Q&A with Concordia from the week ending October 4, 1996
by Amanda Verkade, 10/2/96
Wow, you're from Ontario! That is where I am from!I think everyone feels differently about being so far from home. Some students have attended boarding schools or camp for a whole summer so they are used to being away from their families. I, on the other hand have never been away from my Mom, Dad and brother for longer than a week. So you can imagine what an adjustment this is for me.
My family and I have a vegetable farm back home and we work together everyday. Even though I don't miss the work, I do miss seeing them that much. I am usually homesick the most when we are at sea because there is no way of talking to those I care about back in Canada. But once we get on land I call my family and boyfriend and they remind me what an amazing thing I am doing this year and the homesickness starts to fade away. I will always be a little homesick but it is starting to become easier with time.
Brittany, thank you very much for the question. Enjoy following us around the world. If you have more questions, please write me. I would love to have a pen pal!
What do you do when there is a hurricane?...7th Grade Class, Assumption School, Morristown, New Jersey, USA
With today's onboard weather tracking technology, nine times out of ten when faced with a hurricane situation we would be able to avoid it.However, hurricanes are not always predictable. If we were onboard Concordia and hurricane was coming, the first thing we would do is make sure all of the hatches and portholes and any other openings where water might enter were properly sealed. Then as the wind increased we would take in all the sails and make sure that everything on deck was properly secured. Also, everyone would stay below deck. If someone needed to go on deck they would wear a safety harness that would be attached to the ship.
Hurricanes generally create huge waves as a result of the winds, so these waves can toss even a huge ship like the Concordia around. Our captain would choose the best way to steer through these waves and this would depend on how close we were to shore and the actual size of the seas. Generally, we would steer the ship in the same direction the waves are traveling because the waves have less chance of smashing directly into or onto the ship.
Ocean Challenge / e-mail: ocean@oceanchallenge.com / Class Afloat 1996-97
(c) 1996 Ocean Challenge, Inc.