my busy week!

I realize I have been slacking in the blog department this week! After I explain the week I’ve had, I think you’ll understand…

We departed from the Seychelles and I had 2 paper proposals, 2 midterms and 2 presentations to prepare for this leg. I handed in my paper proposals and did not get good feedback…my professor is a lawyer and is a bit harsh. Constructive criticism is not a tool she uses, and instead everything gets torn apart in a really negative manner. I was really frustrated with being told what I write isn’t literate! I had a midterm for her class as well and I wasn’t happy with my results. I felt that I was being graded unfairly for some unknown reason…and it turns out I was. For the midterm, we were allowed to use notes. We were given preparation questions and a group of 4 of us all shared the notes we had while we were studying a few days before the exam…well, on the exam one member of my group decided to copy word for word exactly what I had written in my prep notes. I had a very similar response, obviously, and he was marked 30% higher on that question. When I brought this to the professor’s attention, she was caught in headlights and she didn’t have any excuse for her marking bias. I ended up getting my entire exam re-graded and increased from a Credit to a Distinction (the Australian system of grading is very confusing…so just assume I went from a B- or C to an A).

My other midterm went very well, as did my presentations. I think (hope!) this is my busiest leg academically, so hopefully from here on out I’ll have more time to blog!

I’ve also had some stress this week over financial aid and my future. I think I mentioned before I left for Hong Kong about some of my frustrations. We were told by TSS that we’d be eligible for government financial aid for our second semester at Macquarie (Australia). However, we found out from another student 6 days before leaving for Hong Kong that because of a legal technicality, we would have to take out yet another private loan for our second semester. We’ve been on the boat now for 2 months looking for some answers, solutions, or at least an apology and we’ve gotten nowhere. Some students will not be able to continue because without a co-signer, it’s not possible to get 2 private loans. TSS is not taking responsibility for giving us false information and it’s frustrating!

However, a solution has been proposed to us, although it would mean changing our plans for the next two years. The Executive Direction here on the boat is also the VP of Academic Affairs at a university in Morocco. There is an agreement between the university and TSS so we could continue on for 3 semesters for a MA in International Studies and Diplomacy. It’s an option I suppose, but I still have a lot of decisions I need to make about the next two years of my life! Why can’t this just be easy??

We also had a Crew Talent show and an African and Middle Eastern Cultural Show this week. Both were really good and the talent show was quite funny. Our crew work for the ship, not for TSS and they’re paid very little and put in so much time and effort. Our cabin stewards work 14-16 hours a day every single day. My steward has yet to have a day off, even when we’re in port. Plus they’re paid some kind of minimum wage & TSS tips them a dollar a day. Ridiculous. Today is crew appreciation day so we’ve made signs and are tipping our stewards, bartenders, etc. The American and European Cultural Shows will be on the next leg of the voyage & I’m going to participate in both. I’m the only person on the boat that’s ever lived in Ireland so I’ll be representing in the European show…and I think I’m signed up to do line dance and swing dance in the American show. They should be fun, but I know it’s a lot of work and I have three papers to write next leg. Ugh!

We arrive in South Africa tomorrow and I have an AFP. Our AFP sounds good…finally…they owe us from last time! We are going to Robben Island, meeting with a former political prisoner, going to Parliament, seeing a theatre performance, and a few other activities. I’m really excited for the AFP and I’m also excited to have a few free days afterwards. I’m planning on going to a ballet, seeing penguins!! & a couple of other activities that I’m not going to share yet =) This is definitely the port I’ve been looking forward to so I’m gonna make the most of it!

If anyone has suggestions about things to do in the Cape Town area, please let me know!

Hope everyone at home has a great week and stay tuned for South Africa stories and pictures!! Xoxo

---

---