February 14, 2007

In other places: Valentine’s Day…Here on ship: B3

Last night I went and watched the movie on Candomble in the Union and I felt so incredibly sick that I left. However, I am absolutely fascinated by it and the orixas and the syncretism with the Roman Catholic Church…so I added a trip on the first day in Salvador to a Candomble house with Dr. Joyce.

We also heard back on our Sale #1. Through SAS I will be going to the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia, to Renmin University/Beijing in China, to Khayelitsha Township in South Africa, on a city orientation and service visit in Mauritius, on the “Rainbow Culture and Religion” FDP, and a yoga demonstration in India. I did not get the rural village and farm visit in India, the Winelands in South Africa, and something else that I now do not remember. However, after dinner last night Cristie, Ashley, Brianne, Jika, Janet and I sat down and we figured out when we are doing everything else that we did not get into.

I also went to my leadership meeting for the Spirituality Programming Committee…there are five girls and the RD Drew. We are going to try to have a weekly worship on Sundays when we are not in port. I have a feeling I am not going to get anything near what I am used to. The other people on the committee are Assembly of God, Nazarene, non denominational, and a former Roman Catholic turned Methodist. That being said…I’m going to try really hard to be flexible and try out new things, while still loving my little Iona book prayers in my cabin!

At dinner we had cake for Cristie’s birthday, and Dante did more tricks for us! After that…of course we did more homework and picked our trips and went up to 6^th deck for 2000 snack time. I think we all live for 2000 snack time…we had tuna salad last night and it was delish. Also assorted snack cakes. I wasn’t getting any work done, so I went down to my cabin and Katie and I just chatted and didn’t get anything else done, but such is life. I’ve been doing so much work that I deserved some time so not do a thing but pleasure read!

Last night, we also lost another hour of sleep. I am DONE losing an hour of sleep. I am gong to begin a coup on this ship, and organize a rebellion. Today, I decided to get out of my fifth class. I finally realized that the last third of the class completely overlapped with the World Civs class that I took at BW, and it was definitely not going to fly with Dr. Gesink..haha So…I now get to sleep in on B days and as much as it sucks that I only have twelve credits, it will allow me to sleep a little bit and not have a ton of extra work to do for something I may or may not get credit for. Here goes a hellish senior year of 18 credits a semester. It’s the price I pay for this 12 credit semester.

Global Studies fails to capture my attention still. The articles we read are absolutely fascinating…many so far have had to deal with the debt of developing countries and organizations such as the IMF and the international banks that continue to lend to developing countries. Today they tried to do an exercise to show the disparity in the world, but it was not very well executed. However, our interport lecturer, Lucio, did an excellent job explaining the growing inequality between the rich and the poor, especially in Brazil.

At one point Elise, Jeff and I thought Brianne was sleeping, so Elise took a picture, but apparently Brianne was just feeling really sick, so that has led to some drama today. It is really hard to have drama on a boat of this size, because no matter where you go, you somehow manage to see that person.

On that note, let’s talk about the intricacies of shipboard life. You know longer apologize when you bump into someone because if we did, we would be apologizing for more than half of our day. We no longer get scared when we heard the thumping noises of the ship, because if we did, we would waste another part of our day. There is a shortage of hot water. We are so sick of cold showers, we might revolt. Only having 23 hours a day for 2/6 days makes everyone really grumpy. On the way to South Africa, we lose five hours.

As Jeff said this morning, “this is what they should do to prisoners…’today is a 19 hour day, suckers!”

I also turned in my alternate day sale form today…for people who did not get everything they wanted in Sale #1, all of the trips with leftover spots go on sale…so I added the Chennai Welcome Reception…and other things I don’t remember.

I am really worried about my roommate in Brazil…she is traveling all alone. Just her. She is flying to Iguassu Falls from Salvador on her own, taking taxis on her own, staying at the hotel by herself. And…if there is one thing they tell you to not do on Semester at Sea, it is travel in Brazil by yourself. I’ve honestly been trying to convince her not to go, and she knows there is a big risk…and today she asked me if I would pray for her every night she was gone. So…for all of you out there in blogosphere…say a little prayer for Katie from now until she comes back to the ship on the 22^nd of February.

In any case, I am back in the piano lounge to do work until 5.

OH THE NEWS FROM TODAY!!! At 1214 we CROSSED THE EQUATOR!!!!! 0 degrees and 0 minutes! Many of you might be saying, “Well, LeeAnne, shouldn’t you be celebrating Neptune Day?” and the answer is yes, we should. However, because we have to have a certain number of classes in before the first global studies test on B4, we are not having it until February 24^th. And my friends at home…you will be waiting with baited breath until I return home to know whether I shave my head or not…it is still up in the air, but 90% one way and 10% the other…say tuned for May 14 J

At 5 I have my Spiritual Programming Committee full meeting which the 5 of us from yesterday are leading, and then at 7 I have a meeting for SEAS. And Monopoly night tonight at 8…because we are boycotting the Stoplight Dance for Valentine’s Day…although if I went I would wear a neon green shirt with blinking green LED lights. Haha adios for today!