September 08, 2007

DAY 11 - THE INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE

A quick update before bed. I’ve added a few links at the right – my photos, my itinerary, and my mailing addresses if you feel like sending me a package or a postcard from New York.

Nothing new otherwise, we’re now 4 days off Hawaii and 4 days from Japan. Work has been going well, I’m starting to get the hang of how the whole system works. We basically act as the front of the ship to all 800 passengers – not only are we a 24-hour service desk but we deal with everything from taking reservations to dealing with maintenance issues, immigration papers, even auditing all of the ship’s sales each day. In general, we're the communication hub of the whole program. I’m very excited because as of September 24th I will be promoted from intern to full time Assistant Purser – I am replacing one of the girls who has been training me when she goes home in Hong Kong. So, that will be fun and beneficial to my bank account.

Today I saw the most amazing thing while I was up on Deck 8. I had just finished working out and was sitting down to write, looking out at the endless, gorgeous ocean. Just a little bit earlier I had emailed some of the girls from home about how I wanted to see something spectacular like a killer whale breach or eat a seal or something. So I’m just looking out, and I see a small splash a little ways off the boat. I get up and stand at the rail, see a few more small splashes. As the splashes get bigger I realize it’s a pod of dolphins, maybe 30 or so, coasting across the boat. I have no idea how far out they were, because I could clearly see them – leaping or just gliding, it was absolutely breath taking – but at the same time they seemed so small, like I was on top of a skyscraper looking down at mini-taxis on the street below. I watched for about 5 minutes before I couldn’t see them anymore, about an eighth of the way towards the horizon. It’s crazy because there is absolutely no perspective here – the sea is endless, the ship is big, I have no idea how far away they were to look so small.

It was really cool.

Anyway, check out the photos and I’ll write more when I have the time.
Goodnight!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Missy
I imagine myself there with you ,watching those dolphins, which has always been so much a special part of your life. How peaceful those moments must have been. How beautiful an image to remember forever.
I love you
Mommy

Anonymous said...

DEAR MELISSA:
ME BEV AND BOB ARE GOING TO SEE DANIEL TOMMOROW.
I'M GOING TO TELL HIM HI FOR YOU.
LOVE SARA

Anonymous said...

Dear Missy, Until your mother instructed me again, written this time, had difficulty. Read all your commments again. Fascinating.
Look forwsard to seeing you when you return. Comforting to be asked to return but you realize that you are not a wanderer unless you can control your passage., I am confident that you will be able to travel to wherever you desire and often I will dial into your blog sited. Do you receive my e-mail messages? LOve, Zaida

Anonymous said...

dear missy:
daniel says hi.
we had a wonderfull time seeing him.
love sara

Anonymous said...

DEAR MELISSA:
DANIEL SAYS HI.
CAN YOU PLEASE EMAIL ME AT BLACKCOW16@AOL.COM.
LOVE SARA