While most of the Spring 2012 Voyage was already in Nassau meeting roommates, touring the ship, and adapting to the unique rhythm of life at sea, a small group remained sidelined in Fort Lauderdale well past their scheduled departure date due to a passport issue that emerged on, of all days, Friday the 13th.
Although the final 10 students received the warmest welcome, all 27 deserve to be recognized for their immense patience, adaptability, and enthusiasm. No matter when they arrived, each group immediately dove into the shipboard community, whether they embarked in the middle of an orientation session or minutes before the MV Explorer set sail for Dominica.
The ship is still on schedule to arrive in Dominica this morning for the semester’s first set of field programs. The Brazilian visas and original passports will be waiting at the dock in Roseau.
International travel has its snags, but they are far outweighed by the rewards. The passport issues that affected Day 1 and 2 of the Spring 2012 Voyage will be a distant memory by Day 105, rightfully overshadowed by the incredible field programs and friendships in the months ahead. And the students will surely have a slew of questions for the American ambassador to Brazil when he boards the MV Explorer later this week.
