Day 88. Loving Life.

As I write this, it's just after midnight, and I'm sitting on the 5th deck starboard side outside. It's the deck with all of the lifeboats, and large external lights mounted on the side of the ship illuminate the water rushing past below. Walking out here, I couldn't help but thinking how alone we (our ship) is out here. Not a light, ship, or land nearby for 1,000 miles. If, for some reason, somebody decided to take a swim, the Pacific Ocean would certainly be their permanent residence. Nonetheless, we hit some beautiful blue calm seas today and the temperatures increased in our preparation for Honolulu.

I gotta say, I am quite excited to see the United States in 4 days. The past 3 months of my life has exposed me to so many cultures, but it will be almost surreal to see my nation's flag on the mainstaff of the ship on Sunday morning. Certain barriers like language, currency, communication, cultures will disappear for the 2 days on the island... and I think that I will notice it now more than ever before in my life.

With the voyage closing in on its second-to-last port of call, we are all following Les McCabe's advice to do what we want to do now, and not put it off any longer. I took advantage of that today. While sitting at dinner on the 6th deck aft outside, another incredible sunset began to form before my eyes. This is such a common occurrence that every time I see it, I say to myself "I should take a picture of this... but I have lots more time on the ship, so I'll make a point to bring my camera up one of these days and do that." Well today, I had that conversation, and decided I couldn't wait any longer- what if it was cloudy for the rest of the voyage... I'd never forgive myself!

So I ran downstairs to my cabin and back up outside, and as if on cue, all of a sudden something happened. Whenever something is spotted in the water- dolphins, whales, birds, somebody's boot, you see a group stand up and go to the rail. That of course attracts other people to stand up and see what's going on, and within like 13 seconds the entire deck is on their feet, talking about what may or may not be off the side. That happened this evening, and I walked over, camera in tow, to find out what was happening. Then I saw it. The biggest rainbow I have ever seen in my life, right there, 50 yards off the side of the ship. But not just the rainbow, the end of the rainbow, heading straight down into the water right in front of my eyes. Before I could register what was happening, I followed the rainbow up to the right, over top the ship, and right back down on the other side, hitting the water off the opposite side of the ship. We were literally under the rainbow... the brightest most brilliant rainbow I'd ever seen. Lucky enough to have my camera, I took about a million pictures, hugged friends in front of the camera and just took it all in. The rainbow finally dissipated, and the sun set on the horizon with huge cumulus clouds above it, changing colors to the second.

My friends, I finally know what the word "Awesome" was created for.


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This evening, I received my global studies test grade (I got a B, oh well), and also took in the ship's play "The Persians" My friend Alicia played a part in it, so we all watched and cheered her on. I also booked our table for Ambassador's Ball, held 3 nights before we arrive in Ft. Lauderdale in May.

Well... it's beginning to rain out here, so I'm going to go inside and sleep. i have to be up early to finish studying for my evolution exam tomorrow. Ah! really raining now! Gotta go!

Talk soon. Pushing forward 1 hour tonight, now EST - 7.

Greg