Exciting Weekend

We had a pretty exciting weekend. On Saturday we were involved with a simulated bus crash with the Dutch Marines. Dave was in charge of the volunteers from AUC and making sure all 30 people volunteering got there and back safely. It was such a fun experience. We got to watch them set up the simulation and then we all got in the bus and acted crazy, yelling for help and faking injuries, when the Marines showed up. I even tried to pass Gavin out the bus window, since I figured in a real situation I would do just that to get him to safety. Then the Marines helped us off the bus and dealt with the people with injuries. It was fun to watch them at work along with the St Maarten Police and Fire Department. After the simulation we got treated to lunch by the Marines and it was authentic Dutch food...hmmm not so good, but nice to have a chance to chat with them. Later in the afternoon they did another simulation with other AUC student who pretended to be rioting for food and water after a hurricane. We weren't involved with that one but heard it went well.

Here is a picture of them setting up the situation and making the car look authentic.

Here are some students getting pulled out of the back of the bus.


Here is another view from the front of students getting "rescued" from the bus. The Red Cross had fake victims that used fake blood and injuries in the car. The firefighters used the jaws of life to get them out.

Here is Dave with Dr. Atchley, she helped organize AUC's involvement in the simulations. And Jack was in charge of helping with the afternoon rioting simulation....he's a former 82nd boy like Dave!
Here is a short clip of them setting up the scene by crashing up the car and getting the bus into position.



On Sunday we went to family fun Day for Reece's school. They had it at one of the beaches. The little kids played in the swimming pool while Reece and his friends jumped off the pier and played in the ocean. It is still hard to get over alcohol at school activities. It makes me laugh every time, because you wouldn't even dream of that in the States.

Dave having a beer and watching the kids swim.


Reece being a Sea Weed Monster! All the kids in the back are kids from CIA.
Here they are getting the Principal with sea weed. They also got Reece's teacher Ms. Minthorn.
Reece jumping off the pier.

Oh and an FYI from last post, we went and talked to the lady in the AUC immigration office and we were able to get our pictures and another appointment to get our papers.......SOOOO after 18 months we are officially legal to be on the island!!!