SS Ryndam
So far on this journey, I’ve just shared adventures in various ports in other countries.
When we were in port, our time was our own. When we were at sea, we attended
college classes. I carried 18 credits which were transferred to the University of
Minnesota upon return. We had lots of adventures at sea as well and I’d like to share
some of them.
This is the S S Ryndam. There are 16 classrooms, a science lab, a cafeteria, a student lounge where student body meetings are held. The student lounge has a stage where student bands play and singing happens, as well as dances and plays. There is a hospital with doctors and nurses in the bowels of the ship. There’s a huge library, a purser’s square where you can deposit or withdraw your money if you have any. There are no elevators, only stairs. The groups of rooms are labeled for the seas we travel. The fantail at the back of the ship is fabulous for sun bathing if you should choose. There are 500 students, 100 staff, and the ship’s crew on board.
I learned to play bridge on the ship.
The fantail was perfect for a little volleyball as well as sun bathing.
Gladiators included the Dean of the College 😊
There was LOTS of fun and things to do, people to get to know, papers to write, letters to write, and food to eat. The ship brought in peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to the big lounge at 10:00 in the evening for a snack.
We all got a cookbook with recipes of special foods from all of the countries. The Ship’s cooks provided this one:
DUTCH TREAT SNACK
Prepare 500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches a week in advance. Suggested serving time: 2200. Save the leftovers for picnic box lunches.
2 DAYS AFTER WE LEFT INDIA, THE SS RYNDAM SLOWED WAY DOWN!!!
Why???? Three-quarters of the ship’s people, including students, staff, and crew were very sick with DYSENTERY!!!! That included me!!!! We all called it the Big D.
It hits FAST! I had some toast and coffee for breakfast and was heading downstairs to get my books for class. I never made it! Projectile vomiting. Made it to my room and was SO GRATEFUL OUR ROOM WAS CLOSE TO THE GANG BATHROOMS! Diahrrhea and vomiting was all I did. You get very weak fast!!! After 2 or 3 days, 2 people helped me down to the ship’s hospital because I couldn’t walk by myself. Everybody else was in the same boat: students, teachers, teaching assistants, crew members, resident assistants – everybody!!!!
Many, many students lost 20 – 25 lbs from the Big D. We were too weak to do anything. The ship’s doctors and nurses gave us medicine, but it took a while to take. You can only begin eating after almost a week, and then not much.
In our Ryndam Cookbook is posted this recipe:
BID D DELUXE DIET…for the next WCA Reunion
Broth
Tea
Apple
Crackers
Bread-Toast
Biscuits
Rice cooked in water
Water
Note: Between meals you may have 15 drops Laudanum or Paregoric in any amount of water.
Contributed by Dr. Y Menger
Ship’s Physician
Trust me, you cannot eat all of that at first, and usually, only once a day. We were SO CAREFUL in India not to drink anything not bottled, e.g. pop, beer, water, and eat only fruit that could be peeled. We ate very little of prepared food, but…..we still got sick.
The ship’s fly-ahead man had to reset our arrival time in Africa because ports are reserved.
About this time, we got a notice in The Helm: Our Daily at Sea newspaper.
NEPTUNE REX WAS GETTING ANGRY!!! Pollywogs, scholars, and sailors were approaching his Kingdom.
CROSSING THE EQUATOR
You may not know this, but… when you on board any kind of vessel, be it with the U S Navy, a commercial cruise ship from any country, a commercial tanker or shipping vessel, when you cross the Equator, there is an initiation. ONCE you have gone through the initiation, you get a certificate. Hang on to it forever because if you ever cross the equator again, you do not have to go through it again!!! Not only that, but instead of being “done unto”, you get to participate in “DOING UNTO” for initiates.
I was not totally recovered from dysentery, and most students and staff were not, but I wanted my certificate. I was still pretty weak, but I said YES!! to participating! In spite of the pictures you see here, the initiation for us was pretty EASY because everyone knew we weren’t really 100% yet. Some kids were too sick to do it, but I did!!! I also heard rumors that they put crap in your hair that was hard to get out. So, my only preparation was to put a bottle of baby oil in my hair so that whatever they put on it, I could get out. I worked!!!
Please God, don’t let me throw up!
Down your pants, in your hair!!! You don’t want to know – just get through it.
The fantail was perfect for a little volleyball as well as sun bathing.
The tug who greets you at every port for clearance of the ship to come into port brings the mail. It is the most popular place once it’s delivered for news from home. I was blessed to have mail at every single port.
I love music. The students formed a band and we danced many a night to them. Some of the students could sing beautifully, and there was a choir that entertained us too, made up totally of World Campus Afloat students.
We had drama, too:
15 Minutes After
The Sandbox
Valentine’s Show
Camelot
Scarborough Fair
Showboat 70
The Night the Ryndam Sunk
The Fantasticks
The Memorial Show
You have to kiss King Neptune’s toe!
You do NOT want to know all of the icky things that were in that pool water!
It’s a little crispy, but I still have it!!! I typed out what it says because I know you can’t read it. 😊
IMPERIVM NEPTVNI REGIS
To all Scholars and Sailors wherever ye may be: and to all Mermaids. Whales, Sea Serpents, Porpoises, Sharks, Slates, Dophins, Eels; Suckers, Crabs, Lobsters and all other living things of the sea
Greetings: Know ye: that on this 6th day of April, 1970, in Latitude 0’ 0” and Longitude 45’ 27” E there appeared in Our Royal Domain the S. S. Ryndam carrying Scholars of World Campus Afloat – Chapman College bound for the equator and for Africa.
Be It Remembered That
The said vessel and Officers and Crew thereof, have been inspected and passed on by Ourself and Our Royal Saff
And Be It Known: By all ye Scholars, Sailors, Mariners, Landlubbers and others who my be honored by his presence that Sandra Kay Darling having been found worthy to be numbered as on of our trusty Shellbacks has been duly initiated into the
Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Deep
Be it further understood that by virtue of the power invested in me I do hereby command all my subject to show due honor and respect to him wherever he may be.
Disobey This Order Under Penalty of Our Royal Displeasure
Given under Our Hand and Seal this April 6, 1970.
Chapman College
E. G. Alderean Netpunus Rex
Dean of the Ship Ruler of the Raging Main by his Servant’s Hand
Commander of the Ship
Following this ceremony, the S. S. Ryndam approached the East Side of Africa. I do not know the date and time because of the slowing of the ship to accommodate the Big D.