No more Kenya!!

September 24, 2005

Today we were told that there had been another warning put out by the US State Department on September 23rd warning against all travel to East Africa especially Kenya. And something new that was in it was that it especially warned against maritime travel to this region because of terrorist pirates. Because of this there was even a US Navy ship that was suppose to dock there around the same time we were but said that they would no longer be going to Kenya. This was something that I had always been surprised that we were still going to go, because there was a similar warning sometime in late June or July. But I know that this will make my Mom happy knowing that I will be safe and not in Kenya. The down side to it is that there were several people who had arranged for independent safaris (like me) who had put deposits down on these trips. Although I was lucky because our company that I had arranged for us to all go with said that there was no need for a deposit which is a really good thing! Dean Timitiz who told the ship this said that they were not sure where we would end up going but we were defiantly still going to India, and that he hopes to let us know where we will be going instead of Kenya tomorrow. The problem is if you look at a map there is not a lot between South Africa and India besides East Africa. Personally I am hoping that we will go to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (although that would be a much further journey than originally planned so I doubt that would happen). The next might be Madagascar (which the Presidents son and 12 students attend ACU) but I believe that is still too close for comfort close to East Africa. So the bets right now are either Seychelles Islands (which are know for the plant life I believe) or Sri Lanka which I have heard about and is right next to India but I don’t have a clue anything about it. Either way after leaving South Africa we were supposed to have 6 sea days be in port in Kenya for 5 then have another 7 sea days until we arrive in India so this could be a very long voyage if we don’t get another port until India (but I am sure we will)!

So last night, was probably the most fun that I have had while on board. We had three things going on: first our Yellow Sea was having our party night with the faculty and officers up in the faculty lounge (which was formerly the disco/night club when this was a cruise ship), then there was a pub night (that takes place in the garden lounge and outside on deck 6), and then there was the first dance which had an eighties theme. And all of these were to take place from 9 til 11pm with a pre-party get together before all of this. So you might ask what does one wear for an eighties them party? Of course it is easy for the girls to cut up some shirts and put their hair to one side. The funny thing is I remember Heathers outfits in the eighties vaguely and I got a good laugh at it. So the girls said to wear tight jeans and go for either the Zach Morris look or something like that. So I put on some of the tightest jeans I could find, got the pearl snap shirt (that was my dads that I got from Papas house) with only a couple of snaps down so my lack of chest hair was hanging out, my big belt buckle, boots, and my cowboy hat and the large gold nugget ring I got for Christmas a couple of years ago. So I kind of went for the eighties Cowboy look which turned out pretty well I must say. AJ I am sure will talk about his getup in his post but just think of Panch from the old motorcycle cop shop with the rayban glasses and everything. The hole night was lots of fun, we went to the Yellow Sea social first which was slow, but when we came back at the end of the night it was lots of fun. Plus it was Karen our RDs birthday so we celebrated. Then we went to pub night which I think everyone on the ship was at. And then people came running up to me saying that we had to go to the union for the eighties dance. And it turned out to be hilarious and fun. There were probably 200 people crammed on the little dance floor shoulder to shoulder dancing to some of the funniest eighties music alive. And you mix this with the giant waves (the largest we have encountered yet) everyone is bumping in to one another trying to dance and swaying with the ship it was a lot of fun.
Today we had the honor of hearing Archbishop Desmond Tutu speak, it was a roundtable discussion where students and faculty asked pre-planned questions that he answered thoroughly. During this I felt like I was being a part of something historic, something I know that will impact me for the rest of my life and something that I know I will never forget. If you remember me talking about it, he was asked by Nelson Mandela to head up the TRC that was to hear the tales of the people who were abused by the apartheid as well as hear those stories of those who did the bad things. The following were some quotes or ideas that he shared during this time that I thought were interesting:
“I am sorry, you were right, please forgive me. Are some of the smallest words but at the same time some of the hardest to say at times” – “It would be nice for in the future we could each walk in a world where we could hold our heads high” – “God had no religion! Christianity has only been around for 2000 years. What was God before that? Waiting for Christianity?” – He talks about friends like the Dali Lama and Gandhi “And what God would say you are such good and cool people that have such courageous and awesome things but your not a Christian” – “Try to export your generosity not your bombs” -- I would like to comment on the second to last quote about the Dali Lama and Gandhi ---- at this time I would not say that in any way I am questioning my faith! That’s not what I would call it, I think he brought up an interesting point though. And as I sit here at the computer I can’t really put my thoughts or feelings on this quote into words. I know one thing is for sure, in this world of non-believers I am just thankful that there are people who do believe, that there are people who may not be religious that are genuinely good people just because they know they should be and want to be! As this voyage continues I hope that I can hold strong to my convictions and that God will help me open my eyes to the great things that he has created and to show respect and love to those who need it. Instead of judging and thinking that I or my faith are the only ones….God bless my family friends and the US!

Chad

September 25, 2005

It is now around 2pm and I am officially done with classes for five and a half days which is nice although I will have some papers that will need to be written and a group presentation to prep for before we return to classes.
So I know after reading the above you are wondering what is going on and where we will end up going. Well we just got back from a very interesting lunch with Captain Jeremy in the main dining room. My opinion on him has now changed and he seems to be pretty interesting we sat there for well over an hour probably talking about cruising, his job, and where we are not going and what the rest of the voyage will behold. His said because of fuel restraints Australia and Dubai are definitely out of the picture. As well as Madagascar and Seychelles Islands because of the possible threats that were warned about in the US States Department warning. He said at t his time he had not been told where the Semester At Sea office wants to go, but that he imagined that it would probably be a small island somewhere that is safe, safe being the key word in this region. We were expecting the Dean to come on and announce it at the beginning of our 8am class this morning then at the global studies class later in the morning, but no luck. I guess we will find out more in the mandatory pre-port security meeting tonight if it will be known today.
We have definitely got into the rougher seas starting last night, I forget exactly how high they said they were but I think it was around 7 meters I will get back to you on the wave height. It was kind of funny because last night we had some friends over in the suite for a get together and it was a little unnerving for some since we are at the very front of the ship it causes first a really big bang every time we hit an oversized wave then you get the after shock of the movement. Lastly it was interesting sleeping in the large bed ( I don’t know if I told you that AJ and I were finally able to persuade our cabin steward to move the two beds in each of our two rooms together thus making two twins into a queen for each of us) that way we both have a queen bed in our separate rooms instead of having an extra bed in each that is not being used. Anyways, trying to sleep in these large beds with the waves as big as they are is kind of fun, rolling around back and forth. For those of you that have gone to bed on a ship with the peaceful almost unnoticeable swaying of the ship. This I would say is much different it is almost like I hired someone to stand next to my bed and rock me to sleep all night and occasionally bang something on the wall for the sound effects of the waves. Well I guess that is all for now, I have to email the Safari company and tell them that we are a no go, I would have done it last night but the internet was down. I also need to email the guy from the vineyards in south Africa, my boss from Reata has a couple of wineries just outside of Cape town that we are going to visit. Although it is getting a little obnoxious because there are now 14 people in our group going. And the winemaker insists on sending a car to take us to and from to the wine country. I told him that he didn’t have to do anything considering the size of the group, but it sounds like it should be a fun time for all. Talk to you soon.

Chad
PS – something I forgot to say the it is really cold outside, I would say probably 60 or less, it is supposed to be a high of 92 in Cape town so I hope that it will warm up when we arrive tomorrow.