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Lat: 12° 32.6N Long: 58° 0.75W

Day 4 at sea

This whole journal-keeping thing is hard. When do people find the time to do this stuff? I feel as though I'll be constantly busy this entire semester. No time to relax on the beach or deck by the pool.

We had our first classes yesterday–an A day. I had International Investments at 800 then Communication Across Race and Culture at 1425. It didn't take long for me to decide that I needed to drop the finance class. There was a suggested pre-rec of intro to macro, which I did not take of course, and I was completely lost. I felt better later, though, after I talked with another kid from the class who had taken both macro and micro and still didn't know any of the terms on the homework.

I love my communication class. The professor is very cool and laid back. She wants everyone to feel relaxed and to not worry about grades. She is also a psychotherapist. That's pretty awesome. She reminds me of Shannon Boston in the way she is jolly and draws people to her.

My classes today were not bad either. I had The Rise of the New Great Powers this morning and Climate Change and Society this afternoon. I think I will enjoy the global studies course as long as I can keep up with the readings and stay awake in class. Hopefully my purchase of a thermos will help with the latter problem.

The global warming class is going to be fascinating, I'm sure. Dad and I can debate the topic when I get home.

I switched out of the finance class and replaced it with Positive Psychology. That should be fun too. There were lots of other people trying to get in. Too bad, I got there first!

For each class we have to go on two or three faculty-led programs in the ports. I am going on the climate change trips in South Africa and India, and I am doing the communication trips in Namibia and China, I think. For New GPs we have to observe in each of the countries and keep a journal.

Last night was our first pub night! We could get beverage vouchers that would allow us to get two drinks at dinner and four drinks later in the evening. The selection was spectacular: six or seven of the cheapest beers and three cheap wines. The place was packed. We made several new friends. I imagine this is the only informal setting when your professors and dean are present at a college party.

Some guys toasted the dean standing in front of the pool, and everyone cheered. Afterward I asked him how they convinced him to do that.
“I'll do anything for a beer,” he answered.
I assume that same scenario happens every semester.

All my other time I've been reading. I had to read about all the port trips to chose the best ones; then I still have all my class readings. I don't know how I'm going to read my book club books.

Comments

Unknown said…
Erin I could have told you about Macro and micro. They suck and I took them also. Manage to get by w/ C's.

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Lat:19° 47.6N Long: 069° 43.8W

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