Weekend Outing

This was last month, I think. The times all blend together in my mind, but it was a field trip of 10th graders I helped chaperone for my friend who teaches them. 'Twas a loud and crazy day, but the highlight was a boat ride from this beach.

 The weather was perfect, and the water was gorgeous!

 It was a common tourist thing to take boat rides. When you split the cost six or eight ways, it was really reasonable.

I had a few moments of reservation when I realized that our sole boat driver was young enough to shake my hand, but we had left the shore, so "What can I do? This is the life." (I love to quote this oft-heard statement.) My fear was not lessened to ponder the fact that, because culturally, women here don't swim, I was in a boat with about five liabilities wearing abayas, not a lifejacket in sight.

 But the scenery was so amazing, I couldn't stay worried for long.

Even when I realized that two pre-teen navigators commanding two boatloads of screaming teenaged girls might be a recipe for death-by-boat-race.

 I could still smile, and this must have been when the boat was not moving, because when it was, I was having a hard time keeping my scarf on.

 We made it back safely, al humdullilah.