Andy, bless his heart, got up at 3.30 to take me to the p lane. My journey was long but uneventful and I arrived at Halifax hotel at 9.30 pm. The next day, took a cab to the ship- Oh beautiful ship. It was like coming home.
One of the security people recognized me and then Jane and Dwight Allison (who are on the ISE Board and come to see ships off), then later several of the dining room stewards and a couple of the staff so it was not all new faces (although, of course there were lots).
After unpacking and trying to divide up our cabin, we had an LLL meeting - 63 people - several of them with young children. All look interesting and their names will come later! We have two coordinators - BettyWaldron, who has bee on many, many trips and done this before seems like a very competent and vivacious person and Chris, who looks very young and has been a Lindblad guide,and is here with his wife who is on staff too.
We were then all invited to a cocktail party for parents of departing students. The Captain talked about how he planned to out maneuver the two hurricanes, and the various deans and staff introduced themselves and then our "very special guest" Archbishop Desmond Tutu ( who wants to be called "father" or "Arch"!) was introduced to a standing ovation. What a beautiful, unassuming, warm and funny person he is. He told the parents that their children were in safe hands but would be returned to them changed by their experience (and would probably have changed their politic
s) and be more compassionate than previously and that the future of the world was in their hands. He set a very positive note.Yesterday we had
orientation all day and now classes begin. So more later
