Questions from emails

Ela in a bear jumper.

Hi everyone, I've gotten email questions and I'll answer most of them here. Please write if you have questions.

Do you stay on the boat or can you get off?

I sleep on the boat. People have gone home for a week or two, some vacationed in the island's hotels. We're free to travel the island, on foot, buses, taxis, we've been allowed off load and use our trucks too. During the dry dock phase, the families with children stayed in hotels - the ship and shipyard is no place for little ones.

How long do you stay on dry dock?

We stayed around 8 days.

Where are you going next?

We're docked at Santa Cruz, Tenerife (island), Spain.

Are you loving it?

Yes indeed.

Do they celebrate the Christmas holiday in some way?

Yes, absolutely. We had a Christmas service, especially good Christmas dinner and brunch on Christmas day. We've had numerous Christmas events on board, decorating the ship, cabin doors, and a New Years Ball and on and on.

Are most people volunteers?

Yes. I don't know the percentage, but it's in the high 90s.

If so, is it difficult for some to keep motivated?

I think you have the same work ethic on board as every work place. As a friend back home stated it "You guys make it work because it has to. If you were doing it for profit the entire organization would be full of bureaucrats and dead weight instead of people that are doing what they want to do." He's not completely serious, but poking fun - however there is some truth to that coming from a large company to a much smaller group. People are less self serving, and that has created a solid foundation of family, unity, and duty.

Do you miss your old job?

Rarely. I miss the people, the challenge of improving the vehicle's safety control systems, and the driving. I do miss winter a little, especially all the snow that the mid west has been receiving.

-Dan