First, highlights about the past few days at sea.
Alex’s birthday was on the 12th of February. He was honored to have dinner with Gary and Diana Whitney, Jay (our new bud), Joanne and Kevin, Alissa, Me, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It was really an amazing dinner and one that both he and I will never forget. We then followed dinner with the largest ice cream cake that I’ve ever had. Every one of us took a large slice, but Archbishop Tutu ate the largest. It was crazy to be in his presence because I did not know what was appropriate for dinner conversation. He is such a kind man who appreciates every person on the ship, student, faculty, staff and crew alike.
As we left Puerto Rico we had the great idea to make masks for Carnival. With the aid of Diana, we gathered the necessary supplies: newspaper, white paper, flour, water, paints and other decorative supplies. Our first thought was that this would be a fun thing that would take a few hours and would turn out ok. But Diana, AKA Martha Stewart, had a different idea. Thus began the regiment of sleep, eat, school, mask-making, repeat. The first day we built the foundation. The next we added some forms to the foundation. The third day we added a white outer layer. Then we added paint the following afternoon. On the day before we arrived in Salvador, we added the following touches that helped to compete the look. It was a bit of work, but the final product was actually pretty good.
Other than that, it was business as usual. We had classes for a week straight (7 days), culminating in our first test. The classes have been a bit more difficult than I was expecting. It seems that the University of Virginia has decided to add a bit of work to the course load and the professors have definitely complied.
Now the fun part, BRAZIL.
We arrived in Brazil on Saturday at 7 in the morning. We decided to get up early to see the arrival, but did not get to see much more than the tug boats pushing us in. After clearing customs and sitting through a diplomatic briefing, Alex, Kevin, Joanne and I headed toward old town Bahìa. We had been warned thoroughly about the theft and dangers of Brazil, but Bahìa was actually quite nice and relatively safe. Brazil is a lot different than I had imagined. It is a lot more of a third world than one would expect of a country with a top ten GDP. The buildings are all run down and the streets seem to be falling apart. However, the highlight of the city is the people. Everyone is quite friendly and understanding, even when the language barrier is quite thick (which it usually was). Joanne, Kevin and I went on a SAS Field Program to the Mercado Modelo. I had to do a brief observation of familial relationships for my Anthropology class. We bought a few souvenirs and headed back to the ship for dinner. After dinner, our neighbor invited us to go to Carnival with her. Against all intelligent thoughts, Jay and I decided to go, and so we set out with five other students toward the crazy Carnival circuit. After sitting in traffic for about an hour we arrived to a sea of people. It was about a half mile trek to the actual parade route. There were people everywhere. We walked along the parade route for a little while and wound up stopping in front of the temporary military police station. After a few of the Blocos (large grouping consisting of a music float followed by another float for dancers with dancers on all sides) went by we saw a patch of sidewalk that was empty and went there. We danced for quite some time, just enjoying the music and the crazy atmosphere. We also met a kid named Lucas and his father, who were both in the Bloco Villanueva (which performed at the other circuit). They showed us the way to dance to the various songs. Lucas was quite an amazing dancer and a great joy to be around, always giving high fives and smiles. When we finally were ready to leave I decided that I needed to give him something, and the only thing I had was my Dodgers hat. Hey Ty, I am proud to say that there is now one more Dodgers fan in the world. The entire evening was a blast and I am really glad I decided to look past my inner discretion.
On Sunday morning we did not have any big plans. We decided to check out old town again. We walked around and did some more shopping. After dinner back on the ship, we got ready for our Traditional Carnival field excursion. Unfortunately, we did not get to use our masks because it was raining a little, and the masks would’ve disintegrated. But we still took some pictures of our full costumes. The traditional carnival was a bit calmer than the previous night’s festivities, but it was equally as much fun. We walked through old Bahìa to a restaurant that we used as our launch pad. We walked around and danced to the various bands marching through the streets. The night was quite enjoyable and unbelievable. This was the part of town aimed more towards families, but it was a lot more of a party than any fraternity in the states can throw.
The next morning I woke up at 8 to head on the Marine Turtle Project (Project TAMAR). Alex, Alissa, Joanne, Kevin and I all were on the trip. The first stop was at a mangrove forest near a beach. It was very beautiful and we got to see some local wildlife and plant life. After that we headed to a castle. This castle was built in the 16th century and was home to the wealthiest landowner in Brazil. He owned over 800,000 square kilometers, larger than the state of Bahìa. We then headed to the Marine Turtle Project at Praia do Forte. It was their fund raising sight, and left a bit to be desired. It was too touristy and hardly what I expected. The turtles were quite beautiful though, and we even got to see some three day old turtles. We had a nice buffet lunch (at 330) and had time to roam the local village for a little while. It was a cute town but it was clearly built to rein in the tourist dollars. Upon returning to the ship, we (Joanne, Kevin, Jay and I) decided to go to a Brazilian steak house, Boi Preto (Black Bull). The food was absolutely amazing and the atmosphere was full of energy and life. The food is served with large swords through the various meats. They bring the meat around until you change the sign at your table to “no meat”. Additionally, we had some of the most amazing desserts that I have ever had. All in all it was a bit more expensive than a usual meal, but it was worth every penny.
This is it for now, but the second half of Brazil is equally as enjoyable as the first. Check back in a couple days.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Puerto Rico
The first day of classes began on February 6. I had Global Studies, Field Research Methods (an anthropology class focusing on the ways in which anthropological data is gathered and pros and cons with these methods), and Human Impact on Marine Environments (a marine biology course). After classes and dinner we had a pre-country orientation for Puerto Rico.
Upon arrival to Puerto Rico, we were welcomed to the island by its highest ranking official, Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá. He spoke of facts about Puerto Rico, the need for quality education to lead Puerto Rico into the future, the role of Puerto Rico as a nation under the flag of The United States. He is a very eloquent man, who spoke very convincingly. After passing through US customs, Alex, Alissa and I decided to hit the streets. We walked along San Juan for a little while, eventually ending up at a beautiful beach. We walked back to the ship to prepare for our planned hike through El Yunque Rainforest. El Yunque is the only rainforest in the US National Parks service and is home to thousands of trees, ferns, moss, Boa Constrictors and the most endangered bird in the world, the Puerto Rican Parrot (of which there are only 50 in the world). We (Joanne, Kevin and I and separately Alex and Alissa) hiked a one and a half mile trail through the rainforest, stopping to look at local wildlife and vegetation and a beautiful waterfall.
After returning from our visit to El Yunque, we (Alex, Alissa and I) got ready to go to a welcome reception. We met up with Jay and headed out to Caribbean University where we were greeted with traditional Puerto Rican drumming, costumes and all of the students of Caribbean University. Joanne and Kevin were experiencing “land sickness” and were having trouble getting acclimated to NOT moving and chose to stay in, We (SAS students) then paraded to their auditorium where we were given a proclamation from the mayor of Bayamon by one of the most famous Actresses in Puerto Rico. After feeling that this couldn’t get any better, we headed outdoors for a great Puerto Rican fiesta, complete with traditional and modern dancing, appetizers and drinks. The students of Caribbean University gave a presentation of the dances of Puerto Rico. Then the dance floor was open and everyone participated in dancing to the Salsa, Bomba and Reggaeton. Alex and I also purchased some souvenirs made by some locals. After the fiesta was over we were all given bags with shirts, pens and other souvenirs from the Caribbean University. This was a great experience and some of the most fun I have ever had dancing.
The following morning we woke up and went to old San Juan. We visited an internet café, but found that we needed Alex’s laptop to upload the pictures properly. After an hour or so we headed back to the ship. We then had lunch and met our parents, and headed to rent a car for the day. While they were renting the car, we were busy uploading our pictures from Florida and The Bahamas. Our first stop with the rental was big Kmart. We have meals that provide enough food for the day, but I am a person who eats consistently throughout the day and I didn’t notice how much I rely on snacks to keep me going. We picked up chips, dip, sodas, and everything that stereotypical white gringos need. After that we headed to Luquillo Beach. It is one of the top ten beaches of the world; unfortunately it does not exactly have very good signage. We got a bit lost and had to turn around, finally pulling off the highway behind some bars and found a beautiful beach. As we walked along the beach, some figures came into focus. It was my parents’ happy hour buddies, Gary (professor of economics onboard) and his wife Diana, who had been there for only 5 minutes. Just by chance we ran into them and even parked next to them.
After saying goodbye, we headed toward a bioluminescent bay where we were planning to kayak. First we stopped for some appetizers, then another stop for some more hearty food and drinks. We then went to our meeting place where we met Joey, our guide for the kayaking trip. We started in a normal bay and then went through some narrow passages lined with mangrove trees with iguanas in them. A few minutes after entering the mangrove passage our paddles began to glow a dim green. As we got further and further they grew to glow bright green. I was in the front kayak and got to see some fish swimming through the water, lighting up their trail. The bioluminescence is created when the single celled organisms, dinoflagellates, feel attacked and create a chemical reaction that glows. After reaching the bay we were given the opportunity to swim in the glowing water. It was absolutely amazing and probably the most astounded that I have ever seen my father. We ran into many other groups, mostly SAS students, including one of Alex’s Chapman buddies and Kelly Monroe. We returned to our car and headed back to the ship after our day of exhaustion.
The next day we woke up and decided to return to the internet café with Alex’s laptop to upload the pictures from Puerto Rico before having to return the car. After returning Alex’s laptop to the ship and consulting with Jay about a meeting place we headed back to Old San Juan. Jay was our tour guide for the day showing us the beautiful city with its blue cobblestone streets and colorful old buildings. We hiked up to El Morro, a 450 year old fort that was the site of the Spanish-American War and an amazing site to see. We bought some souvenirs and then headed to dinner with Joanne, Kevin, Gary and Diana. After that we headed back to the ship and watched as the people who arrived late to the ship got hours of dock time (time on ship when in port).
*Things I’ve Learned In Puerto Rico:
*Puerto Ricans are amazing, friendly people.
*Stop signs and street lights are really more of a suggestion.
*It is better to avoid a pothole than a car.
*Driving the wrong way in a bus lane is not a smart idea, and can get you a personal police escort.
*Police officers are nice to the gringos.
*Half of the island’s population is police officers, and they drive around with their lights on at all times.
*Everything in Puerto Rico is fried: bananas, chicken, pork chops, fish, lamb, etc.
*School attendance is more of a suggestion as well.
*That glowing of your skin is actually natural.
*There are a ton of churches, and most of them sell chicken.
*All Puerto Ricans know how to dance.
We will add some pictures of our San Juan visit when we reach Brazil. Until then I will probably not write of our shipboard adventures as it mostly includes class and reading, but I will most definitely keep everyone up to date on the happenings of Brazil.
Hey everyone,
Now for another traveler’s impression of the voyage so far. Sorry I have yet to write anything, but Chris has been doing a great job of capturing the main points of the journey. Well as you know, we left The Bahamas on the 4th and from there we headed to sea. This sea experience has not been one of my favorites as the boat rocks almost continuously and I tend to get seasick. On a more positive note, classes seem like they are going to be great. I am taking Mysticism and Religious Experience (studying about the several religions and what they strive for), Intercultural Communication (self-explanatory), and Sustainable Communities (a course about how to build communities that are good for the environment). Once I arrived on the ship, I decided not to add a fifth class to my schedule, in order to fully enjoy all of the various activities that the ship and countries have to offer.
The first port we arrived in on Wednesday, Feb. 7th, was Puerto Rico. This Island was amazing and with its unique culture and different language it is hard to believe that it is actually a part of the U.S.. I even got to use a little bit of my Spanish that I have learned over the years. In this port, I became very adventuresome, from hiking through a rainforest to kayaking and swimming with bioluminescent organisms in a pitch-black bay. For most of you who know me, you will realize that this is a stretch for me as I am usually scared of getting into water that contains any fish or other species. I am so happy that I have partaken in activities that are out of my comfort zone because now knowing that I survived I am more willing to undertake in similar adventures in the remainder of the countries.
Now back to being on the ship. My roommate’s name is Cheryl and she is so nice. She is my best roommate so far in college. She is from San Diego so hopefully after the voyage is over we can remain friends and see each other once in a while. An interesting part about being on the ship is continuously changing times. As of now, we have already jumped ahead 1 hour from EST, and tonight we get to do it again. This time change makes it a little more difficult for getting up for my 8am class. The last thing that has been a little tricky is using army time rather than the normal 12 hour am/pm schedule. Well I think this is enough for me today, as the ship is rocking and my stomach is churning. I will post again probably after Brazil, but I hope this has given you a glimpse into my life on Semester at Sea.
Miss you all,
Alissa
Now for things learned from a “grown up” perspective:
*This is not a leisurely paced “cruise.”
*How much work it is to keep up with the reading for only nine units, even when it is not for credit or a grade.
*Teaching three classes seven days a week IS as much work as Kevin thought it would be.
*Kevin and Alex have similar looks on their faces when overwhelmed.
*The ship is big enough that I can go a full day and not see the boys or Alissa.
*A great deal about Illness, Injury and Prevention Programs as well as Return to Work and *Modified Work Programs…yes I really am doing work.. Deliverable number one will be on schedule.
*The countries of North America, Central America, The Caribbean and South America…(Yeah!)
*The Atlantic Ocean is rougher than the Caribbean…hint when the barf bags started appearing in strategic locations.
*Part of the Arch’s effectiveness must have come from his ability to totally disarm you when in his presence with his humble, gentle and genuine manner.
*Losing an hour a day is painful.
*I have cellular reception when Barbados is in view.
*How great it is to eat three meals a day out doors while staring at the Ocean
*How nice it is to have three meals a day prepared for you.
*How nice it is to have your laundry done regularly.
*How nice it is to have your room cleaned twice a day with to have fresh ice for happy hour.
*How in need of money these workers must be to leave their homes and their families for months on end to work at least twelve hour days seven days per week.
*How little I knew about the word and how much I am capable of learning.
*Kevin is more sensitive to rough seas than I am…poor him and lucky me.
THe "Arrch" knows how to dance
*Over and over and over again, how lucky I was to have the good fortune to be born into my world, to be white and to live in a temperate climate.
More from all of us in a few days. We should cross the equator tonight. Joa
Upon arrival to Puerto Rico, we were welcomed to the island by its highest ranking official, Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá. He spoke of facts about Puerto Rico, the need for quality education to lead Puerto Rico into the future, the role of Puerto Rico as a nation under the flag of The United States. He is a very eloquent man, who spoke very convincingly. After passing through US customs, Alex, Alissa and I decided to hit the streets. We walked along San Juan for a little while, eventually ending up at a beautiful beach. We walked back to the ship to prepare for our planned hike through El Yunque Rainforest. El Yunque is the only rainforest in the US National Parks service and is home to thousands of trees, ferns, moss, Boa Constrictors and the most endangered bird in the world, the Puerto Rican Parrot (of which there are only 50 in the world). We (Joanne, Kevin and I and separately Alex and Alissa) hiked a one and a half mile trail through the rainforest, stopping to look at local wildlife and vegetation and a beautiful waterfall.
After returning from our visit to El Yunque, we (Alex, Alissa and I) got ready to go to a welcome reception. We met up with Jay and headed out to Caribbean University where we were greeted with traditional Puerto Rican drumming, costumes and all of the students of Caribbean University. Joanne and Kevin were experiencing “land sickness” and were having trouble getting acclimated to NOT moving and chose to stay in, We (SAS students) then paraded to their auditorium where we were given a proclamation from the mayor of Bayamon by one of the most famous Actresses in Puerto Rico. After feeling that this couldn’t get any better, we headed outdoors for a great Puerto Rican fiesta, complete with traditional and modern dancing, appetizers and drinks. The students of Caribbean University gave a presentation of the dances of Puerto Rico. Then the dance floor was open and everyone participated in dancing to the Salsa, Bomba and Reggaeton. Alex and I also purchased some souvenirs made by some locals. After the fiesta was over we were all given bags with shirts, pens and other souvenirs from the Caribbean University. This was a great experience and some of the most fun I have ever had dancing.
The following morning we woke up and went to old San Juan. We visited an internet café, but found that we needed Alex’s laptop to upload the pictures properly. After an hour or so we headed back to the ship. We then had lunch and met our parents, and headed to rent a car for the day. While they were renting the car, we were busy uploading our pictures from Florida and The Bahamas. Our first stop with the rental was big Kmart. We have meals that provide enough food for the day, but I am a person who eats consistently throughout the day and I didn’t notice how much I rely on snacks to keep me going. We picked up chips, dip, sodas, and everything that stereotypical white gringos need. After that we headed to Luquillo Beach. It is one of the top ten beaches of the world; unfortunately it does not exactly have very good signage. We got a bit lost and had to turn around, finally pulling off the highway behind some bars and found a beautiful beach. As we walked along the beach, some figures came into focus. It was my parents’ happy hour buddies, Gary (professor of economics onboard) and his wife Diana, who had been there for only 5 minutes. Just by chance we ran into them and even parked next to them.
After saying goodbye, we headed toward a bioluminescent bay where we were planning to kayak. First we stopped for some appetizers, then another stop for some more hearty food and drinks. We then went to our meeting place where we met Joey, our guide for the kayaking trip. We started in a normal bay and then went through some narrow passages lined with mangrove trees with iguanas in them. A few minutes after entering the mangrove passage our paddles began to glow a dim green. As we got further and further they grew to glow bright green. I was in the front kayak and got to see some fish swimming through the water, lighting up their trail. The bioluminescence is created when the single celled organisms, dinoflagellates, feel attacked and create a chemical reaction that glows. After reaching the bay we were given the opportunity to swim in the glowing water. It was absolutely amazing and probably the most astounded that I have ever seen my father. We ran into many other groups, mostly SAS students, including one of Alex’s Chapman buddies and Kelly Monroe. We returned to our car and headed back to the ship after our day of exhaustion.
The next day we woke up and decided to return to the internet café with Alex’s laptop to upload the pictures from Puerto Rico before having to return the car. After returning Alex’s laptop to the ship and consulting with Jay about a meeting place we headed back to Old San Juan. Jay was our tour guide for the day showing us the beautiful city with its blue cobblestone streets and colorful old buildings. We hiked up to El Morro, a 450 year old fort that was the site of the Spanish-American War and an amazing site to see. We bought some souvenirs and then headed to dinner with Joanne, Kevin, Gary and Diana. After that we headed back to the ship and watched as the people who arrived late to the ship got hours of dock time (time on ship when in port).
*Things I’ve Learned In Puerto Rico:
*Puerto Ricans are amazing, friendly people.
*Stop signs and street lights are really more of a suggestion.
*It is better to avoid a pothole than a car.
*Driving the wrong way in a bus lane is not a smart idea, and can get you a personal police escort.
*Police officers are nice to the gringos.
*Half of the island’s population is police officers, and they drive around with their lights on at all times.
*Everything in Puerto Rico is fried: bananas, chicken, pork chops, fish, lamb, etc.
*School attendance is more of a suggestion as well.
*That glowing of your skin is actually natural.
*There are a ton of churches, and most of them sell chicken.
*All Puerto Ricans know how to dance.
We will add some pictures of our San Juan visit when we reach Brazil. Until then I will probably not write of our shipboard adventures as it mostly includes class and reading, but I will most definitely keep everyone up to date on the happenings of Brazil.
Hey everyone,
Now for another traveler’s impression of the voyage so far. Sorry I have yet to write anything, but Chris has been doing a great job of capturing the main points of the journey. Well as you know, we left The Bahamas on the 4th and from there we headed to sea. This sea experience has not been one of my favorites as the boat rocks almost continuously and I tend to get seasick. On a more positive note, classes seem like they are going to be great. I am taking Mysticism and Religious Experience (studying about the several religions and what they strive for), Intercultural Communication (self-explanatory), and Sustainable Communities (a course about how to build communities that are good for the environment). Once I arrived on the ship, I decided not to add a fifth class to my schedule, in order to fully enjoy all of the various activities that the ship and countries have to offer.
The first port we arrived in on Wednesday, Feb. 7th, was Puerto Rico. This Island was amazing and with its unique culture and different language it is hard to believe that it is actually a part of the U.S.. I even got to use a little bit of my Spanish that I have learned over the years. In this port, I became very adventuresome, from hiking through a rainforest to kayaking and swimming with bioluminescent organisms in a pitch-black bay. For most of you who know me, you will realize that this is a stretch for me as I am usually scared of getting into water that contains any fish or other species. I am so happy that I have partaken in activities that are out of my comfort zone because now knowing that I survived I am more willing to undertake in similar adventures in the remainder of the countries.
Now back to being on the ship. My roommate’s name is Cheryl and she is so nice. She is my best roommate so far in college. She is from San Diego so hopefully after the voyage is over we can remain friends and see each other once in a while. An interesting part about being on the ship is continuously changing times. As of now, we have already jumped ahead 1 hour from EST, and tonight we get to do it again. This time change makes it a little more difficult for getting up for my 8am class. The last thing that has been a little tricky is using army time rather than the normal 12 hour am/pm schedule. Well I think this is enough for me today, as the ship is rocking and my stomach is churning. I will post again probably after Brazil, but I hope this has given you a glimpse into my life on Semester at Sea.
Miss you all,
Alissa
Now for things learned from a “grown up” perspective:
*This is not a leisurely paced “cruise.”
*How much work it is to keep up with the reading for only nine units, even when it is not for credit or a grade.
*Teaching three classes seven days a week IS as much work as Kevin thought it would be.
*Kevin and Alex have similar looks on their faces when overwhelmed.
*The ship is big enough that I can go a full day and not see the boys or Alissa.
*A great deal about Illness, Injury and Prevention Programs as well as Return to Work and *Modified Work Programs…yes I really am doing work.. Deliverable number one will be on schedule.
*The countries of North America, Central America, The Caribbean and South America…(Yeah!)
*The Atlantic Ocean is rougher than the Caribbean…hint when the barf bags started appearing in strategic locations.
*Part of the Arch’s effectiveness must have come from his ability to totally disarm you when in his presence with his humble, gentle and genuine manner.
*Losing an hour a day is painful.
*I have cellular reception when Barbados is in view.
*How great it is to eat three meals a day out doors while staring at the Ocean
*How nice it is to have three meals a day prepared for you.
*How nice it is to have your laundry done regularly.
*How nice it is to have your room cleaned twice a day with to have fresh ice for happy hour.
*How in need of money these workers must be to leave their homes and their families for months on end to work at least twelve hour days seven days per week.
*How little I knew about the word and how much I am capable of learning.
*Kevin is more sensitive to rough seas than I am…poor him and lucky me.
THe "Arrch" knows how to dance
*Over and over and over again, how lucky I was to have the good fortune to be born into my world, to be white and to live in a temperate climate.
More from all of us in a few days. We should cross the equator tonight. Joa
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
We set sail
Hello from the middle of the Caribbean Sea. We are currently on our way to Puerto Rico, heading at a whopping 10.3 knots. I will describe life at sea in a little bit, but first I will finish a recap of The Bahamas.
On Friday, we (Alex, Alissa, Chris, Joanne and Sari (Alissa’s mom)) planned to go snorkeling with a tour at 8 in the morning. Upon waking up at that awful hour, we realized that the snorkeling would not be very good. The skies were rather cloudy, which would not only block the necessary light, but would make the cold water feel much colder. Since we had already gone on our own and the trip would cost $60 a person, we felt it would be better to go back to bed. Upon waking up at a much more reasonable hour, 11, we did laundry and Joanne and I decided to pack up our remaining things. We all headed in to downtown Nassau after a quick lunch and Joanne and I dropped off our things on the ship. We were then joined by Kevin, who was given a brief break from his orientation to the ship. We walked around downtown and did some window shopping and sightseeing. Alissa and Sari decided to go back to the condo, have dinner and spend some time together. The rest of us headed back to the ship for dinner. All of the meals on the ship are quite fantastic. After dinner, Alex and I went to The City of Atlantis. This is a huge hotel/resort that is themed after the lost city of Atlantis (which “sunk in” with Alissa after about 5 hours on the premises). Atlantis is a bit like Disneyland and Vegas meet the water. Everything is ridiculously expensive, fake, and at the same time a bit amazing. There are tanks with every type of sea creature from colorful tropical fish to 8 ft. wide sting rays to 8 ft. long sharks. It is something that must be seen just to be believed. After Alex convinced me to delay losing my money at the casino, we left by taxi for the ship. It was our first night on the ship, and went a lot smoother that sleeping on land. The mini twins were surprisingly comfortable and provided a good 8 hours of sleep.
We had to wake up early on Saturday because the ship was leaving for portage at 9. At breakfast we passed by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who had joined the ship sometime in the night. He is an adorable, short man who you would immediately feel was a long-lost grandfather. Alex, Joanne and I left the ship and returned to pick up Alissa and Sari and check out of the rooms. We went from the condos at Sandyport to The Atlantis. After Sari and Alissa got comfortably settled in their new rooms, we headed out to the famed pools. Atlantis has a ton of pools, a lagoon with sharks, sting rays and eels and a beautiful ocean beach. To top that off, they have water rides ranging from the quite nice lazy river to the more daring, but fun, shark slide. The shark slide is a water slide tube that goes through a tank of sharks. Unfortunately you cannot see the sharks when going through because the spray from going to fast splashing into your eyes. An hour after the meeting time, we finally ran into Kevin who had been let free. We showed him the sights of The Atlantis, had a delicious (if a bit Americanized) dinner, and headed back to the ship.
On Sunday morning, the 670 other students boarded on the ship. Alex and I were planning on waking up early and watching the long lines, but were a bit disappointed when we finally realized that our view was blocked by the port authority building. Alex and I have been quickly nicknamed “the brothers” by the 1000 other people on the ship. Alex and I met tons of new people, of which whose names I remember only a few. Most of the people I have met have been great people. When Alex and I were sitting by the pool, we were joined by a UCLA student from Santa Cruz named Jay. He is a very cool person who seems to get the sarcastic humor that Alex and I use so frequently. I feel that he will be a good friend for the entire trip, and possibly for some time after. We have also become quite good friends with Alissa’s roommate Sheryl. She is a University of San Diego Student who lives in Poway, CA and also has the harsh bite of sarcasm. She is also someone that I feel we will be friends with for some time. There have also been some less that inspiring people that I have met. I am doing my best to keep an open mind, but at times that can be quite challenging. For me there is just something so obnoxious about the stereotypical college frat boy. After a bit of lounging we were joined by Alissa, who had a later check-in time. She felt quite relieved to finally be on the ship. Sari joined us for a few hours and then said her final farewell to her daughter. Every parent, even some whose kids were staying on the ship was crying hysterically when it came time for them to finally leave the ship. After this we had our first emergency drill. Wearing long sleeves, pants, close-toed shoes, a hat and our lifejackets we headed up to our muster station, C7. Luckily, Alex and I have a muster station that is indoors so were not as affected by the heat as were the other voyagers. Upon completion of our emergency drill, we were finally ready to set sail. The captain gave the horn to leave and everyone waved goodbye to their parents on the shore. Somehow my parents missed the get off the ship announcements and will be heading with us for the rest of the voyage. After dinner we began our extremely long orientation.
To recap this orientation, meeting on semester at sea purpose, introduction to staff, sea (a bit like a floor on a dorm) meeting, sleep. Breakfast, semester at sea purpose meeting (yes twice), safety meeting, UVA honor coded meeting, lunch, introduction to faculty and academic dean, Global Studies meeting, introduction to student life, dinner, introduction to traveling, done!!
Things I have learned in The Bahamas and the first few days at sea:
Driving on the left side of the road really is wrong.
Alleys really aren’t too small for busses.
You don’t need a perfectly round tennis racket to lose at tennis.
With the exception of alcohol, everything really does cost more in The Bahamas.
Bahamans move at a different speed (slow)
Walls really do move.
That pit in your stomach is from hunger, not sea sickness.
Engines shake (which makes an amazing room now a massager as well)
Now from a adult learner perspective
While I thought I would have much time to read, sketch, work out and the like, I have found myself very busy. Kevin is working very hard as today was his first day of classes. Today was his Aids in the World class. What an incredible opportunity for the students to really see first hand the impact that this pandemic has had. He had “sitting room” only in his classes and had students from all different majors. We have heard good feedback from his students. We have met some amazing “grown-ups.” We are all bound by a thirst for adventure, a desire to travel and meet new people and an appreciation of the possibilities that come from education. I am in awe of the students as well. Some have never had a passport or left their own small homes. Some have never seen their parents travel. To embark on this sort of adventure takes such courage and they are embracing it fully. I have spontaneously met and chatted with several that seem “almost” as nice as our boys. We all have started classes. I am taking the Global Studies class, World Music and Art and Religion. Having not ever been away to college and also having been a serious science student when in college, I welcome the chance to be here and to learn some other disciplines that I never dared to try. Look out family…I may have more answers the next time we play Trivial Pursuit.
We had the honor of having dinner the first night at sea at the table with the Archbishop. He loves the students and finds a new group to join with each meal. We are also very comfortable and settling into some routines. I am enjoying working on my consulting job for my company in the area of Occupational Health and Safety. In doing so, I have often thought about the disparities that will exist for workers in the places we will visit and the progress our country has made in protecting it’s workers. I am glad to have the opportunity to try to make a difference in the health and safety at my company while I travel.
We have become used to the constant rolling of the ship and I am beginning to realize that after three plus months it will feel very strange to be on non-moving ground. We bump into walls and stagger down halls. Since we left port I have seen a school of dolphins and today we had our first sighting of a whale. The sea is so beautiful and you come to understand why they call this the “Blue Planet.” The ocean is so blue.
Tomorrow is our first port experience in San Juan Puerto Rico. Tonight we will have our first port briefing and I here it will be followed by Salsa music. I am sure Kevin will be the first to join in. We hope to get to an internet café and upload some of our photos to the site, so check back with the site in a day or so.
For now we all send our love and our friendship
On Friday, we (Alex, Alissa, Chris, Joanne and Sari (Alissa’s mom)) planned to go snorkeling with a tour at 8 in the morning. Upon waking up at that awful hour, we realized that the snorkeling would not be very good. The skies were rather cloudy, which would not only block the necessary light, but would make the cold water feel much colder. Since we had already gone on our own and the trip would cost $60 a person, we felt it would be better to go back to bed. Upon waking up at a much more reasonable hour, 11, we did laundry and Joanne and I decided to pack up our remaining things. We all headed in to downtown Nassau after a quick lunch and Joanne and I dropped off our things on the ship. We were then joined by Kevin, who was given a brief break from his orientation to the ship. We walked around downtown and did some window shopping and sightseeing. Alissa and Sari decided to go back to the condo, have dinner and spend some time together. The rest of us headed back to the ship for dinner. All of the meals on the ship are quite fantastic. After dinner, Alex and I went to The City of Atlantis. This is a huge hotel/resort that is themed after the lost city of Atlantis (which “sunk in” with Alissa after about 5 hours on the premises). Atlantis is a bit like Disneyland and Vegas meet the water. Everything is ridiculously expensive, fake, and at the same time a bit amazing. There are tanks with every type of sea creature from colorful tropical fish to 8 ft. wide sting rays to 8 ft. long sharks. It is something that must be seen just to be believed. After Alex convinced me to delay losing my money at the casino, we left by taxi for the ship. It was our first night on the ship, and went a lot smoother that sleeping on land. The mini twins were surprisingly comfortable and provided a good 8 hours of sleep.
We had to wake up early on Saturday because the ship was leaving for portage at 9. At breakfast we passed by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who had joined the ship sometime in the night. He is an adorable, short man who you would immediately feel was a long-lost grandfather. Alex, Joanne and I left the ship and returned to pick up Alissa and Sari and check out of the rooms. We went from the condos at Sandyport to The Atlantis. After Sari and Alissa got comfortably settled in their new rooms, we headed out to the famed pools. Atlantis has a ton of pools, a lagoon with sharks, sting rays and eels and a beautiful ocean beach. To top that off, they have water rides ranging from the quite nice lazy river to the more daring, but fun, shark slide. The shark slide is a water slide tube that goes through a tank of sharks. Unfortunately you cannot see the sharks when going through because the spray from going to fast splashing into your eyes. An hour after the meeting time, we finally ran into Kevin who had been let free. We showed him the sights of The Atlantis, had a delicious (if a bit Americanized) dinner, and headed back to the ship.
On Sunday morning, the 670 other students boarded on the ship. Alex and I were planning on waking up early and watching the long lines, but were a bit disappointed when we finally realized that our view was blocked by the port authority building. Alex and I have been quickly nicknamed “the brothers” by the 1000 other people on the ship. Alex and I met tons of new people, of which whose names I remember only a few. Most of the people I have met have been great people. When Alex and I were sitting by the pool, we were joined by a UCLA student from Santa Cruz named Jay. He is a very cool person who seems to get the sarcastic humor that Alex and I use so frequently. I feel that he will be a good friend for the entire trip, and possibly for some time after. We have also become quite good friends with Alissa’s roommate Sheryl. She is a University of San Diego Student who lives in Poway, CA and also has the harsh bite of sarcasm. She is also someone that I feel we will be friends with for some time. There have also been some less that inspiring people that I have met. I am doing my best to keep an open mind, but at times that can be quite challenging. For me there is just something so obnoxious about the stereotypical college frat boy. After a bit of lounging we were joined by Alissa, who had a later check-in time. She felt quite relieved to finally be on the ship. Sari joined us for a few hours and then said her final farewell to her daughter. Every parent, even some whose kids were staying on the ship was crying hysterically when it came time for them to finally leave the ship. After this we had our first emergency drill. Wearing long sleeves, pants, close-toed shoes, a hat and our lifejackets we headed up to our muster station, C7. Luckily, Alex and I have a muster station that is indoors so were not as affected by the heat as were the other voyagers. Upon completion of our emergency drill, we were finally ready to set sail. The captain gave the horn to leave and everyone waved goodbye to their parents on the shore. Somehow my parents missed the get off the ship announcements and will be heading with us for the rest of the voyage. After dinner we began our extremely long orientation.
To recap this orientation, meeting on semester at sea purpose, introduction to staff, sea (a bit like a floor on a dorm) meeting, sleep. Breakfast, semester at sea purpose meeting (yes twice), safety meeting, UVA honor coded meeting, lunch, introduction to faculty and academic dean, Global Studies meeting, introduction to student life, dinner, introduction to traveling, done!!
Things I have learned in The Bahamas and the first few days at sea:
Driving on the left side of the road really is wrong.
Alleys really aren’t too small for busses.
You don’t need a perfectly round tennis racket to lose at tennis.
With the exception of alcohol, everything really does cost more in The Bahamas.
Bahamans move at a different speed (slow)
Walls really do move.
That pit in your stomach is from hunger, not sea sickness.
Engines shake (which makes an amazing room now a massager as well)
Now from a adult learner perspective
While I thought I would have much time to read, sketch, work out and the like, I have found myself very busy. Kevin is working very hard as today was his first day of classes. Today was his Aids in the World class. What an incredible opportunity for the students to really see first hand the impact that this pandemic has had. He had “sitting room” only in his classes and had students from all different majors. We have heard good feedback from his students. We have met some amazing “grown-ups.” We are all bound by a thirst for adventure, a desire to travel and meet new people and an appreciation of the possibilities that come from education. I am in awe of the students as well. Some have never had a passport or left their own small homes. Some have never seen their parents travel. To embark on this sort of adventure takes such courage and they are embracing it fully. I have spontaneously met and chatted with several that seem “almost” as nice as our boys. We all have started classes. I am taking the Global Studies class, World Music and Art and Religion. Having not ever been away to college and also having been a serious science student when in college, I welcome the chance to be here and to learn some other disciplines that I never dared to try. Look out family…I may have more answers the next time we play Trivial Pursuit.
We had the honor of having dinner the first night at sea at the table with the Archbishop. He loves the students and finds a new group to join with each meal. We are also very comfortable and settling into some routines. I am enjoying working on my consulting job for my company in the area of Occupational Health and Safety. In doing so, I have often thought about the disparities that will exist for workers in the places we will visit and the progress our country has made in protecting it’s workers. I am glad to have the opportunity to try to make a difference in the health and safety at my company while I travel.
We have become used to the constant rolling of the ship and I am beginning to realize that after three plus months it will feel very strange to be on non-moving ground. We bump into walls and stagger down halls. Since we left port I have seen a school of dolphins and today we had our first sighting of a whale. The sea is so beautiful and you come to understand why they call this the “Blue Planet.” The ocean is so blue.
Tomorrow is our first port experience in San Juan Puerto Rico. Tonight we will have our first port briefing and I here it will be followed by Salsa music. I am sure Kevin will be the first to join in. We hope to get to an internet café and upload some of our photos to the site, so check back with the site in a day or so.
For now we all send our love and our friendship
Thursday, February 1, 2007
The Bahamas Part 1
The voyage officially began Monday at about 4:30 in the morning. Kevin, Joanne, Alex and I packed all of our things and bounced in our Honda lo rider. There were bags everywhere; the trunk was full, two ricardos (extra large duffels) in the center of the back seat, two bags on the back window sill, bags on Alex’s and my laps, and a bag at Joanne’s feet. Our flight to Florida was very easy, getting us in to Ft. Lauderdale about half an hour early. There we met up with Kevin’s old junior high buddy, Tim, and his wife Di and were later joined by their son David. For lunch, we went to the Old Inn Crab House, where Alex and I tried the crab sampler and ate off the others plates of conch fritters, fish and other new sea foods. Before heading back to the airport, David gave us a tour of his alma mater, Florida Atlantic University. It was very beautiful, right on the Atlantic Coast, and a prime manatee zone. We then boarded our flight to Nassau, Bahamas. It was a smaller prop plane with the cargo between the passengers and pilot. We arrived half an hour early on just a 45 minute flight. We then went through customs and boarded a small Toyota van toward Sandyport Resort. This was my first time out of North America, and driving on the left side of the road was a frightening situation. Upon arrival, we met Tyler (AKA Mr. Malotte) who took us to our rooms. The place is a beautiful, if a bit schizophrenic, place with a range of light colors from pink to lime green. Tyler then made us a hamburger dinner (about $60 worth of food) and we visited with him and Sara (AKA Ms. Te). Tyler told us of the daily routine of the local “wildlife” and attractions that The Bahamas had to offer (of which he was not the biggest fan). I can say honestly that this was my first mental breakdown. I felt a bit claustrophobic now realizing that it really will be 105 days before I get home and there is nothing I can do about it.
The next day began like any good day should, at 11 o’clock. By noon, the Malotte’s and Sara hopped on the #10 bus to downtown Nassau. The bus ride was free but it was $1 to leave. Nassau is an interesting combination of Tijuana, Florida, Atlantic City and The Caribbean. It is a very touristy, Americanized place, with its own unique flare. We visited the pink Parliament Building, The Straw Market (a tourist trap of shirts, picture frames and carvings for sale) and ate an authentic Bahamian lunch (conch fingers, peas and rice, plantains, and grouper fish). We hopped back on the bus, after which we said our farewells to Tyler and Sara. It was a very difficult goodbye, because we will not see him for a long time, but he and his class (Hey Mr. Malotte’s Class) will be vicarious voyagers on our trip. After we said our “auf’s” (that one is for Dennis), we relaxed, read and took a nap, while Kevin and Joanne went to the market. Food in The Bahamas is extremely expensive. For example, a gallon of milk was $6.50 and ketchup was $7. After dinner we had dinner at The Poop Deck, yes, The Poop Deck. We had dinner with The Monroes. They are close friends, who we (Kevin, Joanne, Alex, Alissa, Kelly and I) will be visiting in Beijing. Dinner was delicious, expensive and unique, as you had to choose your fish if you ordered the catch of the day.
On Wednesday, Alissa and her mother Sari arrived. After the got situated, Alex Joanne, Kevin and I headed toward the ship. We moved into our rooms; Alex’s and my room is surprisingly large with a 2.5 by 2.5 ft. port hole. It was just the faculty, staff and their family members on the ship, so Alex and I got to discover the lay out on our own, which was quite exciting. At 1600 hours, everyone went to the student union to introduce themselves. Then we went up to the faculty lounge for drinks and to mingle with everyone. We got to meet a couple of our professors, some we don’t have, and even got to meet the first mate. Giagia fear not we are in the hands of a good Greek boy, Costas. Dinner was at 1800 hours and was surprisingly delicious. I don’t think that food will be the slightest of problems on the ship. Alex and I returned to the Sandyport Resort by taxi.
I finally joined my parents’ insomniac patterns, by waking up at 2:30 in the morning due to excitement about all the things we would be doing, and the fact that the ship exceeded my high standards. After Joanne returned at about 1300, we took the bus to Orange Hill Beach. We got to go snorkeling and saw fish of all shapes and sizes, sea cucumbers, coral and even ray of some kind. We also collected a couple sand dollars and caught and released a couple live conchs, about the size of a football. Tonight we ate at the Traveler’s Rest, a fine restaurant with inexpensive, but delicious food along the beautiful Bahamian Coast. So long for now; check back in a few days for the next update.
The next day began like any good day should, at 11 o’clock. By noon, the Malotte’s and Sara hopped on the #10 bus to downtown Nassau. The bus ride was free but it was $1 to leave. Nassau is an interesting combination of Tijuana, Florida, Atlantic City and The Caribbean. It is a very touristy, Americanized place, with its own unique flare. We visited the pink Parliament Building, The Straw Market (a tourist trap of shirts, picture frames and carvings for sale) and ate an authentic Bahamian lunch (conch fingers, peas and rice, plantains, and grouper fish). We hopped back on the bus, after which we said our farewells to Tyler and Sara. It was a very difficult goodbye, because we will not see him for a long time, but he and his class (Hey Mr. Malotte’s Class) will be vicarious voyagers on our trip. After we said our “auf’s” (that one is for Dennis), we relaxed, read and took a nap, while Kevin and Joanne went to the market. Food in The Bahamas is extremely expensive. For example, a gallon of milk was $6.50 and ketchup was $7. After dinner we had dinner at The Poop Deck, yes, The Poop Deck. We had dinner with The Monroes. They are close friends, who we (Kevin, Joanne, Alex, Alissa, Kelly and I) will be visiting in Beijing. Dinner was delicious, expensive and unique, as you had to choose your fish if you ordered the catch of the day.
On Wednesday, Alissa and her mother Sari arrived. After the got situated, Alex Joanne, Kevin and I headed toward the ship. We moved into our rooms; Alex’s and my room is surprisingly large with a 2.5 by 2.5 ft. port hole. It was just the faculty, staff and their family members on the ship, so Alex and I got to discover the lay out on our own, which was quite exciting. At 1600 hours, everyone went to the student union to introduce themselves. Then we went up to the faculty lounge for drinks and to mingle with everyone. We got to meet a couple of our professors, some we don’t have, and even got to meet the first mate. Giagia fear not we are in the hands of a good Greek boy, Costas. Dinner was at 1800 hours and was surprisingly delicious. I don’t think that food will be the slightest of problems on the ship. Alex and I returned to the Sandyport Resort by taxi.
I finally joined my parents’ insomniac patterns, by waking up at 2:30 in the morning due to excitement about all the things we would be doing, and the fact that the ship exceeded my high standards. After Joanne returned at about 1300, we took the bus to Orange Hill Beach. We got to go snorkeling and saw fish of all shapes and sizes, sea cucumbers, coral and even ray of some kind. We also collected a couple sand dollars and caught and released a couple live conchs, about the size of a football. Tonight we ate at the Traveler’s Rest, a fine restaurant with inexpensive, but delicious food along the beautiful Bahamian Coast. So long for now; check back in a few days for the next update.
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