Ghana

I have spent the past few days trying to process my experience in Ghana and struggling how to put it into words and describe it to people. It is near impossible.

 

I can barley talk about it with the people who were there with me, therefore I am only going to give a brief over view...

 

It was AFRICA. That's for sure. I spent most bus rides listening to “In the Jungle” just to set the perfect mood. Don’t ask why I even have that on my ipod.

 

Reggae music, women carrying everything on their heads, and lots of drumming and dancing.

I hiked through the jungle, played with some monkeys, and swam in a waterfall- Top 5 favorite moments of my life.

There were wealthy neighborhoods, and then there were villages with no sign of modernization. Huts made of bamboo and a kitchen consisted of a room with a fire pit.

It felt fake. It felt like I was at Mystic Seaport or Sturbridge Village, and these people were just putting on a show for the tourists.

Oh but wait, this is Ghana. There are no other tourists. We were it, and this was really how people lived their lives.

They had nothing, yet people were the friendliest people I have ever met.

Some of these people have never seen what they look like.

Kids and adults would always want their picture taken, just so they could see what they looked like through a tiny 2x2 screen.

 

I was so fascinated by the whole experience and that's why I enjoyed it so much and I wish I had more time there.

 

Anyways, that's all I got. I really can't explain it. Pictures might help, but it is really something that can not be put into words.

 

The day after we left Ghana was the day we crossed the Equator. It is called Neptune Day and Semester at Sea throws quiet the unique traditional celebration...

 

It began with an 8am wakeup call for all Pollywogs (those who have never crossed the equator before) to report to the 7th deck of the ship.

We then all stood in line to get fish guts dumped on our heads. After jumping in the pool to rinse off, you had to get back in line to kiss a fish.

We were then promoted to “Shellback” status.

 

Oh and then half the ship shaved their heads. Girls included.

 

I did the fish guts, I did the kissing of the fish. But there was no way a razor was coming near my head.

 

So now there are a ton of bald heads walking around this ship. It's a little strange.

And the best part is, we will be in South Africa in 2 days...Ever see American History X?? Yeahhhhh.

 

Despite that, South Africa is going to be amazing. I have quiet the adventure planned, but I can't say what it is until I actually go through with it.

Dun dun dunnnnnnnnn......

 

Ok this sea is the roughest it has been this entire voyage so it is time for me to crawl into my bed and sleep off my sea sickness!

 

Pictures oh so soon!

 

 

 

 

 

Laysea Days

We have been sailing away for the past week.

We have not sailed this long of a period of time since before Spain.

It gets a little stir crazy on this thing. There is only so much to do!

I have never napped so much in my life.

Thats a lie, but its a close call for sure....

 

(to the tune of Yellow Submarine)

We're all floating on a University

Semester At Sea

The best place to be

(and repeat.)

 

I can't take credit for that one. All goes to the children of the staff and faculty (better known as the Dependent Children) who did a remix for the Semester At Sea Talent Show. When you are stuck in the middle of the ocean for seven days, we need a fix of entertainment. Other acts consisted of stand-up comedy, a reenacment of Susan Boyle's preformance, and the artistic approach of making a PP&J. This is how I spend my Friday nights.

 

I spend every other night of the week playing repeated games of catch phrase, pictionary, and doing my homework of course =)    This is life without Facebook, cable, and alcohol. It's really nice not knowing what is going on in the world. We get CNN and the New York Times as free websites, but I never really check them. Ignorance is Bliss, right? I think so.

 

My classes are going really well. All the class marterial is based on which country we are entering next. The first class back from our last port is used to reflect on what we learn while in port, as in intereaction with locals and our observations. It's all very hands-on and very interesting to hear everyones different experiences. I have never paid attention so much in class.

 

As we get closer and closer to the equator, the weather gets hotter and hotter. It is so incredibly humid out but still perfect pool weather. About 85 degrees everyday. Life is making up for the crappy weather it gave me all summer! I am black and I dont care how politically incorrect I am in saying it.

 

So over the past few weeks, and especially over the past few days since we are close to arriving in Ghana, the entire ship has been taking their Malaria medication. One of the major side effects of these pills are weird vivid dreams. Everyday, someone has a new intense dream to share, such as Micheal Jackson forcing suicide on an entire household or being chase by a giant ginger kid. I had one where I got a black lung diease and was forced to leave the ship. I woke up screaming. It's quite entertaining and worth not getting Malaria I guess.

 

Tomorrow we get into Ghana, which is located on the western side of Africa, right underneath the hump.

Fun facts!

-Semester at Sea is the largest group of Americans to ever enter the country of Ghana at one time...ever.

-The location where our boat docks is the closest land mass to the center of the Earth (0 degrees longitude and 0degrees latitude)

 

Ok thats about all I've got for you. I can't tell you much else because I don't really know much else. But who does? Ghana? What the hell? I'm excited!  

 

Morocco

Where do I even begin?

EXTREME CULTURE SHOCK is a good start.

 

We had a list of rules.

No taking pictures of anything government related, girls had to have legs and shoulders covered, everything had to be done with our right hand, no eating or drinking in public, etc.

 

The day we arrived in Casablanca, it was raining and dark. Walking throught the markets was a mess of mud and the smell of fish. I was not a happy traveler and all I wanted to do was go back to Spain. The city its self is very run down and people beging for your money. Motorbikes, petite taxis, and donkeys nearly ran me over everywhere I stepped. However, we made the best of it. We spent the afternoon sight seeing at the Mosque (Muslim church), Rick's Cafe (where the movie Casablanca takes place), and shopping in the souks (markets) practicing our bartering. At one point, a Moroccan man offered to trade 1000 camels and everything in his store for me. It was tempting.

 

The country of Morocco is Muslim, and we happened to be traveling during the month of Ramadan. Everyday at around 1pm, everyone in the city took off their shoes and nelt down to pray. You can hear the prayer throught the entire city. Also, they were fasting from sun up to sun down. No food, no drinks, no ciggys, no alcohol (hence why we could not eat in public). Going from Spains night life to Moroccos was a total 180. Most clubs and bars were shut down because of Ramadan, so we ended up doing kereoke at a TGIFridays. I kid you not, and it was one of the best moments of my life...long story, on to Marrakech!

 

This time, we made our morning train, which was a four hour ride through desserts and fields of intense farm life.

Marrakech is a city on the western end of Morocco. It's located at the begining of the Sahara Dessert and is a tourist hotspot. It was MUCH better than Casablanca and really had a Moroccan feel to the city. I like to make the justificatioin of comparing the 2 cities to Springfield and Boston. Get it? Ok. Still, non the least, I was not prepared for the culture shock. When I say city, I dont mean tall buildings and subways. I mean mud houses, streets of dirt, and horse-drawn buggys (which I rode!).  

The heart of the city is called the Medina and it is a big open square surrounded by mazed streets of shops and markets (souks). The second we stepped into the square of the Medina, we were bumbarded by beggers, snake charmers, and monkeys. Very over whelming. The language barrier was horrible. They all speak French and Arabic, and maybe you can find 1 in 10 people who can speak broken english. Where is Mayssa when you need her!

I was not feeling very comfortable at all. I felt that everyone was just out to get your money (which they were) and no one was telling you the truth when they were asked a question, even for directions. They would always lead you in the direction of their shops, and then ask for money for them helping you.

We needed to find a hostel or hotel, and in our quest of lodging we were approached by a man who offered to lead us to his Riad. A Riad is a step up from a hostel and a step below a hotel (price wise). In the long run, it blows any 5 star hotel out of the water. Riads are like mini palaces, with all mosaic tile throughout the interior. Most Riads only have about 2-4 rooms.

Anyways, to me it was too good to be true. A creepy man leads us to this palace, offers us this amazing room (big beds, high ceilings, a view of the grand dining room) for about 20 bucks a night. He throws in free breakfast and free mint tea (one of the most popular drinks in Morocco). I've seen Hostel and Taken too many times to be naive about this whole situation. I did not drink the tea because I thought it was poisoned. And when we were walking around the markets, I had a panic attack.

I begged the other two people I was with if we could go try to get our money back and just go stay in a hotel on the main strip. I was in near tears and was by far one of the scariest moments of my life. It sounds crazy, I know, but this is how harsh the culture hit me. Minutes after my panic attack, we ran into more of our friends from SAS and they were staying in a Riad right around the corner from us. They explained that they too were approached in the same manner and tried to tell me that I had nothing to worry about. 

I got to adjusting and accepting the way of life in Morocco is to go out and find business and do anything to get people in the door, which in the long run is exactly what they were doing with nice rooms and free food. No one was trying to kill me, and I let go of my fear and had fun with culture. We ended up staying at our Riad for 2 nights, and more of our friends joined us. Eleven of us took up the entire Riad, and that made me feel even better.

 

I wound up having the most amazing time. I bardered and fought my way for good prices in the markets, which were filled with leather goods, carpets, tons of pottery, clothing straight out of Aladin, and knock off Raybands and Coach bags. I became a pro.

At night, we would watch the sunset on the roof top of our Riad, which over looked all the other roof tops in the city. Then we would head out into the center of the Medina, where the streets transformed into tons of tents of food and entertainment. It was like a giant carnival (no rides). It's so hard to explain it in words, just so amazing. We had dinner at these long tables under the tents, and I tried a lot of the local foods. Including pigeon. It tasted like peanutbutter.

We walked around and listened to the locals play play music and once again be mobbed by street vendors. The city was just so alive, especially since the locals could now eat since the sun was down.

Not all was so beautiful. Seeing little kids running around late at night trying to sell roses and tissues for a few dollars just put knots in my stomach.

To top off my Moroccan adventure, I rode a camel for about an hour through the outskirts of the Sahara. One hour is too long to be on a camel, but it was still such a cool experience.

 

I took a ton of pictures and videos, but again, I can not post them while Im on the ship!! (too big of files)

I'm going to search desperatly (sp?) for an internet cafe in Cape Town, but that is still over two weeks away! Hold tight! Its killing me that I have to write such long entries, but it's so hard to pick and choose what to share and how to describe it without pictures! Also, I sent out a ton of post cards, but the ship messed up when it came to sending them out, so they will be arriving REALLLLY late. Suprise suprise.

 

Our next stop is Ghana. This is where i'll be doing a lot of community service, such as Habitat for Humanity and visiting a childrens orphanage. But until then, we are back on the ship for about a week. I havent had class in about 10 days! Monday through Fridays are going to kick my ass in January.

 

Got my sea legs back on and i'm ready to sail the coast of Africa....

Espana!

Spain, Round 2...this time I had a money belt.

 

I woke up at 630am on Saturday to watch the boat pull into port. The sunrise was so worth the lack of sleep.

See look!!

 

 

..you should have seen that sunrise with your own eyes - john mayer.

 

We began the day in Cadiz with some sight seeing and shopping. Typical tourist stuff and what not.

We spent the rest of the afternoon at the beach, drinking some spanish sangria and swimming in the Mediteranean Sea. Typical college students and what not.

 

 

Shortie got that super thang, hotter than the sun in the south of Spain- sean kingston.

 

After a long night out in Cadiz, over sleeping for our 9am train to Granada was not a shock to any of us. So we decided to just take the train to the city of Seville and spend a few days there. All we had were our backpacks and a travelguide book. No plans for hostels or return bus times. It was amazing.  

 

Of course we arrived and got a hostel right away. There were 10 of us so we took up the entire building, which was cool, but I would have liked to have met some nomads and whatnot. Anywho, we spent our days sight seeing at Alcazar and La Giealda, which is this huge castle and is the oldest church that is still used to this day in all of Europe. We climed the 43 stories to the top of the bell tower in nearly 100 degree weather. The view was worth the amount of sweat that poured out of my forehead. Im so classy.

Next up- What is Spain famous for? BULL FIGHTS! Seville is the most well known city for their bullfight. I was the only girl who enjoyed watching the bulls get stabbed and taunted. I wanted more blood shed. Once again, Im classy.

Next up on our list for getting our culture fix was some Flamenco music. Flamenco shows usually consist of a dancer in a frilly dress, who does a specific speed movement of her feet as someone plays a guitar and another sings. At least thats what happened in the show that we attended. We hit gold with our Flamenco show. We ended up at this hole in the wall authentic Flamenco show. It was filled with all locals and was not flashy at all. I've never seen anyone move their feet so fast or have such passion in their singing. Another perfect Spanish experience.

 

As for the food in Spain, I was not impressed. Barcelona set the bar high for this area. Not even the churros (long doughnut type object that you dip in chocolate) was not all that they were cracked up to be. Maybe I should try the ones at Cosco, as my new friend Lauren suggests. Although I must say that the bread was by far the best I have ever had in my life. And once again, the European coffee was so good! Sometimes, Mayssa is right about things in life. Sometimes.

 

We made it back to Cadiz really early in the day so we can spend more time in the port city before leaving that evening. And yes, I made it on time to the ship that night! We are on what were call "Byron Time". He is the Academic Dean for SAS and he is very strict about getting back on the ship (well duh). The ship leaves port at 8pm, but you need to be back and checked in by 6pm. Thats checked in, not waiting in line to get on. If your card is swiped after 6, you will recieve an hour of 'dock time' for every minute you are not checked in. 

Dock time = While everyone is out enjoying the country we are in, you are stuck on the boat in time out. Im telling you all this because I know that I have a reputation for being late for life, and my father is convinced that I am going to miss the boat sooner or later. Rest assure, that will not happen.

 

Anyways, today was our one day of travel between Spain and Morocco. Not enough time to recouperate. The ship refueled right as we were sailing past the island of Gibraltar, which is a tiny country that is basically this giant rock with a tiny village at the base. It was quite the view for the few hour we were gettin some gas! (Lisa and Lauren, we would have some pretty great Forbes jokes at this moment).

 

So tomorrow we sail into Morocco. Here is where the culture shock adventure really begins. I found that winging it and traveling in small groups is best for independent travel. I have no idea what to expect, I just hope that Morocco is just a good of a success that Spain was, and I have over 1000 pictures to show for it. I could write an entire book on the experience I am having and this is only the first port...

 

Camels and carpets, here I come!

 

 

 

Life on Board

Ahoy!

 

For the past week, I have been living a life at sea!

 

What did we learn our first day?

This is not a boat, it is a ship.

This is not a cruise, it is a voyage.

And everything is in military time.

 

We set sail last Friday from Halifax and sailed across the Atlanitic Ocean, setting our clocks ahead an hour a day and dealing with our first glimps of sea sickness. I only had to take dramamine once.

I've gotten used to walking on a slant, and being rocked to sleep every night is pretty nice.

 

My cabin is a pretty good size. Lots of storage and our own bathroom. It has a large window that over looks the ocean and at night you can see the light from the moon and waves move across our ceiling. My roommate is from Atlanta and goes to the University of Virginia. Her name is Tara and we bond on our love for Zac Effron and the fact that we both change our outfits 4 times before deciding on what to wear.

 

Besides me and Tara, there are 518 students on board. I've met so many people from all over the country and I continue to meet someone new each day. They say that all 50 states are represented on the ship, but I don't know how much I believe that...the Dakotas? Come on now.

 

The ship itself is so much more than I imagined. It has three levels of decks, and the top one has a pool (although it is the size of a large hot tub), a snack bar, recreational trinkets (ping pong, basketball court-also the size of a large hot tub), and lots of room to just hang out and watch a sunset, have a meal, or read a book. Most nights, they have a Pub Night on the 7th deck, were we are allowed a whopping 3 beers or glasses of wine a night. Exciting

There is a library, a computer lab, two dining halls (one that is fancy pants and one that is half inside half outdoors). There is a wellness center, which includes the gym, spa, hair and nail salon, etc.

Not too shabby....

 

My classes are going well. However, it is weird to run into your professors in their pajamas every night.

I'm taking a global music course, introduction to intercultural communication, organizational behavior, and everyones favorite- Global Studies. And by favorite I mean its the only one you can get away with sleeping through...and they sometimes play it on the televisions throughout the cabins. Thats right, go to class without leaving our beds. Get on that Emmanuel!!

All of our course material is based around which country we will be visiting next. So for the past week, I have been learning all about the culture, music, and government of Spain and Morocco.

  

Tomorrow we arrive in Cadiz, Spain. We have independently planned trips to Granada and Seville to do some sight seeing, have some tapa's and sangria, and throw around some mud and paint. Madre and Padre, I promise to be on my best behavior and not get arrested or kidnapped.

 

Tonight is also the start of Emmanuel's first weekend back at school. I'm bumbed I won't be there to have a few draft beers in those red solo cups I love so much. Enjoy ladies, its senior year! Throw a few back for me and get directions before leaving for the party...

 

Ok thats it for now. Hola Spain and your 95 degree weather you have in store.

 

I'll post pictures soon!