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Friday, November 28 ("The Captain's Dinner"/ sailing to Costa Rica): This morning I woke up and had several pieces of snail mail (thanks Nadia & David W!) on my cabin door. It's late in the voyage, but I still get excited about mail. Well, maybe that shouldn't be a surprised, because I also love getting real mail (NOT BILLS-lol) on land. My day was filled with a little bit of this and a little bit of that, but I most anticipated the captain's dinner. The first captain's dinner was post poned due to Kurt's Memorial Service the other day.
Essentially, the captain invites all faculty and staff to a special dining over the course of the voyage. The evening started with wine and hor'dvoures in the faculty/staff lounge with the captain and staff captain. They then lead the group to the main dining area. When we walked in we had to find our place-card. I ended up at a table with an officer—not the captain or staff captain—bummer! This was followed by more wine and a five course dinner in the main dining area.
Monday, December 1 ("Snowflake Exchange"/ sailing to Costa Rica): Last day of classes and students will begin prepping for final exams, especially Global Studies. The staff did a holiday snowflake exchange. We were in the faculty/staff lounge exchanging gifts, drinking, hanging out when people came back from a special captain's dinner. A few days ago Becca and I were talking over dinner and decided to organize a snowflake exchange for staff members. Each person pulled a name, then over a four day period you had to leave a note or small treat for your snowflake; we planned to exchange gifts on the first day of December. In the end: I had Heather (Bill Heinrich's wife—love her!) and Amy Hill had me. I'd been dreaming about cookies for the past few days…mentioned it to Amy without knowing she had me…and she gave me cookies as a gift. Yummo. After our exchange, we danced with people who attended the captain's dinner. I danced with Scott and Erika well into the evening because I think we forgot we had to work the next day. LOL!
On a somewhat related note, I recognize that, for the past four months, I've not been influenced by media. My mom asked me to send a holiday list. Honestly, this time last year I would have had tons and tons of things on the list. This year, I could not think of one thing I really, really wanted. For the past few months I've been able to have whatever it is that I want. I do not need anything. I do not want anything. What a refreshing experience.
Wednesday, December 3 ("Work, then play?"/ sailing to Costa Rica): Lately,I've disliked the whole work first, play later model. Today I had a long to do list, but the weather was amazing! Imagine: 90 degrees...no clouds...a soft breeze...sailing along the Pacific Ocean. With those conditions, I never want to work! :) However, I compromised by working a bit and spending a few hours outside...then back at work (tear).
I started packing today. We're about three days away from Costa Rica. When we return from Costa Rica we'll only have two days to pack because we have to remove all luggage from our cabin into storage. I also wanted to factor in the fact that last minute details will fall to the Res Life team; additionally, I'm planning a large scale program two days after Costa Rica and I won't have much free time. Now seemed as good a time as any to start purging, organizing, and packing. Late, late, late in the evening I got a burst of energy and not only organized and packed my souvenirs, I also purged and packed my clothes and shoes.
Thursday, December 4 ("At my wits end!"/ sailing to Costa Rica): SPLAT! It's official—s***hit the fan today. I am beyond frustrated! I am annoyed! I am done! All semester the administrative, behind the scenes tasks have been unorganized, inefficient, and confusing. From my perspective there's been an unfortunate power play between staff & crew…crew & students…admin team & staff…some (not all) faculty. For the past 98 days I've tried to stay out of it…not get frustrated…let things roll off my back, but today, T-O-D-A-Y, I had enough. ENOUGH! I can't take it any more. I am at my wits end!
The straw that broke this camel's back: being chastised for giving students packing information. Our "official" smack on the butt was sent from the captain by way of the executive dean. Basically, the captain was upset that our Living-Learning Team distributed Miami arrival and packing information because doing that implied we don't believe his crew are competent employees. What? Really? Buddy, get over yourself and your disgusting control/ power play. As of yesterday we were about six days out from arriving to Miami. Hello captain. Did anyone tell you we're working with millennial college students who are information driven; they want it now. Oh, and did you know millennials have helicopter parents? Both wanted Miami arrival details before Hawaii! I was one of two people who took a lead on creating a document to distribute to the shipboard community. The Living-Learning Team agrees that we need to keep people as informed as possible. What we distributed included basic information—nothing specific, just general reminders for people.
Before the executive dean ambushed our meeting, two faculty members stopped to ask me questions about Miami. We're about six days out from our finale disembarkation, and as a staff member, I don't even have details about Miami disembarkation. The information on the sheet instructed people to start packing, return library books, buy extra duffel bags in Costa Rica, etc, etc…the information is accurate…only thing: captain wanted us to know HIS CREW deal with disembarkation. Our direct supervisor, who has sailed five other times, reviewed the document and gave us a green light.
This has been a semester of firsts. First voyage to have new people in key leadership positions (Executive, Assistant, & Academic Deans). First voyage to go to Namibia. First voyage to have students finish their exams BEFORE the last port. First voyage to have a new global studies class. First voyage to blah, blah, blah. Initially if something went wrong, I was okay with the "first voyage" response; now, it's not okay and just seems like an easy out.
I may not return to UMD/DRL well rested, but I will return appreciating an organization that tries its absolute best AND advocates for student issues (and attempts to keep a student perspective in mind). Prior to being on SAS, I may not have fully valued DRL because I'd been there long enough that I could speak too easily of its shortcomings. Now this in comparison to that helps me see that DRL is not a bad place; on a spectrum, it's a healthy place where individuals can express themselves as they see fit. Each person can contribute at their individual comfort level. Sure, some people can be rude, overbearing, or you fill in the blank, but by and large people are advocating for students. That's why we're here, right? Students. To work with and on behalf of students who need our collective knowledge/experience. Because of this experience, I now appreciate DRLs ability to be forward thinking and planning as much as possible, while recognizing that emergencies will arise.
In my frustration, I will acknowledge how fortunate I've been to have the experience of circumnavigating the world. I met fantastic students, awesome colleagues. I've seen, touched, smelled, and tasted the world in a way I could never replicate. Right now the jury is out on whether or not I'd return to SAS. Maybe I'd ask different questions before I accepted a position. Maybe I'd know what to expect. Maybe the circumstances would be different. Maybe the captain would be less egotistical. I would definitely encourage folks to have their own SAS experience, because each voyage has its negatives/positives. As for me, it's been an experience worth having, but I highly doubt I would do it again. This experience has given me the ability to articulate how I manage people & tasks…better understand what I value & how I function…the environment isn't necessarily the best fit for me and how I choose to function, but I can better articulate what kind of work atmosphere I need for myself.
Friday, December 5 ("My Vagina Is…"/ sailing to Costa Rica): "…ANGRY! It is. It is pissed off…" And with that I debuted as an actress! I really enjoyed performing the monologue. Right before my cue, I was a little nervous, then someone reminded me to be in the moment and soak it all in. So I took that advice and tried to have fun. The audience received my so well. And, more importantly, the performance raked in $1300 to go towards women acid victims in Cambodia. Immediately after the show tons of people came up to say job well done. Yay, what a relief to have one more thing off my to-do list!
Saturday, December 6 ("POC Farewell"/ sailing to Costa Rica): We had a dessert reception to mark our final people of color meeting. I really wanted to talk to them about putting closer on their SAS experience. So I made the session interactive and gave them two "in-class" assignments and two "homework" assignments.
While they were at the meeting, I ask them to write a personal letter reflecting on their experience. I plan to mail the letters sometime within the next year, so they can be reminded of who they were towards the end of their journey. Then I invited each person to write a list of 12 people (if not more) who helped them have a positive SAS voyage; of the 12 people, they had to select four people to write a thank you notes to during the meeting. It's important to have an attitude of gratitude and say thank you NOW. I know I sometimes have the best intentions, but fall short of following through.
As "homework," I reminded each person that they should celebrate circumnavigating the world! Have a party and celebrate individual/ancestral/heritage accomplishment of having seen the world, as a person of color. Hopefully over the course of the next few days we'll all make it to Miami safely and just the mere fact that folks return in one piece seems like an accomplishment (especially considering Kurt's death). Lastly, I encouraged everyone to make a ten minute picture slideshow. The reality is some folks will not want to hear all the stories, from all the countries. I think each person needs to have a visual aid to assist in sharing the SAS experience. They were receptive to my coaching and I believe they appreciated what I shared.I love my POC!
We grubbed on snacks, reflected a bit, shared kind words, and hugged our good-byes. I'm gonna miss them!
Tuesday, December 9 ("Ylang, Ylang"/ Costa Rica): I "heart" Costa Rica. It was truly restorative. After my fast paced travel in Japan, I decided that I really needed uneventful, lazy travel time. Initially I considered traveling alone in Costa Rica so I wouldn't have to answer to anyone else's agenda but my own. Christine and I were talking and she invited me to join a small group of faculty including: Kima, Erika, Scott; she told me Erika found a secluded hotel beach in Montezuma—about two hours away from Port Caldera. I was slightly hesitant, then decided that their agenda closely mirrored what I had in mind: on a beach, with tasty beverages, a book, sunglasses, no watch, and a towel.
So, on Sunday, Christine, Kima, Erika, Scott and I tendered from the MV Explorer to Port Caldera…rode a 20 minute taxi to the ferry…took a one hour ferry from Port Caldera to Montezuma…back in another one hour taxi…ending with a 15 minute Land Rover car service from Montezuma to Ylang, Ylang Hotel. The hotel was tucked away on the beach behind the sleepy town of Montezuma. In fact there is no road from the city to the hotel, so we were picked up in a Land Rover and driven across the beach to the hotel. Kima, Christine, and I shared a suite with two beds downstairs and one king size bed in an upstairs loft; our suite was on the edge of the property and we could hear the ocean. Erika & Scott booked rooms in the city area because they wanted to have quick access to night life.
Over the course of the past two days we lounged in hammocks (especially Christine & I), ate fresh blackened tuna steaks (breakfast & dinner was included in the price), drank pina coladas & mojitos, hiked up a steep hill to play in a waterfall with a lagoon, and attempted to go on a canopy tour (this didn't work out because we were 10 minutes late, which isn't supposed to be a big deal, but the tour guide departed without us). One morning Erika and I were eating breakfast and I noticed bees in my syrup. Given how many "different" culinary combinations I've tasted and seen during this voyage, bees seemed like a reasonable addition to syrup. I leaned over and asked Erika if she thought bees should be in my syrup; she laughed as she said, "no." In the past that whole situation would have grossed me out, but now, it doesn't. I feel fortunate to have food to eat because I have seen too many people hungry, without food. So, a few bees, seemed harmless. Oh, and holler monkeys eat from the tall trees, so we saw them peacefully eating and minding their business. Two days just seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye.
Ylang, Ylang Hotel only offered Land Rover car service twice each day. On the last day in each port, I have to be on ship two hours before all students, faculty, and staff, which meant 4pm in this instance. We decided to depart at 11am, so we could catch the 1pm ferry. Of course we're on the roading, just coasting along and we come to a complete stop. OF COURSE—Murphy's Law. There was some sort of accident. Luckily the accident delayed us about 15 minutes, but thanks to the driver's skillful/fast maneuvering, we managed to walk on the ferry at 12:56pm. OH MY GOODNESS! We were soo, soooo, soooooo lucky!We got off the ferry and Erika & Scott let Kima, Christine, & I take the first taxi so I'd make it back to the ship on time; then we stood in line to board the ship.I think Costa Rica might be one of my favorite ports! It seemed like the perfect way to end things.
Only four voyage days remaining…I imagine each day will be fast and furious…Panama Canal, Convocation, Good-byes, Packing, Reflection Day, and who knows what else.
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