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February 10 - February 19
At Sea Days to South Africa
Well, after a nice bon voyage BBQ on our pool deck the night we left, we set sail off to South Africa.
Sunday, February 10
It is our first full day back to sea, and you know what that means… BACK to work life and ship life, for 9 DAYS straight.Sea days are meetings with students, office hours, desk duty, duty nights, pub nights, dances, etc, etc, etc.
Tonight, I had my sea social with my 75 residents.I threw the students an 80's party and it went well.I could not believe how many students actually found clothing attire to dress the part as well.Come on, we are at SEA, with no shopping, no stores, and these students got into the spirit to find attire to make and work for the party.We had some great 80's music, some nice appetizers and bar service.Yep, still an interesting thing to be with the students having a social drink with them and socializing in this capacity.As long as they know that we are the role models and we are not drinking to be drunk or binge drinking we are fine.
Monday, February 11 and Tuesday February 12, 2008
Monday and Tuesday were pretty low key days for me at sea, which barely happens.I think with a routine for the entire community finally coming together, everyone is getting comfortable with their roles, what their expectations and norms are of each other and getting a nice feel for what the entire experience is going to be like.
At Global Studies, the class that all 800 students take, the professors announced that we would have our first exam on Tuesday.Let me tell you, the students really felt the pressure of this exam.Monday was a pretty low key night as the entire community was off studying for this exam.I have never seen so many students with open text books, notes and study groups forming before.Mind you, this class is all lecture based with a lot of reading, so with those type of classes, you never know what to expect on these type of exams.I went to bed early tonight as the long days and the many days of advancing our clocks ahead one hour are really beginning to catch up with everyone.
On Tuesday, I proctored the Global Studies exam, which was fun.The students in my group and classroom finished their 50 question multiple choice exam within 30 minutes, which meant some free time for me.I think overall the students werepretty pleased with the questions and the test.The rest of the day was pretty low key, which is good.A few of us have booked a trip for Malyasia to Kuala Lumpar, which is the capital city.I got my flight and hotel for two nights for $150, which is awesome.I learned that traveling in Asia is pretty cheap.It will be fun to be away from the students and the ship for a few days.Also today, I booked another trip for South Africa last minute as some open seats became available.I am going to spend 3 nights at the Kamma Kumma Lodge on a mini safari, visiting cave paintings and staying under Table Mountain, the most famous lodge in South Africa.
The one thing I have learned so far with budgeting on this trip is that is doesn't exist.I thought I had a nice plan on what my expenses would be, but I think that is pretty much out of mind right now.There are so many new and exciting opportunities that open up from the program and when new friends want to start planning trips, you really want to go and have some fun and explore these countries.Oh well, if I go broke, I can say I went broke traveling the world and visiting the Great Wall or seeing animals in a safari in Africa.At least I am not going broke with old debt and bad decisions!!
February 13 and February 14
Nothing more than ordinary at sea.But tonight we had a Wild Animal Dance for our students.The students came dressed up as their favorite animal to the dance.Go figure… can you believe that these students actually were able to find and make costumes out of whatever they found on the ship!!No lie… they were great costumes.From Jelly fish, to sharks, to lions, to elephants, to cats and dogs… the residents really get into our themed events to make them fun for everyone!!
Neptune Day has arrived (February 14).Today it was a NO CLASS day, but with a lot of activities planned.Today is the day we actually celebrated crossing the equator!The crew came around to the entire ship community at 7 AM, banging on pots and pans, screaming in the hallway and banging on our doors to wake up and to pay our respect to King Neptune and his royal court!!
Here is brief story on crossing the equator and its history!!
CROSSING THE EQUATOR - LONG LIVE KING NEPTUNE
The ceremony of crossing the line, the Equator, is an initiation rite for the entire ship, which commemorates a passenger's first crossing of the equator. Originally the tradition was created as a test for seasoned passengers to ensure their new shipmates were capable of handling long rough times at sea. Veteran passengers who have already crossed the equator are nicknamed (Trusty) Shellbacks, often referred to as women of Venus; those who have not are nicknamed (Slimy) Pollywogs.
The ritual of reversal in which the older and experienced passengers essentially take over the ship from the ship crew. Physical light-hearted jokes in keeping with the 'spirit' of the initiation are tolerated, and even the inexperienced passengers is given the opportunity to 'take over'. The transition flows from established order to the controlled 'chaos' of the Pollywog Revolt, the beginnings of re-order in the initiation rite as the fewer but experienced enlisted passengers converts the 'Wags' through light hearted tests, then back to, and thereby affirming, the pre-established order of officers and enlisted.
The eve of the equatorial crossing is called Pollywogs' Revolt and, as with many other night-before rituals, is a mild type of reversal of the day to come. 'Wogs' - all of the uninitiated - are allowed to laugh and capture in good spirit' any shellbacks they can find with simple jokes.
After crossing the line, Pollywogs may receive subpoenas to appear before King Neptune and his court (usually including his first assistant Davy Jones and her Highness Amphitrite and often various dignitaries on Semester at Sea, who are all represented by the highest ranking officials, a Contest of men dressing up as women may be permited.
Once the ceremony is complete, a Pollywog receives a certificate declaring their new status. Another common status is the Golden shellback, a person who has crossed the equator at the 180th meridian (international date line).
Honors
A popular patch has also been created for shellbacks, that depicts Neptune battling a sea serpent with his trident. I have given Deirdre such a "clip on button" , please see that she wears it once, or at least shows it to you..
A Proclamation may be given out... It proclaims:
Whereas by our Royal Consension, Our Trusty, Well Beloved .................... has this day entered Our Domain. We do hereby declare to all whom it may concern that it is Our Royal Will and Pleasure to confer upon him the Freedom of the Seas without undue ceremony. Should he fall overboard, We do command that all Sharks, Dolphins, Whales, Mermaids and other dwellers in the Deep are to abstain from maltreating his person. And we further direct all Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen and others who have not crossed Our Royal Domain, to treat him with the respect due to One of Us. Given under Our Hand at Our Court on board MV EXPLORER on the Equator in Longitude .....° on this ..... day of ..... in the year .....
(Signed)
Cancer — High Clerk
So by 8 AM, the activities began.We met King Neptune and his court and paid worship to them.The first two activities we partook in was having the fish guts poured over our heads and then jumping into the pool to swim through the guts to reach King Neptune and kiss his royal ring and FISH.Yep, I did it!, along with hundreds of other residents.It was a lot of fun!!
The next activity was the royal shaving of the heads.Let me tell you, our voyage hit world record numbers today with how many shaven heads we went through.I too shaved my head with the rest!!Take a look at these pictures!!And yes, females, many females, shaved their heads down to nothing.It was a great community builder and we had a lot of fun crossing the equator and being with King Neptune and his court for the day.
Tonight, yet again, we have to advance our clocks forward again.So when I mean I am tired, I am tired… we keep losing sleep!!By February 15,I will now be 5 hours ahead of NY time and 6 hours ahead of your central time people.
Today, we are in a bit of stormy weather.The waves are pretty big and we are rocking and rolling all over the place.I am on the 7 deck now looking out of the window and you can see the waves come up to this deck as the ship leans all the way to the left and then all of the way to the right.We cannot walk straight today and we are falling all over the place.It was difficulty taking a shower this afternoon and even trying to type this blog as the chairs keep on moving back and forward on me.A bunch of staff are falling out of their chairs as we talk and the entire bar in the lounge just broke a ton of glasses and alcohol bottles!!It is pretty interesting… fun at the same time.
Also, the best lunch was today.. we had hamburgers and hot dogs, with French fries… oh so good… we all have been missing some American good old food.Thank goodness, because by today, I am having some cravings for food that I miss!!!
Well, keep in touch…. Hope you enjoy the pictures of the shaven heads and that you are enjoying your cold weather!It is still HOT, HOT, HOT here.
Take care.
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