July 7 and 8

July 7, 2012

Some parents are just plain mean. We had a dance party last night for all the kids at the Northern Lights (club area). It was on the schedule, on the sign-in sheet for where to pick the kids up, AND we left a note on the door to remind them. 10 o’clock is our sign-out time; after that, we consider it after-hours care and we should be informed early if we’re wanted to do that. One parent last night did not come to the Northern Lights at 10 (or earlier, because parents were invited too.) The four youth staff waited with two girls, calling the room phone with no answer. Finally, at 10:15, we decided just that one of us should go back up to Club HAL with the girls, and charge the parents with after-hours care, and warn them against being late a third time (three strikes and the kids can’t come to Club HAL anymore.) So, I volunteered. One of the sisters (they’re both named Maria) started crying and I did my best to comfort her. We ended up sitting in the big video game chairs in the room for a while. Finally, the whole family came up to Club HAL. The mother got mad at ME for not being in Club HAL at 10 for her to pick up the girls! I explained to her the rules and she proceeded to tell me that she was at the room at 10 and we weren’t so she’s not late. She was very unpleasant to talk to, wouldn’t let me get a word in, and the whole family was just standing there watching us as I tried to explain that it was on the schedule, a sign on the door and the sign-in sheet; ALL three noted that the pick up at 10 was to be in the Northern Lights. The mother refused to listen. She came in today as if everything was fine.

On to happier things now! I’m almost finished with my first week of cruise ship life! The last new-crew thing I have to do is go to an immigration meeting tomorrow at 5:45 AM. All the kids are sad that the week is almost over, they love coming to hang out with us, even the ones who were skeptical on Sunday have started coming to see us every chance they get. I think that shows we’re doing a good job. This afternoon is the talent show (every week that there are over 100 kids, we put on a talent show) and it should be entertaining with the group skits and dances. One of our kids is showcasing his ability to solve a rubix cube in under 2 minutes! A few other talents are singing, gymnastics and dancing. Tonight is Victoria night. Me and Jordan get off tonight; turns out that the two movie nights are so relaxed that one person from each age group gets the night off, it just so happens that tonight we’re stopping in Victoria, so I might go explore for a little bit there (the ship is there for a total of 4 hours only if we stay on schedule, which rarely happens).
It’s back to Seattle in the morning! I’ll get up for Immigration meeting at 5:45, then have the day free until 3 or so for Club HAL meetings with the new passengers. I’m going to miss my group of kids, they’re pretty awesome!

July 8, 2012
Victoria is a really pretty place, it kind of reminded me of Aix, but not so packed in a small space. There’s big buildings and grassy areas. The sun was gorgeous when we arrived, pulling in next to the Norwegian Pearl and the Star Princess. I didn’t take picture because we were trying to figure out what to do. I ended up going with Steven and Jordan and we met up with Dave, the Australian DJ we had lunch with in Juneau. We took a cab to town and walked around a bit before going to a restaurant. We stayed there for over an hour chatting, drinking and eating before going somewhere else where a lot of other crew members were. We hung out with them until it was time to get back to the ship. Crew has to be back 30 minutes before the passengers do, which is good I guess because that way we don’t have to worry about being late because of all the passengers trying to get on at the same time we are.
This morning, the new-crew and disembarking crew went through immigration at 5:45. Well, it was supposed to be at 5:45. I got to the room we were supposed to meet in and only one person was there. Slowly other people came, but by 6 only half of the people were there, so they started calling rooms. We got to the gangway and it wasn’t even open yet at 6:15. Finally, we got off and went through the building. I got my passport back, only to have to give it away again as they made sure I was who I said I was. Then it was back to the ship. I got up before 6 just to have my passport scanned, which took less than a minute, 5 if you count the walking to/from the ship.

This week is going to be pretty crazy, judging by the open house today. There are 78 tweens on board and a good number of them came to see us this afternoon. Some parents though, one set of parents brought their sleeping 2-year-old claiming she was 3, asked for something for her to lay down on and a blanket, and then tried to leave her with us. We weren’t actually open for kids this afternoon, just registration! Those parents were not happy.
I rediscovered the library today! I think I have a new favorite place on board. There are comfy chairs, and it’s rather quiet and there’s a good view. The only downside is that I have to be in uniform, but I can deal with that if I don’t have to sit on my bed (making me sleepy) or on a hard chair in the dark in my room while Jordan naps.

We have a new member of Youth Staff on board! Her name is Natalie and she seems pretty cool. I might now have someone to hang out with now. She’s done a few cruises before, during summers so she knows the main stuff I don’t know and I know more about this particular ship and our Club HAL better than her, so we balance out in knowledge of stuff. She’s also suggested we take an excursion together since we both have Ketchikan and Sitka days off (we’re both working Juneau- me morning and her afternoon). By the way, she also told me that excursions, aside from helicopter rides are free for us, as long as we sign up beforehand and get the times worked out and everything. How awesome is that!?

We left Seattle today, I was in the library where there are a lot of windows so I know what the city looks like from the ship now, which is nice because in my room a lot of the time, I forget that things are happening off the ship, that there is pretty stuff outside that I can look at. Round two of Alaska starts now! YAY! This time I know more of what I’m doing. Sadly, I don’t think I’ll be able to post all this until Juneau afternoon because I’m having trouble with the internet card I bought.

I’m sorry if my blogs are getting confusing, I’m updating quickly during my breaks throughout the day rather than at the end of the day because I know I’ll forget stuff or be too tired to type it all out at once. Please let me know if it gets too confusing and I’ll try to figure out a new way of doing it.
Almost time for work now! A bientôt!