I was invited to make an appearance at the Learning Unlimited Elementary School when in St Maarten. My hosts on the island, Mark and Angie Sollinger have a daughter, Sam….my new best friend…..in first grade there. 120 kids, highly curious about all the eccentricities of the Swim, and very well-behaved. Listened intently…..and then the questions and comments were truly unique. One kid said I could perhaps train a “suicide” fish to swim ahead of me. That way if a paralyzing Portuguese Man of War were just about to sting me badly, it would get the fish first and I’d be spared! Only a 7-year-old could come up with stuff such as that!

Now the upper school got wind that I was there. They’ve been following me already on CNN News so they’ve asked me to come address the older kids next time I’m there….which will be next week!!!

If you’re a teacher or have kids in elementary or secondary school, following this Xtreme Dream of mine its actually a great learning tool. So many of the subjects—-from the sharks to the jellyfish to the hypothermia to the navigation to the seasickness to the mind’s challenge while isolated to the sheer exhaustion from 2½ days of non-stop swimming……are interesting to kids and make for creative study plans.

Onward!
Diana