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I did as I had done on the first lap ofthe voyage. I talked infonnally to people and
asked some basic questions. Are the Newfoundlandcrs still fishing herc? Where are they
fishing? Where had they fished? Did you get along with thcm in the past and now?
This stage ofthe trip proved lrUe some stories I had heard about the crew's
lrCatmcnt ofcertain passengers. examples of\\hich will be gi\'cn in the ncxt chapler. One
c,·cning. I went 10 supper early. I found myselfstanding with some Labradorians and
looking in through the glass ofa lockcd door at 'lhe crowd from the univcrsity.- who
\\cre having a pri"ate dinner. They must have started halfan hour before thc cafeteria
officially opened. One oflhe ""nmen from Labrador passed the comment that, "Here we
arc again. The rich on the inside and the poor on the outside." She looked al me and
smiled. he had included me as one ofher group. I usually sat with the Labradorians and
had onen observcd the reluctance with which the crew dealt with the Innu and Inuit,
especially when Ihey spoke in their own language. My supper companion said Ihey often
spoke IllUklitut to spite the crew members who did nOllike thcm. 71
Unlike Ihe lower deck accommodalions, the upper class cabins had their own
showers, and I must confess that I did take up my friends' offer to go up there and take a
showcr when it became impossible to do so downstairs. I once went up there just 10 get
away from the noise and have a few moments to myself. Eventually. Ihe crew re-opened
the salon. which made the ship seem less crowded. and. as on Ihe previous trip on the
Ttl\'erner. I would go there to socialize with passengers. Ilowevcr, Ihe men always
seemcd to be involved in a poker game and the younger people preferred to "hang out"
71 Field notebook I. July 14. 1984.
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