Log 39

A while back, when we crossed the equator, we were all transformed from Polliwogs to Shellbacks. Well, as of 07:00 this morning, we became special shellbacks. Those of us from The States are now emerald shellbacks, and those from the UK are now royal diamond shellbacks. Others just choose which term they like best. Now, this isn’t because we passed the equator a second time. It is because while passing the equator the second time, we also happened to pass the Prime Meriden too. So for a brief moment, we were at 0’0’,0’0’ on a map. “Absolute center” so to speak. Now, other than the ship’s equipment given us coordinates to confirm our location, there is also a buoy in the water at that exact point. So naturally, I took a picture of it.

Since I’m here I might as well tell you about this whole entire last week. After we boarded to ship and left South Africa, it was spirit week. The first day was SAS spirit, wearing SAS gear. The next day was decades’ day, wearing anything from the 70s, 80s, 90s, or 2000s. Then can hometown day. This is the point when I realized, I really didn’t pack anything from PA or Maine. So that day was a bust. The last day was twin day, and we picked a winner for that. During the entire week there were also donation tables are the ship. These were for us to donate money to SAS if we wanted to. By doing this, we also got to decide what happened to the money. You could choose whether your donation went to the scholarship fund, or to a miscellaneous fund which could be used for ship repairs, paying crew, or anything else related to SAS. On the last day, pretty much all day, there was a silent auction. People donated things to get auctioned off. I didn’t participate, but it was funny to see how peanut butter got auctioned off so around $60. There has been a shortage on the ship, and people are paranoid that we will lose it again. At the very end of the night to conclude spirit week, we had a live auction. Which was funny for two reasons. One, one of the funniest guys on the ship was the auctioneer, and two, some of the most trivial things were sold for hundreds of dollars. Not to be smug, but this is where you learn who is there on scholarship, and who had no probably affording the tuition. Anyway the list of the item and how much is sold for is listed below.

Signed map - $130

Snack pack - $40

Front row seats at the crew talent show - $100

Play 5 songs at the Alumni Ball - $160

Choose the menu for lunch and dinner - $185

First to get off the ship in Germany - $150

Last to get off the ship in Germany - $60

Fancy dinner served by the deans - $220

Sunset kayaking with Pete Seel - $160

Blow the ship’s whistle when leaving morocco - $350

Taco party for 12 - $400

Shirt signed by the entire crew - $350

California getaway for 10 - $4200

Tarot reading - $130

Breakfast in bed from your favorite RD - $120

Ping pong tutorial from Man Kin - $70

4-night B&B steamboat springs, Colorado for 4 - $2000

Postcards from every port - $125(x2)

Greek dinner cooked by Captain Costas for 5 - $400 (x2)

Spa experience with champagne for 2 - $420

Oreos, double stuffed - $65

Hat signed by Captains Brian and Costas - $115

30-minute photoshoot - $150

Be the voice of sunny at 1630 for a day - $175

Steer the ship - $825

Raise the flag in Hamburg - $310

Cookie making with the dependents for 10 - $150

Dean Dan’s hat - $700

Drinks in the fritz lounge for 4- $1030

As you can see, some of these are totally outrageous for what the actual item is. There is some that is reasonable, and others that to you may seem outrageous, but make sense to me. We can discuss those when I get home. Speaking of…

Days until I come home: 23