Q&A with Concordia
From the week ending April 4, 1997
What is your favorite thing about Class Afloat?
...Jamie A., Bellefonte, PA, 3/28
by Jacquie Davies, 4/4
. I have to say that different aspects of the program appeal to different people. Personally, my favorite part of Class Afloat has probably been living with my friends. I suppose its like living in a dorm at college, except you never actually leave the building... Ever. It makes meals entertaining, friendships strong, and much more than I can ever explain. It's hard to get lonely when you live with 35 friends. A good thing when you're so far away from the familiar.
Without doubt, I also have to mention the scenery. The things I never get tired of out here are definitely sunsets, the cliffs of small uninhabited islands, and the waves. I know that water sounds might become dull after a couple of weeks at sea, but the waves seem to change form and sound every time I step on deck. It's all about the unique. I, like the other students, love everything about life at sea¾even tasks like cleaning the horrible places onboard. The things that are so different from home, like the 360 degree ocean view and the friendships, that stand out most of all for me.
...The Abbot School, Westford, MA, 3/28
Concordia has changed me in many ways. When I came onboard in San Diego I never realized how much personal growth and change I was about to undergo. First and most importantly it has taught me many people skills. There is no way to escape anyone on a 188 foot tall ship, you must be able to resolve conflicts and more importantly avoid them. We are a crew and personal problems most certainly disturb the efficiency of a crew. My ability to remain awake for 20 hours and then get 4 hours of rest before the next day begins is an amazing talent I have learned. The Concordia has also helped change my outlook on the world. Before I came onboard, I had many ideas about the places we have visited. I have learned that aside from actually traveling to a country the other sources of information¾TV, papers, people, etc., are sometimes wrong. Before we arrived in Saudi Arabia, I was continually thinking about how I was going to deal with the extreme heat. When I left the ship for our week ashore, I found that I did not pack enough clothing for the cooler than I expected temperatures. One of the funniest changes that us floaties undergo is the ability to fall asleep anywhere¾and I mean anywhere. I once dozed off when I had a break from furling, now this doesn't seem to strange, but when you are 100 feet up the mast, that's strange.