【団役員コメント:Wayne Devitte】 With the morning of day 7 of our education cruise, we started our day for the first time on the aft deck of the ship with morning exercises. The students were grateful for relatively calm seas and a slightly overcast sky. Each day of our cruise is busy with many activities that are both entertaining and educational. After an early breakfast, starting at 06:30, the students go about cleaning their rooms, socializing, and tidying up the student mess hall. They cooperate well getting all of the morning tasks completed quickly. With the free time they have between breakfast and the morning offshore courses, they get a chance to relax a little, though with a change in the weather to rain, that meant staying inside. Today’s morning lectures were by Mr. Matsushima, who talked about photography and gave career advice and Captain Kamigouchi of the ship who talked about his career. Both of the lectures gave the students a lot to think about and were very interesting. The afternoon had the students who hadn’t a chance to visit the bridge, or the engine room get their opportunity to learn more about the operations of the vessel. Other groups of students learned how to scrub the deck and how to tie knots, both of which are essential skills for life aboard a ship. Since the weather turned out to be very nice, they really had a good time. After dinner, students went about their evening business awaiting their first on board English lesson. Though they were nervous, they took to the lessons like fish to water. All of the students talked as much as they could in English, and some of them even surprised themselves with how much English they can use. Finally, with the student leader meeting competed, and an eventful day, filled with much to learn, everyone spent the rest of the evening playing card games and socializing. Life aboard the Bosei Maru is certainly busy, but each day is packed with lots to do and to enjoy. All the while, everyone is learning together.