Travel Journal

I learned an incredible amount while aboard Bounty.

From clove hitches to constrictor knots, from power tools to pressure gages, from sail theory to steering...

I learned about maintenance, maritime history, different countries and cultures around the world...

I learned how to enjoy hard work, how to get along with 20 different personality types confined within 180 feet of an old wooden ship. I learned how to keep calm in difficult or dangerous situations. I overcame my fear of heights. I got frustrated, angry and sad-- but I also discovered joy, accomplishment, and beauty.

I didn't learn physics, calculus, or pre-1800's English literature. I only spent a week sitting in a classroom, and that was to learn about survival at sea, EPIRBs, ABC Fires, and basic first aid. Not your usual university material, but very valuable to those at sea.

I learned what I needed to know. The skills I learned, I used. That is a gift. To know how to do things for yourself--- repairs in your home, construction, sewing, painting, sanding, even basics like laundry--- is a fading accomplishment. Yet it is one that we can fall back on forever.

I will never stop seeking knowledge, inside or outside of the classroom. I am not on the traditional path towards knowledge, but I continue to challenge myself and learn. Soon, I'll go from water everywhere to dirt everywhere, when I begin a two to three week apprenticeship on an organic farm. And what will I learn there? To spin wool into yarn; make cheese from scratch; make soap from goat's milk; the care of countless animals; the upkeep of a small farm; and the list continues...

I have accidentally stumbled upon this journey where, what I am curious about-- I try. From tall ship sailing to traveling Spain to spinning yarn to an organic farm. There's no course registration or letter grades... but job applications and recommendations. The cherry on top? Instead of tuition-- I get a salary. I'll make my way back to college soon. For now, I'm discovering the world in my own way.

You can follow my next adventures and discoveries at my new blog: http://theGreenerSheep.blogspot.com

Fondly,

Sarah