Location: Palau
Today started at the very reasonable time of 7 AM and got off to a hot start. Breakfast was pancakes! For toppings, we had a small bit of fruit compote, a few bananas, and a lot of syrup, Nutella, and peanut butter. Everyone got two pancakes, but then there were extras that nobody else had room for, so I ate three more. Delicious. After breakfast, the new students got a briefing on safety equipment and Argos policies, while the continuing students had a marine biology lecture. Without much wind above decks, there was little airflow through the hatches, and the saloon got very hot very quickly. After a sweaty hour learning about mollusks and worms, everyone retired either abovedecks or to their bunks to cool offonly to learn that we had another class in the saloon in ten minutes. Our first Leadership class consisted of a syllabus overview and an icebreaker activity to get to know the new 40-day students, but in the heat of the saloon it felt like much longer. Finally, we were permitted to escape, just in time for lunch. Hamburgers! Scrumptious. After lunch, we all piled into the dinghies for the main attraction of the day: an acquarium visit! The Palau Aquarium had a number of fascinating attractions, including a touch tank with sea stars and cucumbers, a giant clam nursery, and a live nautilus. We were given a tour by former Sea|mester sailors Lolo and Tim, who now do research at the aquarium. Accompanying them was Ruki, a marine biology student. I had a fascinating talk with Ruki about the differences between the coral reefs of Palau and places such as Guam, Fiji, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. At the gift shop, I bought a very cool-looking shirt and a poster that hopefully does not get wet over the next 38 days. Its stowed safely under my bunk, I think, but you never know where water will get on Argo. We arrived back at Argo just in time for a shower in the ocean before dinner, which was bean chili. Delectable. I also ate two more of the leftover pancakes afterward, bringing my total to seven. Exquisite. Ill go to bed tonight with a very full stomach, which hopefully should preclude me from breaking open some of my boat snacks during anchor watch tonight. Good night!
To Mom, Dad, Gavin, Emily, GL + D, Grandma and Papa, Grannie Annie, and everyone else following along: I love and miss you all so much! I cant wait to get back to tell you about it and show you my photos, but I also feel like I never want this voyage to end! Love you all!