Day Thirty-One or Adventures in the High Seas

So we're here! We made it safetly! Sailing was defentley an adventure!

Before the sail we had been informided of the great possibility of sea sickness, due to the ship's rocking. Prepared, stuff tied down and sea sick pills at arm's reach, we set off.

The majority of the sail was actually very smooth. It was popular at the dining room to watchc people attempt to get from one side of the room to another with arms ladened with drinks and food. Working was an adventure everyday, especially when it came to the trolley. We have a heavy trolley that we use to collect the dirty dishes. I ladened up the trolley and set off. At first the ship is tilting to one direction, making pushing the thing as hard as if I were attempting to push it up a mountain. Pushing as hard as I could, the ship would then tilt, sending me flying across the room, the cart having suddenly become weightless. It's a wonder that I never hit anyone. Even though, we were relieved that the sail should be so smooth and wondered at the reasoning behind such measures as we had gone to.

The sunrises and sunsets were amazing. You would stand and watch as the golden sun turn red as it touched the water. The night sky was like I had never seen. I knew that they were millions upon millions of stars, but to look up at the sky, unhindered by the lights of a city, I was not aware that there were even that many close enough to be seen.

Even that would have been enough for me, but God chose instead to send a metor shower halfway through the journey. On the last night of the shower I slept up on deck eight. To have friends around, laughing and talking, wrapped up warm in a blanket, then to look up and see a star slide across the sky... What could be better?

About three to four days away from Tenerife, the sea began to be more rocky, caused by a far away storm. Stair went from being a challenge to an epic journey. Things in our room, unthought of things, flew across the room. Curtians swished back and forth, unhindered by our attempts till I finally jammed them into my closet door.

Work in the dinning room was the most 'exciting' of all. We had already tied down most things, but certiant items, like the trays that held the bread were simply as stable as they could be. Who ever had the idea to put grip mats under those was a genius. Silverware also, placed momentarly on the table would come to the ground. I made the mistake of putting a tray of sardines on the table while I looked for the mat. The moment I turned around, the ship tilted again and it slide off. Needless to say, that was not fun to clean.

So, now that I'm at port, did I enjoy the sail? And the answer is yes. It was an adventure, beautiful, interesting and at times messy, and I enjoyed every minute of it and am looking forward to the next sail.

Day 20 or Sailing Away

I can't believe it! It seems like it was only yesterday that I was arriving in Benin and already we're leaving! Today we officially set sail for Tenerife. Can you believe that I'm going to spend Christmas in the Canary Islands?

Today I saw my first real life flying fish! They opened the bow and every one in a while you would see a fish skip through the water, like a small stone.
It was the most amazing thing, standing at the tip, the wind pushing against, the waves down below. You look, and as far as you see, there is only blue. So beautiful, but I think I can understand how such a sight for months at a time could drive a man insane. When you look out, you feel somehow like you are the only one. It is the most peaceful and at the same time, lonely feeling, to be the only one.

So I have officially spent my first holiday away from home. Thanksgiving was great, we had a real Thanksgiving meal. It was also my first working holiday.

I enjoy it here, the work is hard, but good. One of the things I really like about the dinning room is that there are two sides to it. There is the 'Lines' as we call it, the job where you make sure there is enough food out, keep the lines clean, and greet people. It's nice because you get to see everyone, ask them how their day was and just make small talk.

There's also the dish washing, which can be done by one, two or three people, depending on how many people are eating. That's also a good job, especially when you don't feel like talking to people. So really, no matter what mood you're in, you can still enjoy work. You aren't forced to talk to everyone, nor are you kept apart.