Chewing the cud

Wednesday April 1st.

Such a quiet day on board. It has been a rough sea, grey and almost greasy looking at times when the sun struggled to bring a sheen to it. There have been fishing boats doing more than bobbing on the surface; they have dipped and rolled and at times have appeared to take on water. We were glad of the solid bulk beneath our feet! Apparently we are now in the East China sea and only about 100 nautical miles from Shanghai.

I sat in the Faculty lounge on the 7th deck this morning reading and going over my lines. There are quite a few VIPs on board, some of whom were responsible for financing the Semester at Sea programme and also those who had the vision of such a programme in the first place, and they were up there chatting with old friends. We have been told to be nice to them (!?) but actually no one has thought to introduce us. I think I might have guided the President of the University of Virginia off the boat in Hong Kong, but if so he was anxious and disgruntled and didn't introduce himself so I may never know!

Have I mentioned before the hierarchy on this ship? It is an almost tangible thing which is fairly widely discussed by members of the Faculty (those on the lower echelons) and Life Long learners whom we have come to know. As a tag-along I don't of course expect to be acknowledged by the Dean who has occasionally said Hi but obviously has no idea who I am and has things of greater import on his mind. However, he hasn't spoken to George either (or John I don't think)which after three months at sea is fairly unacceptable. After all the on board faculty is not huge....perhaps 35 in all?

But all that said the Semester at Sea organisation has given us the most incredible experience, one I would not have expected to have in my life time and for that we are most truly grateful....so what's a high minded dean or two in the grand scheme of things. This is a small community though and gossip and rumours abound!

We have been invited to attend a farewell celebration for Sylvia tonight before 'the dinner'....what to wear?! We have all exhausted our wardrobes several times over by now so that slightly exotic clothes bought in the last three ports have started to appear. Some of the women reading this will understand the dilemma! There is something called the Ambassador's Ball happening after Hawaii which has upped the anxiety level. We had all decided to have a gorgeous creation quickly 'run up' in India, Thailand, Vietnam or Hong Kong....I mention each port because it didn't happen in any of them...there was far too much else to do, sightseeing and absorbing the cultures it was not possible to fit in (pardon the pun) a visit to a Tailor and all that would entail. So thequestion remains hanging in the air.....what to wear to the ball Cinderella?

Off now to search my vast selection of glamorous togs....