Saturday School

Event of the day: at 0645 I was out on the 6^th deck doing some yoga (as the sun was coming up) and saw two ships off in the distance. They were about ¼ of a mile away and were either Spanish or Portuguese fishing boats (my marine biology teacher filled me in on this when I asked him what sorts of ships would be sailing around the area that the ship is currently in.)

I have had 2 midterms thus far and have 2 more within the next 3 days! It is certainly a fast paced school while on the ship, with immense amounts of very interesting reading every day (for instance- today I learned about all of the different types of Spanish foods that are good to eat and which ones to avoid.) In addition, it is very odd having school on Saturdays and Sundays!

As of 1200 today the MV Explorer (the ship that I am sailing on) has gone 2,214 miles and there are only 4 more days until we hit the first port: Barcelona. I am so very excited to be able to see land again!

 

Day 3 on the ship

I have now gotten used to the constant rocking back and forth of the boat. I haven’t taken motion sickness pills all day and have successfully completed the second day of classes. Tomorrow is my first midterm (so soon!)

By far and away, the coolest thing thus far is the wildlife that can be spotted if searched for hard enough while on the ship. I made the mistake of reading out on the deck yesterday in the afternoon and got very fried when I fell asleep (the sound of the ocean is so soothing!) Last night after dinner I was studying on the deck when I noticed a large number of people congregated on one side of the ship. When I went over, I saw a gorgeous whale swimming along the ship. It was spouting water into the air and then majestically swam away from us. Seeing the huge and beautiful mammal swim away gave an epiphany of how expansive the ocean is and how utterly small I am. It made me realize how fortunate I am to be able to participate in such an incredible experience.

Speaking of such magnificent animals, in the evening I was stargazing with a couple friends on the 7^th deck (observation deck.) Out of the corner of my eye I saw this shiny object that appeared to be floating in the water. In examining it further, I saw a very distinct dorsal fin and realized that it was a shark!

I am going to go out and whale watch on the deck for a big. Cheers!

First Day of Classes!

The morning started off with a new found friend doing abb workouts at 6 am on the deck (it makes it a much more entertaining experience when the deck is shaking back and forth.) Then came breakfast and after that I was on to classes for the day. Out of the three classes I am taking aboard the MV Explorer, the Marine Biology class I’m enrolled in is by far the most entertaining thus far. The teacher who teaches the course is the most eccentric teacher I have ever met.  He loves the ocean, absolutely everything about the ocean, and for the last 45 minutes of the class he directed everyone to the deck to look for flying fish (which I saw- they look like tiny humming birds from far away!)

I talked with my waiter today, found out he’s from Jamaica and has been working on a cruiser for 27 years. (He also has a really cool accent, sings to himself as he walks around with orange juice, and says “ya man” to everyone he meets.)

Overall, it is like being back in school again, plus scenery of constant blue, the faint smell of salt, and the constant rocking backing forth. J

The Monotony of the Sea

Well, today is the first full day at sea: the water is 79 degrees and it is about 22 miles to the horizon. The weirdest part thus far has to be hands down the constant rocking motion that is present on all levels. The ship (not a boat) is going about 20 knots (roughly 21 miles per hour) on the open ocean. Because of the relative smallness of the ship compared to other cruisers, there is more motion that can be felt throughout all decks. This leads to passengers being more prone to sea sickness (thank God for meclyzine.)

Today has been a day full of orientations. For instance, now I know what to do if there is a fire (wear a lifejacket) and that if I am not careful to watch my fingers when I’m shutting the huge metal doors to my cabin that there is a fairly good chance I could “chop off my finger at the first joint” (as the lovely British Captain put it.) I also learned what the “aft,” “starboard,” “port,” and much more seaman jargon.

Tonight I go through another time zone change (1 hour ahead) which puts me now 4 hours ahead of western Pacific Time. I am counting down the days until I can see land again!

Monday: AAAAAANDDDDDDDDDD I’M OFF!

AAAAAANDDDDDDDDDD I’M OFF!

The waves are bumpy, the waiter has an awesome accent, and there is an incredible amount of vegetarian food (really good fresh tomatoes!) In short, I am going to have the time of my life. I was nervous/excited/ and full of anticipation when I boarded the boat. As I wandered around to the various checkpoints telling me about medical supplies on board and what to do if the ship starts sinking (tip- wear a lifejacket…) The captain has a British accent and every time he makes announcements via the intercom I smile. This is looking to be like quite the adventure and can’t wait to see where I end up in 2 months! J

Bahamas- day 1 out of the country

Today is the day before I leave. The Bahamas are incredibly beautiful, touristy, and the hotel I am staying in with my wonderful mom and her friend has the weirdest artwork ever. Exploring the island today was pretty crazy, especially since driving means adjusting to the whole left-side-of-the-road-thing. (Except- the Bahamian people, trying to prove their "independence and individuality" decided that having cars that have the driver on the left and driving on the left side of the road was a good idea. –Which it is not because you can't see oncoming traffic when you are going to pass people. )

One of the adventures my day involved was exploring the National Lucayan Park. After a 440 m walk through the local mangroves (mosquitoes galore) we came upon a gorgeous white sand beach - the prominent feature of the park.  Fun Fact: this beach is where the Pirates of the Caribbean movies were partially filmed. The ocean seemed to stretch for miles and miles turning varying shades of aqua/blue/turquoise. It was absolutely breathtaking to behold. In addition, the water was perfectly warm, with a cool and gentle breeze that blew as the waves gently rubbed up against the shore. I can't imagine a more gorgeous, relaxing, and perfect experience (especially with such amazing company!)

Tomorrow I will be boarding the MV Explorer and beginning the amazing adventure that the next two months hold for me. Thanks for reading! J

Getting so CLOSE!

11 more days until I leave for the beautiful Bahamas!! :)