Sea legs and beginnings.....

The voyage begins....

After 12 months of dreaming, planning, acquiring clothing and supplies, getting shots, sorting, packing, re-selecting, and packing again, the MV Explorer 'Semester at Sea' has sailed. As this is a University of Virginia (and Institute for Shipboard Learning) campus, we departed Norfolk Virginis with Administrators, Faculty, and Staff for 3 days of Orientation while rockin' n rollin' to Halifax, Nova Scotia to pick up the 605 university students and the 63 Lifelong Learners.

The seas from Norfolk to Halifax were rough and many folks were queezy, green, or down-and-out-flat-on-their-backs (and medicated). Many of the Orientation sessions were 1/2 to 1/2 vacant. The ship

handed out free Meclizine (seasick meds) but I successfully used daily ginger capsules. Happily,
excepting the minor headache(s), I have been FINE! There is a slight guilt in being one of the
robust who happily parade to meals in the dining rooms at the prescribed times. I am able to
say that the shipboard food is varied and pretty good!

In Halifax almost 700 new voyagers boarded the ship and suddenly the ship's culture changed
from a quiety time of getting acquainted to a bustling University at-sea campus. So much great
energy on board now!.

At 5 p.m. on Friday August 27 the MV Explorer set sail across the Atlantic ocean for Cadiz, Spain
Wow! The grand adventure!