I've realized that I mainly only talk about the fun and cool experiences I have here on the ship. There's nothing wrong with this, I'm so happy to be having all of these amazing experiences. But, I'm going to talk about my classes a little now…because yes, we do actually take classes…sometimes.
Global studies is the class that everyone is required to take. It essentially is what it sounds like, studies on a global perspective. In between each port, we spend our time in this class learning about the history, culture, and everything in-between of the country we are headed to next. It's really nice because now, as I get ready to arrive in Ghana in just two more days, I feel must more educated and ready. The class is taught by Alex Nalbach—he has a Ph.D in European and World History from the University of Chicago. He is really very passionate and truly knowledgeable about what he does. Also, as someone who has had many classes that take place in large lecture halls with boring old power-points, his lectures are anything by that. He includes videos, sounds, pictures, and cool colors. For example, today we were talking about the concept of asymmetric warfare. This is when one side has a significant advantage due to technological advances and such. After talking about this he said for example and then a video came up. For all you Indiana Jones fans like myself, you will appreciate this one—it was the clip where the man takes out a sword and does lots of tricks in preparation for a fight and Indi just looks at him blankly, takes out his gun and shoots him.
My other class on A days is called Technology and Reproduction, a global perspective. This class is taught by a very, very quirky, and fun professor named Andrea Parrot. Andrea got her Ph.D from Cornell and has been teaching there for 30 years. At Cornell she teaches Human Sexuality to the medical students. Her professional work impresses me SO much—she's worked in areas like violence against women, medical ethics. She has written books and has appeared on radio shows and TV shows like Good Morning America, Larry King Live and even OPRAH! She is extremely knowledgeable in her field. Andrea is also hilarious…in our cabins we all have tiny little TV's that show on loop movies that teachers request their students to watch. Well, our professor walked into class the other day and said that she really wanted to watch TV, but when she turned it on, all there was to watch was sad documentaries about the Rwandan genocide and things of this sort (I had to watch that movie for a class…it was really sad). So, she asked us to come up with a list of happy movies that have to do with reproduction that she can ask to be shared on the TV…we came up with Knocked up, Baby Mama, and Juno, to start. She's also shared with us some of the projects she has done in the past. One of them was really amazing, she and some students were discussing the issue with female menstruation in developing African nations. Menstruation is kind of taboo in our home, so excuse my impolite-ness. In the states, women don't have to worry about it when they have their period…sure it's a pain, but we have tampons and pads and things to take care of the problem. In developing nations, when women are menstruating, they don't have the same type of tools that we have and a lot of times young women have to stay home from school for the week and end up missing out on a lot of class. So, my professor and some of her students got the idea together and sent lots of care-packages to young women in developing African nations containing washable pads and clothes. In class we talk about all sorts of things and Andrea has a really amazing way of taking taboo, uncomfortable topics and making it seem like we're talking about going to the mall. One day in Ghana, I will be going on a "Field Directed Program" with this professor. We will be visiting a women's childbirth clinic for the day. I will be sure to talk about my experiences there, but from my professors experience, we are expecting to see some conditions that would never be acceptable in the US, and as a class we are discussing ways that we may contribute and help out this place we will soon be visiting
The next class I am taking is probably my most challenging and also favorite. As most of you probably know, I have been pretty much only taking science classes for the last two and a half years, so let's just say that my creative writing side has diminished a bit. So, I decided, what a better environment and opportunity to work on this issue and take a class called "Travel Writing." This class is taught by Margaret Bass—she is a Professor of English at St. Lawrence University. She also has a Ph.D in English. Professor Bass is one of the most unique and awesome people I have met on this ship. She is so funny, just the other day she was telling us how she's going a bit stir crazy sitting on this ship, so, she told everyone at her dinner table that she was going to the mall after dinner and pretended not to understand when they looked at her blankly and laughed. I really like the style of writing that we are learning about in class. She gives out assignments in class that most college students absolutely hate…she says "Okay, 3 pages (more or less) due next class."…okay but what are we supposed to write about Professor Bass? We all say. She answers, "I dunno."…Okay but what tone are we supposed to write in, and can we write in first person, and can it be informal? She then stares at us and goes "Doesn't matter!" You may be thinking, how awesome is that!? You can do whatever you want!...But really, college students like being told what to do, knowing what to do means that if you do it, and you do it well, you are guaranteed a good grade. So, the not knowing is a little scary, and definitely a new experience, but honestly, it is refreshing. Writing in this style has been a new and exciting experience for me. Earlier in the week I went to the writing center here on the ship and got lots of good help and advice. I'm also really enjoying being able to write about things that I find interest in and enjoy. We have been reading a book for class called "Life is a Trip." This story is written by a woman, Judith Fein, who was a true world traveler and in the book she is sharing some of her most important experiences. One of the things she said really stuck out to me and sort of summed up the way I feel a lot of the time. The writer had been in Mexico and staying with a woman named Ana that called herself a "healer"…Ana had been teaching the writer about her ways. After returning home, the writer's friends got wind of her new found healing abilities and after a few times of doing it, the writer, Judith (who by the way was raised Jewish) said:
I was raised in a specific culture with a particular religion. Although the formal practice and observances never called to me, my background provided me with an ethical, moral, and spiritual foundation and a firm connection to my ancestors…from a village in Ukraine all the way back to the foremothers and forefathers in the Hebrew Bible. I honored my lineage but I also longed to know more about other peoples' traditions and ways of being in the world.
I really appreciated this quote…
Judith also said something later on that made me think of my Dad, and made me very happy. Now, the business world can be regarded as completely greedy, selfish and heartless. Judith was talking about her time in Istanbul and how she stayed at ah hotel that was previously the home of the owner of the hotel. She explained that the owner cared so much about all of his guests, knew them all, and never stopped showing his care. She said:
In a world of bottom lines and spreadsheets, this one man [the owner, Abe] reminds us that a business can do well by doing good things for people. In a sense, you can take good will to the bank because people are drawn to establishments where they feel nurtured and cared for.
This reminded me of my business, yet amazingly giving father- David.
My last class is called Multiculturalism and Women's Rights. My professor is named Donna LeFabvre. She is a lecturer in Political Science at UNC Chapel Hill. She has done lots of volunteer works in places like Eritrea (a small country in east Africa) and volunteer work in Iceland, Tanzania, and England and this is her third SAS voyage!!! She has a LOT of experience and really knows what she's talking about. She's also a realist and I really appreciate that. Today in the US it's become so expected of us to pick a career path and follow it and hopefully be successful. For people like myself who aren't entirely sure what they want to do, it's really stressful to have people with this mindset constantly asking you questions about your future. The first day of class, Donna told us, don't plan more than two years in advance- you never know what type of opportunity is going to come your way, so embrace whatever happens in your life and don't be too worried about knowing what you'll be doing in 5 or 10 years…it'll work out. I really appreciated her saying this. We are learning about some really important and intense things. As we approach Africa (ONE MORE DAY AHH!) we spent the last class discussed female genital mutilation. If you are not familiar with this I encourage you to go look it up because I'm not going to go into details here, but the title is pretty self-explanatory. We watched a film that was extremely graphic and showed this act. It was so graphic and disturbing (for people like us) that many got up and left the classroom. As it was ending a girl behind me stood up and I looked at her with worried eyes, I could tell she was affected more than others. Then, she did exactly what I had anticipated, she fainted. The doctor came immediately and she was fine and standing, talking, and laughing at herself within 10 minutes, but it was scary at first. We finished class and there were a few things I couldn't get out of my mine. Our reactions to the movie were so extreme and intense, and all I could think about was the fact that not one of the women in the documentary had a reaction remotely like ours…this is their harsh reality. The thing about the documentary that affected me the most was the fact that not a single man was seen in it, The operation was done by women (keep in mind when I say operation I mean with unsanitary supplies and outside on a cloth) and the woman getting the operation was willing and ready. It's pretty crazy to believe that this tradition is accepted and normal for these women. It is completely due to false beliefs and lack of education. Us westerners know how harmful and bad for your health this can be. So, solving this problem really starts from the ground roots because it will take not just going in there and explaining that it's bad, it will also take changing their cultural norms and beliefs, which is very hard to do. Although, there is hope, we learned of a couple organizations that have been very successful in their efforts to denounce FGM in African countries so far.
…By the way. Right now I am sitting in a "pre-port session" where we sit around with the Ghanains and ask them questions about their culture, what's acceptable? What's not? What should we eat? How much money is a normal meal?....stuff like that. One girl just stands up and goes…What's the deal for the girls that shaved their heads? Everyone laughed so hard…only on Semester At Sea!
Anyways, there you go, I AM getting an education…and a GREAT one too.
I will write tomorrow before departing for Ghana on Monday!!!
Steph
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