As soon, as the S.V. Concordia appeared behind an Brazilian Marine-ship, all the new crew members who had just arrived all felt the same great excitement. The Grade 11s and a few more Gap year students had finally arrived after over 20 hours traveling to their new home for the next five months. Concordia, a three-masted sailing vessel, was a completely new experience for all Grade 11s and for three new Gap Students.

After everyone's luggage was on board, it was time to sign in. There were short explanations about the new school schedule and a little bit of basics about how to live on board to survive the first night, and it was eventually time for us to go to bed. I doubt anyone slept before 2 o'clock in the morning. It seemed so much more important to talk politely at first and we used shy words with our new roommates.

The next day came faster than everyone expected after this short night and the long journey. Still, everyone was so excited about the ship, all the other students and the new experiences in front of them, that the feeling of tiredness was forgotten. After the first breakfast on board, our first "Colours" waited. This was followed by our first cleaning-station job and a few activities to meet one another.

After this, there was a bit time left to sit on deck and enjoy the great South American sun after the winter and the snow in Nova Scotia. Forgotten were school uniforms and the stress of final exams of the first semester. We were focussed on the big adventure right in front of all Class Afloat members. It started a whole social boom on board.

How ever, after the break, reality came back: sail training. The sail training went over three days and included basics like sailing orders, safety instructions and getting familiar with a few rules and getting an idea how a sailing ship, like S.V. Concordia can move with the wind. We learned where the different rooms are and on which deck we are allowed to hang out. A funny part of the sailing training was during the safety instruction part, when everyone had to try on emergency immersion suits. It was ridiculously warm in them because they were made out of waterproof material and covered every part of the body except the face. After coming out of this, the mid-day sun seemed a bit chilly.

In the evening it was more like a call to hang-out and meet every one than anything else. But soon, very soon, the days turned quickly into a normal routine. For the first time, new members of the team felt what it means to have fitness class. On that day fitness meant going jogging in the port and had a few minutes of a stretch session.

After this a well deserved breakfast waited and another day in the new life started with "Colours", continued by more sail training and a visit of Salvador in the evening.