Class 1...Location: 15 degrees 25' N and 61 degrees 20' W

Today was the second day of classes here at sea. I really can't even
begin to describe the experience of class here....but I'll try. The
professors are amazing, they are all so accomplished in their fields,
so experiences, so global. My first professor today explained that she
has lived in Europe, East Africa, and this is her third voyage with
Semester At Sea. The people in class are all from completely different
places and backgrounds, I mean REALLY...in my first class today we had
students anywhere from Jackson Hole, WY (shout-out to the Hebrew man
if you're reading this...though you'd mistake it for Jackson's Hole)
to Austria, to Mexico, to California. I mean talk about diversity and
a new perspective on things. Now to the setting: I sit in class and
watch the powerpoints and curtains rock back and forth and then I look
to my left and see giant windows and nothing but waves. It is truly
SURREAL! Now for the really fun part. At school at home people walk by
with their ipods, phones...etc. and RARELY interact with unfamiliar
faces. Even in classes at home I'll sit down to random strangers and
never say a word. At home I have no idea where my classmates came from
before class and once we leave everyone goes their complete separate
ways. Here, I see my classmates and professors at breakfast, then I go
to class with them and once it's over we all go to the same dining
hall, and eat the same meal. That is the most unique part of this
community. My professors aren't these foreign people who magically
appear during class and then disappear again until thursday. Here I
know where my professors rooms are (I know because they tell us and
invite us to come find them if we ever need), I eat lunch with them,
and then later at night I see them at dinner, in the union, or the
lounge.
Tonight a lot of us sat around in the lounge communally with our
computers out waiting to get email updates from loved ones about the
NFL games...lack of internet smack of internet, we have email! By the
way thanks Greg for sending me updates. People yelled, fought, made-
up, and bonded over making up. Then, some were thrilled, some were sad
(like myself and the rest of my poor hometown), and others didn't
really care. Then a bunch of us sat around and talked and hung out.
More and more faces are becoming familiar. The ones that aren't are
still as eager to meet me as I am them, I hope that never changes.
This evening we had our "pre-port preparation" for the country of
Dominica. I am very excited for this first port. I hear there is a lot
of cool stuff to see in this country. My plans are as follows:
Tomorrow morning I'm waking up bright and early to watch the ship come
into the port. Then, a good amount of us are going to go together to a
hike that is supposed to be beautiful, it's supposed to be filled with
waterfalls, rainforest...etc. If we finish that early enough we will
try and go snorkeling. This is a small country and the ship will be
docked right "downtown" meaning we can go back and forth from the ship
which is nice, so we will go back to the ship, shower, change and see
what type of night life this little island has to offer. Another nice
thing is that the ship is always open so we can come back anytime at
night. The following day I will be doing what is called an FDP (field
direction program). Each class requires you to go on 2 FDP's...these
are day, or half day trips organized by the professor with relation to
the material you are learning...talk about hand's on learning! On this
FDP I will be going to visit, meet, have lunch, and hang out with the
Karib People, one of the only still living indigenous to the Caribbean
populations.

Wow, sometimes after writing these blogs I still don't believe that
this is really happening. I am so fortunate and want to give a shout
out to my awesome parents that gave me this amazing opportunity. Will
update either from Dominica!

Love, Steph