Ship Life 2: EVENTS!

Mommy and Daddy's Cabin

Semester at Sea ship life was always wonderful.  There were some special days that brought the community richly together.  In order:

Neptune Day

We were Pollywogs; now we are Shellbacks.  For time out of mind, sailors crossing the Equator have been subjected to rituals and/or hazing to mark the occasion.  By means of this ritual, on the 13th of March, 2015, we all graduated.  The site was the Indian Ocean, somewhere between Kerala, India and Mauritius.  The ship was host to King Neptune himself, who periodically roared over the ship’s PA.  Early in the morning, he and his entourage noisily wound their way through the ship’s corridors, calling us all to the pool deck.  The hazing began.

King Neptune himself boarded the ship.

First green gunk was poured on our heads.

Then there was the dunking.

(Thanks to several shipmates for these photos!)

Notice how good Noah got at pool play?

Then we were required to kiss the dead fish.

Mackin'.

Then we did homage to King Neptune himself.

After being knighted by Queen Minerva, we were Shellbacks!

Once you were a Shellback, you could elect to go have your head shaved, which many students and staff did.  Noah wanted to, but the line was too long.  Here he is with his good buddy Rachel post-Neptune Day.

Sea Olympics

The shipboard community was divided into “seas”—the Red Sea, the Bering Sea, etc.  Each Sea was “chaperoned” by an RD—a Residence Director—who served as mentor, friend, guide, and, yes, police officer.   On the 21st of March, 2015, the Seas competed in the Sea Olympics.  The competition was quite extraordinarily fierce.  We—meaning the faculty, staff, ship kids, and lifelong learners—formed a team called the SeaLebrities.  There were a wide variety of “games”: from table tennis and pull-up competition to dodge ball, synchronized swimming, lip-synch, and limbo.

Every team had a banner.

We were proud in our colors, white and gold.

Noah and Ship Kids showing spirit.

Daddy competed in the swim relay.  You had to put on the white jumpsuit, swim across the pool and back, then take it off and help your teammate do the same.  Ahem: We won.

Susan competed in the egg-drop parachute-building contest.  Here are Susan and Noah listening to the rules.  Our team came in second despite the fact that we had with us an actual real life rocket scientist (a colleague's husband).

Noah competed in the limbo.  

Here's Noah in the arms of Randi--after he and his teammate Austin WON the limbo!

The joy of victory.

Noah and his good buddy Fijare watching synchronized swimming.

The SeaLebrities came in fourth.  Our cheer (every team had a cheer) announced that "We are the oldest, we are the youngest, we are the wisest, we are the cutest!"  It turns out that none of this is match for good old fashioned youthful strength and agility.  

Noah's Fifth Birthday

Noah's dear friend Valerie Ong organized this beautiful sign.

The day we steamed out of Cape Town harbor in the direction of Namibia, March 31st, 2015, Noah turned five.  We had a big party in Classroom One.  About two hundred of Noah’s closest friends stopped by for cake and congratulations, dancing and celebrating.

Happy birthday to you....

With good buddies Sophie, Jackie, and Amanda.  (These four loved to watch movies in Jackie's room.)

A good party.

Big Sis Rhianna.

Alumni Ball

On the 26th of April, the evening of the last day of finals, three days before disembarking, we partied at the Alumni Ball.

Everyone got totted up in our best clothes.

Noah and Ship Kids buddies.

What a handsome family.

Lots of love.

Robin, far left, was Noah's date.  Also here are Rachel and Rhianna.

Robin, Rachel, and Patty Rosemary.

Noah had a hot dog and fries.

A table of gorgeous faculty.

Our dear friends Amber and Britt.

Amber with Mr. John Knaggs, Chief Hotelier.

With buddy Emily under the party lights in Tymitz Square.

Yum!

Ship kids after dinner.

There were lots of other "events," of course.  Perhaps the best ones were all the spontaneous moments: moments of playing, swimming, talking, creating, sharing.  We loved being part of that community, and Noah loved it best of all.  Our hearts are still full of gratitude for the love and welcoming we all received.

(Photo by Ship's Photographer Evan Meyer)