I’ve had a couple of people email and ask me what a “normal” day is like at sea. As we are travelling now in a long sea stretch (Hawaii to Japan takes 11 days) this seems like a good time to describe our day.

Dan and I wake up really early, typically. This could be because we have moved our clocks back 4 times already since we left San Diego! So, we head up to the (small but functional) gym on the ship, which is reserved for faculty and staff before 8:00. When we get back we wake the boys, who seem to be sleeping longer than ever… maybe it is the lack of a window in their cabin.

Breakfast is only from 7-8, so we need to make it there on time. Every other day, I teach at 8:00, so we hit breakfast right at 7:00. After breakfast I either teach, or head up to the Glazer Faculty Lounge to work. It is a gorgeous, conversation, student, and child free space at the front of the ship that is lovely to work in. Dan gets the boys started on reading or schoolwork in our cabin, and then the three of them head to the one-room school house/study hall from 9:30-11:30. We have found French tutors on board for them, so that helps.

We meet as a family for lunch at 11:30, and then I either teach at 1:00, or head back to the lounge for more work.The kids have “kids’ club” in the afternoon, where a different parent organizes an activity each day. Yesterday they made play dough animals that they are likely to see on the trip, and drew habitats for them. Other days have included improv (with a student who is taking theatre), and origami class. That runs from 1:30-3:00, then they all head outside, where the sports area is reserved for the little kids (non-students) from 3:00-4:00. So far it has mainly been an easier “catch” version of volleyball, or soccer. The play area is netted all around, so nothing goes overboard. After that, the boys either have computer game time, or their gather in someone’s cabin to watch a movie.

Dinner is early too, then we often attend the Explorer Seminar. This happens every night at 8:00. and so far has covered a variety of topics, from volcanoes and earthquakes, to how map-making evolved, to how to travel on a budget.

Early to bed, and then we start again! It’s weird for me to teach every single day, but once we hit Asia the schedule is more like 2 days on ship, then 3-5 in port, then 2 days on ship, then in port. So a good bit of the course happens quite early, setting the stage for the experiential aspects the students will complete in port. So, now you know!

By the way, we cross the International Date Line tomorrow, so we move from April 18 (today) straight to April (20) tomorrow. The ship community is contributing to a crowd-sourced story of what happened on “The Lost Day.” Should be cute.

It has been an eventful 2015 so far. The cab collected us January 1 at 4:30 am, so no New Year partying for us. We looked more than a little like The Beverley Hillbillies at the airport. We wanted to protect our large backpacks that we will need later in Europe, so to make sure the straps didn’t get damaged in transit we dropped them into dry-cleaning bags that Dan then duct-taped shut. Very effective, but hilarious looking. We know we are going to get rid of our suitcases at the end of the ship voyage too, so we chose old, broken-down cases. Add to that a total of 8 carry-on bags, and we looked like vagabond homesteaders at the airport!

We had a very smooth trip to San Diego (thanks Southwest); almost too good to believe. No wait at the bridge in Detroit, friendly laughing border guard, and both flights were early.

We have had a good couple of days in San Diego. It’s cold for the locals, in the mid sixties F, but nice and sunny and warm for us. Our hotel is midway between the water and Balboa Park (where the museums and the zoo are located) so it is a great location. While I did some last minute work in the hotel, Dan took the boys to visit both the Maritime Museum and the Midway aircraft carrier – they had a blast. Yesterday the whole family went to San Diego Zoo (some adorable animals we saw are included here). We arrived even before it opened, and the morning was wonderful, with no crowds and lots to see. As the afternoon got more crowded, we wrapped it up and walked back to the hotel through Balboa Park, which has gorgeous buildings and beautiful gardens. And Joe enjoyed seeing perhaps the largest and most crowded dog park in the world!

Last full day today (Sunday) before we board the ship tomorrow. A little last minute shopping, relaxing, and maybe a swim in the hotel pool later.

Not sure when the next blog will be – but next stop: Hawaii!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and is getting ready to welcome 2015 in. We will be missing midnight this year, as our cab to the airport arrives January 1 at 4:30 am!

We had a great Christmas visit with Grama Joan and Grampa Doug in Kingsville. Aunt Judy and Uncle Malcolm and cousin Evan came too, which was lots of fun.

This time, I thought I would share some photos of Joe and the various dogs he has loved in our travels. You’ve heard earlier about Joe’s love for Aunt Mary’s dogs Louie and Sophie. But in the last month he has been able to cuddle with Rosie, Louie and Sophie (again), Sparky, and Riley. And this year Santa brought him his very own dog suit, so he can pretend to be a dog in their midst.

The next blog will likely be from California. The ship sets sail January 5th. We are very ready!

Hi!

June here. This is really just a test blog, to make sure I know what I am doing. I won’t have traditional internet on board the ship starting January, but I will have email. And WordPress allows you to post a blog via email. So, here goes.

The last couple of weeks have been hectic and more than a little stressful. After a wonderful visit with Linda Price in Tucson, we drove through horrible fog and rain to visit Mary and Kevin Becker, as well as Grama and Grampa Cotte, on the way to Toronto. While in Toronto, we completed our visa application for India. Despite the scary (past our departure date) date they told us to expect our passports back, we received them today in London just fine. Whew! After Toronto, we stayed in my sister’s lovely home in Niagara on the Lake, and stayed snuggled in the house during a major snowstorm. My tan from Arizona is now well and truly gone…

We just had a rowdy, lovely, wine-filled escapade with the Teevan family this past weekend, and have temporarily camped out in Matt Thomson and Allison Johnson’s house. We are true vagrants… off to my parent’s place this weekend for the rest of the holiday. We fly out to San Diego January 1, and board the boat January 5th. Very exciting feeling!