It has been over a month since we have started a new life here on the East Island. I am proud to say that I have learned enough English to make it by. I got a job as a carpenter in town, nothing big, but I get to work with my hands, which I do well. I have also made friends of the other East Islanders, who have been kind and patient with my new exposure to the English language.

Surprisingly, the children are doing remarkably well with English. I tease them in our native Gaelic tougne that they will forget the tougne of our homeland, but they remind me swiftly that they have not forgotten. It is intreguing the minds of children, how fast they are able to integrate into this new world.

Emily has learned the language so well that she has begun attending school with the other neighborhood children and is doing very well with top marks. She had to start at the low grade, which disappointed her some, but her teacher assured us both that if she works hard, she will move quickly up to the level of the children her own age. Emily has taken it as a challenge, and I have no doubt that she will be there soon.

Henry on the other hand is still weak at mind from the cholera, and while he has done well at learning English, he learns things very slowly. Colleen, bless her heart, has taken up here, working one-on-one with Henry to learn how to write and read. He's making progress, but it is slow. Colleen is terribly patient with him. We are blessed to have her here to help!