A Glimpse into Life on the MV Explorer

Even though there are 721 students and at total of 1050 people, the community is very close on the ship. Every day we get a "Dean's Memo" including how far we have traveled, how far we have to go, movies that are playing, seminars that are being held, and any important information. My favorite piece is the Rumor Ranger. Here is the one for today:
Rumor Ranger addresses rumors in our community. Submit to: adminoffice@semesteratsea.net

 ALMOST A RUMOR: I don’t know if this is a rumor or a question but here it goes.....I was told that when visiting the Vatican your arms legs and toes had to be covered. When we go on our tours of Rome is someone going to clue us in beforehand so that we are appropriately dressed?

Great Question! Many of these details will be covered in tonight’s Preport and in info from the Field Office. But, yes! You are right about shoulders and knees being covered. You may add a shawl to cover your upper arms if wearing a sleeveless top, but you must leave it on while touring the Vatican. Shorts or short skirts are not acceptable. Knees must be covered, so wear longer skirts or pants. From the information available this morning from the Field Office, sandals are OK.

Rumor #1: Is it true that the stabilizers were turned on because Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is onboard? Is that why the ship is jerking instead of rocking? Rumor Ranger Response (with comments from our Captain): The Stabilizers are IN and have not been in use since leaving Gibraltar. Use of the Stabilizers depends on weather conditions - to be precise - the sea state, not on Loretta Sanchez. And the term is ‘pitching and rolling’ not jerking. I guess that Loretta called Neptune directly and made some arrangements regarding weather improvement.

Rumor #2: I was eating dinner with a big group of people tonight, and a whole bunch of them said that there were a lot of kids that came back from Spain with STD's. They also said that the boat has run out of like Chlamydia antibiotics, and that anyone who has it now will not get help until Italy. Someone also said that if you have it, you are asked not to go to class. Is this true??? Rumor Ranger Response: According to the medical team, this rumor is categorically false.

Rumor #3: I heard that a SAS girl was arrested in Turkey for possession of marijuana and is still in prison awaiting trial after two years. Is any of this true? RRR: While there are strict laws pertaining to drug violations in Turkey, this rumor is unfounded.

Rumor #4: So, it’s circulating around the ship that four students never made it back to the ship in Spain and that we had to leave them behind. Plus, we don't know where they are or if they'll meet us in Italy because they never contacted anyone...are we missing students? RRR: This rumor is false but it is true that a few students were significantly late returning to the ship and will feel the sting of dock time in Italy.

Delayed Rumor from Spain: Is it true that in Spain, waving at a Spaniard (like when we wave to say hello) means that you are "available and interested"? I waved at two elderly men on a motorcycle and they both looked totally shocked and excited. I then heard that waving in Spain isn't quite what it is in America. RRR from our Spain expert, Professor David Gies, via email: “As the Spaniards might say, ‘absurdo.’ No truth to it at all. Trust me, hookers look like hookers in Spain, too”.