Ebb & Flow

It's nice to finally have things back into a flow. Classes have started, and I'm learning so much this semester. The first few semesters at MMA are alot of general education classes and (at least for the Business Department) very broad business classes. I am thoroughly enjoying having more specialized business classes like Port and Terminal Operational Management or World Economic Geography. My favorite class so far is Business of Shipping because it is so broad and such an interesting overview of not only what goes into the process of shipping cargo, but the behind the scene decisions that eventually we are going to have to make that can impact the shipping industry so much. I really enjoy being an International Business major because of how broad it is. Since being here, I have traveled more within a few months than throughout my whole lifetime.

On top of classes, and SGA starting up again, I am back to working in the Writing Resource Center. In the spring the library will be moving into our new building along with the WRC. The library is going to look so nice when it's done.

This weekend is going to be a busy one for me. We were just told a few days ago that we have Admiral's Inspection this upcoming Monday in Dress Blues, which isn't a huge deal because we have room inspections twice a week, however they are a bigger deal than typical room inspections so I want my room to look perfect.

This weekend we move our clocks forward on Sunday which means Spring is that much closer!

SMU Exhange Students Arrive

Internship is over, back to Mass. Maritime. On February 22th, fifteen Shanghai Maritime students came to the United States. Last year, I went over to China and studied at the Shanghai Maritime University for three months. The experience was amazing. I am really glad to be part of the program. The students in SMU helped us so many times while we were there, that is why I want to helped out the exchange program, because I want to return the favor.

When we pick up the exchange students at Logan Airport, I could see their exhausted faces still had excitement on them. I saw a few familiar faces when I was in the airport. Three students from Shanghai Maritime were living with us when we were in Shanghai; they were Zach, Chris, and Jason.

On the way back to MMA, we stopped by McDonalds for dinner. I helped them pick what they wanted to eat. They were so tired they could not figure out whose order was whose, however, when they departed for MMA at 2000, they still want to walk around and see the campus, however, when we arrived it was too dark to see anything.

The very next day, we woke up at 0645 to go to the ship for breakfast. I thought it was too early for them to wake up after 17 hours of flight time, but some of them woke up before 5. When they saw the TS Kennedy, they were amazed by how big the ship is. Our ship is much larger than theirs. Their ship doesn’t have to be big because in SMU only takes juniors to be on the vessel. All the Shanghai exchange students had to go through Spring Orientation to learn about MMA. So far they are enjoying their time here; their host roommates are taking very good care of them. I believe they will have a good time in US.

SMU Update 3/9/11

Greetings, from Shanghai!! My computer says 6:48 am, and I think my body agrees, although it's only 6:48 pm on Sunday evening. We arrived safely in Shanghai yesterday afternoon around 4:30 pm and were excited to see many of our old roommates from last spring at MMA there to greet us with our new roommates! The flight was long but smooth, although I don't recommend it when you have dry socket from a last minute wisdom tooth removal. We met our head teachers and took a bus to the campus, which was a quick 40 minute drive. By the time we arrived in our dorm, we had been traveling for 25 hours! We all went out for dinner in the square on campus, which was one of the more overwhelming experiences of my life. We took over two long tables and I think most of us ordered the first thing on the menu (which, luckily was all pictures), although I opted out of the ketchup on my noodles once a few people got meals and realized what it was, so I may have enjoyed my meal slightly more than others.

We unpacked and went to bed shortly after that to be ready for a 9 am “orientation.�
It was raining again this morning when I woke up to the chorus of American accents in the hallway around 7. A few of us got up early, surprising our roommates I think! I was jealous to Skype with my family who was enjoying a lovely American meal at my aunt's house, but pleasantly surprised at how clear the picture was for both of us and how great the connection is! Most of us ate in one of the canteens nearby before our meeting, which was another interesting meal. Vanessa and I went with noodles and meat because it was the most recognizable and we thought we'd start slow. Unfortunately, Vanessa's meat choice turned out to be spicy, which isn't really our gig first thing in the morning. I was enjoying mine greatly, until my roommate Iris casually mentioned that it's usually something you get for lunch. Oops, oh well.

Our orientation was in the same room that all of the business classes will be held in and was about a 10 minute or so walk from the dorm. There was a presentation from the head teachers from deck and business each, as well as a representative of Foreign Affairs. We were given a brief overview of our schedule, and we all turned to smile at our classmate Young Ryou when we saw that the deck students have a morning jog at 6:40 and attend the flag raising ceremony every morning, while the rest of us only attend on Mondays. He seemed enthused about morning PT and mofo, so I'm sure that will also be a wonderful surprise for Kyle Scannell and Peter Menard when they arrive on the 14th!

We were excited to meet the other international students: one from Canada, two each from South Korea, Russia and Germany and three from Poland. We were given a couple of free hours until we met to go to the China Maritime Museum with the other exchange students. We took a tour of the museums six halls: the hall of Chinese Navigation History, the Hall of Ships, the Hall of Navigation and Ports, the Hall of Maritime Affairs and Sea Safety, the Hall of Seafarers and the Hall of Navy. The museum was beautiful with its modern architecture, and a lot of fun with the many models, ancient artifacts and interactive simulators, so while we were all exhausted again, I'd say we had a good time overall.

We had a welcome dinner with the Vice President of SMU and some of the faculty, where we enjoyed a delicious buffet and saw performances of traditional dance, Kung Fu, Tai Chi and song. A few of us were invited to learn some moves on stage, which was certainly interesting to watch. We walked back, sharing umbrellas with our roommates as it is still raining and is going to all week, and are resting up for our first day of classes tomorrow. Yikes!

Sea Project

Hello Everyone,

One of the requirements of the Commercial Shipping Project is to complete a sea project, and includes responses to at least 35 questions, CAD drawings, and a daily log. So for the past few days I have been trying to put the finishing touches on my sea project. As of right now I am at about 100 pages in length! I have never written something quite so substantial in my life. But looking back on the sea project, it is much more than just 100 pages of writing. My sea project is an example of all the knowledge I gained while on my commercial ship. It was a way to almost force me to lean about things I previously knew nothing about OR was something I was intimidated by, i.e. electronic controls. Now that I am almost finished with it, I am surprised with myself about all of the things I learned, and so happy I was given the opportunity to learn so much.

Because my project is so long, I wont attach it all, but here is a little sample of what my project is like! This is in response to a question asking about the specs. of the ship we were on.

The USNS Rappahannock is a stunning six hundred seventy seven foot Fleet Replenishment Oiler, crafted by Avondale Industries, Inc. in 1995 for the United States Navy. The Rappahannock engine room houses two, 10 cylinder, “V” configured, turbocharged, Colt Pielstick diesel engines. Between the two engines they can produce approximately 32,580 diesel brake horsepower, giving her a cruising speed of around 20 knots.

Since being built in New Orleans, she has sailed under the control of Military Sealift Command, replenishing the United States Navy while underway. Because of the demand to provide fuel to Navy ships, the Rappahannock carries just under 189,169 BBL of fuel in her cargo tanks and burns an estimated 31,510 gallons of fuel per day.

At maximum draft, she displaces 42,382.6 long tons, with a gross tonnage of 20,705.79 long tons, and a net tonnage of 18,987 long tons. The Rappahannock is currently sailing in the South China Sea as part of MSC’s Far East Division, providing replenishments to the US Navy as well as providing training to the Singapore Royal Navy. While underway, the Rappahannock can provide accommodations for 137 officers and crew, but is currently sailing with 90 people onboard.

SGA Update

Good afternoon!

This morning we had our first SGA meeting of the semester, and it was was off to a rough start. Our usual place to have our meetings is being used by the school and food services to help better serve food to the cadets as our Mess Deck is being renovated. So we had our meeting, and we spoke about our budgets and how much each department of the SGA has for finances, (clubs, social funds, campus improvements etc) and I got to talk about all of the fun things I have planned for this semester. So far the tentative schedule is as follows:

March 24: Pool Tournament

March 31: Movie Night

April 7: Comedy Night

April 21: Hypnotist

April 28: Pizza Night/ BINGO

May 5: Finance Speaker

May 12: Comedy Night

May 19: Massages (Coast Guard Exams)

Emery Rice Day

June 2: Comedy Night

We will also be doing about 3 raffles this semester for large prizes which will be nice to hopefully see more cadets out. I've been working on getting a big name comedian to come for Emery Rice Day along with a rock wall, laser tag, mechanical bull, inflatable TV (outside) and whatever else my social chairs and campus activities board can come up with. I am so excited for all that we have planned and I think it will be a great semester.

With SGA aside, my classes went really well today, but I was especially grateful to get off campus and go to the beach today. My boyfriend and I decided to take a drive to Onset (only a few minutes away) and see Jimmy Buffet's house! His house was behind at least a mile of a drive way, so I didn't get to see it all that well- but I did get to take some great pictures of the academy from the other side. I see his house every morning it was nice to finally see it up close!

We live in a small town of Buzzards Bay, but it's so nice that only a few miles away there is so much and an hour away is Boston. The small town is nice though- when the cadets leave on Sea Term, many stores in the area have signs that say "Good luck MMA" or "Fair Winds and Following Seas". It's nice to be apart of a close neighborhood.

Not Your Normal Sunday

Not your average Sunday morning today...

I woke up this morning at 0430 and prepared to meet the 110 maritime cadets outside of the admissions building. I volunteered to help in a terrorist attack simulation that took place in Boston. We arrived with a few of the students from Tufts and they took us to the train station that was closed for the simulation. Before arrival, every student had a card and a role to play when the terrorist attack shooting happened and how they were supposed to react. We sat in the train carts for a bit as the police officers (indicating that their weapons are cleared have blue tape around the barrel and butt of the gun) walked around the platform. 

When the whistle blew we walked off the trains and onto the platforms like nothing was wrong and when we heard the "gun shots" we reacted the way we normally would- we ran or dropped to the ground. My group was the first ones off of the trains and it was so cool to be right there when the "terrorist's" attacked! Cool in the sense that I got to see how the police took them down within a blink of an eye! I ran out of there yelling along with most of the cadets and we waited in line to get pat down from the police officers and I watched them handle the situation as they would if there really was an attack. They worked quickly and the Massachusetts State EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Team showed up along with the K9 bomb dogs. 

We sat on the curb as they took our names and I watched as some of the other cadets who had been actors in being injured faked injuries and the EMT's responded accordingly. I can not imagine what people driving by had thought about the whole thing, but being the ones watching everything that was going on, I thought it was quite interesting. We had cadets pretending to be elderly, wounded, witnesses and most like me, just bystanders. Nevertheless, my Sunday was eventful and exciting. It was nice to see how quickly the response time from the cadets, and officers alike were and how everyone was able to work cohesively as a unit in times of trouble.