Packages from Overseas and Perils in the Seas

12-14-08 Last Friday, I had a wealth of things arrive in the mail. First, part of my snorkeling gear arrived--part of the batch that Hidao sent us from Hawaii. The only thing of mine that didn't show were my boots--and so I can't quite use my fins yet. Those of us who had gotten their fins and boots proclaim them difficult to use when snorkeling, so I'm hoping to order a pair of snorkeling fins. Otherwise I'll just keep borrowing fins from Ryan and Jhan Dale.

I also got two of the boxes that my mom had sent from home. One had my Christmas present in it--a camcorder and an underwater case for it! I was so excited--especially when I plugged it in the computer and it registered it as having videos on it. So I watched them--and they almost made me cry, seeing messages from my family. However, most made me laugh--especially my mom prompting my eighteen-year-old brother to say, "Mom is making me do this." It was very funny. I also really enjoyed the DVD that I got in one of the boxes--and on it was a message from my church family. It was quite awesome to watch--even those people who really don't know me because my church has grown since I've come to Ebeye. So, thank you all!

Today (Sunday) we planned to go snorkeling (because the church's boat has finally gotten fixed). After a late start, we got into the boat and made our way to where Ryan said would be some good sightseeing. We jumped into the water (I sort of did that fall-off-the-boat routine) and we began paddling around. I even got to take some video, which looks very good, by the way. Then we noticed the jellyfish.

Yes, I just wrote jellyfish. They were very little, but they packed a large punch. I heard Ryan shout, "Ouch" and then go, "Jellyfish!" I had just turned off my camera and I swung my arm back--and yelled, "Ouch!" and my arm began to hurt. I had been stung by the tiny little jellyfish. We all clambered back onto the boat and went to another place and then we swam around and I took some more video. When we got back to the apartments, we took our showers and ate food and I got my arm taken care of. Now it just itches. But it's okay, really it is. (As of Tuesday, it wasn't even really itchy, either. Yay!)

This week is final exams for the second quarter. At the end of this week, it will be Christmas Break--and everyone has needed it. I'm looking forward to it. More later.