Across the Atlantic

January 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 Atlantic Ocean
At 1130 hours we had live streaming of Barack Obama’s inauguration. We went up to 7007, Matthew & Wendy’s room, to view it on their TV. Tonight there was an inauguration party to celebrate. I think the international crew is as excited or even more excited than we: they served a red, white, and blue cake and champagne to everyone.
The boat is moving at 20+ knots. At noon an announcement said that we had traveled 300 some miles and we had 3300 more to go. There are seven decks. Our room is on deck five. It has two single bunks, a bathroom, desk, refrigerator, and storage. When Barrett is with us we make him a nest on the floor between the beds for his nap. There is a large dining room on our deck as well as purser’s desk and offices. Deck six is the Union (assembly hall), coffee lounge, bookstore, library, computer lab, some classrooms and one cafeteria. Matthew’s deck has the staff lounge, wellness center, and bigger rooms. Part of deck two and decks three and four are student rooms.
Classes start tomorrow, but I won’t register for two days after students are all settled. I’ll visit classes tomorrow.
Wendy taught her first class today. We heard students talking excitedly about it. She herself said it was humbling. Matthew has met with all three of his classes. I have visited two classes, and I hope I can get in them. Tomorrow I will find out.
There are several children on board. They range from high school to about seven months. There is a program director for those from K through 12, but parents are still responsible for the bulk of their studies brought from their home schools. We often get together with Christopher (age 4), Abby (age 3) baby sister Lilly, and Eli (age 18 months) along with their mothers.
Jan. 24th and we are more than half way across the Atlantic. I registered for my two classes and am trying to catch up/keep up with the reading. Biology 105 is Nutrition Around the World and English Writing 357 is True Lies: Creative Writing as Critical and Trans-Cultural Consciousness. I realized that I have never taken a writing course! The two professors have different styles which makes it more interesting.
We have lost an hour most nights as we travel east. It means an hour of sleep goes by-by. Our days are full: early exercise, breakfast, go to Barrett’s room. One of us goes to the Global Studies course that gives everyone information on the countries, geography, and the ever-changing world environment which man has adapted to over time. The theme of the voyage is “migrations.” Barrett time in his room is play and stories, then we go outside on deck to play ball or try to swim if the pool has water, then in to our room for journal, stories, and “speedy beep” which is a ball game Barrett and Les invented. Lunch follows. Then it’s story and nap, during which I study and go to one of my classes. After nap is playtime with friends and then dinner. There are activities after dinner. Today we studied, went to salsa class, studied, went to a talk on food in Spain, studied, went to a meeting of preschool parents and volunteer university students who want to work with preschoolers (there were over 40 of them!), and then a walk around outside and more study. Now it is almost one AM on the new time, so I’m for sleep!