Spring 2003 SEAmester East Journal

Sent weekly from sea by students on-board SEAmester ...

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SEAmester Log, Part 4

Haiti
March 29, 2003

We made it to Haiti, our last Caribbean port, alive and well. Our journey from Barbados to Santo Domingo took longer than expected due to the lack of wind to fill our sails. Consequently we had to resort to auxiliary power which without would have taken us two weeks. During this 6 day passage we found time to celebrate the Spring Equinox. We had a swim call in 10,000 feet deep water, where some, to get closer to nature swam in their birthday suits. Later that evening we had a barbeque, read poetry, sang shanties and chose the King & Queen (2 students Matt and Lisa)and Prince & Princess ( 2 Crew Mr. Caplins and Mr. Moseley)of Equinox. Here is a poem written by the Equinox Committee Jen W., Matt, Julia and Laurial.

A Smoothie Toast To The End Of A Great Day

As we look out on the endless horizon
Toward the blue sparkling sea
On this Equinox, we have time to reflect
On the life that has been and will be.

We have funk in our bunks
And stinky swim trunks
And no underwear that is clean
But the Spirit is home
To all us who roam
The sea both blue and green.

When things get hard
And our crew is tired
We need think of but where we've been
We've seen dolphins
And whales breech their hump
Volcanoes erupting and then
We've seen lakes boil white
Climbed to the top of great heights
And had naked swim calls obscene
We've spliced the main brace
Sailed to many a place
And oh how our spirits still gleam.

So now on this day when the earth is in balance
Let's think how fortunate we may be
That we are the Lucky ones that do and see
Such things that others only dream,
in our life on the open sea.

Upon arriving in Santa Domingo, the first thing that caught our attention was how dirty the harbor water was. We were told one year there was a dead horse that floated by. Santa Domingo is the oldest city in the Americas and it was here that Columbus lived with his family. We visited the Columbus Light House where we were able to view his tomb.In addition to this we also had plenty of time for shopping for the Dominican Republics unique volcanic stone, Larimar, as well as Amber, rum and machetes. Furthermore we must mention the great Latino Night Club which we all chose to rename the Bat Cave due to the fact that the club was an underground cave of an ancient coral reef.

After a two day sail to Haiti, the west end of the same island, we saw a completely new way of life from what we've seen in all of the islands in the Caribbean. Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. On our first day we hiked in scorching sun up to Bassin Bleu,a spectacular waterfall which with its refreshing NON salt water was appreciated more than anyone could imagine. Last but definitely not least we were able to not only witness an authentic vodou ceremony, but also to take part in it. It was an unique experience that we will never forget...

Lisa & Sara

Log 3: Shaun Knight

Log 2: Nancy Arbuckle

Log 1: Matt and Julia

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