Arrival Day!
Location: Civitavecchia, Italy
Wowie, it's finally here! The day people have waited months, weeks, and days for..arrival day!! The day started with the Argo staff putting the final touches/tools away from our weeks without students and pacing the deck, awaiting their arrival. At 12pm on the dot, there was a flurry of students and parents hauling body-sized bags over Argo's freshly varnished caprail, down the scrubbed and sparkling companionway, and into their new home. Students found their bunks, met their cabin mates, and finally got to take a breath after hours (or, in some cases, days) of travel. The afternoon was spent with check-ins, pizza from a local restaurant, and excited conversation. For maybe the first time ever, all students were on Argo before dinner, and we all got to sit down in the cockpit for the first meal aboard. This also meant that our first count-off was a great success!
Thanks to our head chef, Will, we enjoyed pesto pasta- a GXG day-one tradition. We then had our first squeeze; "What's your name, where are you from, and what are you most excited for?" accompanying our day's appreciation. Most of the appreciations were centered around everyone getting here (with all of their bags) safely. And shout out to Del, who appreciated how organized and clean Argo was when she arrived- the staff worked very hard to get her (argo) so—the night ended with announcements and clean-up. Everyone is now preparing for bed, getting to know the folks who will be with them for the next three months, and organizing their stuff. The vibes are super positive and full of excitement for the adventure they are all about to embark on. For the first time this semester, good night from Argo!