Welcome to the redesigned and updated GO Global Social Work webpage!
Initially, we developed this webpage to communicate and share our adventure on the Semester at Sea 2019 Spring voyage. Now, under the Journey section of the webpage, we continue to share thoughts and photos from our travels. As well, we write about travel as a lifestyle. We look forward to, post-Coronavirus, new adventures and connections as we explore the world.
We expanded the GOGlobalSW page to include commentary and thoughts, from a global social work perspective, about current issues. We provide reflections “as the mood hits us.” These observations are under the Reflection section of the webpage.
In addition, we started a scholarship at Western Kentucky University. The GO Global Scholarship supports social work students in international learning experiences. We will post about recipients of the scholarship. We invite you to support social work students by contributing to the scholarship. The Scholarship section of the webpage includes a link for more information and to donate, if interested.
We also invite you to follow us on Twitter (@GOGlobalSW). When we share a new entry on the webpage, we will post it on Twitter. If you wish to receive an email with our latest posts, please contact us at goglobalsw@gmail.com.
Social work is a life-changing profession. We advocate a meta-practice paradigm, which includes promoting an international perspective that contributes to positive and systemic world change. Join us as we explore the world through thought-provoking reflections, human connections, and diverse global perspectives. GO Global!
Traveling While Staying Home During the COVID-19 Crisis: Panoramic Views – Pandemic Connections
“Travel is a mindset, a lifestyle, a way of being (in) the world” GO Global
This blog is mostly about travel. Our travel philosophy is encapsulated in the above tag-line. It’s a good thing we believe that, because for the foreseeable future, “we ain’t going nowhere”…at least not geographically!
April 2019: We were ending our 4 months of sailing around the globe on a ship surrounded by 800-plus people. We documented that Semester at Sea (SAS) journey to 10 countries on this blog site.
April 2020: We are sequestered in our home, Casa de Paz, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We don’t venture much beyond our daily neighborhood walks. And, yet, we are connected and content—in part, because we are travelers!
“Yes”: A State-ment of Contentment
A SAS student gave us a high compliment in a recent note, which captures a travel lifestyle. She said, “I love how you have built your lives…balanced, happy, consistent, open—'Yes’ (if ‘yes’ could be an adjective.)”
In many circumstances, and certainly now, we recall the Philippians 4:11 lesson from our Baptist-brined upbringing: “I have learned in whatever state I am in, therewith, to be content.” How do we, as travelers, say, “Yes!” to our current state of geographic grounding? Heart and Art—and the stories they tell!
Both of us enjoy reading—but, Erlene, especially. Every book opens another portal. Being home means more reading time and I serendipitously selected Geography of the Heart from our bookshelves replete with choices. Fenton Johnson‘s compelling, beautifully-written memoir describes his journey with Larry Rose, falling in love and traversing their different, yet converging, worlds. Fenton is the 9th child in a Catholic family from rural Kentucky; Larry is an only child of Holocaust survivors, raised in California. They had three years together—deepened by a shared love of travel, especially France—before Larry died from HIV/AIDS. From the book’s dedication: “Reading is an unsurpassed interactive act, and serious readers among the least acknowledged and appreciated of revolutionaries.” Yes! Reading is a revolutionary, interactive way to traverse the world’s geography of the heart.
Similarly, films/movies provide another vehicle for traveling, whilst home. Watching a film set in places we’ve traveled lets us revisit those scenes and, hopefully, translate the stories in a cultural context. Likewise, watching films set in places we’ve yet to visit amplifies the joy of anticipating new horizons. Social media, in all its forms, when accessed with a balanced attitude, connect us. Media make the world smaller and more vast—whether sailing the ocean or sitting on the sofa.
Traveling at Home through Art
As we’ve shared before, we intentionally make travel part of “everyday” life. Our enjoyment of cooking and wine allows us to taste, smell, and savor some of our travel memories. Our home abounds with remnants and reminders of our travels—both abroad and closer to home. Each room in Casa de Paz has a theme that reflects parts of the world we’ve visited.
For instance, our Kiwi Cozy Breakfast Nook is defined by three pieces by an artist we met in Queenstown, New Zealand. The Ooh La La Guest Room has a Voila theme, with décor from France and similar pieces from both travels and everyday discoveries. The Llama Mama Gallo Room (aka Dining Room) is festooned with artistry from South American travels, including dishes purchased for Larry’s birthday in 2005. The room is guarded by a gaudy gallo (rooster), which held a special place in Erlene’s mother’s home. A colorful tablecloth selected at a silk market in Fez, Morocco makes meals Fez-tive. 😊 Because of our delightful lesson from a Vietnamese tour guide, Funny, the guest hall bathroom is playfully dubbed The Happy Room, blessed by the bubbly Buddha brought from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
Every photo captures a memory. Each art piece has a story. The pottery from many places we’ve traveled reminds of the myriad Earthy connections. While we’re grounded in our home, we can enjoy a gallery that evokes stories, promises new adventures, and solidifies connections.
Joy & Loss; Grief & Gratitude
In traveling, we often make connections, quickly and deeply, with people we may never see again in person. Yet, our hearts are changed indelibly; our worldviews are widened irrevocably—sometimes by a single encounter; other times through a more extended cultural exchange. The physical absence of people with whom we share connection is both ongoing grief and internalized joy experienced by travelers.
Every place we’ve traveled, we’ve encountered social situations and personal stories that bring pain, anger, sorrow. Every place we visit, we’re sad to leave. Our last day in Lima, Peru, the skies erupted with rain, seeming to exude our emotions. Our wonderful guide, Emilcar, with whom we had shared many days, explained that the country was crying and sad to see us go. The Semester at Sea village, when leaving any of the ports and, certainly, dispersing at our final port in Amsterdam, cried an ocean of tears. And, yet, this ocean is necessary in creating salty, joyful, life-sustaining tributaries of travel-home.
Gratitude is the arc that connects our experiences. Amidst this Coronavirus crisis, we are sad about the lack of physical connection, along with delayed or denied experiences. We’re concerned about the crisis, those most drastically affected, and the terrible tentacles of its origins and lasting impact. We’re incensed about the ineptitude, ego, and greed that multiplies this crisis, unnecessarily and immorally. Yet, we are grateful for every element of home; we are grateful for every travel memory, story, and possibility that sustains our spirits. Yes, our days are suffused with gratitude for a way of being (in) the world that connects us, spiritually and socially, through a geography of the heart--even when physically separate.
Pandemic: A Panoramic View for Earth Day
We’re in a pandemic. The Coronavirus is showing us, unequivocally, that the globe is connected. This particular crisis, which is life-threatening, is fed by evil intent and corruption; it is inflamed by pernicious privilege pitted against common good. It spreads through fear and divisiveness: Dis-ease. It conjures pandemonium—which, literally, means an abode of all demons.
What if we translated—actually, redeemed—the deeper meaning of pandemic? Pandemic simply means “prevalent over the world.” In Latin, “Pan” means “All” or “of Everything.” The Latin root of “demic” is “demos” (the same root for democracy), which literally means “among a people.” What if we chose not a pandemic of crisis, but a pandemic of opportunity?
What if, fellow travelers, we recognize and reclaim that we are “All” of “Everything”, connected amongst ourselves? What if we realized that, wherever we are in in the world, we are home to each other and with Mother Earth and Mother Ocean?
This week marks the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day—a time set aside to solidify our connections with and responsibility to our shared planet. What if, beginning now, on this new (Earth) Day, we take a panoramic view of our shared World? What if we channel our travel mindset to say “Yes” to a geography of the heart: Hope, possibility, peace, love, and just healing our home-planet? Wouldn’t that be Pandemic, Ya’ll?!
Reflection on a Journey: Happy Connections
“Happiness is a way of travel—not a destination.” (Roy M. Goodman)
Happy New Year! As we enter 2020, we reflect on where we were this time last year. As this blog documented, in January 2019 we began the trip of a lifetime, four months on Semester at Sea (SAS). As depicted in the photos below of the first and last days of our journey, in some ways, we didn’t change. 😊 Yes, we did change clothes, though not much, as we’ve learned the value of packing light and not buying stuff. (Unless, it’s Happy Buddhas!) But, we are indelibly changed…
Happy Travels—through Life
“Traveling—it leaves you speechless, then it turns you into a storyteller.” (Ibn Battuta)
In one of our first blog posts, we shared that Gretchen Rubin in The Happiness Project identifies four aspects of happiness: Anticipate, Savor, Express, and Recall (p. 107). Rubin concludes that all four facets are necessary for the optimal “happy time.” Undoubtedly, these aspects of happiness apply to every day.
Being intentional about anticipating, savoring, expressing, and recalling can make an “ordinary” day extraordinary. Anticipating the pleasure of seeing our grands, savoring time with them, expressing this pleasure to them, and recalling these times deepens our joy. Anticipating the pleasure of a daily walk (on the golf course or local park); savoring the moment of muted clouds, brilliant sun, trilling bird; expressing gratitude or pleasure to the Universe or a companion; and recalling the experience, through sharing a story or silently remembering: All these facets make the experience linger and infuse into our spirits, creating deeper happiness.
We find that of all the dimensions of life, travel engages these aspects of happiness in some of the most intense and meaningful ways.
Truly a World-Wide Web of Connections
“The Ocean Connects us all; It has no borders” (from the documentary, Blue)
As we write this blog, we have reunited with our beloved ocean and are on a month’s retreat on Hutchinson Island, Florida. Listening to the ocean waves and seeing the vast body of water that connects us all, we savor our current experience of our journey. Also, this retreat and return to the ocean is an ideal place to recall and express gratitude for the SAS Voyage and past travels—and anticipate future travels.
Connection is one of the first words that comes to mind in our reflections on the SAS Voyage and our absorption of that experience in the months since our return. Because of previous travel experiences, we anticipated that connections would be a key element of our experience. Yet, we could not have predicted the inexpressible impact of SAS connection.
We feel so much more connected! Connected to our shared planet; the vibrant world; the other travelers we came to love in the Ship community; the people we may have only met once, but who impacted our daily travel experiences, such as our guides or even—and perhaps especially—the stranger who smiled or stopped to help. Because of all we learned about the climate crisis, especially the impact on our Mother Ocean, we feel more connected to our planet—and more responsible for joining with others to affect change. Because of our increased awareness of human rights violations (and progress), we understand more deeply our shared humanity and the need for personal, political and social action, at home and abroad. These connections reinforce our personal and professional values of common good, social justice, and peace.
We understand, at a new level, the interconnected web of humanity. For instance, when we hear on the news about the ongoing situation in Myanmar, we think of the “beauty and brutality” of that country. When we hear about the political unrest in India, we think about our “Chalo, Chalo” connection. We feel connected to places we’ve never been, because we met people on the ship who were from those places. When we hear about the ravages of civil war in Sudan or the unrest and protests in Chile, we think about the brilliant students, Rayan and Felipe, from these countries who were leaders in the shipboard community. Closer to home, when we hear about events in Alabama, California, Oklahoma, Vermont…, we think about SASers who hail from there.
Happily, these connections continue with SASers! We are grateful for social media to continue our connections. Schuyler, one of Larry’s delightful students who lives locally, has had dinner with us a couple times. In the fall, a SAS life-long learner, Suzanne stopped by for lunch on her trek across country. November, 2019, we presented at a professional conference in Denver, CO. So, of course, we took a few extra days to re-connect with SASers in the area, including Laura T. and Susan S. in Denver. Karen and Mike hosted us for a couple nights in Ft. Collins, amidst a beautiful (but treacherous) winter snowstorm. Other SASers braved the elements for a dinner at their house: Oscar, Bernadette, Mia, Kelly, and Greg. And, brunch in Boulder with our “ship-daughter,” Megan H., was a special treat.
The Inward and Onward Journey
“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” (Anonymous)
Certainly, through this shared experience, we feel more connected to each other—closer as a couple. One of the joys of traveling with a companion is the anticipation, savoring, expressing, and recalling are doubled in the process. As we said in an earlier post, part of our wedding vows (36 years ago) was to travel the world together. Through sickness and health, throughout life’s journey, we keep our vows.
Also, though it’s perhaps the most difficult aspect to articulate, we feel more connected to ourselves—an individual, inward spiritual connection. Much of the deepening meaning of travel (as in life) is the reflection on experiences. John Dewey said, “We do not learn through experience, we learn through reflection on that experience.” This reflection involves recalling the experience, expressing (albeit perhaps internally) the impact of that experience, savoring the meaning and memory, and, then anticipating how to use that experience going forward.
So, happily, we are fortunate to be able to travel the world. Also, happily, we are able to travel, without leaving our home (Casa de Paz). The journey is both inward and onward.
No matter where the journey leads, we plan to live “happily ever after”—as we anticipate, savor, express, and recall. We will continue to post—as we document and reflect on our travel experiences—both inward and outward. We hope to see some of you in 2020, either somewhere in our travels or when you visit us at Casa de Paz. And, even if we don’t know you (yet-😊), if you are reading this blog, you’re a traveler, too. We are happy to be connected.
Journey: The Joy of Home…and Continued Travels!
“Travel teaches us about home, while teaching us about the world.” Thomas Swick
Throughout our Semester at Sea (SAS) voyage, we used Thomas Swick’s The Joys of Travel as a reflection tool. We wrote about the first joy, Anticipation, in one of our first posts. Our Keeping it Real post emphasized that, while routine is real, so is another joy of travel, i.e., break from routine. We hope sharing our varied modes of transport conveyed (Wink!) the joy of movement: Ship, boat, plane, train, bus, car, jeep, truck, rickshaw, taxi, tuk-tuk, and tootsies, oh my! And, we hope all our posts communicated the joys of novelty, discovery, and emotional connection.
Appreciating Home
“The sweetness of return is felt even by the traveler who is reluctant to leave” (Swick, p. 99)
Our SAS journey would not be complete, without reflecting on Swick’s final joy of travel: Heightened appreciation of home. When preparing for re-entry, SAS members were encouraged to consider the question: What do you most look forward to about returning home? What do you not look forward to? Honestly, we could identify so many things we looked forward to about returning home. And, the only thing we did not look forward to was the Spring yardwork that awaited. 😊
We relish and savor all the joys of travel! An (usually) unspoken assumption when one loves to travel is that we do not love home. And, indeed, that assumption is sometimes accurate; we meet people on our trips who travel to “escape” home. We don’t travel to escape—but to expand. We love our global village AND our Casa de Paz home!
We found our temporary ship-home’s comparatively tight space of our living quarters, with limited accoutrements, to be adequate. And, most of the time, we appreciated the experience of “enough”—except for that bed! And, we felt beyond fortunate to have the opportunities to explore and experience the vast world! Likewise, most of the time, we appreciated the opportunities for built-in community. Want to join someone for a meal: Literally hundreds of us shared the dining commons. Want something to do, see, experience: We had an ocean (wink!) of programming, people, possibilities!
At the same time, we missed our “tried and true blue” loved ones back home! We missed our familiar routine and surroundings. When we are home, we are so grateful for our “village.” And, we deeply appreciate the cozy, serene and—we hope—inviting ambience of our home. And, indeed, absence makes the heart grow fonder. We confess, we dreamt of our Casa de Paz home.
Yes! Returning home to dreams come true: Savoring freshly brewed morning coffee, in a favorite hefty mug, in utter silence; cooking meals and dining on our deck; having dear ones stay in our (quiet) guest quarters; working in a spacious home-office, with reliable internet (Woo! Hoo!).
This statement encapsulates it: “You arrive…and find [home] more beautiful than…the dream you had of it…Here are your pictures, your books, [your familiar life]…You reunite with the shower. Finally, you climb into bed—your bed—and the feeling of security is saturated with thankfulness.” (Swick, p. 99)
Being Part of the Global Village
“The farther you get from home—not just geographically, but emotionally—the clearer you see it.” (Swick, p. 89)
When we travel, we see more clearly the negatives about our home culture (U.S.). Swick mentions some of these: Inadequate public transport, fast food, rampant consumerism, noisy and loud atmospheres. We realize that, compared to many countries, the U.S. is going backwards in many social indicators, e.g., environmental protections, health care, women’s rights. And, we recommit ourselves to curtailing those negatives when we return home.
At the same time, we acknowledge the advantages our (privileged) U.S. home brings us—in terms of freedoms, choices, resources, and opportunities. Notably, Swick points out that many of us travel to experience the “foreign”—and realize that, actually, the U.S. culture (especially urban settings) is more diverse than most of the world. And, we recommit ourselves to protecting and celebrating those positives, as we return home.
These realizations about travel and home remind us that we are one global village. We recommit to a lifestyle that honors that interconnectedness.
Traveling, as a Lifestyle
“Travel, ideally, is both learning and teaching,” (Swick, p. 90)
Returning home, we reflect on how much we are influenced by our experiences and surroundings. We are challenged and changed by travel. We are comforted and rejuvenated by home. After our SAS journey, we are even more committed to making these two aspects complementary. Really, we want to make travel a lifestyle.
As we mentioned in our Keeping it Real blog, we incorporate elements of travel into our home through the artwork we find on our travels. We incorporate travel into our daily routines through the wine we drink and foods we prepare. Whenever we place the tablecloth we purchased in Fez, Morocco, we’ll feel more Fez-tive! (See what we did there!) The tablecloth complements the Peruvian dishes we got many years ago in Urumbamba, Peru for Larry’s birthday Plato Fiesta (Dish Party)!
Through media (social, news, movies and television, etc.), we travel through our interconnected world. And, of course! “…Books let you travel without moving your feet.” (Jhumpa Lahiri)
Finally and first, we want to have a travel-lifestyle through sharing our home with other travelers. So, know that at Casa de Paz, mi casa es su casa! Come visit! We will travel together through our shared stories, travel dreams, and interconnected journey.
Dreams of a North Carolina Boy and his Grandmother
“I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” Mary Anne Radmacher
My grandmother first introduced me to travel. When I visited Granny on her North Carolina farm, we’d look at the nighttime sky and talk about faraway places. Later, during my summer school break visits, we’d go to the airport and watch the airplanes take off, and wonder where they were going.
I don’t think Granny ever physically traveled internationally. She only visited these places in her mind and dreams—and our shared wondering.
Frequently, when I think about travel and go on my journeys to faraway lands, I think of Granny. She planted the seeds of adventure and curiosity in me long ago. And, my mother nurtured those seeds and supported my dreams of seeing the world and living abroad. It deepens my pleasure in travel to send pictures and share stories with my mother. Finally, my travel blossoms with my wife/partner, the ultimate travel companion, with whom to share memories and experiences. We even put travel in our wedding vows.
I think Granny would be proud of me. She would be pleased that I’m fulfilling my dream (our dream): Experiencing other cultures; sampling exotic foods; and meeting people who look and talk differently, yet, with whom we are more alike than different. As I reflect on this Semester at Sea journey, on a ship that circled the globe, I am aware that Granny was with me. My journey was her journey. Her dream of travel was fulfilled in me. We share the moon.
Keeping it Real
“Travel is intense living.” Rick Steves
The above Rick Steves quote is a truism that we embrace. Often when we travel, especially with student groups, people in the group remark, “Well, when we get back to reality…” This statement is usually made in the context of a significant, meaningful, enjoyable, or otherwise intense experience.
Always, we remind folks that travel is real. Actually, some of our most “real” experiences have occurred when traveling.
Routine is Not the Only Reality
In The Joys of Travel, Swick (2018) lists “break from routine,” as one of the joys of travel. He writes that in travel, you are “always learning and constantly caught off guard” (p. 34). He continues that travel makes one “vulnerable, [As you are]…leaving home and wandering sumptuously among imperfect strangers.” (p 31). In our Semester at Sea (SAS) Global Studies course, the professor Ken Cushner observed that connecting across cultures requires being comfortable with ambiguity. Hmm…Perhaps travel reveals new, co-existing “realities.”
We’ve realized that people think travel isn’t real because we mistake “everyday routine” for the essence of reality. That’s just not true. Both are real.
Swick also observes that a break from routine “is a joy that can also be a hurdle.” (p. 32). When we travel, as creatures of habit, we usually establish some routines. And, we have routines that are both particular to travel and similar to home. For instance, when traveling, Larry often awakens early and goes foraging for caffeine and checking out the environs, before Erlene arises. Back home, Larry gets up early, makes coffee, and reads newspapers to see what’s happening in the world. In both these realities, Larry is the early bird who “gets the worm.” And, Erlene is a lucky woman who gets to sleep late and prefers coffee to worms. Habitually, we try to accept and appreciate the full reality of both home and travel.
Delay & Nuisance; Sickness & Health
Swick cites another travel writer, Paul Theroux, as saying half of travel is “delay or nuisance.” In their debriefing reflections about their Japan experiences, students shared about walking for hours trying to find their B&B; ordering food that was not what they thought; and having conflict with travel partners.
In our wedding vows we pledged to travel the world, together. Also, we pledged to support one another in sickness and in health. Real life, i.e., travel includes sickness. For a few days prior to disembarking in Japan, travel got real in that way. Like many places in the world, the ship is experiencing winter illnesses. For several days, Erlene dealt with a cold. She felt really awful for a couple of days. Then, Larry got sick and ended up going to the clinic to see our wonderful Ship Doc Megan Reitz. Larry had a fever and was put in “time out” for 24 hours until the fever subsided. In travel/life, sometimes the body just needs to rest. So, we did. Sleep is universal medicine.
Really—Life is a Journey!
So, travel is not all happy-go-lucky. It includes mundane delay, aggravating nuisance, icky sickness, and more. It also includes once-in-a-lifetime adventures, serendipitous opportunities, and extraordinary experiences. So, we try to include routine reality into our travel and interweave travel reality into our home routine.
For instance, we started routinely enjoying wine years ago in part because it evokes travel for us. When we prepare a meal at home and pair it with wine from France or Spain or another country we’ve visited, we savor drinking the soil of that country. We taste the memories of our travels. When we read in the news about the happenings in New Zealand or Bolivia, we think of the people we met there who reside in our hearts. We collect art from our travels. At home, our daily routine evokes images of Peru, China, and other places we’ve traveled. All of these routinely remind us that life is a journey.
In other words, travel is REAL LIFE, ya’ll. Live it!
Catch the #Women’sWave on SAS Voyage!
“Women’s rights are human rights”—Hillary Clinton
Those who know me and Larry will not be surprised that we initiated a Women’s March on Semester at Sea (SAS)! At the event, I shared from a prepared reflection.
I introduced myself and welcomed everyone. I remarked on the large turnout, especially given that lots of other stuff is always happening on the ship. I noted the fantastic energy in the room. Here’s what I’d written.
I am a fierce and joyful feminist. And, just to clarify, those are not mutually exclusive terms—actually, they’re quite complementary. First, I want to be sure to give credit to my feminist partner of 35 years, Dr. Larry Owens, who had the idea for this March on the ship. He and I—along with other friends—went to the Women’s March in Washington, DC in January 2017, in response to the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The March was a local, national, and global phenomenon. For us, personally—and many, many others—it was a powerful experience of Solidarity.
Since that March, there have been other events. The Women’s March and its offshoots is attributed with being a significant factor in the U.S. 2018 mid-term elections, which saw a Wave of Women elected.
When we heard that the hashtag for the 2019 March was #Women’sWave, we thought: This has to happen on the SAS ship! SAS has sure got the Waves! AND, the women (and some great guys!)
We talked with SAS administrative staff, including Megan Arzbaecher, SAS’s exuberant social media guru, about it. We shared a big, fun goal to get the SAS photo on Rachel Maddow! (This hugely popular news-show in the U.S. covers women’s issues and the Women’s March, including photos depicting the variety of Women’s Marches.)
The March was SAS-approved and Megan was ready to film it for Rachel and SAS Her-story. We collaborated with Anis Martinez, the student leader of the SAS Women’s Gathering Club. She literally took up the Women’s Wave banner! It’s been wonderful working with her to pull this event together in a few days!
So, What is the Women’s Wave about? Like any social movement, it’s complex and can have multiple meanings. For OUR Wave, I suggest—as part of our SAS “World as Classroom”—that we see our March as Standing in Solidarity with Women’s groups (and our allies), large and small; local and global.
Today, We March in Solidarity with all who care about social justice and equality. We March Toward achieving economic gender equality across the globe. We March Toward addressing violence again women, including human trafficking, sexual assault and harassment, and the date rape culture so prevalent on college campuses. We March Toward achieving women and girls being equitably represented in positions of power, including governments. We March Toward protecting women’s rights to bodily autonomy and reproductive choice. We March Toward proactively addressing sexism, misogyny, toxic masculinity, and toxic femininity.
I invite you to Catch the Wave! Let’s make today’s March be a new or re-newed commitment to gender equality. Think about how you want to keep the Wave going. Learn more about women’s issues. In the countries we’re visiting: Talk with people, read, and observe to learn about women’s status and rights. Talk with each other about your personal experiences as a woman in our world.
From microaggressions, such as having our voices marginalized or silenced, to large-scale violence, sharing our stories is powerful. The #MeToo (and #WeToo) Movement is gaining power because women are sharing our stories and realizing we aren’t alone.
So, as we March to the Bathing Woman Statue on Deck 7 for our photo, I invite you to talk with one another about What this March means to you and one thing you can do to Catch the Wave and keep it going?
For example, we’ve been learning so much about Mother Ocean and climate change! Karina Holden [Interport Lecturer, “Blue” documentary producer and director] told some of us about a political advocacy group ”Climate Change is Man-Made! We need a Feminist Solution!” Once I can get on the Internet again (!), I’m going to connect my newfound love of Mother Ocean with my long-standing feminism, and check out joining that group!*
So, how will YOU Catch the Wave?
Chant: What’s the Wave? Women’s Wave! What’s the Wave? Women’s Wave! What’s the Wave?...
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[*Update: With being reunited with my Beloved Google, I learned that this movement is headed by Mary Robinson, whom I admire greatly! She spoke at the Global Conference on Social Work, Social Development, & Education, which Larry and I participated in this past summer in Dublin, Ireland. She is former president of Ireland, former UN High Commissioner, and one of The Elders, an independent Global Group of leaders dedicated to justice, peace, and human rights!]
Mother Ocean
“We were Voyagers!”--Moana
One of the biggest surprises of this Voyage is how much we’re learning about the Ocean. Before this Voyage, we knew very little about the ocean, except it’s wet and serves as a backdrop for beach photos! We just thought of the ocean as how we would get from point A to Point B on the Voyage.
So, it’s particularly enlightening to deepen (pun intended) our understanding about the Ocean. We’ve realized that we have two mothers (Mother Earth and Mother Ocean). Learning about a new mother and that we have lesbian Planetary parents is quite a lovely discovery! Learning that we (humans) are trashing our Other Mother as much (maybe more) as Mother Earth is quite sobering.
The Global Studies course has oceanography lectures, which are excellent. And, Semester at Sea (SAS) has Interport lecturers, content experts who sail with us from one port to the next. These distinguished guests hang out, share meals with the community, provide guest lectures in classes, and do a keynote kind of presentation.
The Deep, Deep “Blue”
Ms. Karina Holden sailed, with us from San Diego to Honolulu. She is the producer and director of the acclaimed documentary, “Blue,” which was screened at the United Nations in New York. We cannot adequately describe this brilliant film. Greenpeace Australia said, “Blue is a cinematic song for our oceans; beautiful, intimate, and grand. Fearlessly truth-telling, yet passionately hopeful. See this film and you will want to rise up with the waves.” Please, just check it out! www.Bluethefilm.org
Spending time with Karina and learning about her work was a distinct privilege. We shared a small table with her at several meals. She is such an authentic human being. Her approach to her work and her story are inspiring, in and of themselves. Erlene mentioned that her work reminded of Moana (e.g., feminist approach). Karina shared that she garnered funding for the documentary through a highly competitive process. The funding source also funded Moana! Then, when we actually saw the documentary…WOW!
The night of the showing of “Blue,” the large Union hall was packed with almost every person on the ship in attendance. The energy in the room was electric. During the viewing, we were all mesmerized—no side-talking, etc. Then, Karina did a Q&A. The film is more than a movie; it’s a movement, with exponential resources and educational efforts. #oceanguardians!
Stop Trashing Our Mama
Continuing the Voyage, it’s amazing to hear our resident oceanographer faculty member, Dr. Laurie McConnico, talk with such passion in class. This Voyage is the first time SAS has had an oceanographer lecturer; we cannot imagine the Voyage without it. We are learning so much about a completely different, complex, essential world below the water’s surface.
Laurie expertly draws the inter-connections of “Mother Ocean” (which covers 70% of our planet and provides most of the oxygen we breathe) to life on land. One of the biggest lessons so far is the connections between our everyday behavior—even far in-land (Yes, Kentucky!)—and the threat to our Mother Ocean. Literally, our trash is killing it.
It should come as no surprise to anyone that plastic is problematic. However, Plastic is THE biggest threat to ocean life and, ultimately, all life on this planet. “Blue” will convince you—and give hope and resources to be part of the solution!
Moana Connects Us All
While sailing on Mother Ocean, we are also learning about the culture of Oceania, the Pacific Islands. One of the evening lectures given by Anthropology professor, Dr. Patricia Delaney, was very informative. The lecture was followed by a showing of Moana, a favorite of Erlene’s! The lecture heightened understanding of how well (albeit with limitations) the movie depicts the Polynesian culture.
Moana means Ocean, Ya’ll! With a deepening appreciation of Mother Ocean and initial understanding of Oceania culture, the movie was even more compelling! Without giving away too much about the film for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet (Please, do!), the film is about female power and a feminine approach. In particular, the ending is a startling, beautiful depiction of saving the planet through koru heart reconnection—as contrasted with traditional approaches of war and violence. With this new depth of understanding, the Ocean connection in Moana is crystal clear now. “The Ocean has no borders. It connects us all.” (quote from “Blue”).
Like Moana, because of SAS 2019, we will be able to say, “We were Voyagers…” And like the Voyager Shero, Moana, may we all go on adventures, claim our purpose, and do what is necessary to (re)connect Mother Ocean, Mother Earth, and all their beautiful creations. #oceanguardian
Life on the Love Boat
“We are the world…” (Michael Jackson)
January 14th, we celebrated our 35th Anniversary, sailing the Pacific, dining on French cuisine in the fancy Four Seasons restaurant on The Love Boat! Our Semester at Sea (SAS) ship, the MV World Odyssey, was used in the TV program Das Traumschiff ("The Dream Ship"), the German equivalent to The Love Boat. Yes, our ship came in, and it’s the Love Boat!
What Time is It?
For the Voyage, we are on the ship approximately 50 days and in country 50 days. As we write this post, we are sailing for almost three weeks from San Diego, CA to Kobe, Japan, with a day in Hawaii to refuel. On board, we’ve established somewhat of a routine. However, ship time is rather confusing, because of the erratic timeline. The schedule for classes while on the ship is “A” days and “B” days, rather than days of the week. Larry teaches two classes on A days and one class on B days, all afternoon classes. We both attend the Global Studies course on B days, 0930-1100. Most days, Erlene carves out a few “office hours”; walks several times on the upper deck, usually with other walkers; and does yoga. Larry is figuring out the best time to go to the small gym, with machines and weights.
Typically, Larry, the early-early bird, gets up by 0500ish and goes to the Fritz (a quiet, study space for faculty during the day and a bar at night) for a bit of class preparation time. Then, at 0630ish, we both go up one deck to breakfast. Erlene is enjoying being a morning person on this trip, as we started out on Pacific time, and every few days on the ocean, we move the clocks back an hour. And, we skipped January 16th when we crossed the International Date Line. Also, the ship uses military time (1300 equals 1:00pm, etc.). So, with all these factors, we never know what time it is. But, with mostly sunny or partly cloudy weather, we get to see the sunrise and sunset. And, so far, we haven’t missed a meal.
Good Eats!
In addition to the Four Seasons (a special occasion restaurant), for daily meals, the ship has two large restaurants. The food is quite good, although the coffee is sub-par. The breakfast buffet includes eggs, meat, potatoes, French toast or pancakes, various breads, cheeses, cold meats, yogurt, cold cereals, milk, fresh fruit, and juice. Each day a big hot pot of oatmeal, grits, or cream of wheat is available. Also, the ubiquitous peanut butter and jelly is always available. We’ve heard that the ship goes through an exorbitant amount of peanut butter!
A couple of decks have small grills that provide burgers, fries, smoothies, etc. Upon the advice of previous Voyagers, we haven’t eaten there, because it costs extra and we don’t want to get in that habit.
Lunch is served 1130-1330 and dinner 1730-1930. The daily fare includes a large salad bar, and a variety of vegan, vegetarian, and meats. The food is really “clean” and fresh. We have lots of water, lemonade, and juices—no soft drinks. The German butter is Erlene’s treat and Larry enjoys the desserts that are like most European sweets—not so cloyingly sweet as typical in the U.S.
The Fritz Bar is open for faculty in the evenings and is a nice place to unwind with other staculty. The wine and other drinks are good quality. The students are allowed occasional alcoholic beverages at the grill. They were required to attend a responsible drinking seminar, prior to the first night of “beverage services.”
Seeing the World on the Ship
Whilst enjoying the routine, every day on this ship is out-of-the ordinary. Daily, we connect with students, faculty, staff, family members, and guests who are travelers! At meals or just daily ship life, we share stories, learn new things, engage in exchanges: A world of experiences! Most evenings include a variety of programs, speakers, and activities for the ship community. The students self-select into an array of clubs, from Photography, Kindness, SAS on a Budget, Jews on a Cruise, and many more!
As one of the WKU students commented, before we stopped in Hawaii, “I feel like I’m already seeing the world and we haven’t even left the ship.” Indeed, we are the world!
Teaching-Learning at Sea
“The World is your Classroom.”—SAS Motto
So, what’s it like teaching on Semester at Sea (SAS)? I (Larry) have been working hard! Thankfully, the campus is gorgeous, colleagues are great, the curriculum is interesting, and students are fabulous. My teaching-learning philosophy states that “I agree with bell hooks’ assertion that effective teaching engages the ‘world as classroom’,” which mirrors SAS’s motto of “The world is your classroom.” Talk about a good fit!
Opportunities & Challenges
As mentioned previously, SAS is a college campus on a cruise ship. The effort that goes into creating a high-caliber living-learning environment like none other is incredible. The residential living and academic teams provide a wide range of services and opportunities, not unlike any land-based college campus. Yet, we are in a unique environment, which provides the opportunity (and challenge) to create a global learning environment. Faculty and staff (Staculty) bring a range of international experiences and eclectic backgrounds (More about Staculty and life-long learners in a later post.)
The students on the voyage are engaged, interesting, and amazing. They come from 219 universities worldwide and the average GPA is 3.42. (See photo below - S’19 Voyage: By the Numbers). For the most part, if I give them a discussion question, they take off with it. At the same time, I really have to bring my teaching game, because they are sharp learners.
Most of the students are traditionally-aged college students (18-22 years old). The students have a wide range of majors. I’m accustomed to teaching mostly social work majors. However, we’ve only met a couple of social work students on the voyage. So, it presents both a challenge and opportunity to talk about social work and share with them about the profession. In the past week, three students asked to meet for lunch or dinner to talk about either majoring in social work or later going to graduate school for an MSW. Growing the profession!
Students take four courses. Course offerings include classes on a range disciplines and topics including psychology, business, photography, culinary arts, and oceanography. Of the four courses, all students are required to take a Global Studies course; faculty and staff also attend this course. The course provides a common thread woven throughout the curriculum and Voyage experience. The course provides information on globalization and what it means to be a global citizen; history, background, and culture of the countries we’ll be visiting; and lectures from an oceanographer about the Ocean that is our home for over 50 days on the voyage. (See our post on Mother Ocean!)
I didn’t expect to have so many international (or non-USA) students in my classes. It is great! One of my courses has nine countries represented. We also have several international faculty (e.g. Canada, Germany, Brazil, etc.). As a result, it provides the opportunity and challenge for USA faculty to not be “USA-centric” and assume everyone is from the United States. We must be particularly attentive to not using “us” or “we” or “American” when referring to the United States. It’s a good reminder to be even more intentional in our language, even when not traveling.
Challenges & Opportunities
I’m teaching three courses—all new preps! One of the challenges of teaching on the ship is technology—or lack of it! The internet is almost non-existent. I’ve realized I’m more dependent on technology than I thought. The ship does have an intranet system that works fairly well. We use the learning management system Moodle. I’m having to adjust to not being able to (sometimes spontaneously) use media, such as YouTube videos in class. I miss my Google almost as much as I miss my Starbucks!
Classroom space is another challenge. We have to create classrooms using existing ship spaces. Thus, courses are taught in the restaurants, the theatre, and sections of the large meeting halls on the ship. Class time must compete with a noisy ice-maker, beckoning sunny decks, and rocking seasickness. We do have laptops and monitors to show PowerPoints and other media/documents we brought with us on the voyage. So, instructors must adapt! The “f” word is used quite a bit: Flexibility!
So, what’s it like teaching on Semester at Sea? It’s another “f” word: Fabulous! So far, it’s one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my career. It’s requiring me to get outside my comfort zone. I tend to be fairly structured in courses back home. Like travel, I’m having to learn more about being flexible, adaptable, and dealing with the unknown or unexpected, which provides both challenges and opportunities. Undoubtedly, I will be a better teacher, global citizen, and human being when I return from this Voyage.
Introduction to the Blog
Welcome to our GO Global SW’s Semester at Sea (SAS) Blog!
We’re participating on the Spring 2019 SAS voyage. We will sail four months on a ship that circles the globe. We fly from Louisville, KY to San Diego, CA on December 31st for orientation. Then, we officially embark January 2nd, returning home April 26th.
Larry was selected as the first ever Social Work faculty to teach on SAS! He will be teaching three courses on this cruising “college campus.” Erlene will be working on writing projects and product development for The Wellness Group, ETC. We’re excited about this unique opportunity to visit 10 countries, interact and work with faculty and staff from across the country, and share with students an international perspective to social work and social welfare.
We provide this blog to share our JOURNEY with others, and keep family and friends informed of our location and activities. Check back periodically as we post observations and photos. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section at the bottom of each blog post. And, you can contact us by my email on the Contact Us page.