Hello everyone,
We have visited every port that we will visit this summer, and I've gotten a pretty good idea of how the next 12 weeks of my life will go. We get to Vancouver tomorrow, completing our first round trip.
I am able to withdrawal money that I've earned before my paydays, and I can bill anything I buy on the ship directly to my account. It is hard to not buy any little thing that I want, because I usually do not see the money changing hands. I already bought some sunglasses, and I want to buy a nice watch. When I say nice watch, I am aiming for the $100 range, but nice watches on the ship go from several hundred to several thousand dollars. One of my friends has a watch whose hands turn into several things including a compass, a barometer, a thermometer, and several things I don't remember. He paid $500 for it and I am super envious. I have goals for my earnings this summer, and I don't want to get sucked into frivolous spending. I want to pay off a large part of my credit card debt, and I need to buy a new phone when I get back home (I want an iPhone). I need a watch, but I don't need a $500 watch.
I'm still trying to exercise regularly, but I've only actually made it to the crew gym 3 times in 2 weeks. Walking on the Lower Promenade is easier to do, but probably doesn't do as much for me. It is too easy to sleep super late since I don't need to do anything until 7:00 pm. The biggest motivation to get up before noon (yes, I know I have a rough life) is breakfast. I also felt very guilty when I was napping at 2:00pm and my cabin steward opened the door. I don't want my shipmates to be angry because I work so much less than they do.
Speaking of my shipmates, I have met people from US, Canada, Indonesia, Philippines, Hungary, Jamaica, Scotland, England, Jerusalem, Holland, Macedonia, India, South Africa, Italy and Australia. Almost everyone working on the ship has a smile on their face. Sometimes, I'm sure that it is forced, but most of the time, I believe that people on the ship are happy. It's also really fun to meet people who want to talk even if they don't know you very well. Everyone has a story and it's always interesting.
My playing is not always the most exciting part of my day, but there was an interesting moment earlier this week. We were playing a quartet arrangement of the Largo from Dvorak's New World Symphony, when several people jumped up and ran to the window at the side of the ship. I guess that whales were jumping out of the water just a few yards to the side of the ship. I didn't get to see much because I was playing and people were standing in the way, but the music we were playing seemed to go with the situation very well. Because of that moment, I have a new association with this piece that I will remember for a long time.
I just purchased a page of postcard stamps, so I need people's addresses! Send me an email with your address if you want a postcard. Also, I want to know what is going on with everyone that I don't get to see this summer. Please email me to let me know what is happening. Because I have to pay for my Internet by the minute, I am slow to respond (if I do at all), but I read everything I get.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Ketchikan, Alaska
Hello everybody,
The past few days have been busy, but fun. On Sunday, the quartet took a cab from the hotel to the ship. The cab driver was a nice lady from Iran and the drive through Vancouver was exciting. Once we got to the ship (after the security guys decided we were really supposed to be on this ship) we found our rooms and I met my cabin mate. After I moved my stuff into the room we had a security and safety meeting, took an environmental course and quiz, got some food, and played our first set. There were two passengers who recognized us from our flight from Chicago.
Yesterday, we had a follow up security meeting in the morning. I started to feel a bit queasy from the motion of the ship, so I slept most of the day up to our set.
Today I'm in Ketchikan, Alaska. There was a meeting at 6:30 (the ship just switched to Alaska time) to be screened by US immigration to get on and off the ship in US ports. I got off the ship to buy a few sundries that I forgot to bring. Things here are really expensive.
I'm still trying to figure out the details of my daily life - finding my way through the ship, meal times, time changes, where I can and can't go, and remembering my ID (which opens my cabin).
All in all, everything is going as well or better than I had expected. The views are incredible, the crew is friendly and helpful, the passengers are excited to hear what we are playing, and the pay ain't half bad. I got over the first bout of seasickness, and I hope it doesn't come back. I can still feel the rocking of the boat, and I do run in to the occasional wall here and there, but it doesn't look like it will be a lingering problem.
All for now,
-Paul
The past few days have been busy, but fun. On Sunday, the quartet took a cab from the hotel to the ship. The cab driver was a nice lady from Iran and the drive through Vancouver was exciting. Once we got to the ship (after the security guys decided we were really supposed to be on this ship) we found our rooms and I met my cabin mate. After I moved my stuff into the room we had a security and safety meeting, took an environmental course and quiz, got some food, and played our first set. There were two passengers who recognized us from our flight from Chicago.
Yesterday, we had a follow up security meeting in the morning. I started to feel a bit queasy from the motion of the ship, so I slept most of the day up to our set.
Today I'm in Ketchikan, Alaska. There was a meeting at 6:30 (the ship just switched to Alaska time) to be screened by US immigration to get on and off the ship in US ports. I got off the ship to buy a few sundries that I forgot to bring. Things here are really expensive.
I'm still trying to figure out the details of my daily life - finding my way through the ship, meal times, time changes, where I can and can't go, and remembering my ID (which opens my cabin).
All in all, everything is going as well or better than I had expected. The views are incredible, the crew is friendly and helpful, the passengers are excited to hear what we are playing, and the pay ain't half bad. I got over the first bout of seasickness, and I hope it doesn't come back. I can still feel the rocking of the boat, and I do run in to the occasional wall here and there, but it doesn't look like it will be a lingering problem.
All for now,
-Paul
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Travel and Vancouver
I am in Vancouver. Our flight ended up leaving 2 hours late, but arriving almost 4 hours late. I flew from Chicago with 2 of the 3 girls from my quartet. We caught the hotel shuttle from the airport and rode with 3 Filipino guys that will also be working on our ship. One was the head baker, one was the provisions manager and the third was a mechanic. The provisions manager has been working on cruise ships for over 20 years.
When we got to the hotel, we met up with quartet member #4. The rooms are big with 2 double beds. We went to a Japanese restaurant, and had sushi and other stuff. The hotel has free internet, but we are leaving at 9 to head out to the ship. Ship, not boat.
Internet on the ship will not be free, but rumor says it will be around 10¢ a minute. Either way, I hope to be putting up some pictures soon.
When we got to the hotel, we met up with quartet member #4. The rooms are big with 2 double beds. We went to a Japanese restaurant, and had sushi and other stuff. The hotel has free internet, but we are leaving at 9 to head out to the ship. Ship, not boat.
Internet on the ship will not be free, but rumor says it will be around 10¢ a minute. Either way, I hope to be putting up some pictures soon.
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