We finally made it onto the ship... and apparently the administration doesn't like when you call it a boat, I've already been corrected by the Dean once. It's very funny actually because mostly all the students say boat. Who knew it could be such a topic of controversy? We've had lots of meeting yesterday and today. We've met every member of the staff and all of the faculty. We had an informal meet and greet with the professors and I think I love all of mine.
 
My "Women in Religion" teacher, Tanya, is nuts! Total California hippie, totally philosophical. When asked where she was from she said her body was conceived in Russia but her soul is from Galaxy Z. She thinks the world is too small and irrelevant within the universe to define who you are by your country on our small planet. I like this woman.
 
My professor for my business class is Tom S. Gillis. I told him I wanted to start my own photo business someday so he suggested I switch from his "Small Business Management" class to his other course, "Entrepreneurship". All his classes are full, so I doubt I'll be able to but I guess I'll try. He's a sweet 80-year-old man who calls everyone darling. I've already heard 2 war stories. He's got a good hardy laugh and I'm willing to bet he's going to be one of the liveliest teachers I've ever had.
 
My professor for "Abnormal Psychology" seemed equally cool. He said we should just check RateYourProfessor.com for the dirt on him and he let out a good laugh. Overall, all of the teachers I've talked to seem pretty cool. And all of them are so talkative. One of the Anthropology professors wants me to come to his class and talk to the kids about photography, I think he has it as part of his curriculum. I talked to the academic dean, Dean Beverly for a few minutes too. She and the executive dean are having a competition to see who can learn everyone's name first. Maybe I should avoid him just so Dean Beverly can win... just kidding. Anyway, the faculty seems amazing. Among the 26 teachers there are 30 Excellence in Teaching Awards. I was impressed.
 
We had our introduction to Global Studies today. It's a mandatory lecture class for everyone. It focuses on the countries we are visiting. It's not just a "memorize facts" class, it's designed to make us think, compare, examine and develop concepts. It's more of a thought provoker than anything else. The theme is "Identity, Liberty and Security: How Much and For Whom?" I think overall it'll be an eye opener. Maybe I'm a geek but I love learning this stuff.
 
OH, but the highlight of the day was seeing Cuba. We passed by it today as we swirled through the Caribbean. I managed to get a few shots on my Hassy before I had to head in for another meeting... the "don't do this, don't do that" meeting. Sorry, I didn't get to take one with my digital. It was mostly just some hazy mountains in the distance, but gorgeous, maybe because it's the forbidden country we're not allowed to go to. Being from Miami, I have strong ties to the Cuban community. Basically if you are born in Miami you're automatically half Cuban by default! Anyway, I was a lot more excited than I was when I heard we were passing by Jamaica and some of the other islands.
 
By the way, the Captain confirmed the rumor that we are in fact the fastest passenger vessel in the world at 29 knots, whatever that means. He said we had 50,000 horses in the engine room, so I figure 29 knots is a lot. Our big boat (oh, sorry, our "ship" is 2/3 girls. The boys were complaining because during drills they have to line up in the back and be the last to enter the life boats. The one time old sexism works out for us girls, lol. Anyway I was joking that if something happened and we ended up on an abandoned island, the two guys who fit in the lifeboat would be very lucky guys!
 
So tomorrow is our first day of class. We have A days and B days, which means our classes are every other day, except Global Studies which is everday. Tomorrow is our first A day so I have Abnormal Psychology at 8am, then Global Studies, and Women in Religion in the Afternoon. The next day is B day so I have Global Studies again and then Small Business Management. I already have reading to do.
 
Well, so far I haven't tripped even with all the swaying back and forth and I'm not sea sick. The Internet and phones are by satellite so they don't work all the time and they are expensive. Forty cents a minute for Internet, $20 for 13 mins of phone time. The Internet is pretty slow, so I'm trying to get on during the off hours so it's a little faster. I'll post again in a few days with some pictures. We're on the way to Venezuela, so I'm looking forward to some chapas con queso. Yummy.