Q&A with Concordia
From the week ending February 28, 1997
How did you spend Valentine's Day?
...Vanessa E., Calgary, Alberta, Canada
by Jeff Mackie, 2/17
Our student's council planned a whole bunch of activities for Valentine's Day. The day began with a Captain's Inspection. It took the entire morning to clean the ship. We had the afternoon off to relax and get ready for the dance. One of the activities the student's council planned was secret Valentine's. We each picked someone, it didn't matter guy or girl, and did something nice for them. It was all in good fun, people gave chocolates, candy, poems and stood watch for their secret Valentine. That night all of the students dressed up in their nicest clothes and the teachers served us dinner. It was a really nice touch. We also made a valentine for someone at home and threw them in the sea. This was a quiet and personal event. Before the dance everyone revealed to their secret valentine who they were. The dance began at eight and lasted until midnight. There was wild dancing and lots of energy; there are some crazy dancers aboard the ship.
... Holston View Elementary School, Bristol, TN
Thanks for your question Holston View Elementary. I hope you enjoyed your Malaysian food as much as the Concordia floaties enjoyed theirs. Many of the students tried the local food at the hawker's stands. This consisted of things like sate (a spicy peanut sauce over chicken), noodle soup with mushrooms and meat, fried rice, and fried noodles.
While visiting Malaysia, students were also treated to a traditional Malaysian dinner. This was a delicious combination of rice with many different types of hot and spicy meat and fish dishes. The vegetables were usually pickled or stir fried with coconut milk.
After trying various Malaysian food, some floaties grabbed a quick meal at Kentucky Fried Chicken or McDonald’s for a taste of home.
... New Egypt Middle School, New Egypt, NJ
Onboard, the female students are slightly outnumbered by the guys. There are 15 females and 20 males. Also, we have 2 female teachers and 3 male, and our excellent director is a woman. Female cabins are on the port side of the ship and male cabins are on the starboard side, except for one cabin of 3 guys and the male teachers' cabin. Everybody does the same amount of work, male or female, so it doesn't matter that the girls are outnumbered. When we have dances, everyone dances together, so no one gets left out because they don't have a partner.