Prepping...

I completed all my forms and emailed them back today. I also received an email confirming that I have until Saturday (thank goodness!). I should receive the plane ticket info and all that probably tomorrow!


Now, more info on what I will be doing:
I am a member of the Youth Staff with Holland America Line (called Club HAL). I'll be taking care of kids aged 3-17. Although I won't have to feed them meals, we'll spend about 8 hours average a day with them. On sea days, there are three 'sessions': morning, afternoon and evening. Some nights there's a theme party which we will set up beforehand (one night is pirate-themed, so we set up a treasure/scavenger hunt all over the ship!). Sea days, I think there's a schedule of activities to do.
On port days, I'll have either morning or afternoon shift. So, I'll be able to go explore some if I want (I'm not sure yet if I can go on excursions)! I can add to my list of places I've been!! Port days, we have have freedom to do whatever we (and the kids) want to do. We can make random crafts, go to the kitchen and make ice cream sundaes, play on the wii, watch movies, play games, etc.
In addition to the day, Club HAL offers an after-hours kid-sitting time (10am to 1am or earlier if the last parent comes before that). It's a calmer time, trying to get the kids calmed down and ready for sleep when their parents come. I think it'll be a lot of watching movies. I wouldn't do this every day, it's an assigned rotation. They don't want us all up until one every night!

It seems like they take very good care of the staff on Holland America. We're encouraged to mingle with the guest and help them with anything they need. Not like other cruise ships I'd looked at which have rules against the crew going into guest areas. My supervisor actually told me that in my free time, if I want, I can go to a movie, a show, go to a bar and drink with some of the guests, etc. WOW! We are still representing the crew of course, but I know I can do fun things but still show the good, polite, professional employee of the cruise line.

This is going to be an amazing experience.
God really has a plan, I realized that recently. Last week, I was trying to get in contact with someone so I could chaperone a group during Quest (at Bonclarken). I wasn't needed. However, Monday night (I would have gone up to Bonclarken Monday afternoon), I got my first email from Holland America, wanting to set up an interview for Thursday. If I had gone to Quest like I wanted, I wouldn't have gotten the email for a few days, and would have put off the interview. If I hadn't had the interview when I did, I wouldn't be going on this first training cruise! And, if I couldn't go on this cruise, I wouldn't be able to go on the second one (the 4-month contract one). The second cruise, my supervisor already had planned for me when she learned I speak French. It starts out in Boston-Montreal, then goes to the Carribbean, then to Europe, then back to the Carribbean (more on this later, when I know more and can actually confirm that I can go!)

I think that's about it! Questions anyone? I'll keep updating until I go. When I'm on the ship, I'll probably update once a week or so.