It has been awhile since we have written. Why? We have been soooooo busy! In addition to teaching our classes, we are prepping for the Cabaret which is November 10, coaching the synchronized swimming team for the Sea Olympics (yes you read that right), writing and performing in a pep rally skit for the "Nomer Sea" Olympics Team, grading papers, attending seminars, rehearsing for the Medical Team's presentation, and learning a dance for a " flash mob." WOW! People said we would be busy, but who would have ever believed them.

Tomorrow, we have the Sea Olympics on our first "Reading Day" that we have had in awhile. The ship is divided into about 12 different "seas," and the students' seas have actual names like Mediterranean, Baltic, etc., but the Faculty, Staff, and Life Long Learners have combined to make the "Nomer Sea." There are lots of fun events like tug-of-war, Dean David Says, lip-syncing and synchronized swimming. Geno and I will be judging the lip-syncing contest. There are very specific rules and we will be doing it "American Idol" style! Sounds fun! We are also helping the synchronized swimming team for Nomer Sea get their routine together. What a riot!

The other day we had a pep rally and each team could present a skit (5 minutes or less). We were asked to help. We wrote a rockin' skit. We took "Circle of Life" from the Lion King and changed the lyrics to center around how are team was the best. During the song we had Life Long Learners dressed as different animals parade down the aisle and when they got to the stage they would attack a "student" (another skit member dressed as a student). At the end we used our secret weapon, Griffin, the six month old baby. He was dressed as a baby lion and we all knelt down and his dad held him up over our heads like they do at the end of the song in the movie. I hope we can post the video sometime when we have good internet. Geno and I sang the lyrics. Just in case you were curious, here they are:

From the day we arrived on this voyage

we knew we would have so much fun.

Lifelong learners and staff, and the faculty too;

we now join together as one!

We are older and wiser than you are,

we are physically stronger by far.

So do not be fooled, we've completed our school,

now we'll teach you the way that it's done!

We're Nomer Sea my friends,

so prepare to suffer!

We will make you cry;

you'll scream "Dear God why?!"

We will win the gold

at the Sea Olympics!

We're Nomer Sea

we'll show no mercy to you!!!

We are almost to India and we are excited and a little apprehensive - we hear it is going to be intense. The first day we have Geno's Faculty Directed Practicum: a Theru Koothu Theatre Performance. Then, we are leading a 4 day trip to the Taj Mahal. After that, we have one day before we are back at sea.

Fun Fact:

-We crossed the equator again yesterday. It is HOT HOT HOT!

-The winner of the Sea Olympics gets to get off the ship first when we get to San Diego