Waking up this morning it had the promise of a good day, there were chocolate chip pancakes at breakfast and it was Chaco’s weather (i.e. WARM!). As a ship’s company, we were primed and ready to bid a fond farewell to Lyttelton port this morning and head across the South Pacific.

SEA class S278 has now completed our first full day on board! Yesterday all twenty-one of us managed to find our way to the dock where we were greeted by the sight of the beautiful Robert C. Seamans surrounded by the backdrop of the lush mountains and turquoise water of Lyttelton, New Zealand.

Hello all,

The students of S-278 have all arrived safely aboard the Seamans, and we’ve begun orientation alongside here in Lyttelton, New Zealand. They’re settling in and are excited about our upcoming voyage.

Best to all hands at home,

Jay

The students of S-278, Oceans & Climate, joined the SSV Robert C. Seamans on March 28. They will depart the ship on May 8 in Pape’ete after stops in the Chatham Islands and Raiatea.

SEA Semester alumnus Michael Jacobson (W-72), the recipient of the 2018 Armin E. Elsaesser III Fellowship award, is currently in southern Taiwan documenting the indigenous Tao people’s traditional boat building and fishing culture.  He recently sent us his second update on his activities.

Update: I have left Lanyu and have been in the southern part of Taiwan. I learned so much about the current boat culture on Lanyu and how the tatala still retains a singular status for individuals and families. I was able to participate in four fishing summoning ceremonies, two tatala launching ceremonies, and even went out fishing for flying fish one night using lights to attract them.

There are some people who get lucky in life: They’re born into a good home with a close family and they’re content. There are some people who get really lucky, growing up around some great friends and finding their passion and going to school and getting a job they love.

Hello everyone! We continue on our route to Lyttelton today as we approach the end of our time here at sea. We plan to dock around 1300 tomorrow, leaving us with less than twenty-four hours of sea time.

Cramer 277, it has been a blast. Really, after spending a solid five weeks together on a ship, I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Of course, starting the first two weeks or so, sleeping on deck, eating perhaps a bowl of food and drinking a single liter of water a day, feeling like the weight of the world was squeezing my skull and viscera, having foulies on continuously, and getting hands and faced crisped by the sun, was all pretty rough.

After that, it was all pretty sweet!

Claudia D: Hey Emma G. How’s it going?
Emma G.: Hey Claudia! I’m great. So excited to go to sea for the last time with you. How’s C watch, loser??
Claudia D: Yikes.
Emma G: I didn’t mean loser I’m sorry I said that.
Claudia D: It’s ok. Water under the bridge. Or should I say bow lolololol anyway let’s write a blog together.

Nestled between rolling, shadowed hills that lay, kingly, crowned in pine, Dunedin sleeps, amber lights alight upon its streets, where bright stars lay etched across the sky as if holes pierced by silver lights in a veil of sapphire twilight. No voice nor laugh is heard, only the cries of early sea-birds who, as opposed to the worm catch the fish.