Busy day and the week to come

Another really rough night.  The shipped rolled from side to side much of the night.  Trying to sleep while rolling from side to side, fearful that one just might roll out of the bed, is a challenge. 

Today was a busy day.   After breakfast Barry attended the Global Studies class, which was aimed at preparing us for Europe and Jayne headed up to the dependent-care room (one of the cafeterias).   In Global Studies we heard a marvelous presentation on being a travel photographer.   The presenter pointed out the difference between taking pictures like a tourist (pictures of ourselves in front of beautiful and well-known places that every tourist visits) and taking pictures that are true cultural artifacts (Barry's term not the presenters).   We were encouraged to show respect for the people we photograph.  Indeed, ultimately he suggested we put our cameras away and interact with people such that become part of their lives before we even begin to think about taking a picture.   He pointed out that simply by pulling out our cameras we are presenting ourselves as "different" from many of the people we will encounter, identifying us as American, wealthy, and, inevitably (despite our best intentions), tourists.

After Global Studies, Barry prepped for his Liberation Theology class at 2:30.

At 5:30 we headed up to the Faculty Lounge to enjoy some Irish delights the chef on our ship has made for us.   We had Bangers in a blanket, leek and cheese tart, potato cake, cheese triangles with chili sour cream, shillegan stick (garlic bread wrapped in bacon with parmesan cheese, and steak pie.  

We ate dinner with Sarah Cosgrove, an Irish graduate student, who will be talking briefly to the World Religions students tomorrow to introduce them to the "religious environment" in Ireland before we arrive there on Friday.   She is onboard the ship from Halifax to Galway just to help students be prepared for their Irish experience.

In a few minutes there will be a "cultural pre-port" on Europe and after that a presentation by next fall's SAS dean, Kathy Thornton on her experience as a Shuttle Astronaut.

We're hoping for much smoother seas tonight so everyone can get some sleep. Tomorrow is the last day of classes before Ireland.   

Here's our schedule for the next week.

 Friday,

Arrive in Galway, 8am

Excursion to Cliffs of Moher

Sail for Dublin, 11 pm

arrive in Galway, 8 am.

Saturday-On the seas, but no classes or activities.

Sunday,

8 am arrive in Dublin.

Assisting with a "walking tour" related to the Sinn Fein movement for a political science colleague.

Monday

Sightseeing in Dublin

Sail for Southampton, England, 8 pm.

Tuesday

Teaching day on the ship

Wednesday

Arrive in Southampton, 8 am.

Lead excursion to Winchester Cathedral.

Meet with religion faculty at University of Winchester.

Thursday and Friday, Sightseeing in London

Saturday

            Sightseeing near Southampton (possibly to Stonehenge)

Depart for Antwerp, 8 pm.