The End of the World...

Well it’s almost May 22nd, so it doesn’t seem like the world has come to an end. I’m quite glad too because my first day of class was today. It has been a challenge trying to maintain my balance on the ship, but so far I’m managing. It was unusual to be in rocking classroom where the projector screen swayed slightly with the boat and to see the ocean outside my classroom window. The class consists of two professors that are collaborating together and about a dozen students and Lifelong Learners. The group is really diverse with people from all over the place with unique experiences and opinions/perspectives. The class was basically a discussion group and the 2.5 hour class flew by! I’m (and I think the whole class is) still trying to grasp a solid understanding of Humanitarian Engineering, but from the assignments and class discussion, I’m excited to learn more. After class was our Seminar, where we have a group project and are working in randomly selected groups of three. We have to create a conceptual solution for one of the issues in the countries we are visiting, in alignment with the U.N.'s Millenium Developmental Goals. That's due towards the end of the voyage.
Probably the most intriguing part of the experience thus far has been the variety of conversations that I have held with various people, from the Academic Dean to Lifelong Learners and my fellow peers. I’m going to try an do some more homework before I go for the late night snack at 2200. A few more days at sea before we arrive in Trinidad.

¡Hasta luego!
Matt