December 5, 2011

 

Day two in Costa Rica…

Exotic is the word of the day.

 

The day began with Eva, Kyla, Jess, and I attempting to grab one of the few seats on the shuttle amidst the swarming crowd of others with the same intent. Instead of docking in Puntarenas as the itinerary said, we were docked in Puerto Caldera. To get to Puntarenas, we had to take a half-hour shuttle. The shuttle only ran on every hour, so everyone was pushing and shoving to get on the first 9:00 departure. Luckily, all four of us managed to get a seat amongst the vultures. We hopped off the shuttle right in front of a bank, where everyone got out money. There was a line of locals, but a security guard insisted that we cut all the locals and not take a number like everyone else. The Costa Ricans didn’t even seem upset that the guard forced us to cut them. I am not sure if this was because of their running of “Tico Time” or what? They even smiled at us as we cut them? I was somewhat concerned… That would not fly in the States at all. I can only imagine the mayhem that would break out because of this incident if it were an American bank… After the bank, we made our way towards the shoreline. Along the water there were stalls and booths set up selling various wares such ranging from jewelry, coffee, purses, and etc. After posing for pictures and what not, we made our way back to the bank as everyone had used up most of their money in the “market.” We ran into Maddie, a Lifelong Learner who hails from Hawai’i. She told us of an amazing restaurant just down the street, and we pleaded with her to come eat with us. We feasted on chicken fajita with fresh veggies and some sort of plantain pancake. After lunch, we went back to the market and also stopped in a supermarket. Kyla bought tortillas as she wants to make her own breakfast burritos, and Eva bought me some ice cream J Hot and tired after only a few hours out and about, we headed back to the shuttle stop. On the shuttle, Eva was teaching us Samoan phrases and songs. We got back to the ship, and met up with Lizzy and her sister Ally, and her Aunt Cynthia. I gave them a tour of the ship alongside Liz, and then after just a short time, we were waving good-bye on the gangway. And that was Costa Rica J

Pura vida!

 

Olà from Costa Rica!! I am devastated that we only have 2 days in this beautiful country. Today I went to a cloud forest and visited Poas National Park. It took about 3 hours to get to the national park, and it was well worth the drive. Clustered around the walk-way were “poor man’s umbrellas” which were huge plants that looked just as they are named. The main attraction of the park was the semi-active volcano and crater. When the wind was blowing, the sky blue boiling lake was uncovered from the steam. The volcano last erupted in 2009, and our tour guide had a friend who had been in the park at the time, and caught it all on tape. We left the park and jumped back on the bus, heading for lunch. We were notified that it was being served buffet-style in the restaurant we were going to; made my day! We had “casado” which means married in Spanish. Our tour guide said that the dish is called this, because after you get married it is all your wife will cook you. We had rice and beans, breaded fish, a beef stew concoction, plantains, and a noodle salad. Everything was delicious! I went back for seconds of the rice and beans; you can never get too much rice. The dessert was a piece of strawberry cake with a fresh strawberry on the side. We also had a strawberry smoothie for our drink. I tried Costa Rican coffee, which is one of the staples that Ticos are very proud of… It was so strong! I am not usually a coffee person, so I don’t think that I was able to value it for what it was worth, but it sure seemed like a strong, decent cup of coffee. After lunch, we were taken to a few different shops on the way back. Our bus driver would randomly pull over to the side of the road, and pick pieces of a random coffee bean crop, or banana leaves, or pieces of a tree from the side of the road. Our tour guide Eric, said he loved our driver Chico because he was always doing this sort of thing. So Chico would find us things on the side of the road, and Eric would pass them around the bus and tell us about the different crops and the economy of Costa Rica. I would love to come back and spend more time here; there never seems to be enough time in any of the countries we have been to. One thing I noticed that seemed very different from the States was the fact that most of the houses had a front porch. The USA seems to value the back-porch more, as it offers a sense of privacy and security. I think the front-porch has more of a meaning than just a few chairs in the front of a house. The Ticos were so friendly, and everyone seemed so happy and were all smiling. It was comforting receiving smiles back, especially coming from Asia where it really isn’t in the Asian culture to smile back at strangers. Every time we passed anyone on the street, they offered our tour bus a wave and a huge smile. My Portuguese skills have really helped here as well! I could make out what some of the signs said just from the little Portuguese that I have learned thus far! It just means that I am going to have to learn Spanish and come back to Costa Rica! Pura vida!

December 1, 2011

Somewhere under Mexico or Texas?

 

We have been crossing the Pacific for about 8 days now, and those days have been jam-packed with events, classes, and studying. We organized a Hunger Banquet yesterday, which was definitely emotional to say the least. The statistics of such things now have such a greater impact on many of us; they no longer are just numbers. They are the starving children we saw in Khayelitsha Township in South Africa, or the children begging on the streets in India. We have had coffeehouses and talent shows, and a World AIDS Day Commemoration. There was also LipDub, which is the first lip dub to be performed at sea. We are going to be a YouTube phenomenon! Check the Semester at Sea website in the next few days; the video should be going up soon: semesteratsea.org.

 

We have all been busy with finals and end of term papers and studying. Today I had my first final; it wasn’t necessarily an exam though. We had to write an in-class essay on the negatives of English as a global language. Tonight is the Alumni Ball! The theme is Bollywood, so I am going to wear the saree that I got in India with my host mother. We are having dinner at 8pm. There were two dinner sections; one at 5 and one at 8. Lizzy, Kyla, Wiliama, and I had been planning on making reservations to eat together, but then Wiliama was asked to sit at the Captain’s table as a student of distinction and invited me to be his date J We are going to have a 6 course meal and I am sure it will be delicious, especially if we are sitting with the Captain.

 

We only have 12 more days left until we reach Florida… Where in the world has the time gone?!?! (Hahaha.. Get it?) We are going to reach Costa Rica on the 3^rd, Honduras after that, and then we will be home!?

 

 

November 24, 2011

Thanksgiving Day

Hilo, Hawai’i

 

Today was like any other normal Thanksgiving except for the fact that:

 

A.    I was in Hawai’i

B.     Instead of being surrounded by snow and brisk winter winds, I was surrounded with palm trees and sunshine

 

It was similar in the sense that I was surrounded by delicious food and warm, loving people. I spent the day with Kyla and Wiliama’s family, alongside Lizzy, Nikki Souza, and Val Brown. After only a few hours of sleep from last night, I began the day at 6:30 in the morning on Deck 7 for the sunrise. The sun was actually visible, which is a relief in itself compared to the last few ports which have been abysmally disappointing. After the sunrise, I breakfasted with Kyla, Wiliama, Eva, and eventually Lizzy. (She likes to take her sweet old southern time). We all parted after eating, and planned to meet up later when Kyla and Wiliama’s family arrived on the ship. After getting dressed and what not, I found Lizzy who informed me that Kyla and Wiliama’s family had just gotten on the ship. We gave Kyla’s family, which consisted of her mom, dad, brother, and grandparents a tour of the ship. You can tell exactly where Kyla gets her witty humor from by listening to any and all of her family members speak. Wiliama’s family joined us in Tymitz Square and we headed out into the Hawaiian sunlight.

 

Lizzy and I rode in a van with all of Kyla’s family to Community of Christ Church, where we would be eating. There was a separate house that sat alongside the church which is where we set up shop. As cars and vans were unloaded, the tables began to groan in protest at the amounts of food that were weighing them down. Before we ate, we nibbled on mana pua and nachos smothered in crab dip. Mana pua was sold throughout most of Asia in a lot of the Family Marts, Seven Elevens, and simple convenience stores. Kyla raved about mana pua, and insisted that we had to try it when we got to Hilo, and try it we did. It is something like a super doughy roll stuffed with meat, and it was pure heaven.

 

Before we ate, I played with Wiliama’s brother and sister; Kalanikapu and Ku`ulei. We played Hangman, each trading off on who was picking the words. However, I was often Kalanikapu’s assistant since he kept coming over to me and whispering how to spell one word or another. They were both absolutely adorable J

 

For dinner, my plate was loaded with turkey, ham, sweet potatoes, Christmas jello, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, and I think that was all?.. Haha. For dessert was some type of Oreo cake. Mmmmm. After dinner, we gossiped about our voyage and answered questions about anything and everything. Wiliama’s Aunt Trudy gave us a 5 minute informational recap of the history of Hilo which was so interesting. I love the fact that Hawaii has so much culture embedded within it; I can truly see myself going to grad school here. I had been half-serious in contemplating Hawai’i as an option, but now I am almost 100% serious. Amazing people, great weather year-round, what’s not to like?

 

After our episode of gluttonous feasting, we piled into the cars and headed to Big Island Candies which was just down the street. We were immediately greeted with a sample of shortbread as well as some sort of chocolate with nuts. Samples were placed out everywhere, and despite the fact that I was feeling full to last me about a week, I tried many different chocolates and cookies. Live for the moment right? ;) One of the most interesting was a lavender cookie, which was somewhat like chewing on a tasty potpourri snack. Leaving Big Island Candies, we decided to fill our need for American exposure, and no we didn’t go to McDonald’s. We pulled into the parking lot of Wal-Mart, and I was filled with immediate happiness and a sense of home. Wal-Mart is heaven on earth. When I got my hair done in the salon on the ship, my hairdresser who hails from South Africa, said that every time the ship lands in the States all the foreigners head to Wal-Mart. I do not blame them whatsoever, and will never again take this lovely place for granted. We shopped around for about an hour, and most of everyone filled their carts with groceries. The ship food, although sometimes bearable, doesn’t compare to the wonders that Wal-Mart holds. We also did some souvenir shopping, which seemed sort of odd shopping for souvenirs in Wal-Mart, but hey, when in Rome right?

 

Unfortunately, the day had already flown by at this point. Wal-Mart concluded our day, and we headed back to the ship with heavy hearts, stomachs, and a heavy trunk full of Wal-Mart goodies. One day in Hawai’i is not NEARLY enough time. Rain was coming down as we walked up to the ship and said good-bye to Hawai’i; no need to be sad though, I have a feeling I will be back in just a short time J

November 8, 2011

 

Shanghai:

 

Yesterday we arrived in Shanghai. In the morning, Eric, Robin, and I went out to walk around the city and explore. We honestly saw nothing that seemed to strike our interest. We walked for over an hour, and were somewhat confused as to the lack of even things to see. We ended up taking a taxi back to the ship, and had lunch. We then found out from the field office that the entire downtown area was the opposite direction of where we were walking; I was still somewhat skeptical. Kyla called me when she got back from her trip around 2 or 3, and we decided to go out together. We had to wait for her passport to be processed by the Chinese officials, and then headed out. We took a taxi to Old Town, which I fell in love with. The area was amazing; it was almost like the markets in Marrakech but with less people. Old Town was intermixed with old and new shops; one corner had a Dairy Queen and Starbucks, while the opposite side of the street had Chinese street food and stalls. Kyla and I did some bargaining, and then headed to find some sesame balls, which I have absolutely become addicted to. We went to so many different food stalls asking about sesame balls, and showing the Chinese characters for them, that we had gotten from a woman at the tourist kiosques, but no one seemed to have them. Finally, we came upon something like a Chinese fast food court. You were supposed to grab a tray, and go from food place to food place and just put the plates on the tray until the checkout line. Again, we searched endlessly for sesame balls but to no avail. Kyla asked a random table of Chinese if they spoke English, and to our luck, one of the women did. We told her we were looking for sweet sesame balls, and she led us through the entire line of food until the very last stall, where we found them! They were well worth the search! We also grabbed some type of teriyaki rice and pork dumplings. We sat down with our food, and noticed that everyone seemed to have dumplings that had a straw in them. Slightly confused, we decided to try those as well. Kyla went and got us two; when in Rome. We had thought that maybe there was tea inside them, but to our surprise it was actually soup. I enjoyed both the soup and the dumpling, and Kyla gave me hers because she wasn’t a big fan of them. We then took a taxi to another part of Shanghai, which was definitely the European tourist area. Everything was extremely expensive, and there were numerous French boutiques and cafés everywhere. I am actually really surprised at the extent of the French influence in Asia. I wasn’t aware that there were so many French stores and restaurants in China and Japan. We browsed through a massive Apple store too, where I gazed longingly at the Macs. I have decided to make the switch from PC to Mac soon, so I am hoping I don’t regret it. Anyway, after the Mac store we decided to head back to the ship. We took a taxi back, and the waterfront alongside the ship was absolutely gorgeous so we tried to tell the taxi to pull over. After a few minutes, he finally understood what we were trying to convey. Laughing, he pulled the taxi over and said good night to us. We walked along the waterfront snapping pictures of downtown Shanghai. Each night they do a light show in Shanghai, so the buildings were lit up and colorful. Passing by us were so many fashionable people; everyone seemed dressed to impress. We came to a neon flashing bridge, where I told Kyla to take a picture of me. She decided that her camera wasn’t focused enough, so I stood posing by the bridge for such a long time, that a crowd had managed to gather around me. A group of younger Arabic guys had gathered, and I could make out a little of what they were saying. They kept motioning towards me, and finally one of them came over and asked if they could each have a picture with me, in broken English. I said yes, and one by one they each took a picture with me. When they were walking away, I said, “Shukron jazeelan” and they looked at me in shock. I guess they didn’t know that I could speak a little Arabic. Stricken, they almost ran away because they had probably guessed that I knew they were talking about me long before they asked to get a picture. It was too funny :] Finally, Kyla and I made it back to the ship and turned in for the night.

 

Day #2 in Shanghai

 

On Day 2 I went to Fudan University with Annie, Wiliama, and a few others to give a presentation about Semester at Sea. We took taxis to the uni which was about a half hour away. When we arrived, I was shocked at how tall the buildings were. Fudan is one of the most prestigious universities in China, and perhaps Asia if I am not mistaken. It is equivalent to what we know as an Ivy League prestige. The campus was beautiful; in between the majestic towering buildings were green square gardens and palm trees, as well as Chinese statues of what I am sure were prominent and well-known leaders. We were taken to the 15^th floor of one of the buildings, where we were to have our meeting. The floor doubled as both a restaurant and a space for meetings. We were led into a spacious meeting room with comfy chairs and a dark mahogany table. Slowly, Chinese students started to trickle in, and we were happy to find that many of the students were already applied and coming on the spring voyage. We were able to order drinks on the house, and I went straight for the chocolate milkshake. We led a presentation that started with a promotional video that was filled with all the things that you can do with Semester at Sea. At the end of the movie, there were video clips of students saying good-bye to one another at their debarkation port. I realized that we would be doing that in just one month.. This semester truly has flown by! I can’t believe that we only have a few more countries left; it is totally unreal. I was actually tearing up by the time the lights were turned back on :P C’est la vie. The presentation went well, with each of our administrative staff members giving a little speech, and then answering questions. When they were talking about their jobs, I was actually a little inspired to work with Semester at Sea when I graduate. I think that I would love a job with SAS honestly.

 

 

November 11, 2011

 

Today we arrived in Kobe, Japan. I woke up for the sunrise around 6:15 in the morning, but unfortunately it was rainy and cloudy. After the sunrise, I went and worked out at the gym until breakfast at 8:00am. I then went out into the city with Lizzy, Eva, and Caroline. We took the subway from Kobe to Simmoniya where we got off and tried to find a place that had free Wi-Fi, but were not successful. Even Starbucks required you to purchase internet time. We ended up at an internet café called Litz where we each got our own cubicle. It was the strangest thing; each cubicle was somewhat elevated, and there was a cushion in each compartment with a very nice desktop. We went on the internet for one hour, and then headed out and went window-shopping. We had McDonald’s for lunch which was AMAZING. I tried a Teriyaki McBurger, which is basically what it sounds like, as well as some French fries. After, we went shopping at a massive mall called SOGO that had streets upon streets of shops. Lizzy got her and me a necklace; me an anchor necklace and her a leaf necklace. We walked around for a long time, and finally ended up getting dinner at a place called Mo’s Burgers. After Mo’s, we headed back to the ship and turned in for the night.

On October 28^th, I went to the Mekong Delta with Wiliama, Kelsey, Michael, and Brian and his parents. The night before had been pretty rough; we had went out dancing, and we came back around 3am. I didn’t want to miss the Mekong Delta, as the trip was at 8am, so I just didn’t go to sleep. Instead, I did some homework and answered all my emails, which took a few hours. I couldn’t believe that I wasn’t tired the entire day. We took a bus ride to the Mekong area, where we stopped at a local market and were taken on a tour by one of our tour guides. We got to snap some pictures, and were then scurried back onto the bus. Another 15 minutes later, we hopped onto our small boat where we took a cruise around the Mekong Delta. It was strange to think that Americans and Vietnamese were fighting in these same waters not too long ago. Our cruise dropped us off on an island, where we were able to take a tour of a coconut candy assembly line. There was also snake wine to sample, as well as snakeskin bags. After, we took a pony ride a little ways away to where we were going to have lunch. Lunch was delicious; we used transparent rice paper and stuffed it with rice and noodles. There was also a few elephant fish displays set up at each table, where you could rip off pieces off the fish with your chopsticks. I have become very accustomed to eating with chopsticks now, and will be able to show off my skills when we get back to the States whenever I visit a Chinese restaurant. After lunch, we took a short bicycle ride, which was one of the fondest memories of my trip so far. To say the least, the bikes were not in the best working condition. I actually picked a bike that had no brakes or pedals; what an adventure. Every time Wiliama or Brian suddenly stopped, I smashed into them or went careening into the grass. There were some near misses of me falling off the bridge, and too many times did I have to stop my bike by dragging my feet on the ground. It has been over a week, and I still have massive bruises on my legs from our bike ride. What hurt the most though was the ab workout I got from laughing so much. Good times in Viet Nam. On our way back to the tour bus, we were given coconuts to sip on, which were very refreshing. On the way back from the Mekong Delta, I slept the entire way. When we got back to the ship, the shower I took was absolutely fabulous. I went out again that night with Lizzy, Wiliama, and Adam. Many Europeans were around the backpacker district that we were frequenting, and they were all dressed up for Halloween. We went to the GoGo Bar again, and then attempted to go to a place called Sky Bar, which was beyond fancy. Adam actually got yelled at and roughed up by a body-guard because he was wearing a tank-top. Not having fun at all, we decided to head back to the backpacker district. We spent the rest of the night at the Crazy Buffalo, and people-watched. There were a few people from Semester at Sea that were a little too drunk, and actually tried fighting workers of the bars. So classy. Causey, one of my friends from California, and Matt, from Texas, both bought me roses that I unfortunately couldn’t carry back onto the ship L Lizzy and I then met a guy named J, who was from Toronto, but had come to Viet Nam to play soccer. Then, Causey, Lizzy, and I headed back to the ship in a taxi, since I had another early day ahead of me.

 

On October 29^th, we went to the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Cao Dai Temple. First was the temple, which was breathtakingly beautiful. It reminded me a lot of the Hindu temples in India; it was full of color and decorative detail. We were forbidden from walking in the middle of the temple where the worship happened. We were allowed to walk on the outer rim, and gaze upon the beauty. The Cao Dai faith is unique in the fact that it takes facets from many different religions such as Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam. They also look to Victor Hugo as one of their main supporters, and there was a large painting of him in the entranceway of the temple. At noon, we stayed to watch the beginning of a service. It was beautiful; a choir sang as the followers walked in ceremoniously. There was a lot of bowing and touching of the ground with the head. We left the temple in search of lunch, for everyone was starving at this point. We went to a large airy place for lunch, where we were served so much food. Fried chicken, lo mein noodles, white rice, and many other dishes weighted down the tables. After lunch, we made our way to the Cu Chi Tunnels. We were led around the area of the tunnels by our tour guide, who told of the ways the tunnels were used and built. It was somewhat eerie, walking on a path that could have perhaps been walked by young American soldiers not so long ago. The majority of the group was silent, possibly contemplating and reflecting upon the same thoughts that I was having. We learned about the booby traps that the Vietnamese had placed all around the jungle, all of them terribly inhumane. But, when has war ever been humane? We were able to crawl through the tunnels, and it was an experience I won’t forget. The walls of the tunnel were extremely narrow and cramped, and the musty air seemed to be suffocating us. I can’t imagine how the Vietnamese lived in these tunnels during the war. After the tour, we were led back to the bus. It had been both an emotional and physically exhausting day. I slept soundly the entire way back on the bus, as did most of the other people on my trip.  

 

November 3^rd: The first day in China was spent at Hong Kong Disney with Wiliama, Kyla, Adam, and Carol. It was such a blast. We took the subway to the Disney subway line, where we were dropped off in front of the park. We bought tickets, and immediately began snapping pictures. It was very humid, and I was already regretting wearing capris and not shorts. We watched a performance called “Festival of the Lion King,” which was captivating. They acted out the Lion King in a span of 30 minutes, performing all the major songs. The performers were all very talented, and I especially liked the Samoan fire-twirlers. We had lunch, and I chose braised beef brisket with yellow curried rice. I felt as if we were in the States at Disney World, except we were eating Chinese food. The food was of course delicious, and we then headed out to explore more of Disney. We went on the Astro Blasters, which is a ride where you get guns to shoot at Zurg with Buzz Lightyear; TOY STORY IS AWESOME J We rode in the Teacups, and me, Wiliama, and Kyla spun the teacup like it has never been spun before. I swear we were about to lift off the ground! We saw some more performances such as The Golden Mickeys, which was acted out as a Grammy awards show, where they played many of the famous Disney songs. My personal favorite was Mickey’s PhilharMagic which was a 4-D performance. I had never even been to a 3-D movie before, so it was a real treat. In the beginning, the song “Be our Guest,” was shown, and when the wine bottles were popping on the table, you could actually feel the wind from the cork popping, and it smelled like bubbles and wine. When The Little Mermaid sang “Part of their world” the audience got splashed more than once! It was a really cool experience! We went to Tarzan’s tree house, and went on a Jungle River cruise later on in the night. For dinner, I had chicken and pineapple pizza with a coke float; talk about a little bit of America J We also went to It’s a Small World After All ride, which was interesting, and on a Winnie the Pooh ride. It was slightly uncomfortable since the pole that holds you in was actually between my legs, and every time there was a sudden jolt or braking, I really felt it. I was definitely sore the next day. Haha. We watched the light show over the castle, and then headed to the subway to head back to the ship. On our way back to the ship, Adam and Carol decided that they were hungry, so we stopped at a place called the Spaghetti House. I wasn’t that hungry, so I just ordered dessert; a sugar and lemon crepe. We made it back to the ship, and I passed out on my bed. It had been a long, fun-filled day.

 

November 4^th: My 21^st BIRTHDAY!

 

I actually didn’t do much for my birthday; I simply got internet from the mall that was directly connected to the ship entrance. Everyone else had already left for their big trips in China. There are only 120 people staying on the ship right now, in transit from Hong Kong to Shanghai. Everyone else had opted to travel independently. I wandered about the mall for a few hours, ogling things that I couldn’t even dream of buying in the Louis Vuitton and Coach stores. One of the bad things about China is that it is definitely not as cheap as Viet Nam or Malaysia. I had all my meals on the ship, and simply relaxed all day. On Facebook, I got to talk to a lot of people from home which made me happy J After dinner, Eric and I went back out to the mall to grab some more internet. We got Starbucks before heading back to the ship.

 

November 5^th:

 

First day on the ship in transit, which was sooo quiet. Definitely a ghost ship. I just caught up on homework and laundry all day, and watched District 9 in the Union with Robin from Colorado. Dinner was somewhat unique though, in the fact that it was waiter-serviced and the food was amazing! I had cheddar broccoli soup, Caesar salad, and chicken parmesan. For dessert there was chocolate mousse! Yum. I sat with Robin, Gina (also from Cleveland), Shaldeira, Megan, and Steven. We all got into a deep conversation about love and relationships that lasted long after our plates had been cleared.

 

November 6, 2011

 

Today was another relaxing day. I finished up some more homework, and then did the rest of my laundry. Exciting I know. And then I had a hair appointment at one, where I got my hair colored darker as a treat to myself for my birthday. I love it! :]

Dinner is going to be another serviced dinner, and the menu looks delicious J

 

More of Nam

October 26, 2011

Theme of the day: FUN.

Today I met Wiliama, Adam, Alysse, and Kelsey in Tymitz Square around 1:00pm, and we went out to lunch just outside the ship at a Japanese sushi restaurant, which was delicious. We did hot pot, where we grilled our own meat and noodles in a boiling pot of water in the middle of the table. I also got a California roll that had crab and cucumber inside; something I ate all the time at Bowling Green. Then we went out dress shopping where Kelsey and Alysse got measured and dresses designed for them. After that, we went to a spa called Lien Beauty, which was an experience I will never forget. We all chose aromatherapy full body massages, but we weren’t sure how to start the process exactly. The masseuses led us deeper into the salon, where there were five or six beds only separated by a curtain. Luckily, this allowed for all of us to still remain together, which I was extremely thankful for. The women then told us to take off our clothes except for our tops and underwear. I did so, and then my masseuse came in and said to take off my bra as well. I did so, and felt a tad awkward as I lay on the bed, waiting for her to come back in. When she came back in, she said I could lie down, and the massage began. It felt so nice; it was like the movies, where the women actually stand on you and walk on your back. We all got pedicures and manicures too. I was snapping pictures of Wiliama the entire time; haha it was hilarious. After the salon, we came back to the ship and refreshed ourselves. Then, Jena, Kelsey, Brian, Michael, Wiliama, and I went to the hotel where Brian’s parents are staying at as we were going to have dinner with them. We ate at the restaurant in the hotel which was “western style,” and I truly enjoyed it. I had chargrilled tuna steak with a salad and grits. For dessert; the crepe suzette. Talladega nights anyone? :P We had a great time at the restaurant with Brian’s parents, who are extremely friendly. After dinner we went up on the rooftop of the Majestic, where the view was amazing. Everyone ordered a few drinks, and then we headed out to another pub where more drinks were ordered. We wanted to head back to the ship since we have a trip at 8am tomorrow, but then we decided to go to a place called the Go Go Bar which we were told was great by one of the ladies in the spa. We had an awesome time there as well; as they were playing great music like Foo Fighters, AC/DC and Wolfmother. Finally, we decided to head back to the ship, and we all hopped on motorcycles. Michael and I rode together, and he recorded our trip back. All in all, it was another great day in Viet Nam.

Viet Nam; a collection of days

October 25, 2011

If today would have a keyword, it would have been LAUGHING. It was one of those days where you even got a nice abdominal workout in the process. When I was in Bittersweet, I ended up running into Eva. We left together in search of the Reunification Palace. After asking directions from everyone that did not speak English, we had finally made it; or so we thought. I was snapping pictures and ogling the large yellow building, not really understanding why it was so revered. I turned to Eva, and told him I wasn’t sure if we were in the right place. Everyone that was leaving the building had on a blue uniform, and something didn’t quite feel right. We were about to walk into a side door of the building, when a Vietnamese man comes careening up to us on his moped. Frantically, he points at the entrance gate and yells at us in a stern voice. We asked, “Reunification Palace?” His entire demeanor and his face changed completely, and he started chuckling. He said, “No, police station,” and then pointed us in the direction of the Palace. Ah, the joys of not being able to know a different language.

We finally find the Palace, and it was confirmed by the security guard working the gate when he cautiously asked, “Reunification Palace,” hesitating on even walking into the gate. Smiling, he said, “Yes…but it close at 4…” It was 4:30 at the time. On the bright side, we did get to see it, as well as a Vietnamese police station, and we weren’t locked up either; optimism at its finest.

We then proceeded to the Notre Dame Cathedral, and did not mistake city hall or the community center for it; learning from your mistakes. The Cathedral was pretty, and you could definitely tell that the French had been very influential in Saigon from not only the architecture of the Cathedral, but from many of the other older buildings as well.

Leaving the Cathedral, Eva and I were trying to decide on how we were going to get back home to the ship. During our discussion, a man on a moped flies up to us, and emphatically waves at us, and then his seat. We waved him away, saying no thanks. After walking down the rest of the street, he zooms up to us again, as if out of nowhere. He says, “Only 40,000 dong.” I looked at Eva and smiled; I was so down for a crazy Vietnamese moped driver to take us back. We told him where we were going, and hopped on. The driver handed me a helmet, and I strapped it on, ready to go. Eva hopped on behind me, and it sure was a tight fit. I have no idea how we both managed to get on that bike. During the entire ride, all the other mopeds were staring at us, and some were laughing. If you have ever been to Viet Nam, you must know how crazy the moped drivers are. Because of them, even crossing the road is a thrill in itself. No exaggeration. I literally feel proud when I cross the street here, as if I accomplished a personal achievement; or maybe I just feel happy to not lying on the road as road kill. Either way, I get a cheap thrill out of it. The fad of crosswalks hasn’t really reached this part of Asia yet, and I am not sure if they ever will. At one point in the ride, a car almost side-swiped us, and another moped driver almost T-boned us. Throughout the entire ride, Eva and I couldn’t stop laughing. All in all, it was a successful ride.

We got back to the ship, and I showered and waited for Wiliama to get back from his FDP, so we could go out to dinner. He showed up at my room around 7, and we headed out to dinner with Eva and Adam. We tried to find a taxi, and ended up getting one that was not legitimate. Instead, the meter charged us 100,000 dong instead of what was supposed to be 30,000; joys of being a tourist. We wanted to go to a restaurant that Wiliama had heard about, but the taxi driver didn’t speak English, so he had no idea where we wanted to go. Instead, we got dropped off on Pasteur Street, (again, the lovely French influence), and walked to a Dim Sum restaurant. It was absolutely delicious. I ordered fried fish and custard bun dim sum which was A-mazing. After dinner, we went walking around. We came across what seemed to be “Make-out point” for the Vietnamese, and were stared at the entire time we were trying to make our way through the park, as if we were interrupting an extremely secret ritual; it was beyond awkward. We went into the Diamond Department Store, and for some reason couldn’t stop laughing. Adam was simply being Adam :P Eva managed to try to go up a down escalator because she had seen a sign for bowling. A security guard was at the bottom of the escalator though, and Wiliama told her to just go down, as he seemed to be scrutinizing us. Haha. We left, wanting to find a place to get some ice cream or drinks. We came across a place called Gia Boa, which has Vietnamese accent marks, but I can’t really recall where they go.. It was dimly lit as we climbed up to the second floor. Wiliama and I got Tiger Beer, which seems to be the equivalent to Natty Light in the States. Adam got Bailey’s, and Eva got something as well. We spent a lot of time sitting there and just talking, mainly laughing about I don’t even remember what? The TV in the bar was airing the show “Monsters Inside Me.” I watched that a lot this past summer before this trip, so I had been prepared for the worst when coming to these countries. I’m clean so far so good. Hopefully I won’t get my 15 minutes of fame by being on this show though when we get back to the States. We left the café around 10:30 and headed back to the ship. Wiliama, Adam, and I went back to Wiliama’s room and ended up talking for a few hours. I got back to my room around 1:30am or so. Tomorrow is going to be a Spa Day with Wiliama and Adam J Two hour massage, manicure and pedicure for under $15? Please and thanks.

Viet Nam; Shattering Expectations

October 24, 2011 Night before arrival to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

 Tomorrow I will be waking up at 4am as we enter Vietnam, as the views are said to be spectacular as we enter the river and come into the port. The sunrise is scheduled to be at approximately 5:41am, so I will get to see the sun rise over Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon, as the locals still call it. Wiliama and I are going to attempt to get to the Ho Chi Minh City Amusement Park. There are supposed to be scattered thunderstorms throughout the day, which I don’t mind whatsoever. It rained when I was in both Montréal and Malaysia, and I think that it adds a more realistic element to the entire experience. The cities always seem more vibrant and alive after a good rain. Tomorrow night I am planning to go out with Kyla and Lizzy to get some delicious Vietnamese food and hit up the famous night market at the Ben Thanh Market.

October 26, 2011

 Vietnam shattered all the images I had already pre-formed in my mind of this country. Learning about different countries in school doesn’t prepare you at all for what you experience when you actually go to a different country. You find things to be completely wrong, or totally misconstrued, that they make no sense at all. What I had imagined of Vietnam was rice paddies everywhere, and thick patches of jungle strewn throughout the country. Instead, it seems that globalization has touched every country we have been to. Coming into Vietnam, we floated down a wide river bordered with short plants and trees. Small boathouses and low-lying fishing boats dotted the river, and there were plants floating in the water; probably damage from the flooding that has been occurring in many parts of Asia.

I had breakfast, and then went out exploring with Lizzy, Eva, Caroline, Wiliama, and a few others. We had decided not to attempt the amusement park since we heard from many people that it wasn’t really that great of an experience. Instead, we went to Bittersweet Café and grabbed some precious wi-fi; something that only happens when we are in country. After, we went out and explored the different markets. We went to Saigon Square, which was an extremely cramped and crowded indoor market. I probably lost ten pounds just by exploring it for an hour, as the heat was unbearable. We grabbed lunch at a place called Pho24. I had broken rice and shredded pork, and tried spring rolls too. The food is again, to die for. I am really going to go through a food withdrawal when we get back to the States. Wiliama and I then went to the Ben Thanh Market, which is the most well-known market in Saigon. There were many stalls selling fabric and people crying out to passing tourists to come get a suit or dress fitted. Many of the guys from the ship are getting suits, as it is extremely cheap and Vietnam is known for its tailoring. We were passing a stand of dried foods, when Wiliama spotted something called moi, which he knew to be a delicious type of prune in Hawaii. He asked to try it, and ignored the man’s cautious words of “No, no; it’s chili.” After a minute’s hesitation, his face turned bright red and his eyes filled with water. Everyone around us was laughing good-humoredly, and we said our thanks as we walked away. Haha. We then found a great deal of some fabric lanterns that we grabbed at only $2.50 each, which amounts to 50,000 dong. The exchange rate is $1 to 20,000 dong; it gets really confusing with the higher priced items.

We went back and picked up Lizzy and Eva, and did some more shopping. Wiliama ended up buying a huge North Face backpack for only $25. However, I am more willing to call them a North Fake, except it is virtually impossible to tell if they are fake or not. Lizzy bought a dress and a few different shirts, and then we came back to the ship to pick up Kyla. We went out to dinner at a place called Sasa Café where we met two guys who were making their way around the world. They had just come from Australia where they had spent one year. One was from England, and the other from Ireland. I love meeting other travellers and hearing stories of where they have been and where they hope to go. They have no itinerary, and are making their way from country to country by just doing side jobs that they find on the street. After dinner we went to a night market, and then to a place called Bar’s Bar for the rest of the night. We came back to the ship around midnight, and I read a little and then slept the night away.

Today, I am traveling by myself for the day since many have left to Cambodia or to other longer trips. I am now sitting at Bittersweet Café and just tried a smoothie called “sapodilla plum” which is unusually tasty. We will see what the rest of the day will bring J

October 23, 2011

 

I am now successfully two countries behind on this blog. No worries though J I was simply having too much fun and my action packed days hindered me from writing.

 

We arrived in Chennai, India and were greeted with a pungent smell immediately. Chennai was also known as Madras, when the British had occupied India during its colonial period. On the first day in India, I went to an Indian secondary school. When we arrived, we were greeted with live music and little girls presented us each with a rose. We were graced with the traditional Indian mark on our forehead. I learned later that this mark actually had a purpose. In the past, the mark was Vitamin D, and it attracted sunlight in order to keep healthy. Now though, many just use plastic stick-ons, so the cause has become lost. However, it is still pretty nonetheless. At the Indian school, I ended up going from class to class teaching English. We utilized the game Hang-man, as well as drawing games and question and answer sessions. After our English lessons, we met with all of the teachers as well as the principal and were granted an opportunity to ask questions. We were also given fresh coconuts with a straw, which was delicious. That first day in India was full of so many sights, smells, and sounds. India truly does have such a mix of EVERYTHING. There were people everywhere, and the stench was sometimes unbearable. The Indians were clothed in vivid colors, and many women wore flowers in their hair. Later that night, we ended up going out to a dance club where we had quite the experience. We seemed to be the only girls there, and things got pretty intense. Indian men began to get pretty rough in their dancing, and we quickly left in order to deescalate the situation.

 

The next day I left to go to my Rotarian Homestay. I was paired to be roommates with Jenny Trompak, who is also from Ohio. She goes to Baldwin-Wallace, which is in Marietta’s conference. She also lives only a half hour away from me in North Royalton. We met our Indian family, which turned out to be a freshly married couple named Vijay and Swathi. They prepared lunch, and I had my first experience in eating with my hands since childhood. I had forgotten about the left-hand rule mid-way through my meal, so I made an embarrassing attempt to switch. In India, your left hand is considered to be dirty; good thing I am left-handed. It was definitely an experience. We ate rice with a few different sauces such as chutney, which is a coconut concoction. We also had coconut buffy, which were little balls of coconut cake, for desert. After, they gave us a tour of their home which was absolutely gorgeous. It had four or five floors, and each floor, and each room had a theme. The ground floor had a theme of nature, so there was bamboo and wooden carvings everywhere. The next floor had a colors theme, so each room was a different color, and the furniture matched that particular color. In their master bedroom, the theme was strawberry and squares. There were shapes everywhere, and a very masculine pink color was scattered throughout. There was a type of moat that surrounded the bed that was filled with white, crystalline rocks. One of the walls had been cut out and plexi-glass had been mounted in its place. Behind the wall, there was a tropical scene of flora, and it looked as if it was a jungle. Swathi explained that the ceiling was also removed from that wall on the outside of the house, so when it rained, it was actually raining in the house as well. It was so exotic and creative, I want to adopt it whenever I get a house :P Around 8pm, we went to an official Rotary meeting where they introduced Presidents from the local chapters and many of our students gave presentations on our experience with Semester at Sea.

 

The third day we left our Indian family and went with the members of the Rotary Club to Mamallapuram and Kancheepuram, which are temple sites. We were greeted with many peddlers urging us to buy necklaces, statues, and other assorted goods. For lunch, we went to the Golden Palate in which lunch was served on a banana leaf. The food was, again, scrumptiously palatable on the tongue. After lunch, we went to Crocodile Bank where we saw an array of crocodiles, turtles, and snakes. We were able to see king cobras fight, and were able to touch a handful of baby vipers, which were only as big as my pinky finger. Later in the evening, we ended up going to one of the Rotarian President’s homes where we celebrated a Deewali Festival. Deewali is on October 26^th, however, the Rotarians felt it necessary for us to experience such an event, and I am glad that they did. Deewali means “festival of lights,” and all of Chennai looked like Christmastime in the States. There were lights hanging off homes and businesses alike. When we got to their home, we were anointed with the Indian mark on the forehead as well as many gifts. We were taken throughout their house which was set up with many different scenes depicting the Hindu faith. There are many gods and goddesses in Hinduism, and the entire living room was covered with statues of them. Another room was set up to be the Himalayas, and we truly felt as if we were there, because the air conditioning was set to full blast in an attempt to create the true environment. We were able to walk through these “Himalayas” and learned the stories of some of the Hindu deities. We then went up to the rooftop, which was set up with a massive Indian feast. I will never again look at any other food the same way as I do Indian food. Everything I tasted was delicious, and I didn’t want to stop eating despite being full 3 plates before. After we had dessert such as ice cream and gulab jamoon, we sand songs with all of the families. This evening was truly magical, and it will never be something that I will forget.

 

The fourth day Vijay and Swathi took us to Sky Mall, which holds one of the best movie theatres I have ever been to. Did I mention that they had a personal driver that chauffeured them around wherever they went? Freshmen year I learned so much about India through our Honors 101 class. It was Honors Literature and the theme was centered on India. We read “White Tiger,” which was about an Indian driver and his secret life. The entire time I was being chauffeured by their driver, I was wondering what his life was like outside of escorting them. Aside from this book, it was interesting to note the similarities and differences from what I learned, to what I was truly experiencing in India.

When we got to the mall, we went sari shopping! I bought a mostly red sari with black and gold imprints on it. I will be wearing it for our Alumni Ball, whose theme is Bollywood. Jenny got a pink, blue, and yellow one that was pretty as well! After sari shopping, we went to see an Indian movie called, “Muran.” It was in Tamil, which is the language of the state of Tamil Nadu, where we were at. The movie theatre was the best I have ever seen. After the movie, we came back to their home and presented them with our gifts. In return, they gave us Indian jewelry boxes. They then returned with us back to the ship, where we had dinner with them and were able to give them a tour. They told us that if we ever come back to India, we are welcome to stay with them again.

 

I spent the second to last day in India with Kyla and Lizzy, my best friends here J

We went to Spencer’s Plaza, which was a mall that had many different markets and shops. I bought a few scarves, valued at only a few $USD each. We also used an internet café where I was able to go on the internet for the first time since Montréal. The last day, Lizzy and I just went into town to get stamps for our postcards. India had been so emotionally and physically draining. There was so much to process from our senses that the ship seemed to be unusually quiet the night that we left India. Everyone had stories to share, but many wanted to recharge and sleep the night away, and perhaps the next day as well. I had friends who went on the Global Citizens trip, which was disastrous to say the least. They were held at gun-point on a sleeper train going to Agra, because the tour guide that had booked their tickets had actually cancelled them at the last minute and kept all the money, so their tickets were invalid. They only made it to the Taj Mahal 15 minutes before it closed, so they literally had to SPRINT through it. Their accommodations were less than appealing; Eric and Wiliama actually shared both a bed and an already dirty towel in one of their hostels. Many said that they were happy to have survived India at all.  Overall, India was truly an experience for one and all.

Again, I am always amazed at how fast time flies on the ship. A few days ago we went to Mauritius, a small island country a little ways away from Madagascar. It was colonized by both the French and the British, and you could see influences from both. French and a French Creole is spoken there, and it was interesting to hear the French Creole, which is so prominent in many of the African countries. We only spent one day in Mauritius, and I filled my day with a catamaran cruise. We sailed on the catamaran to a small place called Gabriel Island. The catamaran was so awesome! In the front of the boat, there were two nets; one on each side, where you could lay down. The waves were massive, so it was almost as if we were body surfing on netting! Snorkeling was supposed to be included, but it ended up costing 1000 rupee. I was extremely disappointed in that, but we were surrounded by such intense beauty that I got over it quickly. There wasn't much tropical fish in the area anyway, just a lot of coral and rocks. We spent our time laying on the beach, and exploring a little of the entire island. There were black rocks that dotted the oceanside that originated from volcanic activity, and various exotic birds flitted throughout the sky. We enjoyed a lunch on the catamaran of an interesting salad concotion, barbecued fish and hot dogs. After lunch, we sailed back to the mainland and made our way back to the ship via bus. It was difficult for many to even get back to the bus though, because not many know how to control their alcohol intake. Not surprising, since Mauritius has only allowed SAS to stay in their country for one day now, compared to three days when they first started going there. Apparently past voyages have tainted our reputation, and it was sad to see that not many people did much to redeem it. It is fine to enjoy yourself, but when you are unable to contain yourself without any self-control, it gets to be a little ridiculous. Nonetheless, I had a great time in Mauritius.

 

The day after Mauritius was Sea Olympics, and each sea was decked out in their colors. I am in the Arabian Sea, and we were all sporting our dark blue colors. In the morning, we opened the day with each sea performing a chant and introducing themselves. Ours went:

A-R

A-R-A

A-R-A-B-I-A-N!!!!!

 

I participated in tug of war, taboo, and was supposed to do a relay race that ended up being cancelled. Synchronized swimming was hilarious. Our sea (Aria, Matt, Rob, and Eric), did a skit in the pool to "Barbie Girl," which should have taken first in my opinion. It was hilarious! At the end of the day, Arabian Sea ended up taking the bronze, third place, out of 8 or 9 seas!! Woo!! It was exciting for us, especially since we are the smallest sea with only 40 people or so, while many of the seas are made up of 70 or 80.

 

Today, we had our cultural pre-port for India, where we learned about food, shopping, culture, etc. We will be in India in two days! I am so excited! In lieu of India, we also had a Bollywood dance after the pre-port and danced for hours to Bollywood, techno, and American music. I am truly having the time of my life on the ship, and I can't believe that we have already taken midterms.

 

Life goes by so fast when you are having fun :)

We are just passing by Madagascar today! If only we could stop there :( I can almost hear animals singing and dancing :/ In an attempt to catch up on my blog, I will try to recap what happened the last few days in South Africa. On Day 4, I went out and explored the Cape Town area with Eric. We walked from Mouille Lighthouse for about an hour and picked a random restaurant to go to. It was called La Perla, and it seemed really classy. We ended up splitting a bottle of wine and mussels, which was absolutely delicious. There was some really weird, interesting looking artwork on the walls. One piece was of a naked woman and a horse, and there seemed to be a ghost riding the horse? And the other piece was bright pieces of neon cloth that were thrown together and framed...? Interesting to say the least. On our way back, we ended up walking past a hedgemaze called "Serendipity: A maze for the delight of Ladies and Gentlement." We decided we had to check it out. The entrance fee was 20 rand, which amounts to about $2.50. I had to start on one side, where Eric had to start on another. I made it to the center of the maze with ease, but Eric was beyond confused. It was hilarious, and the old man that was running the maze was so charming. We ended up chatting with him about everything after we made it out of the maze. He was giving us life advice, and we touched on a number of topics such as astrology and family. We then headed back to the ship. Later that night we went out to Mitchells again, which was the hot spot for SAS students for the entire duration of South Africa.

 

On Day 5 I participated in Operation Hunger, which was ultimately eye-opening. We traveled to Khayelitsha Township, which is an informal settlement that was constructed to house the displaced people during apartheid. We met Clement, the regional coordinator, who brought light upon the situation of malnourishment in South Africa, and particularly Cape Town. He talked of Operation Hunger, and how many families do not like to be associated with the program because there is a stigma of poverty that accompanies it. The landscape of Khayelitsha was heart-wrenching. The informal settlements were clustered together and composed of all materials imaginable; broken glass, plywood, metal, and plastic were all mixed together in an effort to create the façade of a home. Clement spoke of the few bathroom facilities that were in poor condition and the water pumps that only sporadically worked. As we toured the township, anxious faces solemnly looked out from the windows and doors, while others smiled in welcome. It was bewildering to know that we were only a half hour bus ride away from the stunning waterfront. The contrast from the beauty of the waterfront and the desolation of the state of this township was baffling. These people didn’t care about the Ferris wheel or movie theatre. They weren’t planning on going on a safari or taking a helicopter tour. They were struggling to SURVIVE. How could so many people live like this, while just a short ways away many lived in luxury? Suddenly, the beauty of the waterfront seemed superficial to me. It seemed tainted, almost as if it was a smokescreen. These townships, these people, were the real South Africa. We ended up playing with the children for most of the time, as well as weighing and feeding them. I had brought stickers, and I was bombarded with children when they saw them. It was truly an experience that I won't soon forget. Towards the end of the trip, we were taken on a small tour of the township, and got to catch a glimpse in a few of the homes. We heard stories of the people who owned them, and it was unbelievable to see how they lived. The first woman whose shack we were able to explore had one room. Cluttered together in one corner was a couch and a dresser, while in the other corner there seemed to be a makeshift kitchen. She pointed very proudly at the one framed photograph that occupied her home, and said that it was taken of her when she was a teenager. With tears in her eyes, she then talked of how she was unemplyed and had to give up her 3 children and send them to the east coast of South Africa with strangers, so they could perhaps lead a better life than she. On the way back, the tour bus was quiet, as everyone was in contemplation and exhausted from all that we had seen and done.

 

Day 6 I went to Tygerburg Children's Hospital, but unfortunately didn't get to interact with any children. We were told that they were in very fragile condition and very sick, and that it would be detrimental both to them and to us if we were exposed to each other. Instead, we listened to an illuminating talk conducted by a German Catholic priest named Stefan Hippler. He had started Hope Cape Town, which was an organization helping to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic. By his appearance though, you would have never guessed him to be a priest. He wore a black leather jacket, had studs in his ears, and chains hanging from his pants. One of the most non-traditional priests if I have ever saw one. We had all brought toys and stuffed animals that we left with a nurse, and she promised to send pictures when our items were given to the children. We got back on the ship, and later that night we were introduced to Desmond Tutu. He had the most animated laugh, and was a very interactive speaker. It was great to hear him talk, he had many interesting points and stories. After our briefing from Desmond Tutu, we left the city of Cape Town with heavy hearts. I had truly enjoyed my time there. It was a country that I won't soon forget; both in my head and my heart.

 

It has now been a few days since we left Cape Town, and we are expected to arrive in Mauritius on October 4th. We have picked up speed because one of our Lifelong Learners (senior citizens) has encountered a medical condition that needs immediate medical attention. We weren't told any other details other than that, except we may arrive in Mauritius a day earlier in order to allow the passenger to get to a hospital quickly. I can't believe how fast time has been flying. And then sometimes it feels so slow. The time on the ship is so confusing. If you don't see someone for a few hours on the ship, it feels as if it has been days. No one ever knows what day of the week it is, or even what day of the month. We live from A day to B day, since that is how our classes alternate. It has really going to be difficult to adjust back to regular life when we get back to the US. I can't imagine how different next semester is going to feel compared to this semester.

 

Anyway, hope all is well :)

To my Chi O sisters, I miss you and can't wait to meet all the new baby hooties!!!! :D

September 25, 2011

I hope throughout your life you have those days where you can look back, and revel in the fact that everything was perfect. Even of you only have a handful of those days, savor every moment. I’m not talking about those days where you win the lottery or get married; nothing really momentous or life-altering. I’m talking about those days where you can bask in the sweet simplicity of happiness; new friendships, delectable food, the beauty of nature, and the warmth of small towns. I firmly believe that true happiness isn’t complicated at all. Too many muddle their lives with so much chaos, drama, and technology that they can’t seem to find a way to enjoy the singular fact of living, of just being a person enjoying life with other people. As I look back on today, I will remember for many years to come, that on this day, I experienced true happiness. It is as if the world was plotting; every facet of this day culminated together to give me something to hang on to. A wise woman, my grandma, always says that all you really have left when all is said and done are memories. This may sound somewhat sad, but if you make memories centered on pure bliss and happiness, they will carry you for a lifetime.

 I woke up today not really expecting anything out of the ordinary. I had breakfast with Jena and Gary outside on Deck 7 and then came back to my cabin to take a nap. Brian called me around 9 and we decided to meet at 9:30 to figure out our day. We ended up meeting with Martha from Kentucky and Chelsea from Arizona as well, and we decided to go to Simon’s Town. We walked to the train station and took a train to Simon’s Town. The view along the way was absolutely stunning. I have never seen such incomparable beauty. Rusty orange and brown boulders were scattered along the beach, while foamy, brilliant blue-green waves washed over them. Dark green kelp was tossed throughout the water, moving in rhythm with the waves, almost as if waving in welcome. As we wound our way along the southern most parts of Africa, mountains hovered in the distance; majestic and proud. As we dismounted the train, I immediately was overwhelmed with the sense of love at first sight. We walked deeper into the town, and something resonated within my heart. There was something, some sort of aura or perhaps it was just the charismatic small town charm that seemed to call out to me. For some reason, I know that I am going to go back there. On the waterfront, we came to a school band play8ing the song, “Only fools rush in, but I can’t help, falling in love with you.” The band was part of a huge festival that was being held in honor of South Africa’s national holiday, Heritage Day. There were booths of traditional Africa masks, paintings, fabric, and an assortment of so many other things. We decided on a small café/restaurant overlooking the glistening ocean. I ordered a huge baked potato that was filled with creamy chicken and mushrooms. Both Chelsea and Martha chose a spicy Cape Malay pancake, while Brian got the catch of the day; Kingklip with calamari. We all sampled each other’s food, which was absolutely amazing. I have NO IDEA how I am going to eat in the US again. My creamy mushroom chicken potato was an experience to die for. After lunch, we browsed in some of the shops, and stopped to talk to all of the shopkeepers. We saw a huge sign that read, “ART,” so we decided to investigate. The art exhibit was in a hall next to the town’s library, and boasted brilliant paintings of African animals, beaches and the ocean, as well as handmade jewelry. We met a native South African who was a 74 year old retired man, who now spends his time sailing around the world with his wife. We told him about our journeys, and then he gave us directions to Boulder Beach. Boulder Beach is known for its protective penguin colony, so I was beyond excited. We walked along the ocean-side, marveling at the smooth, white-washed houses along the steep inclined streets, and leading up to a small mountain. Palm trees and tropical flowers dotted the entire avenue, and the ocean breeze was intoxicating us with adventure and peacefulness. We arrived at Boulder Beach, which emanated with a strong sense of natural beauty and pride. Massive, sand-colored boulders lined the waterfront as ocean waves crashed onto the shore. We strolled along the boardwalk as a peaceful silence washed over us, allowing us to absorb the beauty in awe. On either side of the boardwalk was a small fence that housed the penguins. All along the walkway penguins were sleeping or sun-bathing, or playfully fighting. In the water, sailboats and kayaks frolicked in the waves, and people were sprawled out on both beach and boulder. We slowly made our way back to the entrance, and met up with Jena.

We decided to head back north to Cape Town. We walked back to the train station, and bought 3^rd class train tickets to save some money. The train was leaving in one minute, so we had to sprint to get there on time. The car we chose was virtually empty, and I was somewhat relieved since I hadn’t heard very good things about 3^rd class. The next stop, however, quickly changed the situation. A flood of people stormed into our car, and there was barely room to breathe. A homeless man was still somehow managing to strut up and down, yelling proclamations in an unrecognizable African language. By the looks we were getting from all the other passengers, we were guessing he was yelling about us. We were among the few white people on the train. He then proceeded to ask if anyone had a lighter, and started smoking marijuana. Women carrying babies became outraged, and started yelling at the man. Next to the homeless man was another man loaded down with 3 old, rusty bicycles and lawn decorations. The next stop came, and a HUGE riot broke out! People were pushing and shoving to get both on and off the train. People were being slammed into the rusty bicycles, crying out in pain. Children were crying and people were screaming with immense ferocity. Finally, the riot seemed to quiet, and the train doors slid shut. However, our uneasiness and apprehension didn’t seem to quiet. Everyone directed their hostility at the man with the bicycles, exclaiming that he was in the way and needed to move, or that he would be thrown off the train. Finally, he moved to the other end of the car, out of the way of the entrance/exit. The man was gone and the riot was over, but anxiety and concern was still written on all of our faces. Sitting next to me was a friendly looking girl who tried to soothe our nerves. We struck up a conversation, and she turned out to be an enthusiastic HIV/AIDS activist. It was moving listening to some of her stories. She then got off, and was replaced with a man who started giving me lessons in !Khosa, a click language. By the time we got to Cape Town, he and many others were roaring with laughter at my valiant failures of attempting to produce the foreign clicks. His name was Numa, and he told me one day I would return to South Africa and be able to speak !Khosa. After the train station, we walked back towards the port and grabbed a taxi to Camps Bay, an amazing beach. We ran into the freezing water and sat in the sand watching the sunset. We walked across the street to a pizzeria called Cal Cacchio. We tried bacon and banana pizza!! As well as pizza with spinach, feta, and roasted peppers, and another pizza with caramelized onions and sundried tomatoes. The bacon and banana pizza was the BEST I have ever had. It sounds so strange, but it was a delicious combination. After dinner, we walked further down the oceanfront and found an ice cream place called Sinnful, and it was sinful indeed. I had a scoop of toffee fudge and wild blueberries and cream. Absolutely heavenly J We then took a taxi back to the ship, and Jena and I showered and got dressed to go out to Mitchell’s, a brewery down the road from the ship. We met up with Eric, Brian, and Gary in Brian’s room and headed out. We spent a few hours there just enjoying everyone’s company, since Mitchell’s was packed with Semester at Sea students. Around midnight, I headed back to the ship with Eric. This was honestly one of the most memorable, enjoyable days of my life. I am having the most amazing time, and couldn’t be more thankful to the people who have made this voyage a possibility for me.

September 24, 2011

Cape Town, South Africa

 

Cape Town has one of the most breathtaking sites ever. When we pulled into port yesterday morning, Table Mountain hovered over the city; its intense beauty harboring secrets of the past, and promises of tomorrow. The Victoria port was an intense relief after the two working ports of Tema and Casablanca. Victorian style buildings and waterfront shops catered to the passenger port, providing a much warmer feel compared to the cranes and dirty berths of the two previous ports. After breakfast, I was a Student
Ambassador to some students from the University of Cape Town. We brought them onto the ship, and gave them a grand tour and had lunch together. They were incredibly friendly, and were amazed by our ship. No one wanted to leave when the time came. After just a few short hours, we had formed quick friendships despite our backgrounds and different English accents. We exchanged email addresses and promises to meet again in the next few days.

After the Cape Town students left, I met up with Jena and we simply explored the waterfront with Brian and Eric. There is a mall right outside the port, and it is the best mall I have ever been to. It isn’t better than Galleries de Lafayette in Paris, but it is better than the malls I have been to in the US. Jena and I came back to the ship around 3:30, and we left on our trip to Lion’s Head at 4pm. A bus took us to the base of Lion’s Head, and we were led by an awesome South African and a few Americans who are studying at UCT.

We started climbing, and the hike was somewhat strenuous. The view was absolutely amazing; in one direction you could see the entire expanse of Cape Town, while the other direction provided a view of white sandy beaches with bright blue waves washing upon the shore. Robben Island was also in the distance, where Nelson Mandela spent his prison years.

At one point, the hike got pretty intense, and we had to use chains and metal footholds to hoist ourselves up the rocks. One single misstep would have been perilous, for we weren’t wearing any climbing gear and what we were climbing was at an almost 90 degree angle. I thrive on adrenaline pumping adventure, so I loved every minute of it.  After about an hour and a half, we made it to the top of Lion’s head, and the view was spectacular. When we made it to the top, we enjoyed a light dinner of sandwiches and chips, while taking in the picturesque landscape. Jena and I took turns snapping photos of one another, reveling in the sight of something so marvelous. When the sun was setting, the sky was splashed with colors of pink, blue, and orange. That sunset is one that I will never forget. Once it was dark, the city seemed to spring to life with lights. We climbed down in the down, which was somewhat difficult. Not many people had flashlights or head-lamps, so many of us just hoped for the best as we climbed down. The weather was somewhat chilly, especially as South Africa is just entering spring. When we made it to the bottom, someone opened a bottle of wine and we all shared it. The experience was unforgettable, and South Africa had already grown on me after that first day there.

Jena and I got back around 9pm, and we quickly changed clothes, for we were going to experience the infamous night life of South Africa.

Jena, Brian, Eric, Kelsey, Gary, and I all headed out around 10pm in search of a nightclub. Gary was leading, since he had went on the city orientation earlier that day, and knew where Long Street was. Long Street in Cape Town is notorious for all of its bars and nightclubs, but with Gary leading, we had no idea where we were at. Gary is from Taiwan, and everyone likes to make him the butt of the jokes. If something ever goes wrong, everyone blames Gary. He takes it well though, and is pretty easy-going :P So Gary was leading us to what we thought was probably the way back to Ghana. We were in a pretty sketchy business district, and there seemed to be no one around. Finally, we made it to Long Street; despite the lack of faith everyone had in Gary’s leadership abilities. There were so many clubs that seemed to be filled to the brim with people, and yet we were somewhat weary of walking into one. We came upon a bar called Cape to Cuba, where a few other SAS people were at, and walked in. We thought we were just going to stop and chat with them, but we ended up spending our entire night there. We met a group of older men from Australia and New Zealand, and we struck up a conversation with them that persisted through the entire night. They bought a round of Springbok shots for everyone, to celebrate the USA, Australia, and New Zealand. The Springbok shots had Bailey’s and peppermint in them, and they were pretty good. Around 2am, we decided to head back to the ship. I grabbed a taxi with Kelsey and Eric, and we headed back home, concluding the first day in South Africa.

Today, I slept in until noon which provided some much needed sleep. I went out on the deck for a little while to sketch, and then came in to check my email. I met up with Eric at the computer lab and we decided to go out to the mall. We went to the supermarket in the mall that had food that I am missing so much. As soon as I get back to the US, I am getting a sweet tea from McDonald’s and eating an entire package of cookie dough. Yum J  After the supermarket, we tried looking for a watch for Eric, with no luck. We shopped around a little at a few of the stores and markets on the waterfront, and then came back to the ship. We met Jena, Brian, and Gary out on the deck, and decided to head out to a seafood restaurant to get some fish and chips. I got hake, which was some pretty decent fish. I am not sure if it compared to Lake Erie perch though, but it was still good. We sat around talking and joking until 9:30 or so, and then came back to the ship. Everyone was so tired from the night before, that they all decided to head to bed early. Tomorrow, Brian and I don’t have anything planned, so we are thinking of heading out to one of the beaches or perhaps Kirstenbosch for the botanical gardens. We’ll see where the road takes us.  

September 22, 2011

 

These past few days have been littered with mixed emotions. The ocean has been the roughest yet; the entire boat has been rocking and it almost seems as if we are experiencing earthquakes, not ocean waves. It makes for an interesting time when I am in the fitness center. Running on the elliptical today, I felt as if I was attempting to work out while drunk. Walking down the halls, you can see everyone swerving and smashing into the walls. It is strange not being able to have control of your own body, but by now, it is even stranger when we are on land. I find that it is now easier to sleep when the boat is rocking, and have difficulty nodding off when we are docked in port.

  It feels as if we just left Ghana yesterday, but this time tomorrow, I will be climbing Lion’s Head and enjoying a picnic hike, bathed in the South African sunset. We had our cultural pre-port yesterday, and were given advice and directions on what to do and what not to do. The pre-port made me a little uneasy; we learned that South Africa has the highest homicide rate in the world. Despite everything though, I am still beyond excited to experience this country that has already went through so much turmoil. We learned a great deal about apartheid and Nelson Mandela, and HIV/AIDS. It is strange to hear the Afrikaans language as well, as it is a mix of English and Dutch.

As for apartheid, we learned about all the segregations that occurred, just as in the United States during our segregation. Hearing about how South Africa still has many settlements that are for the “black” people, I was sympathetic, and yet proud that America seems to have come so far in combating segregation. However, just today I read a news article that was beyond disturbing. The title was, “White supremacist executed for Texas dragging”. Here I thought that the USA had made so much progress compared to South Africa, and yet the same things are still occurring. Will racism ever stop? What has to happen for such ignorant actions to halt? It makes me so angry; I feel so helpless. I understand that the world isn’t perfect, but why can’t things just get better? Traveling certainly illuminates perspectives on topics that many don’t like to talk about. Despite all that though, I still have felt a renewed sense of pride for the United States. In both Ghana and Morocco, more than a handful of people were always saying that they loved the USA, that it was a great country, and they loved Obama. No country will ever be perfect, but I am truly proud to be an American. Every country song that I love so much seems to have an even better tune to it now; small town USA is truly a great place to live.

 

Later on today will consist of a program board meeting, the logistical pre-port meeting, yoga, and a “sea” meeting. Can’t wait to write about all my South African adventures!