thoughts..

August 23, 2014
I have been really terrible about keeping up with this this summer. It really has been a whirlwind contract, even though I was here for three months, it went by so quickly.
We didn’t really do much special my last week, aside from my buying a really nice pendant for myself in Juneau. Skagway was a lazy day full of browsing around stores and sitting in the sun. I worked the afternoon shift in Ketchikan, which gave me no time at all to get off.



Having spent a summer in Alaska, I guess I can see how other youth staff can get tired of it and not want to spend a second more there than they have to. Yes, it’s rainy a lot, and cold (definitely a major negative, especially for me), and it’s repetitive. But, there is just something about it. I don’t know. Maybe it’s just because it’s me, and I use my imagination for things to do while out and about (how many people find a playground a swing for half an hour just because it’s sunny?), and because I see the beauty in God’s creation regardless of the weather. I am absolutely pleased that I was given the opportunity to spend this summer here. I needed that somewhat, away from the flurry of ports and big cities in Europe, and the overcrowded towns in the Caribbean. It really did allow me to connect more with Creation and my Creator, because, despite all my protests, I had been feeling like I was starting to take it all for granted.

I have met some amazing people this contract, a lot of people that have helped me in some way or another. Some I wish I had been able to get to know better for longer, and others I admit, I was okay with knowing as little as I did. Some taught me what I want to improve on in myself, others showed me exactly what I don’t want to be like and why. It’s made me realize that I am a combination of the people I’ve known and the places I’ve been. Everything up to now has influenced my life in some way or another, positive or negative. And I am so very thankful for that.

As frustrating as my job is at times: being away from family (including pets), the politics of living with the people you work with, the sometimes (in my mind) unnecessary regulations we have to abide by on the ship, the short-lived friendships, the annoyances of embarking/disembarking/hotel limbo. I really do love it. I may complain, I may rant, I may talk sometimes like it isn’t worth it; but in the end, I really do love it, and sometimes just need time to sit back and think over what makes it worth it. Sometimes it just takes one person to question me for me to realize that I’m being stupid and negative.

Here I kindly ask, if you can tell I’m in a frustrated mood (I was earlier this morning, which is why I’m thinking about it so much right now), let me rant for a short time to get it out of my system, then, please, STOP me! Otherwise, I’ll just talk myself into getting more upset, and I regret wasting all that energy later. I don’t like it.


Anyway, I really am blessed with the people in my life to help me stay collected, calm, and generally me. Aside from my frustrations this morning, in the past week, I have felt more blessed than I have in a while (part of why I made the big purchase I did in Juneau). I found a job that is absolutely perfect for me and that I love, I get to travel the world for free, I get to meet some amazing people from all over the world, I have opportunities to do things that some other people would never consider or never have a chance to do. I have the best family anyone could ask for, they’re supportive in my choices, they’re encouraging to me on those internally rainy days, they’re there for me whatever happens, they are not resentful when I (unintentionally) ignore them for days at a time. They take care of me when I’m home, take care of stuff for me when I’m not home, make sure I keep on top of stuff when I am and when I’m not at home, pick me up from and take me to the airport at all times of the day, never consciously ignore my calls no matter the time of night when I forget the time difference. They record TV shows for me while I’m gone, send me presents to open on Christmas even after we celebrated before I went away, they are always there when I finally land after a long day(s) of flying after months at sea, and understand when all I want to do is hug them, then crash into bed. They look out for each other so I don’t have to worry (too much) about them while I am gone, and keep me updated on almost everything that happens back home.

I can not say just how much they mean to me.

I have the greatest friends as well, whether it be ship friends, college friends, or just old friends. There are some that I can tell absolutely anything do, my most random thoughts, and know that they will not judge me. Others I can go for months without responding to, but when we do talk again, it’s like no time as passed. Some know exactly what questions to ask about my life, while others are just content to let me talk myself out. They keep me down-to-earth, level-headed, and hold me accountable when it’s necessary.
I just wanted to let everyone know that I am making a new goal, a conscious decision to not take the places and people in my life for granted, to thank God every day for the new and old people and experiences I encounter at every point in my life.

I think it may be time for me to start a new blog. I need a new focus, not just my daily life (which, to me can sometimes get so repetitive, even in new ports and countries and all that).

lots at once

August 15, 2014
It has been busy here in Alaska the past week or two. Marti came on board, so most of my free time last week was spent hanging out, catching up with her, and showing her around the ship and ports and such.
Last week:
Juneau was a tender port, plus Marti had immigration and drill to go through, so we didn’t get off until later in the afternoon. We did a bit of shopping, got a crepe and hung out in the Viking using the internet until I had to get back for movie night in the Loft. The teens and I ended up playing Apples to Apples and Monopoly (which is their favorite game this week) before watching our movie. They’re a good group of teens, the ones that show up at least which has only been maybe a max of 7 at a time (out of the 90 or so on board). Marti, Lindsey, Randall (Lindsey’s boyfriend) and I decided a few nights ago to watch Land Before Time in one of our rooms after work tonight, so we got out food and stuff, and somehow we managed not to fall asleep through it (it helps that it’s only about an hour long!).
Skagway, Marti worked the morning shift, and I slept in and hung around until she was off duty. We’d discussed the day before going hiking if the weather was nice, and it looked sunny and beautiful out, so we decided to go on one of the longer hikes! I had the trail maps, so we set out, equipped with my camera, some water bottles, and some snacks. It was the perfect day for a hike, warm enough I could wear my sandals, but cool enough that we didn’t get too hot as we were climbing. The maps said it was a 14 mile total hike, we managed to do it in less than 4 hours, including frequent picture stops. The hike was Icy Lake and Upper Reid Falls; I’d been to Lower Reid falls a few weeks ago, with Abrie and that was much less of a hike, for a much prettier waterfall. The lake was beautiful, glacier water, that part was definitely worth the hike at least.
Ketchikan was rainy and cold. I had the morning shift, Marti slept in and waited for me. We got off the ship together, wandered around town and through Creek Street, then around the shops. Not too exciting of a day considering the rain, but we ended up just using the internet in the OB

Vancouver, Marti and I went out for a bit in Vancouver, to the Olympic Cauldron, then to get some internet for a bit before she had to get back for Open House.
Marti and I both had the day off in Juneau this week, she actually had the night off as well. I really wanted to do something other than just stay in town, so we went up to one of the booths selling tours, discussed a whale-watching one (too expensive for Marti at the moment), and ended up deciding to go on a short city bus tour to the Mendenhall Glacier. It got us out of the rain, we learned a bit about Juneau, and I finally got to see this glacier. We had an hour at the glacier site, and would’ve liked to ‘hike’ (the glacier’s receded from this land, so it’s very very flat) to the falls closer to the glacier, but the trail was closed due to flooding. Maybe another summer, the falls looked beautiful from afar, and they’re a lot closer to that giant glacier, plus it would be a short trip to and from and including plenty of pictures since it’s only a mile! Anyway, we enjoyed our time there, and the bad weather stopped for a bit, so we had a dry time there after the rainy bus ride. It was good to get away and do something other than sit in the Viking doing stuff on the internet (or pretending to do stuff on the internet because the people you hang out with were online and not really talking). We had some time before I had to be at work after all that, so we got crepes for dinner and looked through pictures for a bit. Overall, it was a very relaxing day.
I had the morning Skagway shift. I was surprised that so many kids showed up, and so early in the morning, and on such a beautiful looking day outside. But, a good many of them got picked up by lunchtime at least, so they did see some of the pretty day. I went outside and sat on one of my rocks by the train tracks to talk on the phone for a while, then got Marti once she was off work, and we got ice cream, and watched the three seals swimming around beside where we were docked. They were cute, looked like relatively baby ones being so small.

random thoughts (a bit late I know)

August 2, 2014
I just realized…. I only have three weeks left. Wow, this feels like it has been such a short contract, 3 months, but I guess after the total length of time I was on the Nieuw A, everything is going to seem short. And the realization that I only have a short time left (3 times in each port!), made me think about all the plans I had at the start of this contract, and expectations. Let’s just say this contract is nothing like I thought or planned it to be. Pensive day. That long long list of excursions I want to do might just have to keep until next time though (except maybe a few…), because………. (drumroll)……………. my friend Marti is on board working with me! She worked at Bonclarken with me a few summers and attends Erskine.

So, right now it’s like three aspects of my life are merging! It’s a bit confusing because there’s so much she needs to learn about the job and living on a ship, but then I want to catch up with her about the goings-on at Erskine, and reminisce about camp. It’s also a completely different kind of merging from when my family has come onboard as guests. As guest, I have to have special permission to hang out with them, and eat meals with them, and I also have my usual job and the stresses involved there to deal with, and I still want some time to hang out with my crew friends. I’ve mentioned before, it’s wonderful having family on board, but exhausting. But Marti is working as youth staff, and she’s my roommate! Eating together is not a problem, since we’re nearly on the same schedule (I’m on teens, and she’s with the kids, but I always make an effort to eat early for lunch and dinner so that I can see people anyway). She’s getting a taste of my current life, which is thoroughly amazing. I’ll admit, sometimes when I get back home, it’s somewhat difficult to relate to my old friends. Either they listen with disinterest when I want to tell about my adventures and don’t ask questions, which kills my desire to tell them anything else, or they make no time to talk to me during the short amount of time I’m on vacation. It just gets harder for me to try every time. Of course, that’s not everybody, but I am glad that Marti will understand some of my life nowadays, and we can talk about it.