fresh OJ and guacamole

A friend wrote and asked how my job was. I haven't updated in a while, so I thought I would share it here as well.

The job is going well! It's a different lifestyle on a ship. More like what I'd imagine living in a rez on campus would be like, not that I would actually know. I always lived in apartments or houses during school. But you go to work and then you go hang out with those same people after work. Or sleep. Sometimes you have to sacrifice one for the other which is hard but sometimes if you get enough time off in the earlier part of the day you can get off the ship and do something cool. Mostly we would get off to get something good to eat. Sitting in a restaurant on the beach drinking freshly squeezed orange juice was heaven enough for me!

The first month and a half of working we were in Alaska and then Victoria, BC. I loved the time I spent there. Alaska was gorgeous and reminded me a lot of home...except with bigger mountains and glaciers instead of hills and icebergs. Maybe it was the weather too. It felt like Fall and you had to bundle up in hats and gloves a lot. We spent two weeks in Victoria renovating the ship, so I got to see them turn restaurants into makeshift upholstery shops and watch them wreck then revamp the upper decks. They brought lovely young construction worker men from all over the world. Italy, Spain and even some from Canada. We did odds and ends, like moving chairs and carpets and trash--whatever needed to be done. At the end of September we made our way down to Mexico and I spent the rest of the contract there. Here I got to bust out my shorts and sundresses in my off time. I sorta got a tan, but I didn't really try.

The men in Mexico are kinda stereotypical and guacamole is everywhere. Even in Subway, a familiar food place I was happy to find. I went ziplining one day and you had to help the guides that were up there by holding down the ropes so they could lock you in. I pulled down a little too hard once and smushed one the young guide's hands. He laughed and said "You're gonna make guacamole out of my fingers" I also discovered guacamole (or just plain avocado) hurts my tummy so I can't eat it anymore. Fun fact. What a tease haha.

You would get off the ship and sight see and there would be locals calling out to you to use their business. "Hey Lady, do you need a water taxi?" "Would you like to parasail? I'll give you good price!" or my favourite, when I was walking along by myself one day, "Would you like to go to the beach?" and then as I walked further away called out, "Haha, or do you need a body guard? Hey Lady!" I would have been creeped out except there were lots of tourists around.

I met a lot of people from around the world. Most of the people I worked with were either from the UK or the United States. A couple were from Australia. I was loving all the accents. Kinda wished I had more of a Newfoundland accent to show off. My English friend said that some of our sayings sound Irish to her. Spot on. haha. 

I'm looking forward to more good times when I go back this weekend. Kind of hard to believe that my vacation time at home has already come to a close. If this big storm actually happens and I can't catch my flight, I wouldn't mind another day or week at home. I'm at peace with whatever happens.

Can you believe it's already February?

a quick update

One of my favourite pictures from Alaska. 

We spent the afternoon on the sports deck in Tracy Arm, 

playing games with the kids all with the gorgeous view of the glacier.

mickeyyyy

Me and the Mouse himself. Was walking in after being in port last week and there he came up the hallway. I had my camera in hand and he came to me waving and made a click click gesture with his hand. It really warms my heart the way the Disney characters interact with the guests. I turn into a mushy excited little kid.

Since I got off super early I had some time on my hands this evening. Claire and I went to see the Toy Story Musical they were putting off in the theatre. It was excellent. I love the dinosaur so much, whatever his name is. I'm glad I get to see full scale musical at almost any time I want to. Love!!

sarah palin

I met Sarah Palin in Juneau on Saturday (27^th).

I was a thrilling experience, mostly because a few weeks before I left home, 

my uncle decided that I looked a lot like her and he started calling me Sarah instead. 

So, to travel all the way to Alaska and to 'meet' my twin? 

It kinda made my day.

northern lights, skagway

In Skagway, on the 26th, I ventured along with Mel, Sarah and Dani (girls I work with in YA-youth activities) to a little restaurant called Northern Lights. I’m positive that it was the best pizza of my life. Best pizza and definitely the best garlic bread. When I eat off of the ship it’s almost like I’m tasting something for the very first time and it’s always delicious. Ship food isn’t that bad, there’s lots of variety, but it’s all starting to taste the same already. Better than camp, yes, but man sometimes you really crave something greasy, or really healthy ('cause I fiends fer some Subway all the time, I already told you that.) but obviously you can’t get it whenever you want. Makes for an unsatisfied tummy fairly often. But I didn’t come here to talk about ship food, so moving on.

Northen Lights gave me the best pizza I’ve had in the last month. And that is my story for today.

Week One of my Alaskan tour

Tracy Arm was amazing. The ship travelled through a fjord and then stopped in front of a huge beautiful, intensely blue glacier. All around us in the water were chunks of ice and more seals that you could count. I’ve never seen so many. We hung out on the crew deck for a while taking it all in.

After awhile I went up to the higher guest decks for a different view, and watched everyone else enjoying themselves too. I have to say, I really enjoyed myself and even though it was chilly out, it was pleasant. No rain is a good day.

Skagway on the 19^th was a pretty cool little town and the highest north that we go on this journey; the darkest it gets up here is dusk. This was our first chance off the boat since Tuesday. It is only one long street full of lots and lots of jewellery stores and tourist trap souvenir spots. Really fun to explore though. Apparently it’s great for hiking too, which I might try next time we’re there. Most of us from our Traditions training course went out together to explore which was nice, since our schedules will be drastically different starting next week. I love exploring with Carlos. Any time there’s a photo opportunity he looks at me with his Spanish accent and says “Emily, you have camera? Take picture!” When you’re with people who love picture taking as much as you do, it’s way less awkward. But I’m not going to shy away from playing tourist to the full. Alaska is super beautiful with all the trees and haunting mist that creeps over the mountains. I’m really loving it so far.

We stopped in Juneau yesterday but no one from my group got off, so I stayed on board too. The weather wasn’t great and I didn’t want to be by myself. Instead, I stayed on the boat and worked out my internet issues.

Today we stopped in Ketchikan, and even though it was another rainy day I didn’t want to miss another chance to get off and visit this new place. No one else wanted to face the rain so I ventured off on my own this time (Sorry, Mumsie). It was similar to Skagway in the types of shops but much bigger. I took a brief look around, bought myself a hot chocolate and waited for the free shuttle that takes you to Wal-mart. My Scottish friend has never heard of Wal-mart so I have to take her there sometime.

Since I’ve become a frequent visitor to Subway in the last couple of months, I was happy to see that there was one built in to this Wal-mart.  I was even further enthralled to learn that they have spinach and pepper jack cheese as some of their options! Um, yum. Someone tell me why is this not available in Canada, please?!

After that I rushed back on board and met up with our training coordinator to go around to some of the different kid spaces and chill with the kids. I love how many different nationalities you come across on board. I met a girl who said she was from Hong Kong, another from London. Tonight was the Pirate Party which was held indoors because of the gross weather, but was lots of fun nonetheless. You can’t go wrong with dancing along with the Disney characters dressed as pirates. Benji, Stephanie and Shiv conspired together and tried to convince Sarah and I that we had to get up there on stage and dance around with them because it was part of our ‘earning our ears’. Luckily they were just kidding. I’m not quite ready for that yet.

This is getting long so I’ll end here. If you read it all, you are awesome! I already feel like I’ve been here for ages, even though it’s only been a little over a week since I left home.  

I promise I'll add pictures soon, once I find some free and quicker internet on land somewhere. xo

I'm in Alaska!

Sorry for my absence you guys! I had some difficulty figuring out how to get internet on board the last few days! It's stinkin' expensive, but I'll try to keep you updated when I get some free time.

We've been doing endless and often repetitious training sessions all week long since we arrived on the ship on Tuesday and it's been so much to take in. I'm having a good time so far though and trying to build my mental map of this place. It is overwhelmingly huge, but really beautiful. Everyone here is so welcoming and helpful, especially in pointing me in the right direction when I've lost my way.

For now,  I'll just leave you with the gorgeous view I had while we were stopped in Tracy Arm a few days ago.