I'm 21!!!

On a COMPLETELY different note, I’M 21! Crazy, huh? The day before my birthday, we arrived in Costa Rica. Ashley and I walked around and shopped. We grabbed lunch on the ship- club sandwiches??? How could they hold out on us this long? Then we went to the beach. A store owner from earlier knew it was my birthday and gave me a butterfly shotglass- how appropriate. When I walked by later he bought me a beer, and a bunch of people sang happy birthday for me on the beach front. Later that day, the ‘girls’ got dolled up to celebrate Ashly’s 22nd and my 21st. We went to the Captain Morenos, the club a local suggested, but their was a car showing. We were a little eager to get out- 7:30 haha, so we pre-partied at a hole in the wall bar nearby on the beach. Wherever we are, or whatever we’re doing, we know how to keep each other entertained. We must have talked there for a couple hours, just drinking beers and girl talking. It was a crew members birthday nearby so half of the staff was there. Later on, we made are way back to the club. It was quite a mess of people- locals, SAS, and a handful of crew members. The girls kind of scattered and we all hung out with random people. We met up with Hallie, Andrea, and Lindsey. Anyways, so we’re drinking, dancing, and having a good time and the store owner from earlier comes up and mentions something about a present. He comes back a huge gift bag with a shirt and magnet inside. I was stunned. Haha….Overall from what I remember it was a great night. Haha, I’m just kidding. The purser did help me home though. That’s a story. So on my actual birthday, I woke up generously late, walked the beach, and did some shopping. Then I met up with the girls at this restaurant I had eyed the previous day, and by coincidence Steph thought would be great for lunch. They treated me to lunch at this adorable little restaurant that’s outside. Afterwards Ali’s local friend took us to get some ice cream. We had ice cream and took some pictures on the beach. It’s crazy to think that this is the last time we’ll be in port, or taking pictures together. We all get off on completely different times in Miami. It’s weird that we are even at the point of thinking things like that. Reality- seems so hard to grasp. Isn’t that so ironic? I can’t think about what it’s like to have to pay attention to gas prices, or not have anything to do all the time. Hell, I feel like this ship has become my family. They are the ones who are there for you when you’re emotional, angry, sad, etc. We’ve bonded over the past few months. I had strangers coming up to me wishing me a happy birthday. It’s a new year for me. A pretty big one too. I have everything to be thankful for, but a whole new start ahead of me. It’s the first birthday in a while that everything seems just right. I just circled the world. I have made some of the greatest friends. I have an amazing boyfriend and family waiting for me. And if all of that isn’t pretty damn awesome, I’m also 21!

How do say goodbye to the best thing that’s ever happened to you?

‘They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.’- Edgar Allen Poe.

Well, finals are over. I’m officially a senior. Weird to think, huh? So here is my problem: I’ve never been one to cry. Graduations? I could care less. Even funerals? It just isn’t something I do. But even now, thinking that a week from now I won’t be here, it hurts really really badly. For the first time in my life, I have found someplace that I belong. Someplace that makes me happy, a level of happiness I didn’t know existed. A place that inspires you to dream and explore; it pushes you to live. You know, I wrote a life checklist a couple years back. The very first thing on it was to travel the world. I had all these images in my head, imaging what it would be like to really go through with this. The only image I could really see was a little kid, from Africa, playing for the camera. Don’t ask me why. A whole 3 and a half months, and the entire world, and that’s the one thing I saw over and over in my head. Well, go figure one of the most amazing moments of my life was playing patty cake with a little girl, in the African townships. It just so happened to be caught by the photographer for the ship, and its now hanging on the wall of his best pictures. In these last three months, I sat around with my friends, reminiscing about our crazy rickshaw rides, getting lost countless times, and then those moments that made everything worth it. The fact that we sit around nonchalantly saying, ‘Vietnam today, China tomorrow, and Japan right after that.’ It’s ridiculous. Life shouldn’t be like that. It just seems so impossible you know? But it is. It’s out there, waiting for you. We just trap ourselves with restraints, making the possible seem impossible. I have been criticized for dreaming ridiculously big, and seen people roll their eyes when I tell them I want to do this or that. I was so focused on making everyone happy, that I forgot to live for myself. Yet, in these past three months, I think everyone on board has ‘lived’ more than so many people we know. That maybe, just maybe, I haven’t been taken seriously because I have the guts to go after my dreams, and achieve them, in the first place. So I have a challenge for you…Think of everything in life you’ve ever wanted to do. It can be anything as simple as eating something new (sushi? Caviar? Hell, anyone want to try pigs tongue?) to your biggest dreams (traveling around the world, starting your own business, etc.). Have a girl you want to ask out? Want to do something absolutely silly like swim in a baby pool full of noodles? What’s holding you back? 101 things. You’re not allowed to think logistics. Just make a list. Then, pick a day to start, mine will be May 9th when we dock, and you will have 1001 days to complete your list. We only have one life to live. Are you brave enough to really live it? Go do everything you’ve ever wanted to do, and find a way to make it happen. The second you start making excuses, you’re only limiting yourself and holding yourself back. This ship has taught me so much, but above all, it’s given me strength to accept that I’m just not going to fit into anybody’s mold. That life doesn’t have to be a set track, especially if you could never adhere to it anyways. I’m going to miss the MV Explorer, these people, and the times I’ve had- probably for the rest of my life. This will be the hardest goodbye- ever. But at least I have so much more ahead of me. Now go start that list. What’s a matter, scared?

“We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time.” T.S.. Eliot, Four Quartets

The Ambassadors Ball

108 days. We’ve seen poverty, we’ve seen determination. We’ve seen sadness, but then we’ve seen hope. But most of all, we’ve seen love. The people we’ve encountered over these last couple of months will last in our memories. Not only within the countries, but in our community.

We have become a family, with sisters and brothers from every state, race, and ethnicity. More than ever we realize that the world isn’t as big as we thought. We are all just people, trying to get by and enjoy the most out of life. Well, tonight I think we can all agree that we are living the dream. Look around us. Friends, food, and an experience of a lifetime to reflect on. We are nearing the end of our voyage. Soak up every last minute and appreciate it for what it’s worth. In the end, we have so much to be thankful for. We officially join the 1 percent that circumnavigates the world. Congratulations. Now for the toast.’

So here it is. After a day of sorting through tickets, then blowing up disgusting amounts balloons- it was time to get dolled up and eat ACTUAL food. Big, I know. I didn’t tell any of my friends that I was doing a little speech, so I surprised them with that. Hence the Hallmark Moment. The entire ship felt like a prom or –worse- a goodbye dinner. Everyone was taking pictures. Dinner was phenomenal, but far too fast. By the time I had finished my filet mignon, I realized it was over. There was live music in the piano lounge. We had palm readers, tarot cards, pictures with the captain, and karaoke. Then after working a bit, and the second seating was finished, there was two dances and dessert buffet lining Tymitz Square. I wish life was like a ball every day. Haha…And they sailed on happily ever after.

SEE US GOING THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL!!! http://www.pancanal.com/eng/photo/camera-java.html
Mira Flores locks: arriving 0740, departing 0850
Pedro Miquel Arriving 1000, departing 1040
Passing Gamboa 1330 Gatun locks: Arriving 1450, departing 1710
ETD Cristobal 1840

What does Hitler, growling women, and oversized toenails have in common? HAWAII

One day in Hawaii. What do you do with your one whole day in Hawaii? Well, 90 percent of the kids went to the beach and got sloshed. Stephanie and I went to Pearl Harbor that morning, and what else? C’mon, you know me too well. We should just call it shopping at sea.

So both wearing sundresses and obnoxiously oversized sunglasses, we headed over to Pearl Harbor looking like we just stepped off the set of the movie. All we needed was bright red lipstick. When we got there it was apparent that there are only two types at Pearl Harbor. SAS and Old People. I swear, we’d be in line and someone on a walker would cut, or mosey by on their air tank.

Let’s play a game. TOP THREE THINGS that should tell you you’ve re-entered America.

3. Entitlement. Oh, I’m sorry I thought this was a line. Well that line just goes to shit once your inside. Everyone’s pushing and shoving to see a damn plague.

2. See, I have a HUGE theory in life on parenting. If you want to be like Branglina and create an army of children, that’s fine. In fact it will probably help our economy considering our dollar is going to shit. HOWEVER, if you’re pulling a Spears and your parenting skills are shit- then by all means hire a nanny or DO NOT HAVE OFFSPRING. No one, and I mean no one, thinks it’s adorable when your spawn has a tantrum during a filmstrip of the attack of Pearl Harbor and you ENCOURAGE it by going, ‘Yes, yes that’s the Japs’. SERIOUSLY people? Seriously? As the guide is saying, please be respectful and quiet as this is the grave of 1,173 people, the father is running after this terror SCREAMING. It disgusts me. In short, if you can’t handle them, don’t have them or hire someone who will.

1. Now, number 2 is a pretty serious issue. However, number makes my eyeballs BLEED. No, more appropriately, it makes me want to go to the nearest bathroom and make myself throw up. So I’m standing there, amongst 5 million old people, looking around. What do I see? I KNOW you know what’s coming next. Do I even need to say it? I’ll give you a hint. I just got back from Japan. Image is everything there. Where they have style, fashion, adorable haircuts, and thighs the size of my wrist. Which made me feel OBESE. Guess what? Hahahahaha, I thought I was obese. Oh no no Vanessa. How silly. Just take a look around America. I think the waistlines just expanded the size of the third world countries. Maybe if you gorge yourselves more, you can officially kill off the millions who live on less than a dollar a day. What is that- your dollar menu SNACK at McDonalds, between your lunch and dinner? Repulsive. Downright repulsive, and honestly, really embarrassing. I have spent months taking pictures of people from different countries. They probably come to ours and take pictures of the cows in wheelchairs because they are 800 pounds. Trust me, it’s not McDonalds. Those are all over the world. They have oodles of fast food around the world. They eat it too. So what makes us so- American? Welcome back to America, I guess.

We took a boat- I think my life is officially surrounded around ships- to the memorial where circa 1,173 men rest. Now, I have a slight obsession of World War 2 history. Somewhere along the way, I couldn’t get enough of it. From everything to fascist Italy, Nazi Germany, the Holocaust, to- what else- Pearl Harbor. In the 1930’s, China and Japan were going at it full force. Japan was being downright horribly nasty. They moved upward to Nanking- which is something you should familiarize yourself with. As I said, Japan is very much about image. One of the reason’s they moved on about Himroshima and Nagasaki, is not that they have forgiven as much as it is they chose to forget. The ‘Rape of Nanking’ is not in their textbooks, and for a while they tried to conceal the fact that thousands died in the most atrocious ways feasible. Look it up, and have at that all you want. Quickly, why is it called the ‘Rape of Nanking’? Well, if you’re a soldier and you have disposable life around you, what would you when the world is your sick little oyster? Girls from 14 to elderly to raped gruesomely then disposed of. We were absolutely opposed to that, thus we wanted to remain an ally with China. Eventually, we created an oil embargo which left them with two serious options, and they chose war. The Japanese wanted to cripple our strongest defense- our US fleet. I had never seen one of them actually shot, but it literally shakes the entire battleship. A battleship. Could you imagine how powerful it has to be in order to completely move a battleship backwards? A+B+C= Pearl Harbor. 243,000 killed, the youngest was a 3 month old citizen. It wasn’t the amount of death as much as the destruction that truly crippled the US. Their targets were lined up one after the other innocently, just asking for trouble. The US thought their biggest threat was from within the system, thus the planes were lined wing to wing in the airfields, completely unarmed, just as exposed as Tara Reid at a red carpet premier. After years of studying it, and sobbing over the movie- I was there! Unbelievable to think such a beautiful place was the stage for one of the worst attacks in US territory.

Food for thought: both Vietnam and Hiroshima had museums that ended in such a light that war is bad and to try and maintain peace. Both of them. Even Vietnam which wasn’t exactly shy at pointing fingers. It was interesting because I doubt many people hop from one side of the war to another back to back, and sees how each is commemorated within the culture. What’s that about America? Are we really that scared of not being the big bad wolf that we’re willing to do anything, even War, to make maintain our power? Something else I nearly forgot to mention, god how could I have forgot? The Rape of Nanking? There were 20 some generals and officials on trial for horrendous acts, including the Rape of Nanking. Seven were to be hung, only 1 for the situation in Nanking. They were later honored and a temple was built. People continue to go to pray to them and HONOR them. Wow, right? Wait, but who was in charge of this BS? Oh, the United States? Now why would they turn sides quicker than George Bush’s Iraq excuses? That would because we were afraid of communism- see Vietnam War. We wanted Japan (see a paragraph above to laugh at the irony) as our ally in the fight for communism (including China, yes you can smile again), thus we left Hirohito in power, despite the fact he was behind World War 2. OH UNITED STATES.

Moving along now- after Pearl Harbor, the 36 old people, the 29457733 fat people, and the 7 annoying beastly offspring which cannot be controlled- we took public transportation to the mall. Now, public transportation is a funny thing. You will meet people that you never imagined existed, and even better, they are all together. The weirdest, funniest, strangest people in a mass movement throughout Hawaii. Of course, we are immediately welcomed by an Adolf Hitler look-alike who is looking at us like baby impalas to a lion- bowl cut and all. Five minutes goes by, nope still looking. Another 15, nope, add a creepy smile. Course all the while, we have a growling women- like, for real, growling. A man whose toenails are long- quite abnormally long. My theory is that he can’t reach them to clip them because he is number 29457734. Oh, shortly after number 29457735 is hauled into the bus via wheelchair. He can’t even wheel his wheelchair down the street to the next stop. A man who clearly works with construction makes small talk with us- oh about what other than food. The smell he exudes is fantastic. Really, why sell flower shitastic Paris Hilton perfume when clearly they have not capitalized on sweat and BO. I could really go on if you like. Flip flops with not one, but two pairs of socks over cankles. A shirt with fat peeling from under it. It wasn’t all fat I swear. Let me think. No, there was one person who appeared normal. Then there was Stephanie and I- clad in our sundresses and knock off designer glasses talking on- first port where CELL PHONES WORK- our phones. No wonder Hitler was looking at us with interest. Consider it our own little tour of Hawaii. We had an amazing tour guide who didn’t talk us to sleep- NEXT STOP: CHINATOWN. We interacted with several locals. All in the name of shopping.

I think somewhere, an angel sighed, as I walked into heaven- I mean, Nordstrom. Not necessarily to shop, but hello familiarity! We met up with Hallie, Lindsey, and Andrea. Steph and I got coffees and walked around the 3rd largest mall- not sure if it’s outdoor mall or in general- in America. That night, we had dinner at CPK. Did some more damage, and eventually came back to the ship circa 8.

And the other 90 percent? A mob of disgustingness outside the ship at 9, when dock time begins. Real classy, real classy. Possibly the number 3 popping its head through the surface? I can tell you one thing, if one day in Hawaii makes me sick of American culture, I now know what they mean by having culture shock once you’re inside the states. They say you can be just as adventurous and make a difference within your community but truth be told, I really don’t want to. I have no desire to.

What Happens when you go through Peanut Butter Withdrawals

*1,000 dollars, 1$ per ticket, towards trying to get off the ship 1st. (Bryan G won)
*1,000 to blow the ship’s whistle as we enter into Miami. *950 to stay in Belgium.
*600 for a map.
*500 for the Captains hat. (Doesn’t fit the winner’s head either.)
*500 to have chips and dip with the Dean. (I’d pay that for the chips and dip alone)
*300 for a bodysuit signed by the crew.
*60 for a Taj Mahal tee-shirt (org. price is 100 rupee or less than 3$)
*40 for a jar of peanut butter, from Trader Joe’s.

*That’s just the price 9 items at random went for. We gave away over 100 items ranging from services on the ship, such as massages, acupuncture sessions, and dinner with the Captain, to weekend trips in Belgium, ski weekends, cabins on the beach, or visits of major cities throughout the US. Several pieces of art and photography were sold from 30 to over 300. A CD by our own amazing Ben and Willie went for circa 200. *There were about 8 of us or so on the committee. At 2 we began a silent auction. That continued until 7. At 8, we began the Live Auction. CC and I played Vanna White, all dolled up and displaying the items as we auctioned them off. Alicen was the gong girl, after the item was sold. Between every handful of items and auctioneer, we raffled off several items.

*In total, we made over 20,000. Apparently a record. Here I was willing to pay 100 for a painting or two, but everyone STARTED at 100. It was hard not to gap as people are offering hundreds of dollars for bedspreads, breakfast in bed from the dean, and other random items. Needless to say, it was ungodly successful.

$1,000 to blow the whistle

Well that's it for now. I'm off to dinner with the girls. Coming up? The SOS Auction. The question is: which one of your kids was crazy enough to buy 'Blow the Ships Whistle' for 1,000? Even more interesting, guess how much a jar of peanut butter cost? A Taj Mahal tee shirt? Trust me, you want to hear this. All that and more later.