Sleep? What's that? How about some SEA OLYMPICS!

R-E-D S-E-A   Red Sea  Red Sea  All the Way!!

 

9 different “Seas.” 9 different colors. Over 20 different chants. Who won the spirit point at almost all the events? RED SEA!! (My sea.) The day started at 9am with Opening Ceremonies – banners and chanting, everyone decked out in their sea colors. The events lasted all day, and after a late-night of movie watching plus advancing our clocks, everyone was exhausted. I participated in the “Wheel Barrow” event where I took one of the kids’ legs and wheel-barrowed him across the deck. Our team lost, since it was 3 events in one: Wheel Barrow/Crabwalk/Egg Spoon Race. The Red Sea got 5^th overall, getting 1^st place in only the Karaoke/Lip Sync/Skits contest and 2^nd place in Dodgeball. But our Sea NEVER shut up, half of us were at each event throughout the day, cheering on our team, or even cheering in the Twister competition for the color red. We came up with so many chants and before the Flip Cup (with water, lol) tournament, we all got together on Deck 7 and paraded down to Deck 4 and chanted all the way. It was such a blast! The other events included Big Hair, Limbo, Wet Clothes Race, Synchronized Swimming, Chubby Bunny (that was pretty disgusting, one of the Profs and one of the students somehow fit 14 pieces of mini frosted cake in their mouths!), and a Scavenger Hunt where the ship was a madhouse for 30 minutes as everyone ran around like crazy. In the end, the Bering Sea won overall so they are getting off the ship first in San Diego. The entire day was awesome, it was basically insane but I loved every second of it. People went all out, face paint, hats, chants, running up and down hallways… it never stopped until after the Closing Ceremonies.

 

What I have learned on this trip: sleep is a luxury. Naps are frequent, and for those of you who know me, you know that I have NEVER been a napper, even at college. Now everyone sleeps at every chance they can – people sleep in the Piano Lounge, on deck, in the dining room, in class…I managed to fit in 2 very short (30 minute) naps when there was a lull between events during the day. The food was actually really good that day, too. Taco Day is the most popular, by far, for lunch. It’s turning into a tradition (or maybe it already is?) to have a BBQ on the days we have off. Everyone just eats and eats and we devour the ice cream so fast. It’s also, unfortunately, been midterms. I’ve had lots of homework and 2 exams, and there’s one more before India. I still can’t believe it’s March (Mom – Happy Birthday on the 10^th, since I’ll be in Erode on my homestay!!) and the voyage is getting close to being halfway done.

 

I can’t believe that in 4 days I will be in India… :)