Classes Begin...

Wednesday, January 20, 2010:  8pm
Classes Begin…

Just finished my first round of classes! The classrooms aren’t typical rooms with desks, but rather comfy couches and coffee tables for desks.  I like sitting next to the window so I can look out at the rolling swells coming toward the boat.  It’s really funny when a big one comes and everyone almost falls out of their seats and the teacher sidesteps across the room.  There are two days of classes that alternate everyday we are at sea (A and B days).  So, yesterday I had my first 2 classes- Global Studies and Intercultural Communication (already dropped this one b/c it had far too much work!). Global Studies is the class that everyone on the ship takes and it is taught everyday.  During the first class the Dean of Academics gave a presentation on Sustainability (the theme of the voyage).  It was really interesting and engaging. Today in Global Studies we learned about American culture and how to characterize it for foreigners.  He also assigned a project where we have to choose one picture from each country that we personally think embodies the country and describe why.  Each picture will be posted to a shared folder so we can see everyone’s.  My two business classes today weren’t as riveting as I had hoped. The first, “Investing in a Sustainable Community” has potential, but I am having trouble getting past the professor’s German accent (She is from a Technology University in Dresden).  Unfortunately, I have the same professor for my other business class, “Global Citizenship.”  I am hoping that both will gear up a little bit as we get into the material, however.  The highlight of my day today (and probably the trip so far) was a class I happened to attend by chance.  I was laying out in the gorgeous sun sipping on a smoothie when one of my new friends walked by and asked if I wanted to join her and another guy for a Bongo class.  I jumped right up to go with them thinking it was a one-time lesson, but when I got there it was neither a Bongo class nor a one-day clinic.  I was sitting in on a traditional Indonesian Gamelan music class that students could register for.  In front of me were about 20 ornately decorated and antique looking instruments making up an orchestra on the floor of the main lecture hall.  The instruments had an oriental design and ranged from varying sizes of gongs (one huge one dropped to the floor when a big swell came) to chimes and other odd shaped instruments.  The professor wasn’t wearing shoes and looked a little loony but really cool. He took roll and explained that the course had no assignments, tests, or work requirements, but we would just come and learn how to play these instruments and prepare for a showcase in April.  He asked if my friend and I wanted to register and join them, so of course I did!!  He first explained the history behind the Gamelan music from Bali and the types of instruments.  We then took off our shoes and sat Indian-style by our assigned instrument.  I was the lucky one to be the designated beat-keeper on a big instrument that looked like a kettle with the top on and it sat on a beautiful dragon-like wood base.  Any of you that know my rhythmic abilities know that I am the entirely wrong person for this job.  I have absolutely no rhythm and have never played an instrument in my life- so I know nothing about keeping a steady beat.  Needless to say, I concentrated harder than I have in a very long time over the course of that hour.  As I did my best to keep a beat, the rest of the class learned how to play their individual instrument and play together.  The professor had to stop a few times to tell me to beat louder or try to stay steady.  One of the older ladies that was sitting in on the class came up to me after laughing saying that she was watching me work so hard that I was bobbing my whole head and body trying to keep this 8-count rhythm.  So, I giggled to myself for the whole class and immediately went to find my friends in the piano lounge to tell them all about it.  Tammy and Margaret registered tonight for the class, so it should get even more fun from here on out!   I think I’ll try and get the gong next time.,. that looks more fun!  I also registered for “Sociology of the Sea” today to replace my other class.  My friend that is in this class said they read Jaws by flashlight last night on the deck and that the teacher made them yell, “I’m the King of the World,” out to the ocean yesterday.  Should be interesting… I’ll be sure to report. 

Until then, I hope all is well back at home. 
-Hillary