Journals from the week ending September 6, 1996
Schoolchildren Board Concordia!
by Mark Unger
9/2/96, onboard Concordia...On our second day in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, the S/V Concordia Crew welcomed a group of school children to the ship. The visit began with a breakfast for the children and was immediately followed with a singing session (which included guitar from our very own Josh Rogan) in the mess. At that point, the visitors were each introduced to one member of crew who proceeded to give a guided tour of the facilities onboard the ship. The children seemed generally awed, but nonetheless maintained their composure, and did their best to understand our suitably broken Spanish.
The children's visit to the ship was one of the highlights of my trip to Puerto Vallarta. Too often it seemed as though tourism was the culture of the city, and only with determination could one uncover any true element of Mexican culture. It was only by meeting and talking with our visitors did I feel I grasped an element of Mexican life. This was achieved despite the abundance of tourist traps.
Life At Sea
8/30/96, onboard Concordia...An average day onboard Concordia is a busy day. The students wake at 6:20 AM to attend a half hour of exercise. At 7:30 AM breakfast is served, followed by colors. Colors is a ceremony in which the Canadian and the host country’s flag are raised while 8 AM is rung on the ship's bell (8 bells). From 8 to 9 in the morning we clean and wash our cabin and head (a tough but necessary task). Our rooms are then inspected for cleanliness.
The day continues with six hours of classes, one hour for each subject, spread throughout the day between nine in the morning and eight at night. Lunch is served at 1 PM and dinner at 6 PM .
Throughout the day, we are also required to do two hours of day watch. This includes sail maneuvers and sanding, scrubbing and painting the ship. Between 8 PM and 8 AM, night watch groups consisting of 6 or 7 people must each complete an assigned 2 1/2 hour watch. They look out for any object on the sea and the horizon that may jeopardize the safety of the ship.
Each night, we get about 5-6 hours sleep so we try to take naps during our free time. However, free time is very limited and must be used to complete homework. Class Afloat definitely keeps you busy but the hard work brings us all closer together.