We crossed the equator and the prime meridian on our way to South Africa. The girls learned about the lines on a map, and we are lucky enough to be some of the few who have crossed at zero degrees latitude and zero degrees longitude where the equator and prime meridian meet.
Here is a link to a video about it.
http://www.semesteratsea.org/2012/11/20/crossing-00-celebrating-at-the-center-of-the-earth/
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Monday, November 12, 2012
Comparisons from South Africa
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Comparisons from South Africa
the girls each choose two things to experience and share from each
country.
Rachael
chose to try a hamburger in each country and to taste it and rate it on a scale
of 1-10, 10 being the best.
She also chose to meet a dog in each country we visit and take a picture of it, and pet it if it was friendly.
Riley chose to try hot cocoa in each county and also rate it on a scale of 1-10.
Her second thing she chose is to make a fairy home for the fairies in each country we visit, and take a picture of it when she is finished building it.
She also chose to meet a dog in each country we visit and take a picture of it, and pet it if it was friendly.
Riley chose to try hot cocoa in each county and also rate it on a scale of 1-10.
Her second thing she chose is to make a fairy home for the fairies in each country we visit, and take a picture of it when she is finished building it.
Here
are the pictures...
 |
| Hot chocolate AND cake from Daddy, sweet yumminess :) a perfect 10 |
 |
| Riley began her fairy house but did not finish it because there were not enough flowers to use. |
 |
| We saw many dogs roaming around the township |
 |
| Here is a momma dog with her puppy |
 | |
| We stopped at a burger place on the side of the road on our way to see the penguins and whales. Very salty but yummy she gave it an 8. |
Our Travel Log for South Africa
Our Travel Log For South
Africa
Things I Saw:
Riley- whales
Rachael-a spot where a
monkey sat to get out of the rain
Things I Heard:
Riley-music everywhere
Rachael- big rain &
wind
Things I Tasted:
Riley-homemade naan bread
Rachael-homemade naan bread
Things that were the same
as in my hometown:
Riley-the trees
Rachael-the language
Things that were different
than in my hometown:
Riley-the townships
Rachael-the townships
My favorite thing at this
port was:
Riley-getting my mouse
family
Rachael-the whales
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Ghana
Tema, Ghana
Ghana was hot, dirty, and amazing after all the European countries we visited. Ghana is more challenging a country to visit but also more rewarding in the end. This was our second visit to Ghana, so we knew what we were getting into. I had planned a school visit, and a trip to a glass bead making factory.
Before we arrived we learned that Global Grins, a non-profit who hands out free toothbrushes worldwide, had supplied the ship with 30,000 toothbrushes to hand out in Africa and South America. On the first day, Barry (the clown) found a school at the prime meridian (yes, the actual 0 degrees) and he was going to perform for them, so we tagged along to hand out toothbrushes after his show.
The first school had hundreds of kids and it was loud and a bit chaotic while he was performing. The girls sat with the audience and watched him perform. They were getting lots of attention as we were waiting because of thier light skin and hair, and everyone wanted to touch them. After the show we went to each classroom and handed out toothbrushes to the students. Last time we were in Ghana, we went to a village school, and it was much poorer than this one. This school had desks and some school supplies, but the schoolyard was still dirt, and the school itself was sparse by our standards.
The next school we went to was a private school and it was much smaller. There were maybe 100 kids, and we were all in a small room watching Barry perform. The girls handed out toothbrushes right after the show, and they sang a song for us.
We also handed out toothbrushes in the city of Tema, close to the ship. We walked out into the markets and streets and handed out the toothbrushes. At first we handed out to people here and there, and then we were mobbed and people would be grabbing toothbrushes out of our hands! They would follow us to get more toothbrushes. I don't know if they wanted them because they were free or because they wanted to brush their teeth. I saw toothbrushes in the market, but there was definitely a need and we were there to fill it! The ship handed out more than half of the 30,000 toothbrushes just in Ghana.
One day we hopped on a tour bus and went to a village where they make traditional African glass beads. It was described as a bead factory, but it was all outdoors and under thatched roofs. It was a factory only in the sense that 5 people worked there and made lots of beads to sell. On the way to the bead factory the bus driver made a wrong turn and got lost. So we arrived late and we spent less than an hour watching how they made the beads, and we did not get to make our own like we were told.
We were on a giant tour bus, and when we were lost we were on narrow dirt roads in the village and we ripped out a powerline that was hanging low. The girls and I heard yelling then we saw the people running away as the powerline snapped like a rubber band! We were inside the bus, and I felt really bad that we came and this happened, and I made sure the girls understood that there were homes (shacks) that would not have power because of us being here.
That was a hard day, we spent four hours in a bus to see 45 minutes of beadmaking. But I knew that the traffic can be bad, and things are never "on time" in Ghana. Time the way we know it does not exist in Ghana, so we enjoyed the view from the bus as we traveled.
Our last day in Ghana was spent visiting a school, but this school was a wealthier public school. There was a playyard that was paved in and had grass growing. There was a play structure and even tables for the kids to eat their lunch. This trip we did with a large group of college students from the ship, and they help entertain the ghana school kids. The girls felt safer and less accosted at this school than the others. We brought face paint with us to share with the kids, and soon the girls and I were painting pretty patterns on the arms and hands of the schoolchildren. The last video shows a teacher teaching the class at this school. This school cost $500 a year enrollment, verses the $20 a year at the village school, so we did not bring any toothbrushes to hand out. We played with them at thier lunch break, and most kids brought the same thing for lunch. Lunch was a plastic container filled with rice and a small spoonful of what looked like spaghetti sauce on top. I showed the girls and they saw how simply the school kids eat. It made our school lunches at home look very fancy.
The girls saw schools and kids in a country that is so different from their own. When working on the travel logs, both girls struggled to find something that was the same as their hometown. Poverty is everywhere in Ghana and easy to find, but we also saw a schoolkids who were considered well to do and it was still less than what we have at home. Ghana was challenging for the girls, it was hot and not as fun as going to see animals at the zoo. But I hope they see that not all places have those luxuries and people still live their live happily.
he is explaining the process of making the glass beads...it is in English but the girls could not understand him with the accent!
Here is some video from the 3 schools we visited in Ghana
Ghana was hot, dirty, and amazing after all the European countries we visited. Ghana is more challenging a country to visit but also more rewarding in the end. This was our second visit to Ghana, so we knew what we were getting into. I had planned a school visit, and a trip to a glass bead making factory.
Before we arrived we learned that Global Grins, a non-profit who hands out free toothbrushes worldwide, had supplied the ship with 30,000 toothbrushes to hand out in Africa and South America. On the first day, Barry (the clown) found a school at the prime meridian (yes, the actual 0 degrees) and he was going to perform for them, so we tagged along to hand out toothbrushes after his show.
The first school had hundreds of kids and it was loud and a bit chaotic while he was performing. The girls sat with the audience and watched him perform. They were getting lots of attention as we were waiting because of thier light skin and hair, and everyone wanted to touch them. After the show we went to each classroom and handed out toothbrushes to the students. Last time we were in Ghana, we went to a village school, and it was much poorer than this one. This school had desks and some school supplies, but the schoolyard was still dirt, and the school itself was sparse by our standards.
The next school we went to was a private school and it was much smaller. There were maybe 100 kids, and we were all in a small room watching Barry perform. The girls handed out toothbrushes right after the show, and they sang a song for us.
We also handed out toothbrushes in the city of Tema, close to the ship. We walked out into the markets and streets and handed out the toothbrushes. At first we handed out to people here and there, and then we were mobbed and people would be grabbing toothbrushes out of our hands! They would follow us to get more toothbrushes. I don't know if they wanted them because they were free or because they wanted to brush their teeth. I saw toothbrushes in the market, but there was definitely a need and we were there to fill it! The ship handed out more than half of the 30,000 toothbrushes just in Ghana.
One day we hopped on a tour bus and went to a village where they make traditional African glass beads. It was described as a bead factory, but it was all outdoors and under thatched roofs. It was a factory only in the sense that 5 people worked there and made lots of beads to sell. On the way to the bead factory the bus driver made a wrong turn and got lost. So we arrived late and we spent less than an hour watching how they made the beads, and we did not get to make our own like we were told.
We were on a giant tour bus, and when we were lost we were on narrow dirt roads in the village and we ripped out a powerline that was hanging low. The girls and I heard yelling then we saw the people running away as the powerline snapped like a rubber band! We were inside the bus, and I felt really bad that we came and this happened, and I made sure the girls understood that there were homes (shacks) that would not have power because of us being here.
That was a hard day, we spent four hours in a bus to see 45 minutes of beadmaking. But I knew that the traffic can be bad, and things are never "on time" in Ghana. Time the way we know it does not exist in Ghana, so we enjoyed the view from the bus as we traveled.
Our last day in Ghana was spent visiting a school, but this school was a wealthier public school. There was a playyard that was paved in and had grass growing. There was a play structure and even tables for the kids to eat their lunch. This trip we did with a large group of college students from the ship, and they help entertain the ghana school kids. The girls felt safer and less accosted at this school than the others. We brought face paint with us to share with the kids, and soon the girls and I were painting pretty patterns on the arms and hands of the schoolchildren. The last video shows a teacher teaching the class at this school. This school cost $500 a year enrollment, verses the $20 a year at the village school, so we did not bring any toothbrushes to hand out. We played with them at thier lunch break, and most kids brought the same thing for lunch. Lunch was a plastic container filled with rice and a small spoonful of what looked like spaghetti sauce on top. I showed the girls and they saw how simply the school kids eat. It made our school lunches at home look very fancy.
The girls saw schools and kids in a country that is so different from their own. When working on the travel logs, both girls struggled to find something that was the same as their hometown. Poverty is everywhere in Ghana and easy to find, but we also saw a schoolkids who were considered well to do and it was still less than what we have at home. Ghana was challenging for the girls, it was hot and not as fun as going to see animals at the zoo. But I hope they see that not all places have those luxuries and people still live their live happily.
 |
 |
| The first school we visited in Ghana |
 |
| Rachael is in the western hemisphere and Riley in the eastern hemisphere! |
 |
| There were hundreds of noisy kids at the first school |
 |
| Rachael watching the clown show with the school kids |
 |
| the outside of the school building before we went in to hand out toothbrushes |
 |
| inside the classroom handing out toorhbrushes |
 |
| Rachael was more ok with everyone touching her this time in Ghana |
 |
| the students crowded around us to get a high five, and talk to us. |
 |
| Riley felt too crowded, and had enough of the touching |
 |
| Rachael doing high fives and handshakes |
 |
| don't let them touch me |
 |
| This is the entrance to the second school we visited |
 |
| we all crammed into a taxi for the ride to the 2nd school |
 |
| the second school was much smaller, and quieter |
 |
| watching Barry perform for the schoolkids |
 |
| The kids were watching intently |
 |
| they sung a song for us to say thank you! |
 |
| the outdoor street market in Tema |
 |
| Carrying babies and goods in Ghana without hands |
 |
| we saw cows and goats on the sides of the roads grazing everywhere we went |
 |
| the village next to the bead making factory |
 |
| traditional glass beads in Ghana |
 |
| waiting for our lesson in how glass beads are made |
 |
| showing us how the glass powders are poured into the bead molds |
 |
| glass bead molds that go into the kiln |
he is explaining the process of making the glass beads...it is in English but the girls could not understand him with the accent!
 |
| taking out a hot bead |
 |
| a homemade clay mud kiln was used to melt the glass powders to make colorful beads |
 |
| one of the rooms of the beadmaker's room |
 |
| we ran out of time and ate our lunch on the bus! |
 |
| we were suprised to see bowls of live chickens being carried on heads! |
 | |
| the chickens were sold very fresh, for you to take home and kill to eat | . |
 |
| finally some cooling raindrops, it was very hot! |
 |
| A thatched roof building in the village |
 |
| A beach in Ghana. It was too hot to be at the beach! The waves were full of plastic bags and trash and pretty polluted. |
 |
| We decided we won't be mailing anything from Ghana! |
 |
| this was the school we visited on our last day in Ghana, this is where we did face paint. |
 |
| coloring together |
 |
| the inside of the classrooms |
 |
| a second grader reading the night before christmas. |
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Travel log for Ghana
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Our Travel Log For Ghana
Things I Saw:
Riley- people bathing in
the stream by the market
Rachael-children
Things I Heard:
Riley-beep (of cars)
Rachael-“hello can I be
your friend?”, or “what is your name?”
Things I Tasted:
Riley-sugar cane
Rachael-Ga nuts, ga butter
Things that were the same
as in my hometown:
Riley-the baby goats
Rachael-the goats
Things that were different
than in my hometown:
Riley-rain, because it was
hot rain
Rachael-cows
(everything was different)
My favorite thing at this
port was:
Riley-how people were
saying hi differently, with a thumbs up.
Rachael-the clothes
Comparisons from Ghana
-->
Comparisons from Ghana
the girls each choose two things to experience and share from each
country.
Rachael
chose to try a hamburger in each country and to taste it and rate it on a scale
of 1-10, 10 being the best.
She also chose to meet a dog in each country we visit and take a picture of it, and pet it if it was friendly.
Riley chose to try hot cocoa in each county and also rate it on a scale of 1-10.
Her second thing she chose is to make a fairy home for the fairies in each country we visit, and take a picture of it when she is finished building it.
She also chose to meet a dog in each country we visit and take a picture of it, and pet it if it was friendly.
Riley chose to try hot cocoa in each county and also rate it on a scale of 1-10.
Her second thing she chose is to make a fairy home for the fairies in each country we visit, and take a picture of it when she is finished building it.
Here
are the pictures...we never found a cheeseburger or hot chocolate in Ghana!
 |
| we saw more goats than dogs! |
 |
| some helpers joined in and found supplies to build with |
 |
| the finished fairy house |
 |
| one of the few dogs we saw in Ghana, sitting next to the legs |
Grandma Clown
Between Spain and Ghana the kids school got a visit from a very special passenger on the ship, Grandma Clown. He showed the kids about what he does and answered their questions. He is quite well known on the east coast from the Big Apple circus. There is some info about him I pulled from wikipedia at the bottom.
He was great to watch, and had us all rolling with laughter....
We are very lucky to have a famous astronaut and clown on this voyage with us, and share thier stories.
Barry Lubin, recently inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame, is a physical comedian most familiar to circus audiences as "Grandma", the star of the Big Apple Circus.[1]
A member of the 1974 class of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, he performed for five years with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. He performed at the prestigious International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo in 1977. Since 1982, Barry has been featured in 15 productions of the Big Apple Circus and has become that company's Director of Clowning. He conceived, co-wrote and starred in the Big Apple Circus' production Grandma Goes to Hollywood. He performed at the 6th International Circus Festival of Budapest in January 2006, where he was awarded the Special Prize from the Director of the Great Moscow Circus.
Outside the ring, he has appeared (sans makeup) 4 times on the Late Show with David Letterman. His directorial credits include comedy segments for music videos on MTV, Snappy Dance Company in Boston and CBS's Circus of the Stars. He was a creative consultant for NBC's Cheers, and served as executive producer, creator, and writer of two pilots for Nickelodeon Networks along with partner Yvette Kaplan, in which he also starred. He has directed Cousin Grumpy's comedy pig act, Carlos Swenson's comedy horse act, and his cat, Romeo.
He was great to watch, and had us all rolling with laughter....
We are very lucky to have a famous astronaut and clown on this voyage with us, and share thier stories.
 |
| putting red clown paint on Riley's nose |
 |
| juggling |
 |
| grandma clown appears |
 |
| asking for volunteers |
 |
| a musical act |
 |
| spitting water |
Barry Lubin, recently inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame, is a physical comedian most familiar to circus audiences as "Grandma", the star of the Big Apple Circus.[1]
A member of the 1974 class of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, he performed for five years with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. He performed at the prestigious International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo in 1977. Since 1982, Barry has been featured in 15 productions of the Big Apple Circus and has become that company's Director of Clowning. He conceived, co-wrote and starred in the Big Apple Circus' production Grandma Goes to Hollywood. He performed at the 6th International Circus Festival of Budapest in January 2006, where he was awarded the Special Prize from the Director of the Great Moscow Circus.
Outside the ring, he has appeared (sans makeup) 4 times on the Late Show with David Letterman. His directorial credits include comedy segments for music videos on MTV, Snappy Dance Company in Boston and CBS's Circus of the Stars. He was a creative consultant for NBC's Cheers, and served as executive producer, creator, and writer of two pilots for Nickelodeon Networks along with partner Yvette Kaplan, in which he also starred. He has directed Cousin Grumpy's comedy pig act, Carlos Swenson's comedy horse act, and his cat, Romeo.
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