The morning came little later than usual on the last day of this great trip. The teachers allowed us to sleep in until 9 and once again I skipped my run to maximize sleep. A small breakfast waited For us near the teachers cabin and the group quickly ate and we left for a day of community service. We crossed the island to an unknown area to us students until we reached a small beach riddled with trash. After a long week of being served it was the least all of us could do to repay everyone. An hour and a half of cleaning and dumping trash and then the job was complete. The beach looked entirely different and honestly gave everyone confidence in the difference even a group of only 25 or so can make. We walked up the hill to the road and went to lunch. After lunch and relaxing, the teachers informed us we had 5 hours completely to ourselves! Some people napped, others went to use the internet, and I and others went to the beach, and personally if you didn’t utilize the beautiful beaches of Virgin Gorda on the last day you have committed a crime, at least in my book. After a few deserved hours of chilling, it was about time for dinner. That dinner was much different, though, because it was held at a different venue with gourmet food for the end of the week meal. After delicious food and taking pictures on the dock, Casey showed a slideshow of the weeks events on a projector which was very well made. It created a mixed bag of emotions for me as I watched. The slideshow ended and Casey gave some closing remarks, as did others. Casey cried, like always :), and everyone really understood what the trip means on a different level. I, personally, think what we do is amazing and it is understandable how much that would mean to the Dive BVI staff. Hopefully I will be able to return next year and spend more time with them. A few more words were said and we departed for the cabins after dark. Then depression sank in as we packed and talked until midnight. I would blog about the travel day, but it is still fresh and it was not a pleasant day. This trip gets better every time and reinforced my passion to study marine life, and I can’t wait to see what it turns in to.
