March 1, 2007
So it has been a long eight days or so from Brazil to Cape Town and we are scheduled to arrive tomorrow morning. For anyone who thinks Semester at Sea might be an easier semester and lighter course load than back home, think again. I have read more and slept less in the last week than any week at NCSU. Man I wish I could speed read right about now. Anyhow, we also had Neptune day on ship where we paid homage to the god of the seas, King Neptune, for crossing the equator. Apparently, King Neptune is pleased if you have powdered milk poured over your head, salt water in your mouth, kiss two dead fish and kiss his ring. All of this of course needs to be done at eight in the morning. We also had a barbeque on board that same night which was greatly appreciated because the food has become quite repetitive. Food basically consists of a salad with no normal dressings, some potatoes, pasta, some type of meat or fish, steamed vegetables, and a bread roll. This is the same for lunch and dinner so anyone back home complaining about Fountain Dining hall on campus being bland, well it aint that bad. Don’t get me wrong I am still very thankful for the meals that we have as they are healthy and a hell of a lot more than many people are getting in some of the ports we visit. I also learned that despite the size of our ship it still likes to rock back and forth, A LOT! So understand when I come home and stumble around it is not because I am on drugs or have been drinking, it’s because that’s how I stay on my feet every day. We also had the Archbishop Desmond Tutu speak in our Global Studies class the last two days. He is the most compassionate, humble, friendly, and inspiring person I have ever listened to. He spoke about his experience as the head of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC) which from 1994-1996 was the commission in charge of addressing retributive actions and crimes carried out by the apartheid government and other parties. They granted amnesty to anyone who admitted their crimes publicly and some of the stories were horrendous. The examples were as horrendous as you might find in any genocide around the world but the committee and the people chose forgiveness instead of vengeance making the transition miraculously peaceful. How apartheid did not end in a bloodbath is still hard to imagine knowing the circumstances. He also addressed Iraq and some US policies and humanized the innocent Iraqis that die everyday in Baghdad. Some of the inspiring quotes of his I have listed below:
“I’m hoping you guys are going to say, our security is bottled up with the security of everybody else.”
“We have an incredible capacity for evil, but an even more incredible capacity for peace.”
“It’s the best form of self interest to care about that one over there, because like it or not we are bound together … and we are going to swim or sink together”
I was quickly reminded that insecurity anywhere and for anybody will inevitably lead to insecurity for us all and I believe we have forgotten this in America. Ultimately, it can not be through force in which we defeat terrorism, but through friendliness and compassion. To defeat poverty, hopelessness, and despair should be our goal. And as Thomas Friedman said, “We need an America that exports hope, and not fear.” On a lighter note, I am extremely excited about South Africa and if anyone wants me to pick up a pet giraffe, lion, elephant, or shark for them then let me know soon assuming one of the above doesn’t eat or trample me. That’s enough for now. Adios.
So it has been a long eight days or so from Brazil to Cape Town and we are scheduled to arrive tomorrow morning. For anyone who thinks Semester at Sea might be an easier semester and lighter course load than back home, think again. I have read more and slept less in the last week than any week at NCSU. Man I wish I could speed read right about now. Anyhow, we also had Neptune day on ship where we paid homage to the god of the seas, King Neptune, for crossing the equator. Apparently, King Neptune is pleased if you have powdered milk poured over your head, salt water in your mouth, kiss two dead fish and kiss his ring. All of this of course needs to be done at eight in the morning. We also had a barbeque on board that same night which was greatly appreciated because the food has become quite repetitive. Food basically consists of a salad with no normal dressings, some potatoes, pasta, some type of meat or fish, steamed vegetables, and a bread roll. This is the same for lunch and dinner so anyone back home complaining about Fountain Dining hall on campus being bland, well it aint that bad. Don’t get me wrong I am still very thankful for the meals that we have as they are healthy and a hell of a lot more than many people are getting in some of the ports we visit. I also learned that despite the size of our ship it still likes to rock back and forth, A LOT! So understand when I come home and stumble around it is not because I am on drugs or have been drinking, it’s because that’s how I stay on my feet every day. We also had the Archbishop Desmond Tutu speak in our Global Studies class the last two days. He is the most compassionate, humble, friendly, and inspiring person I have ever listened to. He spoke about his experience as the head of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC) which from 1994-1996 was the commission in charge of addressing retributive actions and crimes carried out by the apartheid government and other parties. They granted amnesty to anyone who admitted their crimes publicly and some of the stories were horrendous. The examples were as horrendous as you might find in any genocide around the world but the committee and the people chose forgiveness instead of vengeance making the transition miraculously peaceful. How apartheid did not end in a bloodbath is still hard to imagine knowing the circumstances. He also addressed Iraq and some US policies and humanized the innocent Iraqis that die everyday in Baghdad. Some of the inspiring quotes of his I have listed below:
“I’m hoping you guys are going to say, our security is bottled up with the security of everybody else.”
“We have an incredible capacity for evil, but an even more incredible capacity for peace.”
“It’s the best form of self interest to care about that one over there, because like it or not we are bound together … and we are going to swim or sink together”
I was quickly reminded that insecurity anywhere and for anybody will inevitably lead to insecurity for us all and I believe we have forgotten this in America. Ultimately, it can not be through force in which we defeat terrorism, but through friendliness and compassion. To defeat poverty, hopelessness, and despair should be our goal. And as Thomas Friedman said, “We need an America that exports hope, and not fear.” On a lighter note, I am extremely excited about South Africa and if anyone wants me to pick up a pet giraffe, lion, elephant, or shark for them then let me know soon assuming one of the above doesn’t eat or trample me. That’s enough for now. Adios.
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