A Typical Day on the MV Explorer

"What happens on the Explorer?" "What will we do all day?" "How will I fill my time?" Such questions come up frequently, so I thought I'd take a stab at outlining what might look like a typical day. (Note: everyone's day is different; the range of activities is amazing, and you will follow your own interests for clubs, lectures, classes, recreation, and down time.) Time goes by very quickly!

6:00-. Coffee and hot water are available in the Glazer Faculty Lounge. The Faculty Lounge is off-limits to all students and children at all times (except for special events).

7:00-8:30. Breakfast buffet.

8:00-5:30. Classes (75 minutes each), alternating on A/B days.

9:20-10:35. Global Studies. EVERYONE IS REQUIRED TO ATTEND GLOBAL STUDIES. Following Global Studies, the day includes study and reading time, classes, meals, exercise, meetings, rest.

11:30-1:30. Lunch.

You will need to sign up to use the exercise equipment; faculty can sign up the day before, and there will be a Faculty Only (morning) exercise time set aside.

5:00-6:00. Glazer Faculty Lounge open for cocktails. We often have other events at this time: receptions with the Life Long Learners (LLL), faculty meetings (these will be few and far between, unless you demand otherwise), etc.

5:00-8:00. Student clubs and meetings; other assorted programs.

5:30-7:30. Dinner.

8:00-9:00. Explorer Seminars. There will be multiple and overlapping lectures, presentations by Interport Lecturers, and optional activities. Two nights before arrival in a port there will be a Cultural Pre-port presentation; the night before arrival there will be a required Logistical Pre-port presentation (health and safety issues, etc.).

9:00-11:00. Designated Study Area for students (ie, quiet space for study and reading); probably the Aquamarine Dining Room.

9:00-11:00. Glazer Faculty Lounge open for faculty/staff, LLL relaxation and socializing. Bar closes at 11:00.

11:00--. Fall into bed exhausted, wondering where the day went, how it sped by so fast!

Important Dates

Here is the NEW and REVISED Academic Calendar for the Fall voyage. We have tried to eliminate most of the split ports (A-B days) since Singapore was added (didn't succeed for all of them, but this is a vast improvement). Please take note. I've also included on-board time and the orientation period.

Common Reading

I will be asking all voyagers --faculty, staff, students, lifelong learners -- to participate in a Common Reading experience, designed to set up the ways in which we will (I hope) become less like tourists and more like educated travelers on our journey around the world. Jamaica Kincaid's luminous short memoir called "A Small Place" (81 pp.) addresses the issue of how countries are viewed by visitors/tourists and how they present themselves to non-natives. This is in part the theme of our voyage (see below) so I think her book will enrich our experience. It's easy, it's fun, it's wonderful. Please get a copy and read it.

Amazon has new and used copies starting at $2.00. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Small-Place-Jamaica-Kincaid/dp/0374527075/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270206359&sr=8-1



IN ADDITION, you know that Archbishop Tutu will be on the voyage. His new book, "Made for Goodness, and Why This Makes All the Difference" (written with his daughter, Mpho Tutu, is a thoughtful and moving meditation on the human condition. I am sure that the Archbishop would be happy to talk with any of you about it (and sign a copy) if you're interested.