Another memorable day on Bonaire involved snorkeling with the youngest group of boys from the Maria Hoppner Foundation. This was awesome.

A couple of us had gifts and donations to deliver to the foundation and Patty, a group leader there accepted our invitation to go snorkeling together. We snorkeled with the four boys and Patty and a volunteer (sorry I forgot her name). By us I mean, me, Darlene, Tom, and Angela, and Also Martin and Smack on scuba below us. I don't think any of us could understand the boys since we don't speak their language. But we still could enjoy their enthusiasm. They snorkeled along pointing out various fish to us and snorkeling down under the water to ham it up for the cameras. One boy, special to me, snorkeled along side of me and repeatedly pointed out fish to me. Every now and then he'd swim over to the goup leader and she told me he was asking her if he was doing good. Two weeks ago he could hardly swim. He did great.

After snorkeling Smack and Tom treated the group to dinner at KFC. The boys themselves chose KFC as they love it there :-) They enjoyed the dinner and especially liked the toys that came with the kids meals...typical kids. As the night came to close it was evident they were out beyond bed time. They were slowing down and getting fairly quiet.

I won't post their pictures. Although that would seem ok to me, some people might feel it is not appropriate since they are at the foundation due to family problems (not problems with the boys themselves). So I won't to be safe. But I'll add a couple of pictures for the fun of it.


Smack below the snorkelers Martin also down under the water - what's wrong with this picture?? if he is on scuba why the snorkel in his mouth - maybe he is showing he can multitask? got me!

Denise,
Great trip report! We had a great time and especially enjoyed when you, Tom, Smack and Darlene came to dive/snorkel in front of the Habitat with us.

One thing that's kind of funny: that little tag you bought at the dive shop to dive there, and which you gave me to return to them - I forgot all about it. I found it the day before we were leaving, inside my fannypack. When I returned it, the girl in the diveshop seemed surprised to get it back at all. I guess they have a problem with that...

Denise, I believe Martin was just trying to conserve the air in his tank.

Regarding our snorkel with the boys, I agree, we might not have been able to understand what the boys were saying, but there was no doubting that they were excited and happy. I can still see and hear them. One of the boys would spot a particular fish, then he would yell to the others, and whoooooosh, they would all dive down to see it.

I want to thank you and Patty from the M.H.F. for making our afternoon possible. Talking with Patty that afternoon, I was surprised to hear that the boys do not get to snorkel much. I encourage all people traveling to Bonaire to contact Patty and arrange to spend some time with the children.

I also want to point out that when our Hostess at KFC, the lovely Ruth, heard that they had run out of the toys that are included in the children's meals, she immediately got on the phone and had some delivered. Many of you parents can appreciate this, I am sure.

For privacy reasons, Smack and I will not be posting the boys photos either. I just got off of the phone with Smack and he informed me that he is sending a disc of the photos to Patty and the boys.

I was only kidding about Martin multitasking by not using his regulator :-)

He, I thought we were going to snorkel, so I did use my snorkel... Was I wrong???

I'll post one picture of a snorkeler here:

How cute Darlene, you look like your posing. I really like your liquid blue fins :-)
Denise, your fin twin

Martin, I think you captured the real me doing what I like to do most!!!

Seriously, taking those kids snorkeling was one of my best times on the island! The joy and excitement that they showed said it all and no translator was necessary. The kids just love having their pictures taken. One in particular would look at me click his finger as if taking a picture and dive down for me to get the shot! It was a very rewarding and fun time!