Common Reading

One of the first challenges we faced was how to begin to bring the disparate elements of the ship together as a learning community. We used the idea of a Common Reading (not new to us, of course) and chose Jamaica Kincaid's provocative book, A Small Place, to begin our conversations. All students, faculty, families, and lifelong learners were divided up into 41 small groups, which assembled in order to introduce themselves, discuss the book, and write short reaction papers about what they've read. The results were gratifying: most of the students had actually read the book (!! -- it's only 82 pp. long) and they were provoked by Kincaid's angry polemic to think about what impact tourists have on the countries they visit. Hundreds of responses went along these lines:

"The book puts a lot of questions into a young reader's mind."

"You succeeded in getting me to suspend my preconceived notions and simply listen."

"Although I am nervous to reach our first country, I feel that I will have a better understanding about how to act and how to keep my mind open for the journey."

"The book was eye-opening."

"It offers a harsh but refreshing look at tourism, colonization, and their long-lasting effects on indigenous cultures ... I thought this was the perfect way to begin this voyage as we prepare to encounter cultures so different from our own."

I served as my own Interport Lecturer for Spain, giving a number of evening Explorer Seminars on the following subjects: "Spain: It's Gonna Surprise You," "Dining Out in Spain," "Five Spanish Painters (El Greco, Velázquez, Goya, Picasso, Dalí," "A Clash of Titans: Franco and Juan Carlos," plus two classes on higher education in Spain and the poetry of Rafael Alberti. Cultural Preport ("In and Around Cádiz" and "Spain Today") rounded out my work in this area. Being Interport AND Academic Dean is a lot.Tomorrow, we arrive in Cádiz, Spain.

Onward to Spain

August 26, 2010. All students, faculty, staff, and families are on board.We've pulled up the anchor and are sailing toward Spain (and well away from a hurricane that seems to be lurking somewhere in the north Atlantic). We had a major meet-and-greet of the faculty and staff last night in the Union.

And so it begins...

August 26, 2010. Archbishop and Mrs. Tutu boarded this afternoon; following a lovely private luncheon we began preparations for the arrival of the parents this evening (a reception on ship) and the students tomorrow. We will have nearly 620 students, 37 faculty members, 35 staff members, 66 lifelong learners, and countless family members (including a baby less than 6 months old). The boarding process tomorrow will be long, but well organized and very high energy. After some security drills and a Meet the Faculty and Staff meeting tomorrow, we'll sail out of Halifax harbor at 9:00 pm.

Our home for the next four months!

And so it begins....On August 21, we began our journey on the MV Explorer, which will take us to the following places: Canada, Spain, Morocco, Ghana, South Africa, Mauritius, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, China, Japan, Hawaii, and California.We are traveling with an extraordinary group —faculty members, staff, and students from all over the North America (including Mexico and Canada) and several countries around the world. And as Distinguished Guest, for the entire voyage, Archbishop Desmond Tutu (winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and the Gandhi Peace Prize).It's been a rough beginning, but only as far as the weather is concerned. It's wonderful to feel the energy and see the excitement of the faculty, staff, and families as we begin the adventure.