Social Networking

As we get ready for the voyage, it's interesting to see how the students have already started to "meet". There is a facebook page for the voyage (actually two) at http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=41365828&id=1525538#/group.php?gid=25775671275&ref=ts

The students have started to introduce themselves and ask questions. At least one alumni of a previous voyage has helped with a lot of the answers. They have also started discussion threads like "Onboard Activities" and have linked up some interests like a cappella singing groups or "Great Wall of China" where there is a strong interest in a trip that will allow them to sleep on the Great Wall (at near freezing temperatures). At least one regional group has met in New England for dinner, and others are making arrangements to share rooms and fly together to San Diego.

The sharing of information is great. I thinks it relieves some of the anxiety to know that there are others on the voyage who share your same interest or are in the same financial situation, or have similar goals. And it looks like a fun group of students.

Required Class: Global Studies

Every person on the voyage (including faculty) is required to take the Global Studies class.
The syllabus for Global Studies states:
Participants learn how to understand cultural and social phenomena with which they will interact during the semester. Global Studies equips participants with observational and analytical skills for encountering societies different from their own, and different from each other - a key factor in facilitating the integration of class work and field work for all courses.

To accommodate all the students and staff, one section of Global Studies will meet in the morning and one section will meet after lunch. This voyage will include this group project:

Working as a team of no more than seven students, each group will prepare a lesson plan for a high school class on some aspect of sustainability from a global perspective.

This is a real life exercise that will be incorporated into a real component of a high school class.
Students will choose their own group topic. Sample topics include:
Recycling Projects
Public Transportation
Programs to Eliminate Poverty
Women’s Role in the Community
Water Usage

This project will further engage the students while in port, and the presentations should be quite interesting to observe.

What's it Like

I had an interesting conversation with some new friends at dinner this weekend, and they were interested in what will be going on while we are at sea. I explained that a full range of about 80 classes would be offered including, biology, literature, anthropology, politics, etc. Since the theme of this voyage (not to be confused with cruise) is sustainability, so each course will be taught with an emphasis on sustainability. While the ship is at sea, classes will meet every day of the week. Classes are either A days or B days, so they meet every other day. While in port, classes will not meet, but a full range of Field Directed Practica (FDPs) are arranged for the students. Students may take part in the FDPs, Semester at Sea arranged tours/excursions, or independent travel. The students must take some of the FDPs because each course requires participation as a component of the final grade. The classes are listed at http://www.ise.virginia.edu/syllabi/s10/S10_Course_List.pdf

As an example of an FDP, one syllabus states: Prior to our arrival in each port...I will distribute a list of questions derived from the readings, themes and problems addressed in this course and appropriate to the country we are visiting. Based on your experiences in the FDPs, you will write a report in which you answer at least two of the questions on the list, explaining how your observations onshore support your conclusions. Many of the classes require journals from each port, and some require a photo essay. It's safe to say that students have to be engaged in learning while in the port.

The reading lists for each course are pretty extensive--some requiring the reading of at least 6 books. I've been reading the syllabi, and it is an impressive list of courses with interesting reading lists. I've even started reading some of them myself.

Learning the ship

The library on the ship is very centrally located, and previous librarians have informed me that much of the time in the early part of the voyage is spent directing students to places on the ship. I've been trying to memorize the layout. I know where the dining halls and bathrooms are and I'm sure I can get from the library to the faculty lounge in 5 seconds. Now if only I had a forward room on the 5th deck. The library is just outside the Union, so we'll see the students every day as they enter and exit for the Global Studies class. I feel useful already.

It is hitting me more and more that I know so little about the countries we will visit. I'm trying to read a book that somehow deals with every country. My first book was "Catfish and Mandala" by Andrew Pham. It deals with a bicycle tour through Vietnam by the author who left Vietnam as a child and returned. I'm now reading "A Traveller's History of South Africa" by David Mason. South Africa has quite an amazing history.

Introduction

My name is Warner Granade, and I will be the librarian for the Spring 2010 voyage of Semester at Sea. I am currently the Circulation Manager of Alderman Library at the University of Virginia. I have worked with students at UVA since 1984. Prior to that, I was the Business Librarian at the University of Tennessee. My educational background includes a BS in Business from Auburn (War Eagle) as well as an MS in Economics. I then went to UNC (Go Heels) at Chapel Hill and got a MSLS (library science).

My wife, Nancy Covert, will be accompanying me on the voyage. She is a professional horse trainer and riding instructor. She competes in dressage and 3-day eventing. She operates BlakelyFarm, our 47 acre horse facility outside Charlottesville Va. Nancy is a graduate of Kalamazoo College in Biology. Nancy will be happy to "talk horses" at any time on the voyage.

I enjoy playing golf as well as following the foxhounds on foot. I am a season ticket holder for UVA baseball, and baseball is one of the things I will miss while away. In addition to competitive riding, Nancy foxhunts and practices Bikram Yoga. We both spend a lot of time outdoors , gardening, birdwatching and doing farm maintenance and we are excited about the trip. This will be my first trip abroad. Nancy spent a semester abroad in France when she was in college.

We will happily adopt any student who needs a surrogate parent.

It's getting closer and closer to time of departure for Nancy and me. That was made more real when I got my physical last week and the first of several shots. I've been pretty busy getting ready for the voyage by reading all the syllabi, following the kids on the Facebook group:

Semester at Sea Spring 2010

My "to do" list is still pretty long, but the ship's library should be well stocked for the "sustainability" theme.
Sustainability is the theme of the Spring 2010 voyage of Semester at Sea. We define sustainability as a "society of permanence"—a world in which humanity ensures its well-being across the generations by improving the stability of ecological and sociocultural systems. Achieving a sustainable society will require decisionmakers to address issues of scale, just distribution, and economic efficiency.

Thanks to Mary and all the library staff who are working behind the scenes to get books ordered and articles scanned. It's a real team effort.