I had not expected to take 11 days to start this journe's story but we have been very busy (and when not busy,napping). The first 4 days in Jamaica were packed with meetings. I saw the city from the deck and the first 2 streets as we purchased provisions,ie soda, junk food. We were all ready for the students to arrive and start the 100 day countdown. The excitement was palpable and still is. We set sail at 5pm the first day and spent the next 2 days dealing with seasickness and homesickness. There were no classes so the students had a great time.
The picture is from a plaza in San Juan. What a whirlwind 3 days. I had been there 30 years earlier and it has grown so that it was unrecognizable. We have a pre-port meeting every stop and are given an overview of the culture,expectations etc. I was able to p/u one trip to the Tibbes Indian Center which gave me a chance to go inland. This first port experience was a learning experience, or as we have been told a vertical learning curve. We learned how to add available trips, mostly sit at the meeting place and see who doesn't show up; how easy it is to pass someone in the hall and ask if they want to go into town for dinner; and how not to overschedule yourself. After 3 days of fun everyone , even the students with bottomless energy were glad to be back on ship with an enforced schedule to follow. In 3 more days we'll be in Brasil.
So what do I do all day? Here's my flexible schedule:
7-8am: Bkfst
8-9: Clinic hours
9-5: A days: attend 3 classes by choice; Psychology of Women, World Religion and Intro to Theatre.
B days: attend one class: Negotiation
In btw. sit on deck, read book, take nap. Try not to miss lunch from 11:30-1:30pm
I hold the beeper for 24hr every other day. Some days are busy ( not as compared to work however) and some are not.
Dinner: 5-7:30p
Evening activities will start up soon. I'm in a bridge group, have volunteered to adopt a student family. Many students signed up for this to my surprise. They want to belong to a small "family 'group. This is including the guys.
Our cabins are small. I can reach all my belongings while sitting on my bed. The TV runs 3 choices from 1800-0800 every day. the first 2 days though all I could get was Nat'l Geopgraphic show and watched snakes eating animals more times than I can count. can't read in the room b/c it is very cold. We all begged for an extra blanket the 2cd night here.
All is good. It is wonderful to be back with college students and this learning environment. To my colleagues: thanks for affording me this experience. To my husband: Words can't tell you how I feel and thank you doesn't cover it.
Until next time: Be well
