ooops

I can't even remember what day it is! The blog that follows was posted on Wed., not Thurs.

Life at Sea

Thurs. Jan. 30 @ 7:30

strong>Hello after several days of not writing in my blog. Our trip from Puerto Rico has been very smooth sailing until today when we hit rougher water and we're rolling quite a bit. Still no sea sickness, so it seems I'll be o.k. during mild rolling. We've been told our trip from Brazil to Cape Town will be rougher.

Before beginning this trip, I thought this experience was going to be a time when I could simplify my life. In fact, I do live and work (from 8:00 - 5:00, with time off for the global studies class and lunch)in the same place. My work day is much busier than I expected and even with two work study students to assist me, I never get everything done. I live on the 3rd deck and work on the 5th deck, 3 meals of very good food of many varieties are prepared for me and the dishes are washed, my clothes are washed for me and my room is cleaned twice a day -- so I do live the good life. After 5:00pm every day the choices abound -- and I find I want to do them all! The 12 Life-Long Learners meet every day from 5:00 to 6:00 for speakers and conversation, then dinner at 6:00. At 7:00, there is currently an opportunity to learn Portuguese before we reach Brazil (I'm passing on that and writing in my blog today). From 8:00 to 9:00pm, there is "Community College" which offers speakers, seminars and documentaries of many kinds and at 9:00 there are usually two choices of films that we can view in our cabins on closed circuit t.v. The films are usually chosen for topics that pertain to the countries that we are visiting. Tonight the choices are Wide Sargasso(set in Jamaica)and Favela Rising which is set in Rio. One of tomorrow's choices is Bye, Bye Brazil.

Everyone continues to get along well, and I hear the professors speaking about how bright the students are. I am indeed grateful for this privilege of being in this community of interesting people; now, if I could just put a few more hours in the day, I could take advantage of more things!

Puerto Rico

Sunday night at 9:15

When we docked in Puerto Rico, I thought "why are we spending 4 days in Puerto Rico; it's a small island; what is there to see for four days?" Today, I realized there is more to do than I have time (& I'm sure I'll feel that way again).

I took the City Orientation Bus Tour and wasn't too impressed with it as a whole, but the El Morro Fort, the oldest Spanish fort in the New World & a Unesco World Heritage site, was impressive: 6-levels with a lighthouse on the top level which is still used today. Then, I went to the El Yunque Rain Forest which covers 28,000 acres with some 240 tree species, waterfalls, rare birds and gets about 200 inches of rain a year. The rest of northern Puerto Rico gets (only) 150 inches --talk about green, everything is green. I did not take the opportunity to play in the water under the large waterfall, but many of the students did and they had a great time. I was a bus leader for this trip and was responsible for 19 students and I must say, they were great. The time was given for them to be back at the bus and every one of them (including the ones in the other two buses) adhered to the time frame. An important incentive is that they get "dock time" if they are late. For every 15 minutes they are late, they have to stay on the ship 30 minutes (or more) when we dock the next time.

Last night my roommate and I took a taxi to Old San Juan, walked around for awhile and drank a wonderful rum drink mixed with passion fruit and guava. Yum . . . Unfortunately, some of the students don't know when to stop drinking, so many of them came back to the ship not feeling too good.

Today, I joined 34 other students, faculty and staff on the bus tour to the city of Ponce and the Tibes Ceremonial Center. Ponce is the second largest city on the island (south of San Juan) and much less touristy that San Juan. We saw a 100-year old firehouse which was painted red and black. The architecture around the town plaza was beautiful. (I have pictures, but still haven't taken the time to download them.) The Tibes Indian Ceremonial Center was fascinating--we learned about the Igneri and Taino Indian Cultures and the saw the Pre-Taino plazas which date to 700 CE. It is believed that Tibes could have been an astronomical observatory during Pre-Columbian times since the dance ground is shaped like a rising sun lined up with the sun during equinoxes and solstices. There was also a re-creation of a Taino Village.

I'm staying on the ship tonight and not setting the alarm for the first time--but I will still be awakened by my roommate around 6:30 because she has to go to clinic at 7:00, but I'll bet I can go back to sleep. I don't think I mentioned we have an inside room, so when the lights are out, it's very dark.

Tomorrow I'm spending a leisurely day walking around Old San Juan. I want a day when the only schedule I have is to be back on the ship before 9:00 pm when we start our sail to Brazil. We have several days at sea, so perhaps I'll have time to download my pictures.

Till later . . .

Docking in Puerto Rico!

Saturday at 7:50 am

We docking in Puerto Rico and this moment. The sun is shining and I just checked the weather forecast -- it's currently 70 degrees (& rising) with 90% humidity -- yikes. I'm waiting for my number to be called to get thru immigration. (If I end this quickly, you'll know my number has been called.) They are coming on board to check us out, then we can leave for the 9:30 City Tour via bus. Following that tour, I'll be going to the rain forest (where the humidity will probably be 100%).

The last couple of days have been killers -- to work at 8:00am and meetings didn't get over until 9:30pm. There are things I still need to do, but they can wait until Tuesday when we go back out to sea and head for Brazil.

It was amazing to see so many students at breakfast this morning at 7:00. They are a lot more excited about Puerto Rico than they are about their classes. Twenty % of their grade in each class will be projects concerning the countries we visit. The faculty & administration members who I have met are very knowledgeable and passionate about these countries and I think this is really a chance of a lifetime to be with so many interesting people.

Will report on Puerto Rico tonight (if I don't fall asleep early!)

Hope everything is going well for all of you. I'm going to enjoy my 3-day weekend in San Juan.

Nancy

Semester at Sea is Sailing!

733 students are checked in and we set sail from the Bahamas at 5:00pm. We had our first fire drill before we left and they are very serious about these drills. Names were checked and we weren't dismissed until everyone was accounted for.

We saw a beautiful sunset as we left the Bahamas and so far there is very calm water; I can feel a slight motion, but it's very relaxing at this point. The noise level has increased so much that my friends and I couldn't have a conversation at dinner. I think I didn't appreciate the quiet when I had it!

I had a full day in my office and I've got things sitting on my desk to do tomorrow. It's about 7:00 pm now and I'm very tired. The work study students didn't report to me today; I hope I see them tomorrow (but they may be stuck in orientation all day.)

I think I have an 8:00 meeting, so better check my schedule.

ttfn

End of Training

Tues Jan 22 @ 11:15 am

Oops; just learned a lesson. I hit the back button and lost the post that I was writing, so I'll start over. I have forgotten to mention an upgrade (for the first time)-- the staff has unlimited computer access! The broadband that Semester at Sea uses is limited, so of course, we are advised not to abuse this privilege. The wireless does not extend to our cabins, but we have wireless in the Faculty/Staff Lounge. I haven't had a chance to check that out.

The faculty and staff 4-day training is over; yeah! I learned a lot; now to be able to practice what I learned. The 23 work study students boarded yesterday and I met the 2 girls who will be my assistants: Lindsey and Cara. They seem ready to go to work, so I'll depend on them to assist the faculty. The students are in a training session right now for assisting with the 733 students who will be boarding tomorrow. Today at 4:00pm 600 parents will be attending the Parent's Reception--wow, I had no idea so many of them would travel to the Bahamas. I learned a new term: "helicopter parents" (which means they hover over their children). We were told this type of parent is common with this university-age group of students.

Some of you asked about the food on board. The 3 meals that are included in my room and board are healthy, wholesome food (I am having trouble staying away from the desserts!) Snack options; i.e. hamburgers, pizza, soft drinks, etc., are available at additional times for additional costs. The only things I have purchased is a 7-Up for a $1.00 & wine is $3.50/glass (very reasonable). I haven't started my exercise routine because I am still fighting the upper respiratory problem: coughing, etc. This is already a common challenge on board -- to stay healthy & we haven't even sailed yet.

Yesterday I left the ship for a short while. I had intended to take a long walk, but it started raining (& I didn't have my umbrella) so that plan was cut short. The sun is currently shining, so I'll try again after lunch. I will be meeting my work study students for lunch. I have asked them to print out their schedules so I can determine who will work when. They will work an average of 4 hours a day & are enrolled in 12 units. I understand the classes will be quite crowded because of the large # of students.

There is also a program called "Extended Family" where faculty, staff & life-long learners (there will be 12 life-long learners) volunteer to be a student/students extended family during the voyage. I have volunteered for that program.

This voyage's youngest participants are 3 and 4 years old (a faculty member's children). I don't know who is the oldest, but one professor said he was 67 & retired so we have a wide age range.

And tomorrow @ 5:00pm is our sail time. Everyone is eager to get underway and explore Puerto Rico.

till later . . .

On Board!

Sunday @ 5:00

Just a quick note to let everyone know that I (& all faculty and staff) have boarded the ship and everything is going very well. I think my roommate Linda and I will get along fine even tho we have a very small room. They put some of the staff in former-crew member rooms because we will have the biggest # of students ever: 733! I'm on the third deck, inside room, so I won't know day from night! Many of the faculty and staff have sailed on previous voyages, so they know what to expect, and us newbies are eager to learn.

Today started at 6:00am with the alarm going off, breakfast @ 7:00 and info sessions started at 8:00. I'm on info overload right now, and we'll start again tomorrow at 8:30.

I learned I will be a leader on three of the pre-sale trips that I requested so I will get a partial refund at the end of the voyage. More info on those later.

Right now I'm off to the social hour (wine and appetizers) and dinner at 6:00 (I think)

Till later . . .

Nassau, Bahamas

Today is Friday and I board the ship tomorrow. It has been a whirlwind of sightseeing here at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island. (see www.atlantis.com) There is so much to see, I can't describe the resort; it has various structures that are totally unique and lots of lagoons, etc. The water is a beautiful turquoise and the weather is ~ 80 degrees -- yes, it does resemble what I consider paradise, but it also comes with a big price tag.

I'm eager to get on the ship and learn about my job and the people on board.

Nancy's confirmed trips

Wednesday, 01/09/08
SEMESTER AT SEA offers many, many excusions while we are in port. For a few of them, students, faculty & staff were asked to select preferences (& one alternate if we didn't get first choice) & pay in advance. I selected eight excusions in five different ports that are special interest to me. I recently received a "Statement of Confirmed Trips" and I will be able to go on seven of my first choices for trips and one alternate trip. I'll have to careful what I ask for--these excursions are expensive . . . For today (& until Friday), I'm at Chapman U, but I certainly am anticipating these great trips:
PUERTO RICO: (1) City Orientation, Old & New, a (2) Rain Forest Hike, & go to the (3) Ponce & Tribes Indian Center.
BRAZIL: An afternoon group for (1) Carnival Viewing & (2) go on a 3-day trip to Iguacu Falls!!!!!!
SOUTH AFRICA: (1) 4-day Safari to Pilanesberg (my first choice was Kruger Park, but this sounds very interesting also).
INDIA: (1) Art of Living -- a 2-day yoga retreat
VIET NAM: (1) travel to Phnon Penh and Angkor Wat for 3 days!!!