Dad and Desmond Tutu

Sunday, Monday – 9/18-19/05

Slip into the routine easily – Since I don’t have any books except for global studies, I can’t read for the classes. While most of the textbooks are on reserve in the library, they can only be taken out for 1-2 hours, and since many of the students also don’t have books, I don’t want to disrupt their study opportunities. So in class I listen, contribute a bit, and take notes.

Tuesday – 9/20/05

NEPTUNE CAME! Awakened by his minions rolling thru the halls with drums and bells, all polliwogs were called up to the pool for initiation into the ranks of the shellbacks (first time across the equator). We were lined up, covered with some disgusting concoction, dumped into the pool of cold water, and had to kiss a fish and a ring before we were released to a holding tank. Then, everyone was forced to get their heads shaved (if they wanted to). Of course I participated in this torture and am now enrolled into the shellback ranks (I will even have a certificate to prove it).

The rest of the day was taken up with pictures and relaxation. Neptune had declared a holiday from classes.


Saturday – 9/24/05

Today, the executive dean announced that the ship would not dock in Kenya. Apparently, there was some indication off AlQuaida terrorist activities, along with an increase in piracy (a US warship that had been scheduled to stop in the port had been ordered away). In addition, the government had become increasingly unstable in the last few weeks. What a disappointment!! I had been looking forward to my safari quite a lot, and couldn’t see much chance of any good substitute. The dean wasn’t able to tell us what our schedule would be – arrangements had to be made. He did assure us that the scheduled arrival in India, the next stop after Kenya, would be kept.

The rest of this presentation was taken up by a round-table with Archbishop Tutu and a couple of students and professors. Each asked the Archbishop a question or two mostly relating with the Truth & Reconciliation Commission. I’m trying to get hold of a recording of this, because the Archbishop was very impressive in his responses. No luck so far.


Monday – 9/26/05

Came into Capetown harbor this morning – Table Mountain was a distinctive site, and the town is big! We were greeted with the sight of a whale, obviously hired by the Chamber of Commerce, who showed us his tail at least a dozen times, tho some 700 yards away. The pier is surrounded by very civilized amenities - shopping centers, 5-star hotels and restaurants, etc. Immigration was quick, and transparent to the passengers, and I went on my first excursion.

This was a geology tour of the Cape Peninsula, with very good elevated sight lines showing just how big Capetown really was. The lectures, given by an American who emigrated to Capetown and was teaching at the university, was very informative. He explained that the primary under soil material was sandstone, quite thick, which came from sand laid down by either a river delta or boundary islands. This compressed over time, and was then raised up here and there by molten granite breaking thru from the hot spot which lies under much of sub-Saharan Africa.

Also, while there are no volcanoes in S. Africa, they do have earthquakes, which means that the buildings have to be built to withstand them. The trip took us up to Table Mountain (with the midday cannon), then down and around to the South coast to many other bays, including a large ideal looking bay called False Bay (It apparently did not have a good supply of water – or alternatively the mountains around it fooled many navigators into believing it was Cape Town).

We stopped off at the University of Cape Town for a look see – the tour guide is a professor of geology there. In this area, it is the English speaking university – there are two others just outside Cape Town, one that teaches in Afrikans, the other teaches in Zulu (they still haven’t gotten rid of discrimination yet).

The rest of the day, I wandered around the harbor area, window shopping, with some friends. When we got back to the ship, there was an announcement that the Cape Town stop would be extended 2 more days, and our substitute for Kenya would be Mauritius. So far, the only info on this stop is that it is a small island with beaches, well regarded in France for vacations. We will stay there for 3 days, then go on to India, as scheduled.