We had one day of class and the next day we didn't have class because of sea olympics!! I am in the Adriatic Sea and we were color pink. We all made banners for our sea and I have to say that ours was the best even if I did help to make it! On the morning of the Olympics we got to sleep in but not for too long because we had a mandatory life boat drill. We had to get up, get dressed and put our life jackets on. This drill went much better than the last one because everyone was really quite and in there lines and not wanting to get yelled at by the Captain! After the drill we had some time before the games started.
We had lunch and then openning ceremonies that the Captain attended and officially began. We all had our colors on, cheers ready, and ready to start the games. We had lots of different games like, pictionary, tug of war, academic bowl, relay race, pool relay race, boat race, synchronized swimming that was so funny! We had lip sync and make over. Make over and lip sync were my favorite to watch. Make over was one guy or girl from each sea and it was almost all guys. They took their before picture and then had to completely change their apperance. They had 15 minutes and when they came back the guys were in swim suits, formal dresses, sun dresses. They were complete with make-up, heels, nail polish and even some had shaved legs. It was so funny and all of them were into it until they were done with judging and sat down and then realized what had just happened. All the guys started saying "get this off of me now" who has nail polish remover??" It was great and they were really good sports about it all. The results can in and the winner of the games and your placement in the games determines who get off the ship first when we get back to the states. Our sea tried hard but placed last. It worked out though because I know that I won't want to leave and this way I will be able to say goodbye to all of my friends. After we had a cookout to celebrate the games and relax and enjoy great food with friends. It was a really fun day and great day with no classes!!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Croatia- The safest country full of sea beauty
I know it has been a while but internet can be hard to come by.. It has been a while since I have been in Croatia but I will do my best to give a little summary of my trip.
We were told to wake up early for pulling into Croatia because there was going to be a special tradition. I woke up early and went outside on the deck to watch us pull into port. It is tradition that when a Captain from Croatia comes back to Croatia that he blows the ships horn three times and then the church responds by ringing the bells as a welcome home. I got to see us pull past the church hear the Captain sound the horn three times and listen to the church bells rings and echo off the mountains. After we passed the church the Captain blew the whistle three more times to let his wife know that he was back. She was waiting in the window waving a white flag. It was a moving experience to see it all take place and I think from the very beginning I knew that I was going to enjoy Croatia. We pulled into port and I saw that Croatia was beautiful! It had such a beautiful shade of blue water that I can't put into words. After being cleared to get off the ship I went on a fdp to a Croatian Village. We walked around and got to see all the herbs that grow and see a church near by. We went to one of the houses that was in the village and they hosted us. We got to hear traditional Croatian music and they taught us a Croatian dance and we all got to join in. Then we were giving a piece of bacon, bread and cheese and got to toast our bacon over a fire to cook it. It was pretty good. Then we got to hang out and talk for a while, listen to more music while we waited for dinner. Under the house was a really nice stone room that had beautiful tables set and we sat down to have dinner. The dinner was amazing and you could tell that it was home cooked. We had more music and had the best time enjoying the music and singing along in some English songs and some Croatian songs. After dinner we headed back to the ship and I got to see a beautiful sinset on the walk back to the ship.
The next day I had an fdp in the morning to go visit and orphanage and children's hospital floor. The orpahange didn't have many kids because they were with a family member on summer vacation. There was only about 14 kids to alteast 40 of us and I think at first they were a little overwhelemed with us. They ended up playing bubbles, coloring, playing ball and lots of other fun things with us and had a great time. After we went to the hospital and got to tour and ask the main doctor questions about the hospital and Croatian health care. At the hospital there wasn't many kids either and the first group that went in got to play with them but they took too much time and sadly I was in the second group and I didn't get the chance to. I found out that the hospital that we visited didn't have any social workers and seemed a little understaffed. Our trip was running late and we barely made it back for lunch on the ship. After we headed to a beach and got a European feel. On the beach we could see our ship from the beach because it was not docked for a few hours. We had to tender to the ship which is where we take a life boat to the shore and back to the ship. It is fun for the first few minutes and then it was not as exciting. We had a great time getting in the ocean and laying on the beach.
The next morning didn't go as planned and we tried to go to a neighboring country but missed the bus. Disappointed and not sure what we were going to do we went back to the ship. We ran into our sweet Georgia family and they invited us to go along with them to an near by island. The island had peacocks on it just running around free. The island was beautiful and I got to swim in the Adriatic Sea which is my sea on the ship!! Then we went to the "dead sea" a lake pond that had a cave that we swam into and hung out there for a while. We had a great day with our Georgia family and were so glad they invited us along. That night we went to the Old City and walked around and enjoyed the city and it's beauty!
Our last day in Croatia I went to the Old City and got to walk around and get some shopping accomplished. The Old City is beautiful and you could spend more time there. We walked up the alley and ended up at a cafe on the cliff over looking the water. We sat and had cold coffee, wrote postcards, watched proffessional cliffdivers and most of all enjoyed the beauty of where we were. After we walked around some more and grabbed some lunch at a great cafe outside. Then it was time to go back to the ship so that we weren't late and get dock time. I was excited about going to Greece but sad to leave Croatia. It was a country that I didn't know what to expect out of and it turn out to be something amazing.
We were told to wake up early for pulling into Croatia because there was going to be a special tradition. I woke up early and went outside on the deck to watch us pull into port. It is tradition that when a Captain from Croatia comes back to Croatia that he blows the ships horn three times and then the church responds by ringing the bells as a welcome home. I got to see us pull past the church hear the Captain sound the horn three times and listen to the church bells rings and echo off the mountains. After we passed the church the Captain blew the whistle three more times to let his wife know that he was back. She was waiting in the window waving a white flag. It was a moving experience to see it all take place and I think from the very beginning I knew that I was going to enjoy Croatia. We pulled into port and I saw that Croatia was beautiful! It had such a beautiful shade of blue water that I can't put into words. After being cleared to get off the ship I went on a fdp to a Croatian Village. We walked around and got to see all the herbs that grow and see a church near by. We went to one of the houses that was in the village and they hosted us. We got to hear traditional Croatian music and they taught us a Croatian dance and we all got to join in. Then we were giving a piece of bacon, bread and cheese and got to toast our bacon over a fire to cook it. It was pretty good. Then we got to hang out and talk for a while, listen to more music while we waited for dinner. Under the house was a really nice stone room that had beautiful tables set and we sat down to have dinner. The dinner was amazing and you could tell that it was home cooked. We had more music and had the best time enjoying the music and singing along in some English songs and some Croatian songs. After dinner we headed back to the ship and I got to see a beautiful sinset on the walk back to the ship.
The next day I had an fdp in the morning to go visit and orphanage and children's hospital floor. The orpahange didn't have many kids because they were with a family member on summer vacation. There was only about 14 kids to alteast 40 of us and I think at first they were a little overwhelemed with us. They ended up playing bubbles, coloring, playing ball and lots of other fun things with us and had a great time. After we went to the hospital and got to tour and ask the main doctor questions about the hospital and Croatian health care. At the hospital there wasn't many kids either and the first group that went in got to play with them but they took too much time and sadly I was in the second group and I didn't get the chance to. I found out that the hospital that we visited didn't have any social workers and seemed a little understaffed. Our trip was running late and we barely made it back for lunch on the ship. After we headed to a beach and got a European feel. On the beach we could see our ship from the beach because it was not docked for a few hours. We had to tender to the ship which is where we take a life boat to the shore and back to the ship. It is fun for the first few minutes and then it was not as exciting. We had a great time getting in the ocean and laying on the beach.
The next morning didn't go as planned and we tried to go to a neighboring country but missed the bus. Disappointed and not sure what we were going to do we went back to the ship. We ran into our sweet Georgia family and they invited us to go along with them to an near by island. The island had peacocks on it just running around free. The island was beautiful and I got to swim in the Adriatic Sea which is my sea on the ship!! Then we went to the "dead sea" a lake pond that had a cave that we swam into and hung out there for a while. We had a great day with our Georgia family and were so glad they invited us along. That night we went to the Old City and walked around and enjoyed the city and it's beauty!
Our last day in Croatia I went to the Old City and got to walk around and get some shopping accomplished. The Old City is beautiful and you could spend more time there. We walked up the alley and ended up at a cafe on the cliff over looking the water. We sat and had cold coffee, wrote postcards, watched proffessional cliffdivers and most of all enjoyed the beauty of where we were. After we walked around some more and grabbed some lunch at a great cafe outside. Then it was time to go back to the ship so that we weren't late and get dock time. I was excited about going to Greece but sad to leave Croatia. It was a country that I didn't know what to expect out of and it turn out to be something amazing.
Friday, July 3, 2009
ITALY, Rome the "Eternal City" and Florence the city full of culture
We arrived in port on wednesday to Italy! I went on a semester at sea sponsored trip so we loaded the busses and were off to Rome! We got to Rome and went to see the Coloseum and the Roman Foreum. It was amazing to see pictures and hear stories of these places are thousands of years old and so amazing to actually be able to experience them in person. It was amazing and I could not believe that I was there. There is so much history in Rome and beautiful building in Rome that are thousand of years old, you start walking around the city, you turn the corner and bam- there is another amazing building full of ancient history. We decided that it get to a crazy point where you just try and remember if the building is B.C. or A.D. We had some free time for lunch and then walked around the city. The girls and I magically ended up right by the Trevi fountain that was beautiful! It then started to pour and "When in Rome" you walk back in the rain! We went to dinner and then took a walking tour around the city. I have to say that I fell in love with Rome at night. It is so beautiful and something about it is magical. During the day it is very loud and so many people everywhere. At night atleast where we were it seemed to slow down atleast a little. We got to go to the Trevi fountain and through coins in the fountain.. one coin, you come back to Rome, two you get married, three you get divorced, four you kill your mother-in-law and so it continues... this is what I was told anyway... I was very careful in picking how many coins to threw in the fountain.. Which you hold the coin in your right hand and throw it over your left shoulder.
The next day we went to the Vatican City! It was amazing and I could have spent all day there. We were able to see so much and I learned a lot too! We had lunch and left for Florence! We got here, went to the hotel and had some free time before dinner. Dinner was great we had a 4 or more course meal! Today we got up and went on a tour of the city and went to two museums and a church. We got to see the famous David marble sculpture. I think my favorite quote from the day is that he made stone come to life, and I am gaining a whole new appreciation on art! I love it. We had some free time and walked around the city and did a little shopping and errands. I was able to call home very briefly and it was so wondeful to hear familiar voices. Hopefully I will get more of the family next time!! So much to do and not enough time to do it in!! We just had dinner and another cute Italian place and tomorrrow we head to Naples to meet the ship and have til Sunday there! I am glad to be in Italy for a little bit longer. There is so much to do in Italy and not enough time to do it in. This has been an amazing country and trying to put it i words is so hard and does not come close. I have already decided that I would love to come back! I hope everyone has a wondeful 4th of July!!
The next day we went to the Vatican City! It was amazing and I could have spent all day there. We were able to see so much and I learned a lot too! We had lunch and left for Florence! We got here, went to the hotel and had some free time before dinner. Dinner was great we had a 4 or more course meal! Today we got up and went on a tour of the city and went to two museums and a church. We got to see the famous David marble sculpture. I think my favorite quote from the day is that he made stone come to life, and I am gaining a whole new appreciation on art! I love it. We had some free time and walked around the city and did a little shopping and errands. I was able to call home very briefly and it was so wondeful to hear familiar voices. Hopefully I will get more of the family next time!! So much to do and not enough time to do it in!! We just had dinner and another cute Italian place and tomorrrow we head to Naples to meet the ship and have til Sunday there! I am glad to be in Italy for a little bit longer. There is so much to do in Italy and not enough time to do it in. This has been an amazing country and trying to put it i words is so hard and does not come close. I have already decided that I would love to come back! I hope everyone has a wondeful 4th of July!!
Three Days til Italy?!
So after a great last day in Cadiz, Spain I got back on the ship and we left for Italy!! I had a great time in Spain but it was very nice to be able to come back to the ship and feel back at home with something familiar. I really enjoyed hearing about everyones adventures in Spain!! So after leaving Cadiz it was so exciting to know that in three days we would be in a whole other country, Italy!! But before I could do that I had to conquer.. classes. So that was not so much fun. I had a assignment for social work and mid-term as well as a essay for global studies.. all in three days. But I made it though and that makes Italy that much more exciting! It was kind of interesting all having to take the same test because all of the students on board were doing the same thing, studying for the same test. I just thought it was interesting because we all 700 plus of us were experiencing the same thing. We had some new lectures on the ship to help us prepare for Italy. One of the coolest parts of the three days on the ship was that Loretta Sanchez came on board from Spain to Italy. She is a Congresswoman from California. She spoke to the whole ship and I was fortunate enough to have her come to two of my classes! That was pretty awesome to have a Congresswoman pretty much all to yourself with no outside disractions. We were able to ask her questions and I learned a lot about Congress and some new bills coming up! If only that was possible all the time! It was a nice transition to get back on the ship and get ready for another great adventure. This next port will be interesting because we only have one day til we arrive in our next country!
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