20 mph
Dean Mike has a line about how we're going around the world ... on a ship ... at 20 miles per hour ... tomorrow we reach Brazil. It's been a VERY long intense week. The students are fried, the faculty are fried, the staff are fried, everybody is very happy to be getting off the ship for a few days. Our first Global Studies exam was this morning and students had many other papers due, the faculty were asked to give an early assignment. Everyone was overjoyed as the day moved on and classes finished up. It was like the last day of classes before a holiday break. We had a birthday party for one of our workstudy students. Sherri had her camera and I'll post some pictures of our merry band after I get them from her. The workstudy students are all great, we're enjoying them a lot. Sherri went to great lengths to get a birthday cake delivered to the library & it was a very lovely party.
Last night, we had a cultural pre-port to talk about Brazil, especially Carnaval. The pre-port was good (I hear it isn't always), the ethnomusicologist talked about Carnaval music & the Carnaval circuits and Robin talked about church architecture and Candomblé, an African religion practiced in Brazil. Candomblé came from Africa to Brazil by slaves and it mixes with Catholicism in very interesting ways. Mary, who is a religion professor, talked about the Yoruba pantheon and the Orixás that figure in Candomblé. In Brazil, we'll be able to buy beads and ribbons (fitas) that carry particular Orixá representation by their color. The ribbons are tied around your wrist with three knots and you make three wishes. You have to wear the ribbon until it wears out. You can't cut it off or it'll be bad luck. Robin says she thinks the ribbons will fall off about the time we reach San Diego. These are the Orixás that I am particularly intrigued with:
- Yemanja—the mother of creation, she resides in the ocean, her colors are blue and white. She possesses treasures from the depths of the sea. Wise and daring, she is both gentle and fierce.
- Oshala—the orixá of the wisdom of two worlds: Heaven and earth. He is the divine artist and teacher, teaching creativity in solving problems. He teaches the importance of persistence and inventiveness in achieving goals. He embodies patience and coolness in the face of all obstacles. He is associated with the color white, the symbol of peace.
- Osuh (also spelled Oxum)—the Goddess of honey. Oshun is one of the powerful female orixás. She lives in sweet water (fresh water). Gold, copper, fertility, beauty and love are all her domain. She is associated with the color yellow.
- Yansan—the queen of joy. She is the orixá of partnership, loyalty, passion and adventure. She is a warrior, sensual and clever. She is the goddess of winds and storms. She takes the dead from Earth to heaven so that they are reborn into another life. She hates injustice, prejudice and mediocrity. She is a female warrior who manifests herself in the whirlwind. She is associated with the colors red and black.
(source: definitions and interpretations are taken primarily from “The Alter of My Soul” by Mart Moreno Vega, via Global Nomads & Mary Keller)
Tonight was the logistical pre-port where they talk about safety & alcohol & medical info. and other such details. Last night, Mike made the comment that this was a good cop/bad cop routine. Culture the first night, safety lecture the second night. The folks tonight took exception to that statement and the doctor composed a song that they all sang (with guitar accompaniment) addressing malaria & deet & lettuce & ice cubes (don't drink the water!) & diarrhea & alcohol & STDs & condoms. It was pretty funny. They got a standing ovation.
The pilot will come on board at 0600 tomorrow and we should be at port by 0700. I plan to get up this time to watch us come in.
