- Trust - As our captivated audience was spellbound by Jocka (@JockAcroFlyer) and Maria (@MaRiAerialDancr) and their Aerial Flyers show, the trust they had for each other was evident. Their balancing and flying stunts were only possible with implicit trust in one another. After meeting them F2F after their show, it became even more apparent the passion, trust, respect and dedication they had for one another.
- Arts - In addition to the awe-inspiring aerial and balancing show that Jocka and Maria put on, we were entertained by Luke in the piano bar. Luke graduated from Berkeley School of Music in Boston, and like Jocka and Maria, were booked as entertainers on our cruise ship. Luke's personality and connection with his audience created repeat customers night after night. In addition to taking many requests, he took time during his breaks to relate to his audience.
- Dedication - The cruise ship's Production Crew was more than sensational in their song and dance. Their commitment to the family they have fostered in their Crew and the time and effort they give to one another to bring out the best in each other was paramount. Having the chance to meet and talk with them in the cruise ship's fitness centered reinforced their commitment and dedication.
- Questions - Taking the opportunity to ask questions of Jocka, Maria, Luke, the Production Crew and so many tour guides and servers greatly enriched our cruise. So much can be learned through clarifying questions, reflective inquiry and questions conveying interest. We felt that our questions and their responses added so much to making our vacation even more relaxing, enjoyable and fulfilling. In addition, by being observant and asking questions at the right time saved us a great deal of time and money.
- Communication - Our vacation was enriched through the constant communication with servers, cruise ship staff, tour guides and fellow vacationers. Whether it was in a glass elevator or a piano bar, we met and chatted with students that had previously learned in class with me or teachers who taught next to me in our district. It was mind-blowing to be on a cruise ship and have another guest call you by name and share how you've impacted their life.
- Interdependence / Community / Family - In addition to the ship's Production Crew working together as a family, so many of our servers exhibited a sense of family and community by connecting, disclosing and asking questions. At least two of our servers had a fiance waiting for them at home at the end of this commitment on this cruise ship for a wedding around the corner. In addition to Jocka and Maria, the Production Crew of singers and dancers, our Thrillussionist David and his wife and child on the ship displayed a commitment to family and community.
- Adapting - Learning to adapt and graciously accommodate other's needs in a changing schedule can not only reveal one's heart, but often comes with unexpected and pleasant surprises. We were invited to join other guests one evening in the dining room and found it to be a very pleasant and uplifting experience. We inquired as to their plans on the ship and met them at other times. There was a time change as a result of traveling through different time zones that caught some guests unaware. Adapting in the early morning for breakfast or at a showtime when they've failed to change the clock caused them to learn quickly. We had a tour that was originally scheduled for Sunday that was changed soon before the tour to a later day. It's stress-free when you can learn to just adapt. Even coming upon 12-foot waves on a cruise ship in the Bermuda Triangle causes one to learn to adapt and take a couple of Dramamine. On the island of Bermuda, traffic drives on the left side on the street and traffic moving clockwise around a roundabout caused many to quickly adapt.
- Listening - Many of the above could be summarized in the need to listen intently. Whether it was being on the correct side of the glass-bottom boat prior to crashing waves, the time to be on which deck of the same boat, the time changes for dinner, shows or disembarking, it really pays to listen with the intent of understanding and adapting.
Overall, our vacation was exhilarating while relaxing due to many of the above. Let's incorporate these into our learning environments as often as possible to enable our learners to experience smooth sailing.
