A Bumpy Start

Wednesday, August 31st, 2005

I guess I should back track a little and share with you how this whole adventure started. For me, it started the morning of Friday, August 26th at LaGuardia Airport in New York City running on absolutely no sleep.

David and I arrived at the airport with plenty of time before our flight was supposed to leave. Check-in was relatively easy and they kindly only charged us $300 in overweight fees for our 16 bags.

As we were waiting to board the plane my name was called over the loud speaker to return to “check-in” as there was a bizarre smell coming from one of my bags. I knew immediately what it was, Jenny The Generator. We have this generator appropriately nick-named “Jenny” that has been with us for the last two years and has produce electricity for us in jungles, war zones and a variety of other bizarre places, as you can imagine, she is well respected by the whole GNG team.

So, long story short I walked back through security to “check in” and upon my approach I became overwhelmed by a strong stench of gasoline and I knew right away that it was Jenny.

With 15 minutes from departure, the friendly folks at Delta compassionately informed me that the only place Jenny was going was the trash if I didn’t take her from the airport immediately. I couldn’t let Jenny go like that, as she has given us light when there was darkness (frankly we couldn’t afford to buy another one). I immediately called Jonathan and Mark on their cell phones and asked them if I would take a later flight, would they come immediately to retrieve our beloved Jenny. Jonathan, the good guy he is, got out of bed and took a car service to meet me and picked up Jenny and returned her to GNG world headquarters in New York City.

David went on without me to the Bahamas and I caught up with him a few hours later.

Upon my arrival at the Bahamas airport I met up with David and Jason Liquori who has joined GNG for CURRENTS. We loaded all of the luggage and gear and headed to the MV Explorer.

Upon arrival to the MV Explorer the Institute of Shipboard Education (ISE) greeted us. I have to stop for a moment and tell you how supportive the ISE staff has been of this program and partnership. They have gone above the call of duty to make sure we had the resources to bring this program to fruition and have shared a sincere enthusiasm for the opportunity this will be for young people in the United States and the countries we will be visiting.

For the first few days we settled into our new living quarters and our new community. We met many new faces and familiarized ourselves with the ship and a variety of safety measures.

Parents of the voyagers arrived on the ship Monday evening to meet with the staff and visit the ship. It was a fantastic observation to watch these parents share their excitement, concerns and fears for the children with the Semester at Sea staff. But my gut tells me these valid emotions where just as much for them as it was for their sons or daughters. As we were pulling away from the dock in the Bahamas I saw numerous mothers anxiously watching with their arms crossed and fear in their faces. Their where many “I Love Yous” yelled to one another. It was pretty awesome because everyone knew that beyond the fear, concerns and excitement everyone at home and abroad the ship where going to grow greatly over the next 3 months.

Somewhere off of Haiti on fairly calm seas.

-Chris

Comments

[suzanneplutte]

Glad to know you are out there some where and kicking and swimming and now solid on Venezuelan ground. The viewing part of your blogs doesn't seem to come through...maybe just me...maybe not. keep us posted..from 5010.

[Brian Reeder]

Hey buddy,
Nice start to your blogs. Informative, entertaining...the whole nine. I'm like a proud parent right now. Keep it up. Just one thing, though. What are you guys gonna do to get electricity in the jungle without a generator? Quite the cliffhanger blog.

[mercer]

oh yes, adventure.....
please keep taking us with you........