At sea to Lisbon, Portugal

So, I made it the first few days at sea, sea legs in tact, no sea sickness.  After a couple of days of training we got on board the ship, hardly had time to settle in before the students arrived the next day.  Things overall went pretty smoothly, seems like a great group of faculty, staff and students.  What is so unique on board a floating universe is the opportunity for everyone to live life together and to learn together.   There are also the dependents and a group of passengers called Life Long Learners.  One glitch was that the textbooks didn't make it to the ship before we left.  Oops!  They are meeting us in Lisbon.

In addition the obvious credentials that faculty and staff bring to their jobs, its the hidden talents that come out and are so much fun.  We have musicians that have played with the Grateful Dead, actors that have been on Broadway, piano bar piano players, yoga instructors and one of the faculty that competed on American Ninja Warrior.  So, throughout the ship in between classes and and community events, these various types of activities pop up all over.

The job I have as Assistant Executive Dean, its crazy but fun.  I am the center for all questions.  I am also the conduit to the ships crew and officers.  I start my day everyday with a meeting with the Captain and three other officers.  Tea and pastries are always served.

A day on the ship feels like a week, in a good way.  So full of a variety of things.  But you also get a little spoiled.  While the food is not cruise ship level, I don't have to make it, which makes it great.  I don't have to do the dishes or clean my room or make my bed.  Yeah.  I am enjoying being solo for the first couple of weeks, but miss my munchkins and hubby, so can't wait for them to get here!

We are now docked in Protugal in what is called an IPAD (in port academic day) day.  We got here early and have to have a whole day on the ship but docked.  They used to drive the ship slowly so we had enough sea days/class days, now they save on fuel and just dock us.  It's not a bad view.  The photo attached is coming into Lisbon, cant get it right side up, so you have to turn your hear or tablet, sorry!