Australia—Field Studies Blog
When students first joined Sørlandet, Australia was a faraway continent on a map, a distant port of call part of an unimaginable itinerary; now it’s a place of shared memories.
Yes, the crew feasted on the eye candy of biological parks of remarkable natural beauty. Yes, their palettes enjoyed exotic treats and meats (Timtams, crocodile, kangaroo). Yes, they pet creatures that even in their local zoos they’d yet to see, and on their own played didgeridoos. But this was no mere tourist trip to the Great Down Under. In Cairns, students learned, observed and even experienced life as Australians do.
Sørlandet had the privilege of partnering with Trinity Anglican School (TAS). The crew brought aboard local students to share glimpses of their daily life: colors, helming, lookout and the like. In turn, TAS welcomed the Sørlandet to their campus. For two days students buddied up with Australian peers and attended classes and participated in school activities on what’s now a strangely foreign campus environment, land.
They sat in on Japanese classes and shared their thoughts on how it differs, tonally, from Mandarin. They experimented with metals under Ms. Curtin and Mrs. Herman (from TAS) in a joint chemistry lab. They even tested their legs and lungs in a house cross country race—no small feat after so many months at sea. And, in a pristine indoor gym, they played against their Australian and international hosts in a high stakes game of soccer or football (and lost, with dignity).
TAS students young and old had “heaps” of questions for student crewmembers, who, after screening videos depicting their travels, have begun to appreciate just how far they have journeyed together. The breadth of the voyage is beginning to resonate.
Not all time with TAS was spent at school. Together the two groups of students and teachers attended an annual ANZAC ceremony in downtown Cairns before sunrise to pay respects to those fallen in the battle of Gallipoli, the greatest loss of troops from any one country in modern war. Moving and educational and accompanied by bagpipe and didgeridoo, the ANZAC ceremony provided Sørlandet students pause and another cultural insight, a glimpse of how those lost in war are honored around the world.
Of course, Sørlandet's students got out of the city too. To avoid the wild would be not to experience Australia. In one of the year’s most anticipated Field Studies programs, teachers and students set off on a catamaran at a brisk twenty-five knots for a day of snorkeling and diving one of the natural wonders of the world: the Great Barrier Reef!
Prior to departure, students attended a “Reef Teach.” The two hour interactive lecture led by a marine biologist taught the crew not only to identify corals, sharks, crustaceans, turtles, fish and rays, but what vital role each species plays in the underwater ecosystem.
Marine education continued on Fitzroy Island where students visited the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre. What environmental threats do the species face? How long does it take for a turtle to be nursed back to health in captivity? Who manufactures trackers used to monitor the animals and how long does the equipment last? Students found out.
Wildlife adventures were not limited to the sea. Aboard gondolas, students and teachers skimmed the tops of rainforest canopies on their way to the lively town of Kuranda. There they visited the Koala Gardens and had the opportunity to feed kangaroos. But not before meeting a seasoned park ranger who educated them on a number of topics, including the photosynthesis of kaori trees and the crucial role cyclones play in making way for new life in the rainforest.
Most departures are bittersweet. Sailing from Cairns after a week of hospitality and adventure was no different. When Sørlandet set sail for Indonesia, locals gathered on the quay to wish her and the Sørlandet fair winds and safe travels as they approached the end of an itinerant and unforgettable school year.
