Some of you have sent me emails asking how things are going. Not surprisingly, we are loving this. Yes, this is one of those experiences that makes me feel like I've stolen something.
You might find it strange to hear me say this, but part of what makes this experience so special is that everything is just a bit more difficult than you would expect. Everything.
Every day at sea can be divided into 4 parts. Teaching. Eating. Prep. Working Out.
Karen and I start our day at 5:30 am to work out. I know that sounds hard core, but it's really not since we are heading west and we change time zones every 1 to 2 days. It's been really easy to wake up early since we get an extra hour of sleep most days. We finish by 7 and it's off to breakfast.
Working out on a ship is not easy though, especially since we've had 4 meter swells for the past week. Watching people trying to run on the treadmill is hilarious as the ship pitches back and forth! I don't even waste my time with that - no running on this trip. Instead, I get on the spinning bike for 30-45 minutes every morning, and then lift weights. I won't even try to explain what it is like to lift on a rocking ship, but let's just say it's good for the core! The other great thing is that the sun rises off the back of the ship sometime during my workout each morning. A sunrise at sea is something really special, and something I lack the literary talent to describe properly. Just take my word for it.
There are no scales on the ship, but I'm guessing I've put on 8 pounds or so. 5 of it is good stuff. 3 is not. I really couldn't care less though. If I put on 15 pounds so what? I'll take it off when I get home if it's a problem. It's the last thing I should be worried about, and it is.
Eating on the ship is an experience as well. First of all, the food is very good. It's cafeteria style, it's tasty, and there is plenty of it. I've discovered just how much I love scrambled eggs. And omelets. And Cocoa Roos. At home I typically skip breakfast. Here, I'm famished by the time 7 am rolls around and it's 600 calories of goodness every morning. I've heard 30 different explanations as to why we are all so damn hungry all of the time. I don't know which explanation is correct, but all I know is that I'm hungrier than I've ever been.
Meals are exhausting for me though. We typically sit with groups of students, and man can they talk! And ask questions. Constantly. I really love meals, but I answer questions non-stop so by the time I'm done with a meal I'm pretty wrecked. Looking out over the ocean on the back deck for every meal is pretty amazing though, and it makes the time fly.
Then there's teaching. Let's just say that teaching on a ship that pitches back and forth like we've been the last week presents some challenges. I have to hold on to things just so I don't get flung across the room. The projector bounces like it's attached to a galloping horse. I try to point on things on the screen, but it's constantly swaying back and forth so I have to chase my material. Nothing is easy. My students are great though, and they ask so many questions that we are covering material at less than half the pace I expected. The teaching is hugely rewarding though, because they are so interested and engaged. Our hour and fifteen minute classes are over with in flash. The teaching I'm doing here is as rewarding as the teaching I did for the Yellowstone Field course I taught for the University of Pittsburgh. These are easily the two most rewarding things I've done academically.
When I'm not teaching, working out, or eating, I'm preparing. Preparing for classes. Preparing for shipwide talks. In the first 14 days I've taught every day, and given 2 shipwide presentations. There are no off days at sea. Just A days and B days. I teach both days. When I got on the ship, I did not have any of my classes prepared, so I've been working frantically with every available minute trying to get enough material ready for all of my classes. I've also had to prepare a couple of big talks that have stressed me out. I have been so behind that I haven't had a chance to relax, so I've been pretty stressed.
BUT! I finally have enough material to get me through China, so I think I can add a fifth part of my day. Relaxation. At least a few hours a day. I might even see my wife again! I don't get to see Karen all that much. I actually see less of her on the ship than I do at home. She takes about 4 classes a day, so she is gone a lot. But it's all good! Really! It's been busy and a bit stressful, but really amazing at the same time. I know I can't keep this pace up for 3.5 more months, so it's a good time to dial it back a bit and really start enjoying it.
You might find it strange to hear me say this, but part of what makes this experience so special is that everything is just a bit more difficult than you would expect. Everything.
Every day at sea can be divided into 4 parts. Teaching. Eating. Prep. Working Out.
Karen and I start our day at 5:30 am to work out. I know that sounds hard core, but it's really not since we are heading west and we change time zones every 1 to 2 days. It's been really easy to wake up early since we get an extra hour of sleep most days. We finish by 7 and it's off to breakfast.
Working out on a ship is not easy though, especially since we've had 4 meter swells for the past week. Watching people trying to run on the treadmill is hilarious as the ship pitches back and forth! I don't even waste my time with that - no running on this trip. Instead, I get on the spinning bike for 30-45 minutes every morning, and then lift weights. I won't even try to explain what it is like to lift on a rocking ship, but let's just say it's good for the core! The other great thing is that the sun rises off the back of the ship sometime during my workout each morning. A sunrise at sea is something really special, and something I lack the literary talent to describe properly. Just take my word for it.
Karen pumping the iron at sunrise.
Never gets old.
There are no scales on the ship, but I'm guessing I've put on 8 pounds or so. 5 of it is good stuff. 3 is not. I really couldn't care less though. If I put on 15 pounds so what? I'll take it off when I get home if it's a problem. It's the last thing I should be worried about, and it is.
Eating on the ship is an experience as well. First of all, the food is very good. It's cafeteria style, it's tasty, and there is plenty of it. I've discovered just how much I love scrambled eggs. And omelets. And Cocoa Roos. At home I typically skip breakfast. Here, I'm famished by the time 7 am rolls around and it's 600 calories of goodness every morning. I've heard 30 different explanations as to why we are all so damn hungry all of the time. I don't know which explanation is correct, but all I know is that I'm hungrier than I've ever been.
Channeling my inner 5 year old at breakfast - every morning.
Meals are exhausting for me though. We typically sit with groups of students, and man can they talk! And ask questions. Constantly. I really love meals, but I answer questions non-stop so by the time I'm done with a meal I'm pretty wrecked. Looking out over the ocean on the back deck for every meal is pretty amazing though, and it makes the time fly.
Then there's teaching. Let's just say that teaching on a ship that pitches back and forth like we've been the last week presents some challenges. I have to hold on to things just so I don't get flung across the room. The projector bounces like it's attached to a galloping horse. I try to point on things on the screen, but it's constantly swaying back and forth so I have to chase my material. Nothing is easy. My students are great though, and they ask so many questions that we are covering material at less than half the pace I expected. The teaching is hugely rewarding though, because they are so interested and engaged. Our hour and fifteen minute classes are over with in flash. The teaching I'm doing here is as rewarding as the teaching I did for the Yellowstone Field course I taught for the University of Pittsburgh. These are easily the two most rewarding things I've done academically.
When I'm not teaching, working out, or eating, I'm preparing. Preparing for classes. Preparing for shipwide talks. In the first 14 days I've taught every day, and given 2 shipwide presentations. There are no off days at sea. Just A days and B days. I teach both days. When I got on the ship, I did not have any of my classes prepared, so I've been working frantically with every available minute trying to get enough material ready for all of my classes. I've also had to prepare a couple of big talks that have stressed me out. I have been so behind that I haven't had a chance to relax, so I've been pretty stressed.
BUT! I finally have enough material to get me through China, so I think I can add a fifth part of my day. Relaxation. At least a few hours a day. I might even see my wife again! I don't get to see Karen all that much. I actually see less of her on the ship than I do at home. She takes about 4 classes a day, so she is gone a lot. But it's all good! Really! It's been busy and a bit stressful, but really amazing at the same time. I know I can't keep this pace up for 3.5 more months, so it's a good time to dial it back a bit and really start enjoying it.
No comments:
Post a Comment