I wanted to share a few things that have been going on this past week on the ship. Even though we have all been busy attending classes, there have been some monumental and fun events. The first event occurred the night we set sail from Ghana. We had our BBQ night! I was so excited to enjoy it because I had missed out on Taco Night. I was not disappointed! I ended up eating two cheese burgers, macaroni and cheese, cheese bread, salad and an eclair. They also had BBQ chicken, hot dogs and three types of potato salad and coleslaw. Furthermore, they had five different desserts to choose from and were assorted on a beautiful table. This night was also special because we got to eat on Deck 7 in the great outdoors. Normally, it is confined to the dining halls, and at times, it can get really busy. Sometimes I walk up to Deck 6, realize its full, and then walk down to Deck 5 to eat. At least we have multiple dining rooms! I found out today that we consume 50lbs of peanut butter A DAY! I couldn't believe it! Anyway, the BBQ was delicious and by the end I was completely stuffed.
The next day was a very special day. Though it was scheduled as a study day, hardly anyone spent time working on homework. It was on this day I was initiated from a lowly pollywog to a shellback! I was woken up around 7:30 AM by loud drums, cymbals and whistles. I quickly put on my bathing suit and some clothes to get dirty and ran outside my cabin to see what was up. Outside, there was a line of people dressed in certain attire and making a whole bunch of noise. Upon closer examination, I realized they were our amazing cabin stewards! They walked throughout the ship, waking everyone up. When I go to breakfast in the mornings, it is usually pretty quiet. Not so on Neptune Day! The dining room was packed, with every seat full. Some students looked pretty sleepy and out of sorts. Still others were excitedly talking about the upcoming ceremony. Around 8:30 or so Rita came on the announcer. At first we heard the sound of ocean waves, and then hear her roar! She then said that King Neptune and Queen Minerva had risen from the depths of the ocean to allow us passage across the equator. She told us all to go to Deck 7 immediately. I was already up there listening and dancing to some fun music and watching students make their way up.
Once everyone was there, the cabin stewards marched by, making some more noise and lined up. Then, King Neptune and Queen Minerva emerged. The costumes were hilarious and fun to see. King Neptune was Captain Jeremy and Queen Minerva was Dean Eddie. Other faculty, lifelong learners and staff participated as well. The made us swear an oath and then began the special ceremony. First, we lined up on one side of the pool. Then we stepped into the shallow kid pool and got fish guts poured on our heads (don't worry... it was water with green food coloring that smelled a little weird). Then, we stepped up and jumped into the main pool. After that, we swam to the railing where one of the Lifelong Learners welcomed us to King Neptune's Domain. Upon reaching the top of the staircase, two fish were placed in our faces and we kissed them. Then, we knelt down and kissed Queen Minerva and King Neptune's rings. If someone failed to do this properly, they were pushed back into the pool. After this, we were dubbed shellbacks by Rita. We signed our name on the registry and then shaved our heads! The hair was sent to locks of love. Everyone looked so different without their hair, and I have had a hard time identifying who is who!
JUST KIDDING! I didn't lie about most of that.. just the shaving my own head part. I admired students who had the courage to do so... but I couldn't part with my hair.
After the ceremony we had a sort of dance party on Deck 7. I took a shower and joined in. It was a really fun and significant day. Around 2:15 PM we crossed the Golden X- 0 degrees and 0 degrees and the Prime Meridian! Later in the afternoon we all gathered for a photo in honor of our 50th Anniversary. It was a great day.
Two nights ago we had our Halloween Dance a few weeks early. It was so much fun! The best part was watching people deal with the rocking of the ship, which was really bad this week. We would start dancing and then would periodically be thrown off balance, bumping into each other as the waves pushed our ship from side to side. It was actually a great workout!! The music was pretty good as well but I was most entertained by the costumes people came up with. Many people didn't come prepared but they threw some great costumes together. A couple guys did the blue man group! I ended up being a California girl, with a swimsuit, sarong, tank top, sunglasses and flip flops. On Halloween day I will be a split "P". :) Halloween is the day after we finish our time in South Africa and is also a study day and registration day for my classes. It is hard to think about classes for next semester right now! Another fun part of the dance was the free cookies!! I had such a great time!
Yesterday was Founder's Day. It was a very special day on the ship. It is hard to believe that this program has been around 50 years and that it is the only program of its kind in the entire world. Semester at Sea has such a colorful history and it was great hearing the lifelong learners talk about other voyages they had traveled on. After the presentation, we enjoyed cake. All around the US, people are celebrating the 50th Anniversary, including some places internationally. Clay Mason created a video of some of my shipmates and all of us saying "Happy 50th Anniversary Semester at Sea!" It was fun to hear more about the history and it empowered me to be involved in the future. Whether it be trying to be a campus rep, traveling again on Semester at Sea, donating or creating a scholarship fun, I will do whatever it takes to help others who have the dream to travel and study abroad, a reality. Semester at Sea is life-changing, and I want others to have opportunities like I did in the future.
Today was also a pretty cool day. It was our 6th spirit day- PJ day! I loved wearing my cookie monster PJs to class. What made me smile was the Dean's Memo where Rita said that for some of us, it wouldn't be a change from the normal routine. I must say that many students are lax about clothing and it is pretty typical to see people dressed in workout gear, pajamas or sweats. I love that about the ship. No one cares about looking good. It makes the ship feel more like home. This morning, I saw over 30 seals swimming near the ship as we left Namibia. I can't believe we are almost to South Africa! Even though we have been at sea for a while, it is always exciting to have the prospect of a new port on the horizon. South Africa will be interesting and I am excited to see and learn all I can. I will be doing a safari, but I hope to learn about the culture and the history. The interport lecturer spoke to our class a couple days ago about apartheid and about individuals with mixed race and how this apartness affected them. He showed us the infamous Cheerio commercial with the mixed race family. In South Africa, people of mixed race were labeled as colored and were sometimes separated from their parents, who were classified as white or Afrikaans. It tore families apart. He showed us the commercial to demonstrate the concept and to lead into it. I personally didn't even notice the family was mixed race and originally I thought the commercial was adorable. I am saddened that most Americans are not ready to accept it. I realize that our country truly is a cultural melting pot. In reality, most families now are mixed race. I don't understand why so many people got so upset and angry at this commercial. Oh well.
Right as we left Namibia, I saw the sand dunes of the Kalahari Desert. It was strange to see a full on desert right next to the ocean! I am so excited for South Africa because the Communications Director wants to do a podcast on our field lab. We will be visiting the San Education Center. I can't wait to deepen my understanding of this hunter-gatherer society and the challenges it has faced and continues to face. We recently finished a novel called Nisa, The Life of a !Kung Woman. I loved it and it was a very interesting read, even with all the references to sexuality and sex. It gave me a unique insight into a culture I have never heard of. In many ways, it is a culture to be respected and admired. I prepared a list of questions and am ready to learn all that I can.
I guess that is all I have for now. I am excited to be on land, away from these rolling waves. After South Africa, we will be at sea for 12 days as we cross the Atlantic to South America. I am sad that we are almost done with Africa. But, it just means I need to make the most of it! Today marks our second month at sea. It is both terribly sad and exciting that we have a month and 16 days left. I can't believe how fast time has gone by and how much I have changed already. I see it in my writing and in my thoughts and reflections in my journal. I can't wait to look back on that in a few years. Also, we found out some exciting news this afternoon! Desmond Tutu, an alumni of Semester at Sea, will come aboard and speak to us on the last day in port!!!! Unfortunately, I will be on a safari and we aren't supposed to get back until 4pm. He speaks at 3:00. Maybe we will still get to see him. I just thought it was cool and I can't wait to hear what he has to say, even if I hear from a secondary source.
Wish me luck in South Africa! Sending big hugs!
-Jessica
Some of these photos are taken by other people!! Just thought I would say that.
BBQ night- by me- the lens was clouding because of the humidity! Sorry!
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