Getting With the Program

We've been on the ship for several days now, and are immersed in shipboard life.  The faculty had special seminars on how to teach when seasickness is a factor  - not looking forward to that!

Last night, 600 parents came aboard for a reception, to view their childrens' cabins, tour the ship and ask questions of the staff.  I guess I was expecting to meet "rich" folk, but many of the parents I spoke with shared their struggles to give their son or daughter this great opportunity, and hoped their child would have a positive experience even though they could not afford many of the expensive shore excursions.

One mom toured the dorm sized room, with bunk beds, one dresser, one desk and three closets, and declared, "this will NEVER do!"  Her daughter's stuff would exceed all the storage area, so what would her roommate do?   I guess they'll work it all out tomorrow…

Now it's Wednesday, and 733 students are filing aboard, looking a bit bewildered, but definitely excited and ready to go!  From time to time, we can hear a male "whoop!" as he strides up the gangplank.

Once all were aboard, we had the first of our monthly lifeboat drills – we had to don long pants, a long sleeved shirt, closed shoes, a hat and a big orange life preserver (with reflective patches and flashing light!) and line up at our muster stations, where roll was called.  

We got to look at the lifeboats (they look very sturdy, not at all Titanic-like!) but didn't actually have to board.  Our group got commended for listening and being quiet (I did very well in civil defense drills back in the '60s too – who remembers those?  Get under your desk and wait for the Big One!)

At 1700, (that's 5pm for you landlubbers) we cast off, and with three very loud blasts of the ship's horn, we are underway!