Finally, We Dock in Dakar, Senegal, on Friday Morning
We are looking forward to the safari. Hopefully, tomorrow's post will contain great pictures of it.
As on all sea days, today started for me with “Coffee Chat.” Bibi Farnham, the HR Manager for the Viking Sky, was Verity’s guest, and she showed us just one of the ways they train new crew members in “the Viking Way.”
First Bibi had us get into circles of 8-10 and go around the circle with each person giving one word or phrase that represented for us good customer service. Words like friendliness, compassion, going the extra mile, etc. Then she and Verity handed out the following sheet from the “Star Service Playbook” for each of us to circle one answer for each line: (I forgot to take a picture until I had already started):
She asked us to identify the column in which we had circled the most answers. If that was column A, we were a Panther. Column B, a Peacock. Column C, a Dolphin. Column D, an Owl. Then she gave us this flyer:
I think every Viking guest is amazed at the “Five Star” service we receive from every crew member in every department. We got a glimpse today at how Viking creates that culture.
There was another mandatory crew drill at 10 a.m. — our second in just 7 sea days, apparently required by maritime authorities. The first lecture wasn’t until 11:15, and it was Viv Lawes speaking on “Africa and the Global Contemporary Art Market.” I missed it. The next lecture was at 4:30 — Mike Seigel on the “History of West Africa.” Interesting. Here are a couple slides.
Mike pointed out that he refers to the post-WWII independence movement as “Independence Resumed” because Africans were all independent before the Europeans arrived — a point that is easy for some to overlook. Here’s Mike’s outline:
I have mentioned in the past what great internet access we have, thanks to Starlink. We watch the network news programs, Next With Kyle Clark, and the late night monologues every day — streamed without interruption on YouTube. Here’s a typical screenshot
What lies ahead…. Sugara delivered this map of our last segment, from Dakar to London, at tonight’s turn-down. We’re in the home stretch!
That’s all for today. Night-night!
I hope the safari yields some great animals...not like the other one!
Lots of fun places coming up...Morocco, Spain, Portugal (lovely Lisbon!) France!