San Blas Photos

This is the first island we anchored off of called Chichame.  There was no doctor here, just Kuna Indians coming out to our boat in their ulus selling lobster, fruit (pineapples, mangoes), veggies (avacados) and molas.







Dad and us on the beach, playing football.







This is a Kuna hut that sold school supplies. This was the crowded island where the doctor was (Nargano).  There wasn't anything like this on the other quiet islands.






I was sick most of the time, but finally felt better one day and went kayaking.

American Colonists and Cruisers; Similarities and Differences

Recently at Doolittle Boat School, a discussion took place regarding the American colonists and a surprising discovery was made.  There are quite a few similarities between our country's founders and cruisers!!   So Mrs. Doolittle digressed from the planned writing curriculumn and assigned an essay comparing and contrasting colonists and cruisers.  Here they are....

American Colonists and Cruisers; Similarities and Differences

By Mickey

The American colonists and cruisers had much in common. For example, we both had books on board and read them repeatedly.  Also, we sailors did not do school when underway. School was put aside until we landed on shore.  Another thing colonists and cruisers had in common is we had very limited space. Our boat was only 38 feet long and four people lived on board. Also we had to fit on everybody's clothes and belongings.  They lived on a 99 foot vessel with more than 100 people.  They could bring only one chest of supplies per family. Also, sailing for us was not for fun, but to travel. For instance, we went to Panama City, Panama where we have never been before.  When I saw Panama City my jaw dropped. After sixty-six days of sailing, they probably had a similar reaction.

Also colonists and cruisers are extremely different in several ways.  Colonists owned animals on board so when they arrived in North America, they could eat.  On Knee Deep, there was dead animals in the freezer like chicken and ham.  Colonists wrote with quills and we wrote with pens is another difference. Their ships were large and held more people.  Knee Deep is 38 feet and can hold only four.

I would rather be a cruiser than a colonist because cruisers are not in life or death situations.  For example, the colonists died of disease and hunger while our Top Ramen and pancakes never run out! The life style would also be easier as a cruiser.  As a colonist I would not like to go out to the farm every day and check crops and animals.  Cruisers and colonists are alike and different in many ways. Even though I would not want to be a colonist, I think they were generous, brave and willing to sacrifice themselves for religious freedom.

Cruisers and Colonists

By J.P.

The Doolittles are quite similar to American colonists.  For example, we both live in small spaces.  They squeezed into small houses and Knee Deep (our boat) has tiny cabins.  Another example is after being crammed on a boat at sea for two nights, when Mickey and my feet touch dry land, we want to run.  The colonist's children were similar after long voyages on a boat.  Another similarity is if the colonists were sailing on a boat, they don't do school.  It is the same as us. For a last example, Knee Deep carries many books, similar to the Mayflower and other colonists's ships.

Although the colonists and the crew on Knee Deep are similar, we are even more different.  While they built things that helped their survival, we buy them.  Also, they had gigantic boats that could carry tons of passengers while our vessel can only carry four.  For school, the colonists used supplies like quills and hornbooks.  The difference is we have books and pens.

If I could choose between being a colonist or being me now, I would choose my present form.  I would because they punish children like me horribly, such as getting whipped by belts.  And they didn't have modern day technology like Ipods and computers.  I would also be scared of the dangers, like starvation and enemy Natve Americans.  Colonists are quite different and similar to people who are 400 years older.

Joaquin Chen

By J.P. Doolittle

A couple of weeks ago, when we were in the San Blas Islands, Mickey and I had to visit the doctor.
The view of the island from the boat was amazing. It was a clutter of dirt roads with no cars, and bark huts as big as about two cars (tiny, tiny). We called one of the pangas over to our boat and asked him for directions to the doctor. He agreed to help us and we went into land.

I was at a level of shock I can't put into words. It was so different from what I normally see.  We were probably on the main street because it was the longest and most crowded. The insides of the huts were very colorful with Molas hanging all over the walls.  A mola is a type of cloth design that Kunas wear and it is extremely colorful.

Once we arrived at the doctor, we had a long wait.  Finally we were called into the doctor's office. Our doctor was Joaquin Chen.  He went to many places and spoke many languages.  He checked out our lungs, then gave us a certificate for the medicine counter.  We got the medicine and then went to get something to eat.

I realized there weren't as many men as women. I knew it would be hard for me to live there, because I have lived with air conditioning, multiple stories in houses and those types of luxuries.  But I didn't have to worry about that, I was now safe and sound on my bed back at the boat.