Sea time

Classes are happening, and breaks are appreciated. Meals and sunsets are particularly popular times for people to find their way onto deck. There is a reverence about the sun sinking and the moon rises. Last night, the moonrise and setting were so early that when the storms woke people up at night, the blanket of stars was an exceptional experience.
The medical team is minimally utilized still, not that we are complaining. Greg was working extra shifts, Damian had three jobs, and i was wrapping up three classes a week before sailing. This pace is exactly what was hoped for, and yet, it takes some getting used to. I finished my Book Club reading yesterday, Beautiful Ruins. (highly recommend it too!). I also previewed and marked some clips on an Integrative Family Therapy DVD for my Spring class. I am also hesitantly exploring Lightroom, which as a photo development and organization system, is a huge but welcome learning curve.

The entire community is invited to Global Studies. Don Gogniat, the main professor, gives thoughtful lessons everyday. Pick one image to capture the essence of each port. My colleague back home, Alan Green suggested something similar--to pick up something in each place to remind me of it.


Another lesson was simply, “the more you know, the more interesting it is.” I went up on a Bridge tour with a group of students, one other staff, and a Lifelong Learner, someone who was perhaps in her 80s. The guys were asking a lot of questions of the crew, and it was true, the more I knew, the less it was boring. Without enthusiastic questions, it was just another view of the ship. But because one was a sailor and he other two science-oriented, they had a lot of questions about fuel, quickness in turning, sonar, GPS, and how to avoid the threat of pirates (besides rerouting a trip).

Dr. Kathy Thornton, Astronaut; 4 missions, 256 orbits of the earth.

Our speaker last night was amazing.  I will post more about her work later, but her stories about space missions and her career were great.  

Then today, the inventor of Crocs, Scott Seamans, got up to introduce himself.  He sailed in 1978 as a student and has a global view of business.  The company has its 10th anniversary this year, and while popularity has waned in the USA, it is growing still in Asia.  I am sure the business and entrepreneurial courses are benefitting from his presence. He is still relatively young and retired, but seems to have his fill of interesting adventures.  

Last night was almost a full moon, and tonight is the Blue Moon.  Sunsets and moonrises are such an anchoring part of the day.  Stop, breathe in, breathe out.  Pay attention.