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Life Onboard |
LAST UPDATE
July 12, 2005
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| site design imagesparkle.com |
| February 24, 2004 |
Families on Peace Boat – A Different Perspective |
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| Participants stop to assist with the day's art project in the Peace Boat Center onboard |
A Special Report by Peace Boat Participant, Steve Fabricant
The demographics on Peace Boat resemble a 'smiley face', with most of the participants on Peace Boat either under-30 or retired people. The majority are singles and couples, so prior to embarking, we wondered how our mixed Japanese/American family with young children would fit in. What could be worse for a parent than bored, unhappy kids trapped on a ship for three months? And what about missing school?
s the first weeks passed I watched a community form and everyone find their place in it. We needn't have worried about our children: after some initial shyness they all found each other and made friends. Far from being bored, the older ones are occupied from dawn to dusk and we hardly see them at all some days.
It's working for the other families, too. The Katos lead very busy lives and hoped that the voyage would give them the time they wanted to spend with their three young children and also pursue their own personal interests, as well the special experience of traveling around the world. They say they their expectations have been met.
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| Peace studies for the youngest of people |
The quiet of the former meditation room is broken in the morning by home-school classes assisted by a volunteer student teacher, and again in the evening for organized activities. The older kids have the rest of the day to themselves, playing games in their cabins or at the pool and jacuzzi. Some have found adults and older students they like to hang out with, learning games like Igo and Japanese chess or helping in the Peace Boat center. Two of the families have parents working on board, so a paid babysitter looks after their toddlers part of the day. These littlest sailors, Ippei (1-1/2) and Lia (2-1/2) have become inseparable friends. A cabin equipped with toys, art supplies, and kiddie videos is also reserved for the tots' use.
They also get an enormous attention from other participants and the friendly crew; we can spot which older participants miss their grandchildren by the way they smile and greet the toddlers. So what's up with all those younger women (and guys too) who stop to play with them?
Naturally we were concerned about safety and comfort, but soon saw that it is almost impossible for an unsupervised child to fall overboard. The riskiest place (for all participants) might be on the stairs in rough weather. Realistically, a fair amount of adult supervision for younger kids is needed, especially around the swimming pools. On this voyage we have worked out cooperative arrangements so parents have free time.
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| Global University program director Kawasaki (left) and participant and the youngest students of the program |
The Topaz is a big, stable ship and usually it feels like we are hardly moving, but seasickness can still be a problem sometimes (less for children than for adults). It is easily controlled with the same tablets you may already use when setting out on a car or plane trip. Our cabin has just enough room for a portable baby bed, and the bathtub is a convenience too. Necessities like paper diapers and favorite snacks are available in many ports, so there's no need to bring huge quantities from home. Meals on board are heavily Oriental, but there are enough alternatives to satisfy our kids.
Since you are reading this webpage, you may not be proficient in Japanese. For young children this will be no problem at all, and for parents it will be an opportunity for immersion in Japanese language, food, entertainment, and their special way of doing things. Everyone tries to make it easy for English speakers like me, with ship announcements, daily schedules, and movies in both languages, and simultaneous translation provided at guest lectures. And it is really an international experience, with crew, language teachers, and guests from many countries. For kids, the more the merrier, so welcome aboard Peace Boat!
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| Recreation time |
Steve Fabricant is a health economist who works in developing countries, but on Peace Boat he is better known as "Lia's daddy" and the husband of Miyagawa-sensei (Keiko), the doctor on the 44th voyage. Their children Marina (10) and Ayumi (13) are also somewhere on board. Currently living in Ashland, Oregon, USA, they are moving to Okinawa after the cruise, where Keiko will start a new job as public health officer for the prefectural government.
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