Saturday 1st May
Another early morning for me. I awoke at 5 am and again looked out to a moonlit sea. I have butterflies this morning thinking about Rockaby tonight. At least I can't fluff my lines as it is pre-recorded but I am still working on the expression on my face and in my eyes as the words are said. Beckett is no easy ride for actor or audience.
Last night in the same venue, the faculty lounge, we listened to our "string band". This is a group of talented musicians: faculty and students and two 'family', a boy aged twelve and a sixteen year old girl. Both of the latter are superb fiddle players. There were 7 players in all (two of them excellent singers) and they made amazing music. Mostly blue grass and some jazz. There is an enormous pool of talent on board. They had a wildly appreciative audience but I felt very un-American as I listened; I know nothing of this style of music. Chris Hill had encouraged me to listen though and I'm happy I did. George chose to correct papers in the cabin!
We had our 'last supper' with Heather, Kristen, Meng Neng and Katie last night and of course I forgot to take my camera. What a truly beautiful and delightful quartet they are. Kristen, tall and blond and very fair skinned has been the object of intense curiosity in many of the countries we've visited and says she's looking forward to being home where she doesn't stand out as being different. It was so interesting to listen to their thoughts about Ghana and Brazil. I didn't get the feeling that any one of them was devastated to be going home. That they have become friends and have done things together ashore has made their shared thoughts even more pleasurable to listen to. They had won in auction an evening of hors d'oeuvres with the Executive Dean and his wife so had been to their cabin, just along from ours, prior to having (soft) drinks on our balcony. They were, to put it bluntly, very 'full' before we went down to supper. George and I ate alone as they watched until the arrival of the delicious chocolate ice cream cake which we all enjoyed and were able to share with some of their friends. We were sad to say goodbye....although we shall be bumping in to each other around the ship before Wednesday. I hope they will keep in touch and let us know about life after Semester at Sea.
As I read on the BBC newsletter about the opening of the 2010 World Expo today in Shanghai: the BP oil spill off the Louisiana coast: the British Election (promises to be interesting with Gordon Brown's gaffes, the Lib Dems in the field and Cameron of the Conservatives 'winning' the TV debate) I realise that we shall soon be back to real life.....are we really ready for it?!
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