The Winds of Change

Wind. It’s such a simple concept in nature and to many, it’s just a mundane part of life. Recently though, I’ve gained a whole new appreciation for it. For us, wind isn’t just a gust; it’s a method of transportation. It’s what the Alexander Von Humboldt 2 uses to move the vast distances that it does at any given point in time. This past week and a bit, I have been subjected to a whole new way of life. One that is both simplistic yet also so much more complex than before. The experiences that I have faced already have been beyond influential to my character and I can’t help but be profoundly grateful for them. Let’s take a moment to recap my experience to date.

Since my last post, I boarded my new home away from home. I unpacked my small bag into an even smaller room, and I met the people I would be living with for the next five months. I won’t lie, when I started off, I was terrified. I was being thrown into a new and well-established community and all the skills I thought I knew about fitting in, went out the window. Just as quickly as the fear established itself, it disappeared though. Despite everyone knowing each other already, I reminded myself that I too am here for a reason. I branched out my contacts with others and quickly, my anxiety subsided. We spent a few days in Barbados as we learned more about the ship before departing for our first stop: Dominica.

As our anchor lifted to leave Barbados and our sails were unfurled, I realized for the first time, that my decision to embark on Class Afloat was in fact the right one. I had found somewhere in life that I was content with myself all the while being challenged in a healthy and positive manner. The days to follow were filled with difficult moments however, I had a deep fundamental understanding that they were positive. I could see beyond the pain and instead was faced with the complex personal development that ensued. I learned to climb the rigging and how to walk on a boat that is almost constantly at a 10° angle. I was almost certain that the consistent and unpredictable rolling of waves would make my insides want to turn however, miraculously, that didn’t seem to be the case. In fact, I would even say that the movement of the ship has made me feel more at ease then before. I’ve stood countless watches both during the hot Caribbean days and the cooler nights with only the stars and my fellow students to keep my company and so far, I have yet to be yelled at by any German crew (which I’ve been told is quite the accomplishment).

When we landed in Dominica, the experience of Class Afloat flourished in new ways that I didn’t see as possible. The student crew was thrown into new beautiful cultural experiences that were nothing short of miraculous. I roamed the street with new friends that feel like we’ve known each other for years and I got to experience a Caribbean tradition known as the Carnival which consisted of insanely loud music, dancing, and all-round happiness from the local community. It felt like a huge honour to be able to be part of this tradition and is certainly not something I will ever forget. On the second day, we woke up early to take a bus to the other side of Dominica where we got to go swimming in the Titou Gorge, a canyon filled with fresh mountain water running down towards the ocean. In the afternoon, we hiked into a waterfall that, put simply, was mesmerising. The hike wasn’t an easy one, but I can say with certainty that it was 100% worth it. We swam in the frigid water and even took a shower under the powerful water falling well over 300 feet from above. On the final day in Dominica, ten of us went on a scuba diving trip which was absolutely incredible. We saw sea horses, turtles, lionfish, barracudas, and more. I had forgotten how much I loved diving and this brief reintroduction was exactly what I needed. I finished off that night with a sunset swim before returning to the Alex-2 to prepare for departure the following day. Following this, we set sail to our next destination… Saint Martin! That’s right, we weren’t expecting to go here however when the opportunity arose, we couldn’t help but jump on it. It was too good not to. We arrived at around 06:00 and spent the day roaming the streets of the French half of the island. The rich history of this island was something that I took particular interest in. The island is split into two: the French side, and the Dutch side. Both parts of the island are part of the European Union meaning that Euros were the way to pay. The French heritage present was miraculous and quite exciting to be surrounded with, even if only for a short period of time. My group hiked up this beautiful hill that was absolutely stunning and supplied a view of the entire town and our home at anchor far out in the bay.

We finished the night off with a beautiful local cuisine before going for a final swim and embarking the ship once again. We set sail that night and have been sailing for the past few days towards our next destination: Dominican Republic.

As this message comes to a close, I wanted to say one final thing. Since leaving Vancouver and joining the Alex-2 crew, I have found myself reflecting a lot. Many of the questions I had before have resurfaced and new questions have arrived as well. Experiences aren’t meant to be easy. If they were, there would be no self-development. The thing I feel I have learned most recently is this: communities don’t work when independence is prioritized but rather rely on a certain level of interdependence coming from all. No matter what you are doing, remembering that you don’t have to be alone in something is often forgotten. Embrace your community and do your part in being empathetic and I think you’ll come to realize that that effort made, will be returned.