And so I have arrived. I have some pictures to share but no way yet to get them out of my camera and into the Internet. I will continue to investigate.
Today we rowed. I got to take a turn both as a rower (number 8 mostly as well as some time at number 1) and as coxun. Went pretty well and got the hang of it after a while. There were some problems with minor mutinys with some members calling rest pre-emptively, but once we got together we were able to move the old lifeboat pretty well.
So far things are going well. There are about 40 of us living aboard the T/S State of Michigan. We're organized into teams that have different watches or details, but so far it isn't too different from an intensive school term. I've met a few people in a situation not too diffferent from me. Of course there are dozens of 18-year olds fresh from school with a bit more energy than sense. I was one of those once too and I remember it well. But I've found a small cadre of 26-40 year olds to hang out with that can have better conversations. Including one 57-year old former printer and insurance business owner. So I don't really feel like I'm too late here.
Most of the day is taken up in class. We have two classes during this two-week orientation period. One is an intro to Marine Engineering, which familiarizes all with the basic workings of the ship. For those in the deck program, this may be the most technical information they get into, so it helps them to be familiar with the systems if the need ever arises. The other class is Survival at Sea, which satisfies the Water Survival / Lifeboatman training required, and details all of the emergency system, regulations and drills required. They are both pretty interesting and have learned quite a few new things, but they are still entry level and I know I'll learn a lot more once I get into some of the deeper classes.
In most ways it isn't much different from college. We have to wear uniforms, and just to make it difficult there are 3 uniforms, just for the ship, and which one you wear depends upon where you are working and what the uniform of the day is (which is announced over the ship address the night before). Of course, the ship uniforms are different from the Academy uniforms, which we also have and which also come in multiple versions.
We can't leave the ship between 5 PM and 7 AM without signing out and can't return aboard without a photo ID. This is actually a part of the Ship's Security Plan (required by government regulations put in place after 9/11), and isn't too much of a challenge.
But even most of these modest requirements will relax once the normal term starts. Uniforms will be required, but you can live and come and go as you please. Went to the bookstore yesterday: That much hasn't changed. $600 for the term.
Altogether we have cadets from Alaska, Colorado, California and the Bahamas, as well as a large contingent from the Great Lakes area. Everyone has been decent or at least tolerable. Still I'm anxious to get through this part into the classes, and ultimately anxious to get beyond that to next summer for my first 90 days at sea. And still, I have no doubts that this is the right path.
Posted by ktismael at August 16, 2005 11:14 AM