Day 6. Stop Being Embarrassed!

When did our culture become so embarassable!? Better yet, when did we as a culture make our fellow people so embarrassed!? Fine, fine, I know, it’s not a big deal- but the deal is, it prevents you from doing things, from having fun. Many times I have participated in an activity- or more importantly NOT participated in an activity because I was afraid of being embarrassed. On the ship, it’s just not so. People get up and sing with horrible voices! They play guitar and snap strings in front of 500 people! We laugh and joke and make fools of ourselves… and what does everybody do? They laugh, and clap and encourage it even more. It approaches (and possibly eclipses) even my days at summer camp as far as encouragement of fun behavior is concerned. Today, I decided I wouldn’t be embarrassed any more.

The ship hosts many “Explorer Seminars,” basically an opportunity for individuals who have any unique talents to have an audience and impart their knowledge on others. People do them in photography, in art, in music, the captain, I hear is planning one just about being a ship captain. Tonight was a seminar on salsa dancing. My friends and I went and of course stood in the back and watched- I was far too embarrassed, and had no idea what I was doing to take part. Until finally, something clicked within me; nobody, and I mean nobody knew what they were doing. None of us did. I grabbed a partner and we salsa’ed the crap out of that place… and while I doubt I’ll win any medals, I could probably hold my own on a dance floor. It was great. We were all stepping on eachother and looking like idiots- and laughing our asses off the whole time. A great moment.

This eve, clubs had their first meetings. I joined one such club: The 24-Hour Pirate Watch Club, “dedicated to the vigilante protection of the M.V. Explorer.” In it, we decided on secret handshakes and anti-piracy tactics, the best that we came up with was hurling deck furniture off the 7th deck. Bring it, Blackbeard, we’re ready. Additionally, I took a leadership role in the Scuba club, in which we hope to get some dives in at ports like South Africa, Maritius, and Thailand. I’ll keep you updated as that planning gets underway.

I spent a lot of time reading for classes. They’re a lot of work, I already told you… but, man, they are.

Before I go, I have to tell you what a feeling it is being where I am. I know I said I promised not to get used to this life, but after 6 days, I already have. It’s so easy to forget how amazing it is- we’re halfway across an ocean! There is NOTHING around us. I had a long talk with a lifelong learner, Les, who brought me back to earth. As we were standing there chatting about his life as a fishing-boatman in Alaska, he pointed out a big plume of mist in the distance… it looked a heck of a lot like a whale. We couldn’t be sure, and kept looking for a repeat performance, but no digs. I’d like to hope it was, though.

Plans are finalizing for Spain. Me, Victoria, Stephanie, Nate, Pat, Taylor and Lia are hoping to spend day 1 in port in Cadiz, and then leave early day 2 for Sevilla, and then continue north to Madrid. We’ll stay in Madrid the 2nd night and 3rd night, and leave early on the 4th day to head back south towards Cadiz. We’ll spend the day around Sevilla and Cadiz and then hop back on the ship towards Morocco. Even though I love the ship (and I really, really do) I miss land. Terribly. It will be wonderful to wake up early on Wednesday to see something other than water on the horizon as we begin our first port-of-call. I invite you to check out a map and proffer any advice you may have if you’ve been in the area!

Before I forget, check out http://semesteratsea-spring2009.blogspot.com/ It is the official SAS blog by a great guy I met today. He worked in the white house as an aid to Bush’s top energy advisor. He isn’t a student, rather hired to keep a blog. There is a video on it from the past few days about signing up for activities. I am in it! (he showed it to me) I’m sure you’ll like it, and MomMom, I advise you to grab a box of Kleenex before you watch it! Just kidding :-) .

We lose another hour tonight. Grrrrrr. We are now EST + 4 Hours.

Talk tomorrow

Greg