When I was in Jamaica I talked about Water Safety at a local school.  Their local news paper The Jamaica Gleaner News covered the story.  Here’s a part of it:

“Young Emma, an advocate of safe swimming and a member of the non-profit organisation Foundation for Aquatic Safety and Training (FAST) spent the last week in Jamaica basking in the island’s rich history and culture and the beauty of the family-oriented Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort, in Ocho Rios.

But before she arrived here, Emma was one of the main attractions on the United States television programme, The Ellen Degeneres Show. Young Miss Schlenker was also busy helping to raise US$100,000 to pay for swimming lessons for children and Cardio-Pulmonary-Resuscitation (CPR) training for families living in Phoenix, Arizona.”

The Ellen Degeneres Show called my dad as we were walking through the San Francisco airport heading home after the Alcatraz swim.  Jay Leno’s people called too, but we really liked Ellen and so we planned a trip to be on her show.

It was SO much fun.  The green room was cool and I met the guys from Bon Jovi who were in the room down the hall.

Ellen had hurt her back and so I got to sit in a hospital bed to talk with her.  I don’t think she was feeling very well, but she was VERY funny and really nice.  She congratulated me on my swim and then gave me a family trip to Jamaica.  More on that later…