Log 27

This morning at 0630, we passed the equator. We are officially in the southern hemisphere. Now, it sounds cool and all, but it is very anticlimactic. Much like passing the international date line, it was basically one second and then in was done. Don’t get me wrong, it is an amazing feat, to be able to say that I have ventured across the equator, because to be honest, home many people can say that they sailed across the equator. But really, it is one second. Think of it like traveling across different states. One second you are in PA and the next is New Jersey. Either way, it happened. Now it will happen again when we leave South Africa. On our way to Ghana, we will again cross the equator back to the northern hemisphere. And I know you are all burning to ask so I am just going to answer it right now. Yes, it is hot. Very hot. But what makes the situation complicated is that while it feels like 110 degrees outside, it is about 60 degrees inside. So the question I ask myself every morning is, do I want to freeze inside and wear a tank top, or do I want to roast outside and where a long sleeve. Usually, I wear a long sleeve to my classes and then around 1500 (3 pm) I change into a tank top. What is nice though is that since we are on the water, there is a lovely breeze of the ship, and since we are at the equator, it is just hot, not humid.

Class have been going good. I am pretty sure that I still have A’s in all of my classes. It’s hard to be sure though, because the professors don’t always post the grades as we get them. For example, I have submitted two essays for my Global Relations class, and neither of them has been given a grade. So the only grade I know for that class is the 94% I surprisingly managed to get on the first exam. I still have no idea what is going on in my political science class, but I found that if I work with the study guide, I am able to pull a 92% exam out of my butt.

Sea Olympics is coming up a few days from now. There are three seas, including mine, that already have some points toward winning from trivia nights and jeopardy games. You all know I like a good competition, but I have decided to take a smaller role in the games. I am going to be playing a more behind the scenes kind of role. There are two reasons for this. One is that my sea is so disorganized that they had now good way to sign up for things. This being said, all the popular kids are the ones participating in the events. The other reason is that they prepared for this so sloppily that Sea Olympics happens to be the day before our next Global Relations exam. Being the good student that I am, I chose to take a less strenuous job that would allow me to study while completing my job. It will still be fun, but I think everyone would enjoy it more if it was on a different day. Also, we just started organizing for the event two weeks ago. Why they didn’t start preparations two weeks into the voyage, I haven’t the faintest idea. But that’s how things went, so for the entire day, I can only imagine how much of a mess things are going to be.

Then also coming up is Neptune Day. This is supposed to be a celebration of crossing the equator. Those who cross the equator for the first time are welcome to shave their heads, kiss a fish, and jump overboard. But there has been a lot of controversy over when that is actually going to happen. Some are saying tomorrow on no class day, and others are saying when we cross the equator the second time. Who knows?

Tonight we are having a “minute to win it” competition between the seas. I am not participating, but I am definitely going to watch. I have no idea what the challenges are going to be, but anything they choose to do on a swaying ship is going to be hilarious to watch. After the is the Mauritian culture night. We have this for every port. It is basically a way to teach us about the culture in a fun and energetic atmosphere.

Well Coastal Environmental Ecology is coming up soon, so I have to go and prepare.