V-DAY!

February 14, 2008
So we were awoken at 7 AM by the crew members running like wild Indians through the halls. They were screaming, playing the drums, shaking tambourines, blowing whistles and running with aluminum foil hats on their heads. It was basically hilarious. I woke only to run and take pictures then went back to sleep. I missed out on the pouring of fish guts all over us and jumping into the pool, but i did get to see all the boys and GIRLS who shaved their heads. It is actually very scary looking. We had a record breaking number of people/girls who shaved their heads and it sounds terrible but it looks like a big cancer cruise now. I am not sure who started that tradition but it is being taken to the extreme here in Spring 08.
The weather has been terrible all day. They have closed all the decks and workout room, the elevators are shut off and I have a contusion on my elbow from running into the wall. The boat is rocking back and forth like crazy. We were watching a movie and all of the sudden we swayed to one side so much all of our bedside table stuff flew off and drawers opened! Insanity! Dinner was even better, plates and food everywhere. Hawaiin punch spilled across the floors-oy!
As for Valentine's Day-i got a valentine from my fake "mom" on the trip. (I think I forgot to mention I signed up for an adopted family. Basically the lifelong learners eat dinner with us every once in a while) anyway my fake mom sent me a flower made of paper towel and i got a few little valentines cards that people dispersed. Other than that I wrote an essay and watched Blood Diamond. Now I have to read for a class tomorrow (hopefully i wont get too sick from the waves). I hope you all had a great Valentines day (and birthday Michael!!!). I love you all!

Cruisin' Along

Well we are slowly moving up hours (losing one hour every night and it is killer). I have an 8AM class every other day which is super early with the time changes. On top of that the entire ship is sick. My roommate has a fever and all my friends are sick...so far I'm safe and trying my hardest to stay that way. Strep Throat is going around (and I have a knack for picking that up)! It is hard to stay healthy when there are no windows to open and keep air circulating. Tests and essays are being assigned by the loads before we get to South Africa so we are all stressed on top of everything else! The good news is we have an ice cream social tomorrow night!! I will probably be the only one healthy enough to make it to the 7th deck for it though. Hope you all are well! Oh and I apologize I spelled ferry incorrectly before but I don't have the internet minutes to use to change it.
Tomorrow is Valentines day and they have replaced all the lamps/laterns on the ship with heart lamps! There are a lot of couples on the ship which is very surprising (couples that came together). We have school off because it is Neptune Day! (we are crossing the Mid-Atlantic Ridge) It is supposed to be a crazy day full of surprises. Supposedly everyone shaves their heads, we get fish guts poured on us, the crew wakes us early by running through the halls and slamming pots and pans. Who knows what will really happen though. Tonight is a "Jungle Party," we are supposed to dress up as animals, but I am not sure what i will wear.
So my cabin steward (who makes my bed everyday) is amazing! I love him to death! Only those of you who really know me will understand why I truly appreciate what he does. Everyday when he makes my bed he takes my blanket and folds it in with my sheets at the BOTTOM of the bed!!! It's awesome!
I still haven't figured all my safari stuff out and now think that I lost $200-nice! Oh well I am trying not to stress too much.
This is very random but very important: Since I am on my way to Africa I am learning a lot of new things and the Genocide in Darfur is shocking me more and more. Everyone should please go rent the movie "The Devil Came on Horseback" with Brian Steind and spread the word. Something needs to be done and soon.

More of Brazil

February 8, 2008
So we heard from a bunch of people that going to one of the islands here is cheap and a ton of fun. Everyone said it was really pretty and very safe, so that is what we woke up at 8 to do. We wanted to catch the 9:00 fairy out to the island so we were at the place to buy tickets at 8:45. We bought our 3R tickets and stood in line, which was more of a huge mob of people squished together in a room with no air circulation. Turned out that the fairy for 9:00 was full so we waited in the squished, hot and humid place with a ton of natives for over an hour for the next fairy.
The fairies arrived and it was a serious push and shove to get a spot. Lindsay, Lindsay, and I were separated from Harrison, Chula, Dutch, and Will (our male friends). So we rode on the 45 minute fairy to this island that we cannot remember the name of now. As soon as we got off we were mauled by men trying to get us to go in their taxis, buy their goods, etc. It was so scary and overwhelming and not what we expected from the description that everyone had told us. The boys finally arrived and we went to find a spot on the beach. The beach was dirty and we were not very welcome there. "Gringas" everyone kept hissing. So we stayed for about an hour and a half and decided to get back in line for the fairy home because the line was curved around the town and was going to take forever.
Let me just remind you all that I am in the southern hemisphere and very close to the equator-it is VERY hot here. The line took another hour and then we were shoved to the bottom of the fairy. We felt like the reverse of the African slave trade, as bad as that sounds. But we got back on time for our next adventure... the soccer game!
It was the Bahia (Brazil) team (no the national one). Over half of the students on the ship went and it was so fun! These people are crazy about soccer. The first half of the game was pretty calm and when they scored we all got to yell GOOOL!!! (Goal, but that is how their scoreboard spelled it)! The yells and jeers throughout the half were great and there were so many military police there with their dogs (kinda scary). Anyway the second half was even more eventful.
In the middle of the game an entire half of the native crowd came over to all the students and were cheering for the rest of the game. They had one leader and they just screamed their cheers. It was so fun jumping around with them and pretending like i knew what they were screaming! We got tired but of course they didn't stop until the end of the game.
Then there were reporters outside of the stadium recording a crowd of crazy Brazilian boys screaming and jumping. Lindsay and I thought it would be fun to jump in. We jumped right in front of the camera and everyone started cheering even more and the reporter started talking to us in Portuguese. I yelled "Ingles!" He replied "you speak English? Who were you rooting for?" I screamed "BAHIA!!!" And the crowd went crazy. Yes I was on Brazilian TV. It was hilarious and so fun! That was my great soccer experience.
Today we took a one hour bus ride (gringas in the back) to a beach called Putia. It was much better than the island. Beautiful, nice people, waves and great sun of course! Now we are back and getting ready to go out for our last night here (oh joy another 9 days on the ship with classes)!

February 9, 2008
So last night was scary. On our way to the bar a native man came up to my friend and asked him for money, when he said he didn't have any the man threatened to stab him. So he gave him 10R and the man left him alone. After that we figured we would just sit at a restaurant and listen to music with our beer and then head back to the ship. As I am not much of a drinker, I watched as my friends got a little more than buzzed and enjoyed the warm night breeze.
Our friend Caroline got back from the Amazon last night and we were so excited to see her! She said her guide there had grown up in a tribe in the Amazon and he never wore shoes. He couldn't even take them inside at the airport because the air conditioning makes him so cold because he isn't used to it. She didn't see any animals, but went piranha and alligator hunting!
Today we spent walking around town and buying more fun things! I officially spent $392 in Brazil-I will be broke when I get home. The exchange rate was 1.6 when we got our money and when we changed it back it was 1.8 it's not too organized in Salvador. Things I learned while I was here:
- Brazil is as big as 48 of the United States
-They speak Portuguese (and we were told they would understand a lot of Spanish but they definitely didn't)
-Salvador (where we stayed) is one of the poorest cities in Brazil. They bring us here because we can see the most culture. Capoeira is a type of martial arts mixed with dance. It was originally brought over by the slaves as entertainment. There are groups all over town that perform Capoeira.
-Many natives are Roman Catholic, however the indigenous people celebrate/d Candomble. They believe that everyone has a spirit that takes the over, one person at a time. Each person has a ceremony when their spirit comes. Of course there is music and dancing during the ceremony.
-The northern part of Brazil is very westernized. Places like Rio De Janero are just like Europe. The Southern part (like Sao Paulo) is much better off than Salvador, but not as westernized as Rio. Here in Salvador, they live day by day. Don't care much for politics and what is going on in the US and love to party.

So I am on the ship and ready to go to South Africa!! I have a ton of work to do before tomorrow and I lost 30 bucks. I need to remember to not sweat the petty things and not pet the sweaty things because I am traveling the world! Oh and I don't know who is reading these but if you want a post card send me your address just in case I don't already have it. (brit0073@aol.com). Love and miss you all!

Brazil!

February 6, 2008
We started Brazil off with more than a bang-we walked around Salvador all day yesterday and watched some of the Carnaval floats. The humidity and heat wore us out so around 4:00 in the evening we went in for a little nap... woke around 6, ate dinner and got ready to begin the night.
Carnaval was crazy! We bought $140.00 t-shirts so we could walk with the Fat Boy Slim Float in the parade. It was the most expensive t-shirt i have ever and will ever buy, but it was more than worth it! Our night started around 8:30. Beer was only 1R (which is about 70 cents) a can, so of course we couldnt pass that up! The parade didnt start until 10:30 so we mingled with tons of people from all over the world. Lots of Australians, Brits, and local Brazilians. By the time the DJ (Fat Boy Slim) got started the crowd was already bumpin'!
For hours we paraded down the streets singing and dancing like mad people. We were drenched in sweat, beer, tequila, water, anything and everything. It was like Mardi Gras times 1 million (no joke). The few breaks to go squat on the beach and release ourselves were an adventure in themselves. And my friends thought it would be really funny to pick me up and throw me in the ocean with all of my clothes and shoes on. Oh joy was that fun! Instead of throwing beads you kiss the men on the cheeks and they give you some, but after watching my friend's who had to run before being forced to make out with them, I figured I was fine without the beads.
The experience was just amazing and nothing I can write will do it justice. They say it is the biggest party in the world and that's an understatement. Thousands of people roped in for just one float, hot and sweaty, dancing and jumping, screaming at the top of our lungs. Music blaring, people cheering. I had such a blast and was in awe the entire time. The whole night we all just looked at each other and had to remind ourselves that we really were in Brazil celebrating Carnaval!
Around 3:30 AM we got slightly tired of dancing and decided to get a cab back. It wasn't too easy though with our limited amount of cash and how far from the ship we were, but after a little walking and bargaining we made it.
We showered with our clothes on and collapsed into bed around 4:30. It was a night I will surely never forget.

We woke up this afternoon around 1:00, just in time for lunch on the ship. Then we went around town and shopped a little and watched the sunset from the top of the city.
For dinner we went to a Brazilian Steakhouse-60R for all you can eat fresh cut steak. All different types, it was a meat lover's heaven and a vegetarians hell. Prime Rib, Top Sirlioin, Filet, Lamb, Chicken Hearts, Salmon, Pork and more (on Ash Wednesday). On top of the meat was a huge buffet of all different kinds of side dishes. And for dessert-fried bananas! It was definitely a meal worth writing about. Oh and they give you espresso after the meal (a traditional Brazilian meal).

Fun Facts: Population was a little less than half a million during the 50's in Salvador, Brazil and now is over 3 million which doubles during Carnaval.
-There are slums and nice parts in Brazil, but their way of thinking is not to move up into the better parts, but to better their way of life. They work together to add to their community.
-We don't wear ANY jewelry, tight clothes or flip flops here. We wear money belts, tennies and lose t-shirt. And we always walk with boys.

Almost to Brazil

I have been trying to blog the past few days but the service on the ship has not been working so well so half of the websites people use can't upload, my blog being one. 

Anyway we have been on the ship for a week and it seems like months. It gets super boring, especially on the rainy days when we can't go out and tan and pretend like we are on spring break! Plus the workers here cater to us 24/7. They cook, clean up and do the dishes. They make our beds, vacuum and do the laundry. There is nothing for me to clean and it is almost driving me nuts! I am trying to just enjoy it because it should be a luxury that I wont have forever. 

Classes are good. I am actually learning a lot and it is very shocking to me. Usually I never know if I learned anything until finals but everyday I am learning something new and i love it! Dad i am bringing back 2 very good history books that you will enjoy. 

We arrive in Brazil tomorrow, we could have been there much sooner because we were cruising so fast. But they turned one engine off because we were getting there too fast and needed to have our school days. What a tease.

We didnt get to watch the superbowl which was very depressing to me. There was one motley radio that 300 students crowded around but I got sick so didn't get to listen. I knew that Eli would pull through though!!! I hope someone Tivo'd the game so i can see it when I get back. 

I work out almost everyday on the ship. I use the elliptical or bike and wont go near the treadmill because everytime I work out someone on the treadmill eats it when we hit a wave. One girl has had a brace on since Thursday because she fell so hard.

My friends and I booked a bungalow in Maritius for three days so we cant wait to get there! Carnival will be going on in Brazil so I am super excited for that. Except it will be kind of scary cause the crime is so high there so we have had like 5 safety meetings. 

I am still working on finalizing my safari plans so I will keep you updated!

Open Seas

We are just cruising away to Brazil which they have told us will be very fun but quite dangerous. So we are working on finding some boys to go with because we are scared out of our wits! 

The ship is so bumpy- i thought it was bad at first when i got sick, apparently those waves were ones out of tens and we are heading for much worse. :( The ship is just unreal to go outside and all you see is ocean-kind of scary. The ceilings rattle constantly and today people have been falling all over the place. I just know that I will be the first to eat it on top of some guy in front of everyone. 

My classes are okay. There is a ton of reading and my geology and sociology teachers are the weirdest teachers I might ever have. All the classes tie into the countries we are visiting some how which makes it a little more interesting. 

I found out which trips I will be taking for the rest of the semester (at least the big ones). I am going to Beijing and will be seeing the great wall along with many other places. I am currently working on booking a 4-day safari in south africa. I will be flying to singapore when we get to malaysia! And lots of little stuff in between. 

My phone receives calls but I cant use the internet-makes no sense because everyone else who has a blackberry can use the internet. I have to wait to get into ports but oh well. 

This experience is just shocking to me everyday. I have made some great friends who make me laugh so much I look like a crazy person. But I would rather look crazy than sane! Love you all! Sorry I cant upload many photos it takes forever and we dont have much internet time. 

Puerto Rico

Ranancito (our mini tour guide)  Left to right: Lindsay H, Caroline, Lindsay W (my roomate) Me

My computer doesnt work and i dont have any time but now you can all put faces to the names of my friends. Love you guys!

January 26, 2008 

Well we arrived in Puerto Rico around 7 a.m. As soon as i woke up and looked out of my port hole i saw a sign from the port that said. "Bienvenidos a Puerto Rico" for those of you that dont know spanish that means "Welcome to Puerto Rico." (mom)

Anyway I am kind of stressing because i never got into one of the safari groups in africa and now i am trying so hard to join one but i am not sure it will happen. What will i do if i go all the way to south africa and NOW go on a safari? I cant believe it. Anyway we are slowly being called by groups to exit the ship and then we are free to do what we want. 

So Lindsay, Lindsay, Caroline and I (my new friends) spent the day walking around Old San Juan in Puerto Rico. We rode the trolley around town and saw the old fortresses and great stone wall that protected the capital way back when. We ate at a small cafe that overlooked the ocean and then headed to the beach. We tanned at la playa "El Ocho" for a while enjoying the beach and lovals. On our walk back to the ship we made a few stops at the Normandy Hotel and the Hilton and pretended to be guests so we could go on their private beaches and lay in the hammocks. We also used the concierge to find tourists information, we called to make plans for horseback riding and went back to the ship!

Later that night I rode on a bus for over an hour with a bunch of SAS kids for a trip to the Bioluminescent Bay. When we arrived it was already dark and the moon was low and hidden behind the clouds. We were paired up for kayaks and took off. There were about 20 kayaks lined up rowing through a big bay that had no luminescence and had a dead end. But the guide went straight toward the wall of bushes and rocks...so we followed. We entered a pitch black tunnel of trees. the only way to know where to go was by following the glow sticks that were attached to the kayaks. When you looked up it was one of the most amazing skies ever. The mile of roughing through the trees in our kayaks ended at a big bay-the bioluminescent one. When you put your hands/feet in the water and make the water move it looked like there was fairy dust in the water. It was literally magical looking. Gold and silver fairy dust just shimmering in the water. 

Our guide explained what it was: It is the ability of living organisms to emit light. Bioluminescence is created through oxidation which makes photophores (whatever those are). Anyway the entire experience was great and so much fun. Kayaking at night under the stars in the warm water listening to the coqui frogs (which are native to PR) sent an energy of light through me then having a glitter of life to end with was perfect. 

January 27, 2008

Today we woke up to a phone call from our tour guide saying he was outside the ship waiting for us...WOOPS! SSo we quickly got ready and ran outside and were greeted by a nice large man with his son. Ranan and Ranancito (Ranan Jr.). They drove us to the Conwuistador Hotel about one hour away. The hotel was insane! Right next to it are huge houses owned by Michael Jordan, Shaq, Shakira and J-Lo! We took a fairy ten minutes out to a private island called Palomina and it was beautiful. We rode on horseback (so funny cause my friend was so afraid and her horse would stop all the time to eat and mine was albino and if i shifted my weight even a little his knees would buckle). We rode to the top of the island which was a great view. Breathtaking. We stayed on the beach and tanned for a while then went back to play in the pools at the Conquistador. 

Ranan and his son were amazing and took us to Walmart so we could buy some stuff before going back to the ship. Even though we only knew them for a day it was so sad to say goodbye. We got to know them so well and promised we would come back and visit some day. Already so much has happened and this is not even one of the main events of my semester!

January 28, 2008

Basically today we spent walking around town and getting souvenirs. Now we are in the Sheraton Hotel using their free WiFi but of course my computer is not working so I am using my friend's. Why would anything technical work for me on this trip? We leave Puerto Rico tonight and are heading to Brazil! Not much happens on the boat except for classes so I will update after we get there and adventure a little. Miss everyone so much love you too! Hope all is well :)