Advertisement
Published: September 1st 2010
Edit Blog Post
Friday!
YAY! The day was finally here. Day to set sail! Woke up early, went and showered then walked down with my luggage to the pier. After going through security and stressing about certain situations I made it through and I got to my room. 3050 baby! My roommate wasn’t there yet and neither were any of the people I met yesterday, so I started to unpack. I got about 15 minutes in until Colin, Troy (USD kid) and Brad got on. We then went exploring and everything was breathtaking. Words honestly can’t describe how I felt. Images of titanic flashed through my head. Walking through the halls, seeing the main docks, the pool, everything was crazy. The ship was just breathtaking. Pictures don’t do any justice. While walking around and getting a tour we got to see the facility lounge. Sitting there was Desmond Tutu, like no big deal! It was so cool! None of us went to say hello though because we weren’t really sure how to act.
After walking around, and doing everything that was set up we were hungry. It was our first lunch on board and we wanted to try it so we didn’t leave the
ship, even though it was allowed. WOW! Dorm food all over again! But man, we took our food out to deck 6 and ate outside. It was beautiful. The Halifax port, sun shining above, amazing. A once in a lifetime chance. I may have even gotten a little sunburnt. We walked around more and before we knew it, dinner. I went to my room first to meet my roomie and she wasn’t around, but I eventually got to meet her. A very nice girl who will get along perfectly with me. We later had a meeting and got introduced to people, of course that is after the magnificent sunset we got to watch out the stern of the ship. But before I knew it, it was bedtime!
Saturday!!
Saturday was a very long day. I woke up and it was raining! It’s such a good thing I have a window. I can look outside and see the weather while others just have to assume what it is. We had to be up by 9 for orientation about the honor code and how to do certain things on the ship. We had a lifeboat drill and floor meetings. It was
P8280108
Crazy Waves a lot like freshman orientation all over again. Eventually lunch came around and then more orientations. By dinner time we were all drained and super tired. The weather was still crappy so we all ate inside and couldn’t really see the sunset. After the last orientation we could sign up for certain clubs. I signed up for teaching swim lessons to the little kids on the ship. There are 26 kids. Then I signed up for an extended family. Those seem fun for holidays and just meeting the lifelong learners (elderly/ parent style adults ). Then signed up for some sports too. Stayed up a little longer then we finally went to bed.
Sunday!
Sunday morning was the shits! We went through a time change and it was the roughest water we have had yet. The water is so rough because of the hurricane and it is only bound to get worse. Showering was definitely a challenge. I woke up feeling crappy and took some Dramamine and ate ginger and some breakfast. I’m eating as much fruit and vegetables as I can before it they go bad. Unfortunately those didn’t help my stomach and class was very hard to
P8290131
Scavenger Hunt sit through. The union, my classroom, is located at the bow of the boat on deck 6. It rocks a lot and you can feel every wave. Many people left the class throwing up. It was global studies, the common class everyone on the boat has to take. Immediately after that I had Organizational behavior. I love the class. So much fun! The teacher is awesome; he is also my reflection group teacher so he knows me now. Then after that I had another class in the union. It was consumer psychology. Should be a fun class. We didn’t have to stay long because the teacher let us all go. She wasn’t feeling well herself and said none of us looked to great either. After that I hung out on the stern with a few friends and played cards. Crazy knowing that is how I am going to spend the next four months. Dinner came around eventually and our floor ate dinner together then participated in a scavenger hunt. So fun. My group won and we even got the bonus treasure of getting a picture with Desmond Tutu. It was so funny and nerve racking. He is such an honor
P8290140
Desmond Tutu to meet and talk to. By the time that ended we all did a little homework, but I still felt sick. I went to bed by 9:30 and didn’t wake up till 11 on Monday.
Monday!
After waking up and showering I felt a lot better today. The waves were definitely not as rough and I felt more like myself. I got to sleep in because my only class of the day wasn’t till 12:15. I went and got breakfast then went off to class. History 1400-present could be the most boring thing ever. I will survive it though. My teacher seemed to be interesting and really knowledgeable about the subject. A now it’s another day of eating, playing cards… some studying and of course laying out on the deck! Also trying to do some traveling things but I keep getting distracted. That’s the hardest part about this adventure. Every little thing is distracting and you can find so much better stuff to do that study.
Tuesday
Today was a very long day. I went to my first three classes then, had a meeting about possibly teaching swim lessons to the 26 kids onboard. After that I took
a long nap because the time changes are beginning to get to me. The days seem super long yet they are only 23 hours. Between Canada and Spain we change our clocks six different times. So 10 am here I am use to 4 am in Colorado. But I’m doing alright. I thought a lot today about how crazy it is this stuff is real. I can’t get over it. School on a ship, crazy! I get out of class and I go tan and read my books. Its crazy. After my nap I had a meeting about my vicarious voyage. That is where I get to write to fifth grades which I love, especially since students wrote to me when I was in second grade. After that I did a lot of my paper and went to bed.
Wednesday
Today we passed land for the first time. We passed some islands, means we are getting way closer! I also saw birds and life. That was at 8 oclock in the morning, I then went back to my room listened to some music and finished my paper. By noon I had lunch and my first and only class of
the day. After that, my friend Mimi put on an exercise class. It is very hard to balance on the boat. But it was fun. We then hung out mingled and just chilled. There is a lot of that on the boat. But it is totally worth it. I started reading for the majority of my classes which needed to be done. But as for now I just finished ice-cream and watching the sunset. Looking forward to yet another time change. 3 Days till Spain!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.413s; Tpl: 0.014s; cc: 10; qc: 44; dbt: 0.043s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
Lauren Bender
non-member comment
WOW!
It sounds like you're on a vacation! I am excited to read more of your blog to see how your semester at see is going! Bryce and I skyped you mom today...i'm bummed about the internet time limit! when you get a chance email or skype me! good luck with the time changes...if you find a cute baby tee bring one back for Bryce =) love you lots!! Safe travels Laur