It's 1 AM and I'm Bored, So Here's Another Post

Shipboard life between Mauritius and India has been an interesting experience, so I felt it was appropriate to comment on some general things aboard the ship: classes, partying, Sea Olympics, and other random shenanigans. Hopefully after reading this you’ll all feel like you’re really here (unless you’re in the freezing temperatures of Pittsburgh of course…that kinda makes it impossible to feel the thick air and intense equator temperatures).

The seas HAVE calmed down...thank god. Sleeping has been wonderful and relaxing (but more on that later).

So, our first day back on the ship was the Spring 2007 Sea Olympics. It’s kind of a big deal I guess. Each hall of students has their own sea, and each sea competes in about 12 or so events throughout the day (we had no classes).

It was a pretty fun day I guess. The first place prize for the winning sea is getting off the ship first in San Diego. Honestly, I could care less when I get off the ship, and that’s a good thing, because my sea tied for dead last. I know, I know, we’re a bunch of losers.

The only event I participated in all day was the big Trivial Challenge. This was the game where Ben (honorable team captain), Matt (from PA), Bridget, and I totally blew the other teams out of the water and won first place. It was also the only event that our sea actually won, so at least the four of us did our part. We also unnecessarily dressed up, so the four of us decked out in ties not only helped us win, but it also made us appear incredibly stuck up. I loved it.
I have to say though, my favorite part of Sea Olympics was watching Desmund Tutu run around the Union with a paper torch while dancing to ‘Eye of the Tiger.’ You don’t see that everyday.


They’ve been doing some interesting stuff for us while at sea. We had a Casino night, which I spent playing Texas Hold’em for a few hours. We’ve also had many decent movie nights (some Finding Nemo, some V for Vendetta), and we’ve been breaking out the board games fairly often. Last night was a Q&A with the Captain and some crew members. Incredible, as expected. Some highlights:

STUDENT: What’s your favorite port we’re visiting?

CAPTAIN JEREMY: I’m especially partial to Hong Kong, since that’s where I met my current wife. But who knows…maybe in a couple of years I’ll hate the place.

STUDENT: Why is the temperature always so low on the ship (good question)? I’m always so cold.

CAPTAIN JEREMY: (while staring at her) Well judging by what you’re wearing, that really doesn’t surprise me.

Anyways. I’ve been jamming on my djembe with some other fellow musicians a few times in the piano lounge the past couple of ‘A’ days. It’s pretty fun, though we mostly play classic rock and other stuff that I’m not too familiar with. My friend Eric and I have jammed to some sweet indie rock with some other friends a few times out on the back deck at night, but it’s still not the same as playing a drum set. Still, sing-a-longs are fun.

CLASSES

Half of my classes are a lot of fun; the other half are pretty crappy. Global Studies. Seriously, we must attend this class every day and listen to this man who shouldn’t be public speaking speak. At least we got to hear Desmund Tutu speak for two days, which was pretty incredible. What isn’t so incredible is the fact that we were actually tested on his speech. It was a speech, not a lecture! Why would anyone want to take notes while having the fortunate opportunity of listening to the advice/ideas of this soon-to-be historical figure? His wife’s also on board now, and they seriously make the cutest couple.

I’m afraid to get too detailed about my other classes, for fear of professors or other people reading them…oh well.

My writing class and my Film Adaptations class are both taught by the same professor: David Amante. This guy is awesome. He’s an incredibly difficult grader, and he often expects A LOT from every student, but I’ve seriously learned so much about writing and film already, and the semester isn’t even over yet. He’s pretty fun, AND he seriously wears pink every day. He has pink t-shirts, pink polo shirts, pink jackets, pink hats, and I’m pretty sure he has a nice pair of pink slippers somewhere hidden in his cabin. Usually people who wear TOO MUCH pink make me nervous, but it definitely works for him. When asked why he wears so much pink, his reasoning was, “It’s a political statement.” Based on this answer, you can imagine how crazy his classes are. I also beat his wife at Trivial Challenge. She’s a really sweet lady.

My other class, Cinema and National Identity, is taught by this professor who seems nice, but she’s seriously the laziest professor ever. For example, during the last class, she informed us that she hasn’t been reading our papers, NOR will she for the rest of the semester. Instead she’ll simply grade each paper based on whether we completed the assignment or not. Keep in mind she’s a Communications professor. What a joke. We ask her questions in class about the films being viewed, and she doesn’t answer them. Instead her reaction usually is, “I don’t know. Maybe you should look it up.” We were supposed to have reading quizzes in the class too, but she scrapped those long ago, since she’d be forced to check all those papers. Too bad I don’t have her in the morning, because I’ve been told that she usually lets them out 45 minutes early every morning so that she can get back to sleep (that’s assuming she actually wakes up on time and such). I know, I know…I’m too critical.

Speaking of being too critical, are you ready for a rant? I’m ready for a rant

There are many kind, friendly, interesting people in this “shipboard community”, especially many of the older “lifelong learners” and some professors. There are also dozens and dozens of intelligent students who are wonderful people, and many that’ll definitely become wonderful leaders and successful individuals throughout their lives.

I was talking to someone last night about “insta-friends.” I remember back during the first 2 weeks or so where I had SO many insta-friends. Insta-friends are people who you hook up with and initially get along, basically because you have to. You don’t know anyone else around, so you hook up, but in the end you have nothing in common. Eventually you find the group that you fit in with more, and you stick with them. Later you find out that many, not all, but many of these insta-friends are complete douchebags.

There are tons of students who are on this trip because of their rich parents and/or they’re simply lucky, and I honestly can’t fathom what they’re gaining out of this life-changing voyage besides a free vacation.
Seriously, I can’t remember another time where I’ve used the term “bitches” to describe so many people. You just have to hear some of the stuff that comes out of these girls’ mouths…I’d post some quotes here, but unfortunately the outside world shouldn’t have to endure this kind of stupidity. Girls who are very pretty, but if for whatever reason you wanted to hang a picture on their heads and needed to tap their skulls, you’d seriously find some hollow shells. I totally understand that looks are certainly important and there’s nothing wrong with tanning and such, but when tanning out on the seventh deck is the highlight of ones day while traveling the world, then why travel the world?

The guys are MUCH, MUCH worse. For example, I overheard a group of guys talking in the lunch line the other day about how one of them got laid three, yes three times in one night with three different girls while in Capetown, and of course he had ALL of the details spilled out. I’ve also heard multiple stories of group orgies, drunken partying, public vomiting, and villa trashing while in Mauritius. The Academic Dean had to address it during our pre-port meeting tonight, and it was incredibly embarrassing to hear about the some of the horrible things some of these people did while in Mauritius…especially after the shipboard doctor and the executive dean address drunkenness during every pre-port meeting…disgusting.
I’ve also overheard some flattering, testosterone-filled shamanist and/or homophobic remarks while walking around the ship from guys who can be defined by the word “douchebag.” Seriously, how old are these people?
Let’s look at one example. The student life commitee held a “No Clothes” party up on the 7th deck the other night during “aft-ter hours.” I decided to run up and grab an ice cream cone at the bar, so I got to experience a lot of the party. The rules for a “No Clothes” party are that people had to wear anything EXCEPT clothes (towels, table cloths, flags, newspaper, etc). I felt overdressed to say the least. Now there’s nothing wrong with a party like this, except that our preport lecturer from India and his wife also traveled to the 7th deck to get some ice cream cones, and their looks were priceless. Seriously, I was so ready to apologize to them for the behavior taking place.

There’s clearly NOTHING wrong with partying and/or hooking up with others while on this trip, but give me a break. So many people shouldn’t be on this voyage. There are TONS of students around the US that SHOULD consider a trip like this, because it’ll be completely life-changing. Luckily there aren’t too many idiot people like this on the trip, and the good often outnumber the bad.

Let’s get back to a positive subject. Naps are also a usual part of my day, specifically between lunch and dinner. Naps are wonderful you know. I feel so refreshed afterwards.

The crew continues to be unbelievable to us all. Enough said.

That’s about it for now. I’ll be in India for the next few days. Most people are really nervous about India, but I’m honestly not nervous at all. Honestly I’m really excited! I’ll be in town for 2 days, then will travel via a sleeper train to this rural village outside the city and spend 2 or 3 days traveling around that area. When I return to Chennai, I’ll be visiting a Bollywood movie set on the last day. I really hope that I’ll have a good time, and find some good music, and maybe grab some Bollywood dvds. Most of all, I hope to have some sweet stories to tell you guys.

Take care everybody,
Ricky