The Sunlit Tides Surfing Academy

William and his friends fell asleep on the airplane; when they woke up on Sunday morning, they were still flying over the ocean, but an island was visible on the horizon.
http://i.imgur.com/o0FEV51.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/UZomTfO.jpg

They landed at Mango's Military base, which doubled as a civilian airport.
http://i.imgur.com/31TrlIF.jpg

"Welcome to Sunlite Tides!" Matiu said. It's just a short drive from here to the Surfing Academy.
http://i.imgur.com/8lSG2c4.jpg

They got in the school van and, as Matiu drove them, watched the surroundings curiously.
http://i.imgur.com/DyY1PjG.jpg

The lush nature was similar to their homeworld, but not the same; most of the trees were coconut palms, and the sand was sparkling and white.
http://i.imgur.com/bSnwU21.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Fexi133.jpg

Soon the van stopped in front of a buiding William recognised from the ad - the Sunlit Tides Surfing Academy.
http://i.imgur.com/9uwtbGz.jpg

They stepped into the main hall, pleasantly cool and decorated in wicker and bamboo.
http://i.imgur.com/RHnhRW8.jpg

Matiu introduced them to two local students, who had arrived the day before: a girl called Lilinoe...
http://i.imgur.com/vXSX1xa.jpg

... and a boy called Ruru, who had been preparing brunch for everyone.
http://i.imgur.com/GNjbaNe.jpg

Matiu explained that every student would take their turn preparing meals - there would be a daily roster for cooking and for washing up.
http://i.imgur.com/0vcvHNL.jpg

Lilinoe was delighted that new schoolmates had arrived, while Matiu seemed a little worried if everyone would like the salad he prepared.
http://i.imgur.com/EBU2jKx.jpg

After the meal Matiu told them there were no official lessons for that day, but if anyone wanted to, they could have their first surfing lesson as soon as they unpacked and settled in.
Everyone said "Yes!" to the first lesson.
http://i.imgur.com/KJNS3It.jpg

There was a boys' dormitory and a girls' dormitory upstairs. The students chose their beds, and then got ready for the beach.
http://i.imgur.com/VAslqbX.jpg

Dressed in school-issued blue bathing suits, they gathered around Matiu on the beach just across the road from their school.
http://i.imgur.com/ro8l8J9.jpg

There were three wave stations on the beach. Matiu was the first to use one, to show his students how it's done.
http://i.imgur.com/CbjtTLv.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/EB0bhOD.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/uVawTdB.jpg