Crossing the Atlantic
Ahoy!
How are we doing? It has been a while since I’ve posted anything. Seeing as we just pulled into Spain, I can only write a little bit. Here it goes:
The first week at sea so far was challenging and exciting and beautiful and intense all at the same time. The first few days of orientation were just a flurry of information that I tried to master (but easily forgot half of). From there, my two assistants and I were trained in the technical layout of the ship. Eventually all of the work study students arrived and I was in charge of training them with my assistants while also simultaneously creating a workable schedule for everyone (I delegated that task to one of my coworkers Ron).
On the 15th of June, the remaing 700+ students boarded the ship and it got incredibly busy. For about 3 days my staff and I were slammed with laptop set ups, complaints about the limited internet connection on the ship, and general questions regarding their technological capabilities. During those initial days I was easily working 15 hour days. Couple that with the moving ship and the time changes and it made for an exhausting first few days.
But then the students started classes, most people got set up how they needed to, and the pace of job slowed considerably. A normal schedule was put in place and my days have become so much more manageable (I’ve even managed to get a little tan).
During our sails there was a lot to adjust to. The first and most immediate adjustment was the movement of the ship. Most conversations, at first, were interrupted by one of the speakers having to right themselves on a nearby table or railing. As you walk down the hallway, people wind back and forth to move with the boat. Motion Sickness Depository Units (Barf Bags) were stragtegically placed all over the ship (and used quite often) while Dramimine, Nausea patches and shots were administered daily. It was a rocky beginning.
But we all adjusted. Nowadays everyone travels through the ship with sure footing and sways expertly with the ocean to maintain their equillibrium.
Each morning the whole shipboard community attends a class called Global Studies and in this class the professor manages to bring to life the history of the Mediterranen region, tying in every aspect of what it means to have lived there during anytime throughout its long history. There has been equal time dedicated to the ecology, the trade routes, the emerging philosophies, the spreading and mixing of disparate civilizations and their highly celebrated amalgamations. The professor is fantastic and makes each class engaging enough to hold the attentions of 850+ shipboard members. It has been great part of the trip so far.
For the past 4 nights I have had an informal gathering of Spanish speaking students meet for dinner in order to “brush up” on our linguistic capabilities before our arrival in Cádiz. There were some native speakers that converse at a dizzying speeds but then there were also the few that struggle to get out the basics. It was a great chance for me to practice my Spanish as well as meet more of the student population.
We arrived in Spain a little over an hour ago. Everyone will be deboarding soon to go their various cultural spots and busy ciudades. I am travelling with three fellow employees. We will head to Granada then Seville and then back to Cádiz. It should be great.
Upon pulling into the port this morning it was so great to smell and see dry land. It isn’t that I’m dying to get off the ship by any means but I am ready to explore and stretch out a bit and I feel that Spain is perfect first port.
Thanks for reading and I’ll be sure to update it all again when I can.
Onward!
Casey
