I have included a map of the Bahamas with this entry so you can see where San Salvador is. My flight from Florida will go to Nassau, which is the capital. Here I will go through customs and then board a smaller plane which will take me to San Salvador. This is the island where Christopher Columbus first landed in the New World in 1492. I can't wait to land there in two weeks!

I have been watching Tropical Storm Noel and wondering what the effects will be in the Bahamas, and specifically the reefs of San Salvador. I live in Florida, so needless to say, it is pretty important for us to be aware of severe storm weather. This was one of the first units we studied in my 7th grade class this year. They have become very good at tracking storms and understanding the differences between the various catagories. If you haven't already done so, you may want to look at the National Hurricane site to see what Noel is up to.

Anticipation

With less than a month to go, the excitement is starting to build. My passport has arrived, I have my tickets and I have even had a chance to talk on a conference call with fellow expedition teachers. I am still working on the best way to communicate with my school during this expedition, but I have a team of technology specialists helping me with this. Having a former Earthwatch participant in one of the county positions is encouraging. I am reading all I can about the particular project and coral reefs in general to help prepare me for the trip to San Salvador.