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The People - Marine Biology Trip
Professor: Jason Donovan
Class: Marine Biology Trip
Date: March 12 – 17, 2010
Location: Monterey, California
Author: Chris and Cindy Christensen
We were privileged to participate in the Marine Biology Trip to Monterey, CA March 12–17, 2010 as parent sponsors to ten Midland students. The adventures, experiences, journaling of education, and pictures from this trip will be shared many times over by the students as it was an absolutely wonderful trip. FaceBook has already been flooded with these adventures!
Each day, we observedthe “people” interactions of this group and thought it would be interesting to document the trip from a different perspective. And, the inspiration to write a paper that didn’t require English grading after assisting the students each evening with their journaling was an inspiration to journal a few of our observations! (Mr. Donovan promised to grade content more than English on the students papers). Here are a few “helpful people” we encountered:
 Rachel – Gate Agent at Terminal B, Gate 38 KCI. The airport was packed with excited “spring-break” travelers leaving KC for adventures or warmer climates. As would be expected on a heavy travel day, flights were being delayed due to weather conditions, etc. – and no doubt the flight we would be boarding to San Diego was a full flight, in fact over-sold. We had to get boarding passes at the gate for five of our group because of this. In spite of all, we requested that our group be allowed to “pre-board”. Not because we needed assistance getting down the jet-way, or because we had travelers under four years old – simply because we had ten teenagers and wanted our group of fourteen to sit together! Rachel was kind and accommodating, told us where to gather, then let us pre-board and take the back rows on both sides of the plane to keep our group together. The trip was starting off well.
Angela – the last passenger to load the flight from KC to San Diego. As noted, it was a full flight so folks were slowly filling in the infamous ‘middle seats’ that are so desired on Southwest unassigned seating. A couple was last to come on board, and there were no two seats left together. The husband took a seat on the front row of the plane on the left side. The last seat left was in the very last row, next to the window on the right side, beside me. At the back, we were located behind approximately 100 teenagers plus adults leaving KC for spring-break, and directly behind the Midland Marine Biology Team. Angela seemed rather timid as she took her seat as she became situated.
The flight got underway, and once in the air I began talking to Zach sitting in front of me about his haircut and Kyle. Then a little later, I asked if they wanted any snacks I had in my bag in case they were hungry. Angela inquired if I was with this group, as it was apparent several of the kids knew each other from their conversations. I explained the trip that was ahead of us. She didn’t say much at the time, then, awhile later she said she was a high school teacher and was getting away for spring-break. I talked to her for awhile, joking about a plane ride full of teenagers to “get away”, and I hoped their destination in San Diego wasn’t where the majority of these were headed – I assured her we were headed further on to Monterey. She teaches Math for gifted students in the Blue Valley district. We had casual conversation on and off, then towards the end of the flight she started asking about Midland and said these were nice students, and there was “something different about them”. She said when the stewardess told her that a seat was there at the back, she kept looking and saw this sea of teenagers and saying she didn’t see any seats….it didn’t turn out being so bad after all, not typical teenagers with language!
Vince - the San Diego Gate Agent. After a one-hour delay due to weather in San Deigo AND a gate change, we made a similar pre-boarding request as we boarded for San Jose. Vince, the gate agent, agreed and told us where to gather our group, which I indicated was the Midland Biology Team. My role was to bring up the rear of the group to ensure everyone made it through okay, so I was in my designated place – at the End of the Group. Vince made the call over the intercom for the “group of 14 young ladies to pre-board”… I was at the back motioning for the senior boys at the front to go as I knew that was for us, but they wouldn’t budge. SO, I had to move forward and lead the group on. That provided a few laughs during the trips whenever we needed to get the group going somewhere – but, we did get to pre-board and sit together as a group. Still, having a successful trip – with added laughs!
 Carlynn - Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant – On the flight from San Diego to San Jose, the stewardess had to be the absolute nicest I have ever encountered. She noticed all these teenagers loading and getting situated together and started asking where we were going, etc. Everyone was excited to tell her the plans. She brought entire bags of peanuts, cheez-its, oreos, etc. and passed them out per row (note, only 3 seats per row). This was all while the other passengers were loading before we left the ground!!! If you can imagine, our group was served anything and everything during that flight in drinks, juice and treats. We passed a paper around writing notes to her for appreciation. She announced over the intercom about the Midland Marine Biology Team trip, and appreciation of her special note.
I left the plane with enough bags of peanuts that whenever the kids were hungry after an adventure during the trip, I would pass out peanut packages from Carlynn while in the van! Carlynn grew up in Pittsburg, Kansas and has lived in San Diego since 1991; and the other stewardess lived in KC several years too with one of her kids graduating from KSU and one from UMKC. I don’t think anyone will forget Carlynn for awhile as the kids even had her pose for pictures with them.
 Dennis and Sylvia Donovan – Jason's parents. Wow, if they didn’t know Midland before, they know Midland now! These dear folks met us at the San Jose Airport to take us to Monterey Bay Academy, the destination where we would stay during the length of our trip. What appreciation we had for their efforts to arrange for the passenger vans to transport the group around, and for driving one of the vans with part of the group during our many adventures. They obtained all the food for the group (and juice for Kyle – ask him about this) for the trip, and cooked delicious (and nutritious) meals for the group. Nobody went hungry during this trip for sure! Very nice, very energetic, went on all the adventures with us, and kept up with the unending entertainment and conversations that teenagers can provide. Amazing people, with dedication and talents.
 Mike – Monterey Bay Aquarium tour guide. (and Kansas City Chiefs fan) Mike grew up in Arkansas, and gave our team a terrific orientation for the aquarium and bay area. Each time we saw him through the day walking about, he asked how the Midland group was doing. With all the people there, I have no idea how he could remember we were from Midland. Kind and courteous, and was excited to see a group from Kansas City. He asked a couple of times about the school, so I hope he looks up the website for Midland Adventist Academy. So if you're reading this, "Hi Mike!"
Paul – Monterey Whale Watching. Another awesome day on the trip, beautiful and sunny, as we boarded to venture out to sea to find whales in their natural habitat. Paul was one of the crew. As the trip progressed, he would come by where we were seated and visit, asking if we’d been on similar ventures, etc. As some of the kids would come by, he realized we were the sponsors for the school group on board. During one of our conversations we somehow got on the subject of a lady he is dating, and he started explaining that she is at Loma Linda University and how they sort of mix religion and education, and that they are Seventh Day Adventists. After a short while, I told him the kids on board were from Midland Adventist Academy, and he looked at me, to which I replied that we too were Seventh Day Adventists! As the trip went on, we visited several more times, so I asked if he could arrange for Captain Roger to have a picture with our kids. Shortly after that, the naturalist was driving the boat and Roger and Paul were on the deck lined up for a picture with Mr. Donovan and the Midland Marine Biology Team (with Mrs. Donovan asking “who’s driving the boat right now?).
 Mike, McKenzie and Casey – Kayak guides. These three people were the tour guides for the kayaking adventure. What fun! Or maybe I should say excitement, when a seal splashes right next to your kayak and soaks you. There was a lot to see in the Elkhorn Slough; as we were paddling, Mike spent time visiting alongside our kayak for awhile. He's a very friendly man who has a girlfriend from Leavenworth, Kansas; her parents own one of the main restaurants in Leavenworth. Mike was sharing how he appreciated eastern Kansas, although felt differently about western Kansas (we understood and agreed). He certainly knew where Shawnee was, but not specifically the school, although found it interesting to know generally where the school group was from. Initially from a group perspective, Mike seemed like a regular tour guide, however once he was conversing one-on-one he was very interesting.
Clare and JR – San Jose and Las Vegas Airports. As with the flights going to California, we were able to pre-board the group coming back to KC so we could obtain seating together on both flights. Many accolades to Southwest Airlines for their accommodations for group travel during peak travel dates.
 Jason and Melanie Donovan – The Incredibles. An amazing trip for 10 Midland students to experience Marine Biology from so many different perspectives. Very organized. Melanie has energy, dedication and commitment to ensure the logistics are all in place - very admirable! Jason is so dedicated to teaching and ensuring that the students experience the learning environment. There were so many opportunities and venues that he made sure they were a part of, then walked the kids through the journaling experience and planned so they could have laptops along to journal each evening. A learning experience, presented as an adventure, that occurred perfectly. We’ve been involved in so many events from Pathfinders to Sabbath School to evangelistic meetings, etc. and our sincere complements to those who planned and organized this trip! There are so many favorite activities – aquarium, Point Lobos (2 miles X 3), tide pooling, beach sunsets, whale watching, kelp pull, beachside fire, kayaking, It was thoroughly enjoyable.
 Students – Awesome! Shelby Siebold, Lisa Craig, Sarah Whitson, Kirbi Yelorda, Abbey Adams, Craig Christensen, Zach Frishman, Robby Willer, Chris Fairchild, Kyle Breyer. “The Marine Biology Team” Fun. Entertaining. Eager. Energetic. So many laughs, so many stories, so many memories, so many miles on our tennis shoes…some running after the van (???). Regular participation in devotions. Everyone participated in prayers. What a team! …did I mention good behavior (and the boys won the cleaning contest in the Bunk House!).
Thank you for the opportunity to participate as parent sponsors. California had great weather the week we were there, which added to the great trip and tans we all brought home. What a blessing and adventure!
Chris and Cindy Christensen
p.s. Also, being the packers of the first aid and a medical provider on the trip (Chris), we appreciated an injury-free trip too!
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Midland Adventist Academy
