Now that I have discovered how easy it is to get on line in the computer center on their computers, I plan to write shorter bits, more often.
Right now Rob is teaching in his gorgeous classroom--with a huge wall of glass overlooking the ocean and elegant tables and chairs set us as if it were a private dining room. His class this morning is on the History of Religious Freedom starting with our own Thomas Jefferson and his Statute for Religious Freedom, which is the basis for all of our religious freedom in the US. If he turns out to have room, I will sit in on some of his classes. It turns our that this class and his class on Non-profit Leadership are in great demand. They are full beyond the capacity of 32 students and he has more students wanting to join the classes and Lifelong Learners who want to take his classes. Rob is willing to take more people as long as chairs for them will fit reasonably in the room.
Yesterday I went to the Global Studies class that all students are required to take and everyone else, Faculty, staff, Lifelong Learners, and spouses like me, are expected to attend. I liked the class and gained a little different perspective on things I knew, but hadn't put together the way he (the teacher) did. For the first class he talked a lot about the world population and the global environment. The world population has grown more since the early 1950s than all of the number of people who have ever lived on Earth before 1950. Seven countries have reached the point at which they are growing at the same rate as people are dying in those countries. In the 1970s we were all talking about ZPG (Zero Population Growth). At that time (70s) most well-educated people thought we should have only 2 children per family. Now it is all the fad to have 3 children. I have 3 children, so I am not criticizing anyone else who does. The United States is still growing. Immigration plays into our growth also. I am not against immigrants either. The seven countries who have achieved ZPG are just a drop in the bucket compared to global growth. India alone is approaching a billion.
He also talked about the complexity of providing food for the world's population and the fact that we are using resources, such as water and trees, faster than they can be replenished.
I am glad to be here on this floating campus.
Now it is time for me to meet Rob for lunch. I can't wait to hear how the class went.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Post Halifax
Rob and I both liked Halifax. We enjoyed walking around the downtown area which is right by the harbour where our ship docked. The harbour itself is a beautiful natural harbor with very deep water and lots of room. Two Carnival Cruise ships carring 3,000 plus passengers came in while we were there. We have fewer than 1,000 passengers counting, students, faculty and Semester at Sea staff. We all agrreed, we prefer our smaller ship.
The harbour is the sight of the worlds worst man-made disaster until the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan in World War II. Two ships, one loaded with explosives for World War I collided in the narrow part of Halifax Harbour in 1917. Over 1,100 people were killed, over 16,000 were injured, and 100,000 were left homeless.
Right now I am engrossed in Robert McNeil's novel, The Burden of Desire, which takes place in Halifax just before and after the actual explosion. In 1917 Halifax was a town of 50,000. Now the population is 100,000.
As we left the port of Halifax, we were piped out to sea from Novia Scotia (New Scotland) by the same bagpipers, again if full Scottish Regalia. Many parents who were shipping off their children, to be our college students as we continue our voyage around the world, were waving from the dock. Many of the parents had been students themselves on Semester at Sea, as have many of the faculty, staff, and Lifelong Learners.
We have been on the ship almost a week and I feel right at home here. I love sitting in our cabin, which feels very cozy to me, reading my Halifax book. I love being out on the stern of Deck 6, where we have chosen to have all of our meals, but one, so far. We have shared tables with lots of faculty and now a few students. I went up to the pool on Deck 7 with a book for the first time today. The pool had no water until after Halifax. They fill it with fresh sea water after we leave each port. The sea water here in the North Atlantic is 64 degrees. The pool is, of course, small--too small to really swim my laps--three strokes turn, three strokes, turn again... A few children got into the pool..no grown-ups..not even college students. We shall see if the water warms up. In the mean time, the deck surrounding the pool was packed with college students--hundreds of them. Not as thick as on Virginia Beach in summer, but you get the idea.
So, for now, I prefer our balcony for my deck time. I saw a dolphin in the ocean about 75 feet from the ship today. We have seen seaweed--all the way out here. At noon today we were 600 nautical miles from Halifax. Tonight we get very close to the location of the Titanic. No igebergs this time of year, so we have no worries about a shipwreck of our own.
I also love the ocean view from our room. At night we see the moon, almost half full, shining down on the sea, like a bright spotlight.
Today we had an unexpected rogue wave bobble our ship. Things fell off of shelves. A plastic bottle of Witch Hazel flew off the top shelf of Rob's closet causing the plastic bottle cap to break, so we had a little Witch Hazel to clean up. Not really a problem. A faculty couple who are now on their second trip around the world said that incidents such as that wave are unusual, and when they happen we are warned ahead of time to put all bottles and such on the floor.
Today is Sunday. Friday we arrive in Cadiz, Spain.
The harbour is the sight of the worlds worst man-made disaster until the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan in World War II. Two ships, one loaded with explosives for World War I collided in the narrow part of Halifax Harbour in 1917. Over 1,100 people were killed, over 16,000 were injured, and 100,000 were left homeless.
Right now I am engrossed in Robert McNeil's novel, The Burden of Desire, which takes place in Halifax just before and after the actual explosion. In 1917 Halifax was a town of 50,000. Now the population is 100,000.
As we left the port of Halifax, we were piped out to sea from Novia Scotia (New Scotland) by the same bagpipers, again if full Scottish Regalia. Many parents who were shipping off their children, to be our college students as we continue our voyage around the world, were waving from the dock. Many of the parents had been students themselves on Semester at Sea, as have many of the faculty, staff, and Lifelong Learners.
We have been on the ship almost a week and I feel right at home here. I love sitting in our cabin, which feels very cozy to me, reading my Halifax book. I love being out on the stern of Deck 6, where we have chosen to have all of our meals, but one, so far. We have shared tables with lots of faculty and now a few students. I went up to the pool on Deck 7 with a book for the first time today. The pool had no water until after Halifax. They fill it with fresh sea water after we leave each port. The sea water here in the North Atlantic is 64 degrees. The pool is, of course, small--too small to really swim my laps--three strokes turn, three strokes, turn again... A few children got into the pool..no grown-ups..not even college students. We shall see if the water warms up. In the mean time, the deck surrounding the pool was packed with college students--hundreds of them. Not as thick as on Virginia Beach in summer, but you get the idea.
So, for now, I prefer our balcony for my deck time. I saw a dolphin in the ocean about 75 feet from the ship today. We have seen seaweed--all the way out here. At noon today we were 600 nautical miles from Halifax. Tonight we get very close to the location of the Titanic. No igebergs this time of year, so we have no worries about a shipwreck of our own.
I also love the ocean view from our room. At night we see the moon, almost half full, shining down on the sea, like a bright spotlight.
Today we had an unexpected rogue wave bobble our ship. Things fell off of shelves. A plastic bottle of Witch Hazel flew off the top shelf of Rob's closet causing the plastic bottle cap to break, so we had a little Witch Hazel to clean up. Not really a problem. A faculty couple who are now on their second trip around the world said that incidents such as that wave are unusual, and when they happen we are warned ahead of time to put all bottles and such on the floor.
Today is Sunday. Friday we arrive in Cadiz, Spain.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Hallifax, Nova Scotia
We were due in our first port at 8 Am this morning--and we pulled in at exactly 8 AM. Our captain takes punctuality seriously. He will leave us if we are not on the ship when it is time to depart--so we will always be back well in time. We were piped into port by four bagpipers on shore in full Scottish regalia. I thought about Doris, Derry, and Nancy who would all have appreciated the welcome as much as we did.
Our cabin is beyond my wildest dreams since I was expecting something tiny and crowded, with a bathroom the size of one on an airplane. We have a smart room with a private balcony that has two chairs and a round glass table. Our view through the sliding glass doors is spectacular. Our bathroom is a real one, with a bathtub. The room itself has a queensized bed and a sofa that makes into a double bed. Wish you were here--you would have a place to sleep. We have a 20" TV that gets 4 channels--also local shipboard channels. Night before last we watched the movie, Hotel Rowanda. We also have a comfortable chair that works well with our other round table when, such as now, we are using the computer.
I am not used to being pampered, but I am already seeing the advantages. In the dinning room the food is served buffet style. When I get to the end of the food line, a waiter carries my tray for me to where ever I want to sit (so far always outside on the deck) and then gets whatever I want to drink. The waiters and busboys call us by name (Rob and Ellen). So far I know 3 of their names: two Rogers and Perry. Now they bustle up and say Ellen, you want hot tea with milk and sweetNlow? They know to bring me my morning cranberry juice on ice. They know I want the glass full of ice before they add the iced-tea or water. The first day when I told the waiter that it would be okay, I would just get my own tea--that he didn't need to pamper me. He said,"but that is my job, it is my job to pamper you." So, to be gracious, I let them wait on me hand and foot, and just say thank you and try to learn their names. I can't wait to see if we still get this much personal service after the 550 students get on today.
We were to have had 650 students, so I fear the economy may have played a role in the number of students who are alble to come on the voyage. The summer voyage booked to capacity (750), so some of us think some students cut back from this voyage and took that shorter one. The life-long-learners, the adults who chose to take the voyage with us, are booked at full capacity (30). They can attend any classes they want and audit them and turn in papers and exams if they chose, or not if they choose. The college students have to go to class and take all tests, etc. A student who does not participate fully in academic life will be sent home. Now, of course, they are excused from class if they are sick, etc. As soon as a faculty member notices a student missing several classes, someone is dispatched to check up on the student and see what is the matter.
Rob, as a faculty member, has has meetings all day from the time we left Norfolk. As with classes, I can go, or not. I went to the ones on the first day, not the second, and one yesterday. The students board tomorrow. We have a 5 PM reception for just the parents who are bringing students to board tomorrow. We are all encouraged to attend. Rob and I will.
We leave the ship to explore Hallifax right after lunch. Rob has meetings until then. I could leave without him--but that wouldn't be very gracious, woud it. And, besides, I wanted to write to you.
Fondly, Ellen
Our cabin is beyond my wildest dreams since I was expecting something tiny and crowded, with a bathroom the size of one on an airplane. We have a smart room with a private balcony that has two chairs and a round glass table. Our view through the sliding glass doors is spectacular. Our bathroom is a real one, with a bathtub. The room itself has a queensized bed and a sofa that makes into a double bed. Wish you were here--you would have a place to sleep. We have a 20" TV that gets 4 channels--also local shipboard channels. Night before last we watched the movie, Hotel Rowanda. We also have a comfortable chair that works well with our other round table when, such as now, we are using the computer.
I am not used to being pampered, but I am already seeing the advantages. In the dinning room the food is served buffet style. When I get to the end of the food line, a waiter carries my tray for me to where ever I want to sit (so far always outside on the deck) and then gets whatever I want to drink. The waiters and busboys call us by name (Rob and Ellen). So far I know 3 of their names: two Rogers and Perry. Now they bustle up and say Ellen, you want hot tea with milk and sweetNlow? They know to bring me my morning cranberry juice on ice. They know I want the glass full of ice before they add the iced-tea or water. The first day when I told the waiter that it would be okay, I would just get my own tea--that he didn't need to pamper me. He said,"but that is my job, it is my job to pamper you." So, to be gracious, I let them wait on me hand and foot, and just say thank you and try to learn their names. I can't wait to see if we still get this much personal service after the 550 students get on today.
We were to have had 650 students, so I fear the economy may have played a role in the number of students who are alble to come on the voyage. The summer voyage booked to capacity (750), so some of us think some students cut back from this voyage and took that shorter one. The life-long-learners, the adults who chose to take the voyage with us, are booked at full capacity (30). They can attend any classes they want and audit them and turn in papers and exams if they chose, or not if they choose. The college students have to go to class and take all tests, etc. A student who does not participate fully in academic life will be sent home. Now, of course, they are excused from class if they are sick, etc. As soon as a faculty member notices a student missing several classes, someone is dispatched to check up on the student and see what is the matter.
Rob, as a faculty member, has has meetings all day from the time we left Norfolk. As with classes, I can go, or not. I went to the ones on the first day, not the second, and one yesterday. The students board tomorrow. We have a 5 PM reception for just the parents who are bringing students to board tomorrow. We are all encouraged to attend. Rob and I will.
We leave the ship to explore Hallifax right after lunch. Rob has meetings until then. I could leave without him--but that wouldn't be very gracious, woud it. And, besides, I wanted to write to you.
Fondly, Ellen
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