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January 24, 2008
Well, the first full day began today!The students started off today with their continuation of orientation and also started one of their courses, Global Studies.Global studies is a course that All students and all faculty and staff have to participate in.Through this course, the ship community will learn about the upcoming countries we will be visiting, about the politics, culture and dynamic country port.It was interesting to be back in the classroom again, but this time with a twist….. being in the classroom with students…. Looking out the window only to see the open water moving by us!!
By Noon today, we were about 250 miles away from Nassau and still about 550 miles away from our first port, San Juan!The ocean has been pretty calm today, but the MV Explorer, our ship, has been rocking a bit here and there, but nothing major.I would say about half of the population are still trying to find their sea legs and bumping in and out of walls and others walking through the halls.A few of the students have already begun to feel sea sick… vomiting , being dizzy and nauseated.I would have to admit, the rocking and motion hit me a little this morning and early afternoon… but nothing major.The ship gives out some sea sickness medication and it kicked in and worked fine for me, which I am happy about.
The night was fun for our first real night… I hung out with the students in the UNION and played board games with them.They are such a great group of students to interact with.
January 25, 2008
Well, here comes the advancement of the clocks and loosing slip from now to the time we hit Hawaii.This morning, or last night, we had to turn the clocks ahead one hour as we prepare for our arrival in San Juan.At Global studies today, we learned about San Juan so we are able to know info about our port of call.We listened to some music, so some pictures and got a quick overview of their government.
As a staff member, I learned today that San Juan wants to conduct face to face passport inspections for all students, faculty and staff once we arrive to port.The role of the Residence Directors, which is ME, will be to distribute all of the passports out to our students, then have them go through immigration.See, here at Semester at Sea, we do not give the passports to our students to hold on to.It is too much of a risk, just in case they lose them, we will have to leave them at port, which is what we do not want to do.
By Noon today, we have traveled 550 miles away from Nassau and are just about 250 miles to San Jaun.Excitement is in the air for our first port of arrival.We had our first of many pre-port safety tips, which is a meeting that is mandatory for all students to each the night before our arrival into a country.We learned about safety, locations of post offices, police departments, transportation needs, received contact numbers to the ship and staff, etc.Our goal with semester at sea is to ensure that we are safe travelers.
Right now, the students and I are learning how to salsa dance before we get into San Juan.It is fun to watch them all come together as a community to and hang out with each other.I can't believe that we have only been together for three days now and residents know each other, eat and live with each other and participate with events with me and staff all of the time.This is a true living and learning community!Right down the hall, the piano bar area is full of students playing games, talking on laptops, playing music… and to think… we are here to learn more about each other and find those commonalities and differences in each other.We may look alike on this ship, but diversity is HERE… deep down… listening, watching characteristics, talking to the students, makes you really value diversity more as internal, than just what you see in someone.. I am sure more on this topic will arise in my thoughts as well.
Today, it really hit me on some of my own reflection on flexibility.Look around were you at… think about the things you have right at your hands and finger tips…. Office supplies, maybe an office, or structure to a day?What about the amenities of life.. tv, stores, places to eat, etc?You know what; life working on a ship does not have these amenities any more… I have learned and will continue to learn the flexibility game more and more through this voyage.Work related items come to us as they arise, and we just take care of them.Work gets done… it really does… we don't need bosses on top of us every minute, we don't need to stress things out… we don'tneed to be so busy that we don't keep in contact with family and friends… things take over our lives.. .sit back and think about that.
Here at Semester at Sea, we take things as they arise and let me tell you, it works so much better for us here and for life.I am not stressed about time.. I am not stressed about getting spoken to.The flexibility to run our jobs and to get our work done and to build a community on this ship has exploded to pure excitement.I wish you could see and experience this right now with me.
And you know what… things may not be so organized or structured, but no one is mad at that.The Deans and Directors are so respectful and treat the entire faculty and staff like gold - and that is what counts…. To know that there are supervisors that are respectful to you, enjoy your workand know that you are doing what you can do, no matter what conditions we are under!!
Well… I will be away from blogging for a while due to being in port in San Juan from Saturday to Monday night, really late.We have a lot of pre and post arrival work as staff to do, and on top of that, enjoying San Juan.
I will be leading two trips into the port with over hundreds of students.. so stay tuned to hear about the Welcome Reception from the universities in Puerto Rico and to hear about my rainforest hike and beach visit!!
Go Semester At Sea!!!
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