Who do I miss lots?

Monday 1st February.

Yes, this is who I miss an awful lot. There were lots of dogs being walked in parks and on the streets in Hilo and Waikiki and I thought of Bess and our walks up at the Dundas conservation area which is, if you didn't realise it, her very own territory. She runs around with her tail high, sniffing and reveling in every inch and resenting, but just about tolorating, any intruders. This is a long time to be away from such a faithful companion, but I am happy knowing that she is in Sudbury with Meg and Chai and the rest of the Keaney clan having a ball.
Thank you Keaneys!

Today is another sea day, a little more ship movement than yesterday and not as warm but the sun still shines and the billowing white clouds whip by over it in a stiff breeze as we move closer to Japan. Another week to go yet.

I woke early (4.30 am) and we had an extra hour in bed so no wonder that I once again nodded off in Sino American relations...I blame the air in the Union! We don't stop most of the day rushing to one class or another with meals squeezed in between. Liz and Audrey have given up that class because it would mean missing lunch and I have to eat it at 11.30 to get there in time.

Last evening I spent 2 hours with three young women in my Community performance class reading out loud to each other from the all two few text books reserved in the library. We read from Radical Street Theatre and had some wonderful discussions, including how they were feeling on board, and how we were all relating to the other "participants" (not passengers) on board. We discussed some ideas for 'invisible theatre' like each of us sitting at a different table in the dining room reading books and saying 'No' when people asked to join us! It would come as such a shock and would be interesting to observe all their reactions....especially as we would be spread out enough that they wouldn't be aware we were 'performing'. We also had the idea of having cards to hand out saying something that we're repeatedly questioned about so that no conversation would be necessary. Esther Williams was apparently asked well into her later years whether she was still swimming so she had a guilt edged card printed saying simply "Yes I still swim". She handed one to Henry Kissinger when he was half way through the sentence...I imagine he was rarely silenced that easily! Anyway lots of ideas were discussed causing some hilarity.

In our 8 am class this morning Erika had us do a ten minute meditation listening and focusing on the sounds of the ship. I was amazed at the variety from clicks to squeaks and creaking to voices and the swishing of the sea against the sides of the Explorer. Because we are constantly battling the movements and having to adjust to them I was surprised at how benevolent the sea sounds were and how relaxing. James, our student from London (England) gave us a brilliant display of 'break dancing'; he calls himself a B Boy...which is the proper terminology. He is teaching classes to the children on board and they absolutely love it and are picking the complicated (to me) movements up quickly. He also gave a lesson to the class but my knees and back prohibited me from trying. The boat was rolling so even his own demonstration was challenging but watching the efforts of the rest of the class was hysterical!

Global Studies was excellent today, particularly one Professor, Mary Ellen Charlton, a historian, who was piercingly intelligent, and clear and made some challenging and controversial points about who was going to be leading the world in 2020 and on. America, China, India....or someone we haven't even thought of. The subject was Asia and the Hyper and Super powers. Apparently the Unted States is a Hyperpower....not a term I have heard before. It has greater military and educated man power than anyone else, welcomes immigrants and practices tolerance, freedom and justice for all....at least that's what it's supposed to do. Food for thought.

I shall have to miss happy hour tonight as we have been told to watch a Chinese documentary at 5 pm...rotten timing if you ask me! Later I have to watch a film on mask making which we shall be doing in a few days time for our performance class. I wish I had brought the beauty I made last year which is hanging on my desk at home.

Sorry I haven't more exotic travel tales to tell, that will have to wait for Japan, China, Hong Kong and Vietnam. They follow one another pretty closely so more fodder for the blog!