everyone was up by about 9-930, softly walking or chatting except for JJ who was pounding on everything and as hyper as a youngster eating chocolate cake on their birthday. In all of its “annoyingness” it truly was something to watch this guy bouncing off of everything. “We must leave by 11:30,” Heidi told us as we all glanced at the time revealing about an hour and half. We were heading off on a snorkeling adventure for the day, and must not be late.
As everyone was ready, we took off and made it there with plenty of time to spare. Our first time being on time to anything this semester. It really was quite weird. However, we sat around and talked, went shopping for some snacks, and then loaded the boat just before 1 and took out to sea.
We had a great history lesson of the Keys, pirates, and southern Florida as we floated through the Gulf of Mexico. That is, until we went under the bridge of Highway 1, when we entered the Atlantic Ocean. The change is so amazing and breathtaking. Not really. Both look pretty similar is you ask me. But we were off, flying as fast as the boat would take us as we passed many of the islands that roads do not go to. One in particular is one of the nicest resorts in the keys, with rooms starting at 1200 dollars. It was an amazing looking place, with each condo having their own private beach like yard with lawn furniture for two in every one. Seemed like a great honeymooning place. Now, I just have to find the bride that I haven’t started searching for yet. All the other plans so far are in the bag. Maybe I’ll just have to settle for spending a night there by myself.
Just past this island, we got to our destination; one of the only living coral reefs left in the Keys, as most of them are dieing off. We were informed you do not touch ANYTHING in the ocean, but just observe the nature of it. We all bundled up in our snorkel outfits, looking real attractive, jumped in, and about died. Now I can swim and hold my own, but when it comes to sticking my head in water and breathing out of a tube while looked it sharks, stingrays and barracudas, my place is right next to the captain on the boat. I knew I hated this sport, but really wanted to try it again. Once again, I proved to myself that I still can’t relax enough to breath through that stupid tube. I have no problem being in there with the fish, but how much they stressed not touching anything scared the daylights out of me, after each time I kicked him flippers, something hard hit the end of them. How do you honestly keep a size 14 flipper for hitting anything when the water is like 5 foot deep? Therefore, after feeling like a dog swimming around forever with my head up, trying not to die just so I could protect these stupid corals, I got in the boat and took pictures.
After a bit, everyone was called in, and we got out the fishing lines and the bait. This is what I am talking about. I will see the wildlife, but I stay dry and bring them in to see me. Make the fish come into our environment! Quickly, Julie had a bite and pulled in a colorful fish. Suddenly, it seemed like everyone was pulling something in, but nothing was ever big enough to do anything, other that put in an aquarium back home. However, it was fun to see these colorful fish coming out of the water on the pole in MY hand, not one on discovery channel. This part got over, what I thought, too quickly, and we headed on back towards land, but not before stopping at an underwater sand bar that we could finally walk on. We got out and walked around the Atlantic Ocean, towards a small key that was the stereotypical island someone would get stranded on in a cartoon or something. After feeling like an adventurer for a while and seeing the quick movements of fish and sting rays swim past out legs, we loaded the boat up and prepared for the voyage back to land, as well as a lunch prepared by the guides: Mahi-Mahi and a salad bar. I chose the Octopus, which happened to be a hotdog cut like an octopus, but I also was able to get a piece of fish. I still prefer the hotdog!
The tour was a great way to relax out on the water, even if I felt like I was killing the environment while trying to stay alive myself. It was a great opportunity to see how amazing God’s world is that we live in!
Tonight and the rest of the day tomorrow is being spent in silence, to reflect on our lives and how God is working in each and every one of us. To reflect on why we are in Miami and what we are doing for the agencies that we have been placed into to work for the year, or semester in my case. Being silent is one of my worst skills at life, so it will be rather difficult, but something that I think will be food for reflecting and realizing just how great God really is to us!
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