Q&A with Concordia
From the week ending March 14, 1997
Do any new people ever come on the boat?
...Tara K., Mansfield Middle School, 3/7
by Abbey Wood, 3/10
Yes, Tara K., we have many new people coming onboard when we are in port. Some even sail a short leg with us. Last semester, we had a pilot named Peter and his wife Gynty sail with us from Brisbane to Thursday Island. Recently, we had a reception aboard with the Canadian high commissioner and Maldivian authorities and politicians. Overall, it was very educationally beneficial. We also had five Maldivian citizens sail with us for two days. It is very exciting to have various people come aboard. We get to know tpeople and cultures from different places. We also build a friendship with visitors because we are introduced on a more personal level.
... Mr. Babin's Class, Westford, MA, 2/28
Yes, I have made many new, close friends in some of the countries we have visited. I still write to my homestay (and other student's homestays) in Mexico. In Mexico, a group of us went to numerous discos and enjoyed each other's company greatly. I plan to go to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in January of next year to visit those friends.
In Easter Island, I made a close friend named Vicki. She took me to the hospital because I was very ill at the time. She also gave me a private tour before we left because I missed the hike around the island. At the end of August, she is going to university in the US. At this time, I am having a picture exchange reunion party for the students of 1996-97. Vicki is coming as well to see us all.
I also made friends in Western Samoa, Pitcairn Island, Australia, and the Maldives. I still keep in contact with them and hope to see my distant pen pals again.
...Vanessa E., Calgary, Canada, 3/7
At night the sky is spectacular. Every night starts off with a beautiful sunset then the sky slowly becomes endlessly black. There are only a few lights on the ship and there are no city lights or pollution to interfere with the stars shining through. It is difficult to describe how beautiful the sky is. Try to imagine a sky that is absolutely free from any obstruction, where even the smallest and most distant stars are shining bright. Constellations that I have never seen before are clearly visible. My all time favorite, Orion, is directly overhead at about midnight. The Big Dipper is to the north and Libra is to the south east. I have seen a lot of falling stars as well. Last night, there was a full moon and it seemed to light up the sky, it was so bright. I often lie on the deck at night and admire the sky because the it looks so peaceful.