Letter Home 

Dear Aunt Claire,

  Words cannot express how much I miss you, and yet life could hardly be more perfect here on Farraige Belle. Since I first stepped off the boat last spring, I have found myself so much happier. On the island, the stressors of everyday life seem to melt away. And yet, this IS my everyday life now. I so wish you would join me. I'm sure you would agree.

  I remember you expressing worry about the disapproval of electronics when you found out my parents and I were moving here. Let me assure you, you would not miss technology one bit. We live in open-air cabanas with flickering lantern light at night, and yet it does not feel primal whatsoever. I have not sent a text message (or even seen a cell phone, for that matter) in over a year, but there are so many other engaging activities that I don't notice. I actually talk to people face-to-face now, and I visit their homes when I wish to ask them questions. It is so much simpler and more enlightening, and it has made me many friends.

  The weather here is absolutely perfect at all times. In all the days I have been here, it has seldom rained. When it does, the showers last all of five minutes before blowing away to sea. No matter what the season is, the temperature always hovers around eighty degrees (even at night!). For this reason, heating and cooling is unnecessary.

  Life on the island is so much quieter. There are no cars, no ringing phones, and no beeping machines. I have learned to appreciate the songs the birds sing in the trees and the rustle of a warm breeze blowing. Life is so peaceful and clean, and I am loving every moment of it. I recently decided to follow a career as a doctor, and really feel like my life is on the perfect track.

  I do so wish you would leave the big cities and pollution behind and join us here. We miss you terribly, and even in such a peaceful place life is not the same without you. I hear they are taking applications sometime in the coming months. Please fill one out. I hear tell that family recommendations are a big part of being accepted, and we have followed the rules explicitly.

  I hope to hear from you soon!

   Love,

                  Your niece, Mattie

Journal Entries 

June 1st, 2010

Wow, what an awesome day! I've only been here a couple months now, but I'm definitely going to get used to this!

School is SO much more fun here than it was at home! Instead of sitting in a classroom and learning about boring old dead guys all day, we get to do hands-on stuff! The whole point of education is to actually prepare us for our jobs. The teachers aren't actually teachers at all - they're just mentors from different careers. I hear the best have to take turns teaching yearly (that would be a bummer, but an honor I guess).

We get to take tons of field trips. Today, we went to a farm. It was SO cool. It was really different from farms at home (well, not HOME now I guess). Everything was so clean and the animals were all so happy. I felt kind of bad because most of them were almost tame, but they'll probably end up being on my dinner plate tomorrow.

The farms are all set back in the woods in these big clearings, next to natural rivers that flow into the ocean. The one we went to was SO pretty (I'm sure they all are). It had the traditional big red barn and a pretty green pasture full of cows and lambs. There was also a sty with a bunch of pigs. The little babies were adorable.

Today's visit almost had me convinced that I want to be a farmer, but I hear tomorrow we're going to get to tour the facilities where the weekley newsletters and magazines are printed. At the end, we actually get to hop on bikes and deliver the newsletters around the island! I'm pretty excited, but a little worried. If there are so many awesome careers, how will I ever be able to settle for just one?

Goodbye for now!

- Jessie

June 2nd, 2010

The newsletter delivering was an absolute blast. I love physical activity, so riding bike is right up my alley (good thing we moved here, huh?). It's so nice to ride around the island and say hello to everybody. The weather today was, as always, absolutely perfect.

After school I went to the beach with one of my new friends. Her name is Maggie, and she was from Minnesota too. We love to talk about how cold it used to be. She lived on a farm and had to help her dad with chores EVERY morning, even when it was -30 degrees outside. Luckily, that will never, ever happen here. I think the lowest it's been since we've gotten her was about 68 degrees.

Talking about Minnesota got me to missing my friends and family back home. I left behind a great group of girls, as well as my grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles. I was really close to all of them, but at least I have my parents and siblings here. This life is so much more rewarding, so I think it will be worth it in the long run. I'll always miss them, but we can still write and maybe visit one day.

Anyways, I have a bonfire down at the beach to get to. A parcel of new clothes was delivered today with a super cute pair of shorts for me. I still miss shopping a little, but there's really no competition with the other girls because our clothes are all free and pretty similar. It's probably better that way.

Goodnight!

- Jessie

June 3rd, 2010

Today was our monthly holiday. We don't have weekends here, but they aren't really necessary. The school and work days are short, and most people don't mind learning or working anyways. Still, we get at least one totally free day a month. It's a day to sleep in and do whatever you want. I think the farmers still have to feed their livestock and the doctors have to be ready for anything, but for the most part everybody just lazes around. It's kind of like having only one Saturday a month. I thought I would hate it at first, but I really don't. We have so much other free time and school really isn't that bad!

I spent my whole day reading in a hammock. I fell asleep a couple times, and my mom brought me one of the island's famous pina coladas. They have stands all over the beach where you can get them for free, but it was nice to have the personal delivery! I felt like I was in paradise - which I guess I was. Lunch at the dining hall was even my favorite - grilled chicken with pineapple marinade. Yum! I'd have to say it was just about the perfect day. It even ended with my parents talking about getting a puppy!

Dogs are bred on the farms here on the island, and they're the only animal other than cats that are allowed to be kept as pets. We had to leave my old dog, Bucky, back in Minnesota, and I miss him a lot. All the dogs are here are a lab type just like he was. I would love a running and swimming partner. I'm so excited!

Anyways, it's just about time for everyone to quiet down and I have school again tomorrow morning. I'll write again later!

- Jessie