We are just finishing the first day in school: embarkation was pure cheerfulness and welcomes, and then yesterday was business—students traveling, in their "Seas" (the way they are organized into residential groups on the ship: ask your child what "Sea" he or she is in, and you'll hear "Adriatic," or "Yellow," or "Red," or another) among several different stations and thus learning about various aspects of life in the program. This meant that my squad and I had to repeat the same pitch half a dozen times, and that students had to listen to a number of such pitches. But the feeling of the day was terrific. In the late afternoon the faculty was available for student conferences, and in the evening a few dozen students who wanted to start "clubs" on board made their pitches, after which everyone could sign up for whatever had seemed desirable. Much hooting and happy hollering.
The seas have been rough. Some students have smiled through it all; others have been very ill. The ship's doctor has given much reliable advice, and medication is available for free in his clinic. There is some version of good fortune in everyone's being able to test her or his "sea legs" at the beginning here, but also some version of a daunting challenge. We will get through it, and we'll get a lot done along the way.
