First and foremost, I want to wish all those at home a very happy 2010. I hope everyone had a safe and fun New Years Eve. You'll hear more abot mine momentarily.
I signed on to the Celebrity Summit December 27th and have been re-adjusting ever since. I reunited with my good friend Anna which has resulted in my being her shadow as I still don't always know where I am or where I'm going. I'm getting the hang of the layout of the ship and meeting lots of new people, all of whom are called "hey you" for at least another couple weeks. Training is a bit easier and less intimidating this time. The food is still awful. One of the toughest readjustments, though, which will never get easier, is the rocky seas. I didn't think the Caribbean would have choppy waves - I was wrong.
While I know many people want to hear about the beauty of the Caribbean, I'm going to have to disappoint. I've been off the ship just twice, and once was simply to catch some free internet at the ship's terminal. The view from the ship seems beautiful and I really can't wait to go out and enjoy paradise, but as for now my body is calling for sleep in my extra time.
The people onboard are different from the people on my last ship. There's not as much of a community feeling around. It's a larger crew and I think many stick within their own department. It's all making me try to recall my first impressions of the Century's crew. Did I think they were clique-y as well? If I did I was proved wrong. Maybe this crew will prove me wrong as well. I have Anna, and I was surprised to see my old neighbor, Thiago the Brazilian Lighting Technician. I get along with my manager. I like the ITV guy, and a few of the acapella guys have been pretty friendly. My roommate is a great girl from Canada, Shabiki. She's leaving soon, though, and I may be moving to my permanent room in the morning with a Ukranian Youth Staff member.
The job's the same job, but if you can imagine, older equipment and older software. It's weird to train yourself in reverse. The software is some of the original Avid - which is a far cry from what I learned in school. Luckily, though, in another two weeks the head office is coming onboard to update all of our software to the latest version of the program I used in school! We're also getting brand new, tiny cameras. Until then, I will be making friends with the gigantic beta cams we have here. Any of you who know television will likely scoff when you read "beta." Yes, we still use beta cam. If you still don't get the idea I will tell you I have lovingly named my equipment, as I do with many pieces of equipment I use frequnetly. My ipod is "Esther." My computer is "Dexter." My netbook is "Prudence." The camera and tripod os the Summit's broadcast are, "Bertha" and "Gert," resepctively. If that doesn't give you an idea of what I'm working with here, well then I'm just at a loss.
The one day I did go out was in Bridgetown, Barbados. As the taxi sped through the town I caught glimpses of Canadian banks and colorful houses. It was very much a Key West type of feeling. My roommate and I were going to the crew hot spot for this port. "The Boatyard" is a place that offers special deals to members of cruise ships. For $5 you get entry, a free drink, beach access, chairs, umbrellas, use of the rope swing and the beach trampoline. There's music, food, picnic tables, drinks - all right there on the beach! Needless to say I have found my "usual" of Barbados. It also is where many of the people I'm likely to be hanging out with will be. The beach water was a brilliant tourquoise and clear enough to see my toenails even in the deepest of water. As you step in you're amazed at how perfect the temperature of the water is. It's not the type of beach that you dip your toe in and run away with shivers, and it's nothing like bathwater.
Spending New Years Eve surrounded by strangers was, in all honesty, really tough. It's not the first holiday I've had away from home, or even on a ship. It's just the first one by myself. The poolside of the Summit was a huge party. All of our singers onboard sang with different bands we have. Guests danced and there was a little corner of crew. Where was I? Behind the camera, naturally. I was feeding shots into the giant screen hanging atop the Mast Bar. I was having a great time, watching everyone dance and sing, until the countdown. Baby New Year smashed the "9" of the "2009" ice sculpture and the Captain lead the count to 1. We rang in the New Year and I was pushed and elbowed as friends and family tried to give each other their New Years kisses. I really did feel alone. I went to the crew party later and it kind of made it worse. People who met me a day ago, or barely remembered my name wished me "Happy New Year" along their way to their close friends. Anna was with me, but people pulled her this way and that to wish her a happy 2010. Holidays on ships aren't bad, but when you're this new, it feels like a waste of a holiday.
This afternoon at lunch in the staff mess the captain came around and shook all of our hands wishing us a "happy new year." That felt a little nice.
Tomorrow we're in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I hear there's a great mall, which is great since I'm desperate for some essentials. What am I looking forward to most? The use of my phone. Calling home will definitely make this contract easier.
So far, less than a week in, I really can't make a judgement call about life here. I have really high moments. I have really low moments. Essentially, though, I haven't set up my life here yet. I guess get back to me on that in a couple more weeks.
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