New answers received by 11/06/95
: What happens if someone falls overboard?...Christian, Charlottesville, NC -- 10/13/95
nswered by Colleen McCluskey -- 10/31/95
Luckily, no one has fallen overboard so far but if it happens we are all thoroughly prepared. We learned the procedure for this emergency the first few days we were on the ship and have practiced a few times at sea.
If someone falls overboard it is extremely important that the person who sees it happen keeps their eyes on them very closely and points at them with their finger. If you look away you may not be able to find them again especially if the seas are rough or it is at night. We have orange life rings with flashlights strategically placed around the ship. These rings are thrown to the person overboard to create a trail to them. With all this going on, we must remember to keep yelling, "man overboard, man overboard" to let everyone know what has happened so they can stop the ship and begin to launch the lifeboat.
It is very important that everyone helps out and works together as a team so the man overboard is rescued as quickly as possible. That is why we practice the procedure again and again, so we won't actually panic in the event of a real emergency.
: Now that you have been on the ship for a while, would you rather be at home?...Sara, Sixth Grade 10/17/95
nswered by Johann Kyser -- 10/27/95
Having passed the halfway mark of the first semester, I can easily say that I would rather be here than at home.
I chose to come on this trip for a change in scenery and to gain direction in life. For the most part these expectations have been reached, although not in the way I expected. I have learned a lot about coping with aspects of life that are uncontrollable here, but which people take for granted at home. One learns a lot about dependency as well, about what and who you rely on to live--sometimes on yourself and sometimes on others.
Unlike school at home, Class Afloat has made me think, act and live differently. To live this way for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for several months is more than anyone can really understand without experiencing it.
Many of the people onboard the Concordia are Christian so we will celebrate holidays like Christmas and Easter. However, there is no structured worship of any kind. All students are free to practice their beliefs. Some students even take the opportunity to go to services if we happen to be in port on Saturdays and Sundays.
Our rooms, or cabins I should say, are very small. There are four people to a cabin and one head, or bathroom, to share. You have to learn to respect other people's privacy when living in such a tight place.
Our bunks are about six feet by three feet. Each bunk in the cabin has its own style. Students try to make their bunks feel like home by using their own sheets and hanging posters and pictures on the walls. In the cabin, we have a cupboard and space under our beds for storing things. We also get two hooks for clothes, towels and coats. In the head, the sink, shower and toilet are crammed into a space about six feet by four feet. The shower is shoved in a corner. It is almost impossible to take a shower without spilling a little water over the rim and drenching the rest of the bathroom (especially in rough weather).
Overall, we don't actually spend much time in our cabins because we are always coming and going.
: Do you get to practice your religious beliefs onboard Concordia?...Sarah, Hamilton, IN -- 10/15/95nswered by Tania Mutch -- 10/31/95: What are your rooms like?...Travis, North Carolina -- 10/17/95nswered by Lauren Katz -- 10/29/95
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