Week 11
November 6, 2007
Katie Powers and Kate McCarthy
A Letter Home from Gary, the Gray Jay
Dear Families and Friends,
Happy November! I hope my letter finds you warm, cozy, and full of hot pumpkin soup.
My name is Gary and I am a Gray Jay. My wife, Greta, and
I are residents of Canada, but spend our summers in the Adirondacks. We left Massawepie yesterday, just as the first show the season began to fall.
But we're not the only ones migrating! It has been a busy week here at Arcadia as the students are preparing to move out of the yurt village and into Gannet Lodge. Amid the flurries of snowflakes and final papers, the students have not forgotten to have fun! Wednesday was Halloween and from atop a lofty Hemlock, I watched them parade around in colorful costume and decorate Jack 'o lanterns. Friday night brought heavy winds and surprise guests Reverend Mike, Everett Smith, and Martha Foley. they all enjoyed a hearty meal and gathered in the classroom for singing sweeter than my Pine Warbler neighbors on the first day of spring. The students were in a celebratory mood, after having spent the day giving independent project presentations in Ecology class.
On Saturday morning, I sounded my alarm call, thinking we were being invaded by outsiders. However, I soon realized it was only a group of ADK Semester alums and Amy Hauber, a professor from the fine arts department. They all spent the day using a Raku Kiln to complete their ceramics projects from earlier in the semester.
The rest of the weekend was spent preparing for transitional experiences, beginning to write final papers and completing woodworking projects.
On Tuesday afternoon during Philosophy class, big snowflakes fell from the sky and Greta and I knew it was time to return home. As we flew over the back cove, we saw the students prancing and shouting in excitement about the first whisper of winter. The temperature is really dropping, and I'm glad the students will be indoors for the last week (otherwise I would have worried about their fingers and toes). Brrr, on days like this I'm thankful for my talons and feathers.
On Friday, the yurts will be taken down and the students will move indoors. But some will be braving the cold again after Thanksgiving break, during their Transitional Experiences. It's almost time for them to go their separate ways, and everyone is enjoying their last week together.
Ahh, Greta and I will miss them; what a spunky bunch! I thought you all would enjoy this update - I hope it finds you well.
Sincerely,
Gary