On Ship August 4-5

On August 4th, we actually sat at the dock for most of the day because we didn't need much time at sea to get to Finland.  No one can leave on these days (in port academic day-IPAD).  We pretend we are at sea and have a regular class day.  We've had several of these on this voyage.   One of the highlights of this day was the auction.  Proceeds go toward SAS scholarships.  Crazy things are auctioned off, like a chance to blow the ship's horn or do the daily announcements and they go for a lot of money.

Wonder where I spend most of the day?

My office

My cabin

August 5th was TEDx day.  We have the founder of TEDx on board, Lara Stein.  She worked with some of the faculty and staff in getting selecting and working with six of our community members to present a TEDx presentation.  It has been an interesting process to watch.  The actual presentations won't be on the TEDx site for a few weeks, but here's an overview:

• Jessica Steele - "The Death of 'Poor Me'" - Jessica’s TEDx Talk focuses on the SELF, and on shifting our paradigm of focus from being outward to being inward. Her talk is about a sexually abusive relationship that began four years ago when she was sixteen years old and lasted until the end of 2012. In her speech, she’ll talk a bit about the aftermath — a journey out of torment that took place in three stages.  She is honored and feels blessed to have a shot at expressing herself at TEDx Semester at Sea. http://tedxsemesteratsea.org/speakers/jessica-steele/;  http://tedxsemesteratsea.org/meet-tedx-speaker-jessica-steele/ 
•  Stephen Deaderick - "Press Pause" - Stephen’s TEDx talk is about helping others find and understand their stories and themselves, he will share his story about finding his identity as a gay, mixed race individual.  He is passionate about identity development, social justice education, and interpersonal dialogue.  http://tedxsemesteratsea.org/speakers/stephen-deaderick/ 
•  Cosette Haugen - "Being An Open Book" - She is using her diagnosis of depression and anxiety as a basis for her TEDx Talk, in which she will attempt to encourage people to communicate their own needs and open a discussion on mental illness. She hopes that by sharing her story and experiences, it will allow listeners to feel like they are not alone.  http://tedxsemesteratsea.org/speakers/cosette-haugen/
•  Andrew Sayer - "Tolerance is a Dirty Word" -Andrew’s TEDx Talk covers “tolerance vs. acceptance” and reframing the conversation in America through education policy.  Andrew is a firm believer that our generation can change through education.  http://tedxsemesteratsea.org/speakers/andrew-sayer/ 
• Kristin Skarie - "Nothing New"- Kristin recently authored and published her first book, A Year of Nothing New – Tools for Living Lean and Green.  Her TEDx Talk is based on her book, which is about not buying anything new for a year. She wants to share her experience in order to give others the tools to change their lives, the way she has changed hers.  http://tedxsemesteratsea.org/speakers/kristin-skarie/ ;  http://tedxsemesteratsea.org/meet-speaker-kristin-skarie-sustainable-woman-extraordinaire/
•  Amber Johnson - "I Will" - Her TEDx Talk is about her journey to become an American Ninja Warrior. Simultaneously she’ll share how she came to love her body, not by “becoming skinny,” but by learning to stop criticizing herself for lack of meeting standard definitions of beauty and figuring out how to reward herself for being able to accomplish things she was never able to do before. She wants to inspire others all over the world to know that they can do anything they set their minds to.  http://tedxsemesteratsea.org/speakers/amber-johnson/