The night that we got back to the ship the nurse was walking around handing out an anti-motion sickness pill called dramamime to anyone and everyone who would take it. We were warned that conditions would be rough…and being my father's daughter I am usually quite reluctant to take meds that are not prescribed or entirely necessary…but I looked at the nurse and decided that if she was handing it out like candy, it must be kind of necessary.
Apparently (and this is all word of mouth information seeing as I don't have internet or TV) there is a large cyclone right around Madagascar en route to South Africa. Since we left Cape Town we have been sailing through rough waters as a result of this cyclone. Last night I was awoken time and time again as I was thrown out of bed and heard my closet doors banging open and closed. Today, we were closer than ever to it…we didn't see the sun once and no one was allowed on the front outside decks. This morning was our Global studies mid-term (this is the class that all 500 students are enrolled in). The location I was assigned to take it in is called the glazier lounge…this lounge is typically for faculty and staff and it's located on the very top deck and in the very front of the ship. It is in a semi-circle shape with large window panes, so it really serves as an indoor observation room. This sounds like such a nice setting to take a test in. Well, it's not so much when one second you feel your stomach drop beneath you along with the ship as it plummets downward and suddenly tons of water is coming up and smacking the windows. Who would have thought that the hardest part of the test for me was bubbling in the answers.
As I've mentioned before, I have a "little sister" here on the ship. Well, when I got back to my room yesterday I had an invitation on my door to a dance party in the union for tonight at 6:30. Well, after an early dinner I met up with Laura, my little sister, and headed to this dance party. I wasn't sure how this was going to go with lots of little kids and only a few college students. Well, I have to say, this was one of the best nights I've had on the ship so far. I find that when I get around kids I let all my inhibitions go, it's probably why I love to work with kids so much. We played tunes like classic N'sync, Lion King, The ChaCha slide, The Electric Slide, and popular ones like LMFAO and Lady GaGa. I really felt old when Britney's "hit me baby one more time" came on so naturally myself and a few other students got super excited and my little sister looks up at me and goes "what is this???"
We were all dancing and having fun and suddenly the music goes out and someone comes on the loud-speaker for some special evening announcements. The announcer informed us that due to the weather we have had to change out course to avoid the storm. We have also had to slow our speeds significantly due to the rough seas. Then for the bad news…they said that because we have lost so much time, we will only be stopping in the island of Mauritius for refueling ….and that no one is allowed to debark the ship. We have been planning on stopping at this beautiful, exotic island of Maurituis for a one day to break in this 11 day stretch towards India. Obviously, this news is kind of a bummer and everyone was immediately upset. The thing is though, as I was standing there with all of these kids I had a serious reality check. I've been to 4 incredible countries already and am currently en route to India…do I really have the right or need to complain about now not being able to spend the day on a "paradise island". It sucks to miss out on this experience, and it's gonna suck even more to sit there and watch us refuel and not be able to get off, but I'm putting what I've learned so far to the test and learning that there are much bigger issues in life than not being able to get off in Mauritius. The kids of course brushed it off and I spent the next hour and a half dancing like crazy. Dances alone are usually fun enough, but doing it with the ship moving, bouncing and constantly rocking beneath you is truly hilarious. At one point I had all the kids jumping with me at the right time…right when the ship went downwards…so that when we jumped it felt as if we were in the air forever…kind of the like the feeling you get if you jump right when an elevator starts moving downward. At around 9 the dance wrapped up and I found myself in need of water and a shower. I was on such a high as I headed out of the Union and towards the Piano lounge to see who was around and hanging out.
When I got to the piano bar lounge I was kind of disappointed by what I'd seen. I'd been away from most of the student body for a couple hours and was surrounded by these kids that easily got over the Mauritius thing. As I got to the lounge person after person seemed near devastated over not getting off in Maurituis. There was also an angry petition circulating the student body. I know that this immediate shock and upset will blow over in another day or so…it just sucks to see everyone reacting this way. As I read this petition and felt very oddly pressured to sign it, I passed it on quickly as I tried to empathize with the difficult decision that was made.
So…it looks like we have another 11 day stretch at sea…it's weird that for these stretches there is literally no where else to go and no one else to see. My professor made a joke on our last long trip at sea. She looked at the class completely seriously and asked if we wanted to go to the mall with her later. Less Mauritius means more bonding for us so YAY! (trying to look on the bright side). So, as I am wrapping up my South Africa blog which I will post later, I had planned on saying 2 more days till Mauritius. Well, now it's 8 more days till India…like I said, when I put it that way, I can't really complain.
The only think I can complain about is the constant crashing noises and rocking/jolting of the ship… SO, say it with me:
Dear Poseidon, god of the seas…
Love,
Steph
By the way, for further clarification, here is a copy of the email we, the student body, received this evening:
Dear Semester at Sea Spring 2012 Participants:
To avoid inclement weather in the Indian Ocean, the Spring 2012 voyage has proceeded at a significantly reduced speed between the destinations of Cape Town, South Africa and Port Louis, Mauritius. As a result of the delays, the captain of the MV Explorer and ISE senior management have resolved to cancel the voyage's call on March 6 to Port Louis, Mauritius in order to arrive in Cochin, India as scheduled on Monday, March 12. Participants enrolled in SAS field trips in Mauritius will receive full credit on their shipboard accounts for cancelled FDPs and/or field trips.*
The plan is for the ship to stop briefly in Mauritius for a required refueling but not to disembark participants. Once refueling is complete, the ship will continue on its passage to India.
The Captain continues to track weather conditions in the region and is taking all precautionary measures to maintain a safe distance. We will notify you if weather conditions necessitate any further changes. Thank you for your understanding of this important health and safety decision.
Sincerely,
Semester at Sea
*Students with FDPs in Mauritius will receive assistance in making appropriate arrangements to fulfill those academic requirements
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