I’m about done with you, Pacific Ocean

I have been at sea for 10 days with one more day to go until we arrive in Yokohama, Japan, and I am very ready to get to Japan. This has been one long crossing and I’m excited to see dry land again.

You may be wondering how I've been spending the last 10 days on the ship. Well, the answer is staying indoors. You may have heard about the big waves seen off the coasts of Hawaii and California. These big waves were produced by a monster storm as it crossed the Pacific Ocean. The ship was set to sail directly through the storm but the Captain changed our course to avoid the worst of it. Although we missed the worst of the storm which included 40 foot swells, we did catch the backside of the storm and have had rocky seas for the past few days. The swells have been as high as 14 feet and waves have crashed up to the 5th deck as the ship rocks and rolls. High winds and heavy rains have prevented us from being out on the decks and I’m starting to feel a bit stir crazy.

No go on getting out onto the decks. Boo, Pacific Ocean.

The Semester at Sea ship, called the M.V. Explorer, was once the fastest ship of its size. The ship is small and speedy and I understand the reason for its purchase because it has to carry 700 students all around the world in just a few months time. However, after 10 days of rocking our way across the Pacific I am voting for slow and steady rather than small and speedy.

View of the M.V. Explorer from the Port of Hilo.

I can deal with the rocking but the sounds are what really get me. The ship creaks as its rocked back and forth. A huge “boom” sounds throughout the ship when the ship drops down off a wave and crashes into the next. The sounds of crashing silverware and dishes as well as the opening and slamming shut of drawers are heard when walking through the halls.

We've been told that the Pacific will be the worst of the rockiness and I’m glad! I’m not sure I could take four whole months of this! I have to keep telling myself: one more day until land, one more day!

View of the waves yesterday from the window in my room.

A day in the life of an assistant field office director

I’ve mentioned in other posts that I’ve been very busy since boarding the ship. However, do you know what working in the Semester at Sea field office entails? Probably not and honestly, I am still learning the answer to this question! However to give you an idea of my work, I’ve marked below “a day in the life of an assistant field office director.”

06:45 Wake up and get ready for the day

07:30 Breakfast and a quick cup of coffee before heading to the office (Yes, this avid tea-drinker has switched to coffee. I need quick jolt of the caffeine.)

08:00-08:30 Arrive at the office, depending on who I sit with at breakfast and how chatty we are!

08:30-12:30 Work like a madwoman throughout the morning. I answer student questions both via email and in person, meet with faculty members about their field labs (in-country field trips with their students), respond to copious amounts of email, and troubleshoot the often malfunctioning database and reporting system.

12:30-13:30 Lunch in the Garden Lounge or on the deck, if the weather is nice.

13:30-17:30 or 18:00 Back to working like a madwoman. I try to use the afternoon to work on projects, like preparing for future port and the port’s respective field programs and field labs.

18:00 Dinner, generally in the Aquamarine dining room which is a little fancier than the Garden Lounge but does not feature outdoor seating.

19:00 World Café session. A variety of speakers give presentations each night on the ship and this is one forum for them to share their information.

20:00 Insight Lecture. Another opportunity for presentations. The Insight Lecture is commonly given by a faculty member while the World Café session has a more “student-life” feel.

20:00-22:30 Back to my room to work on school work. (Yes, I am still working on my school work throughout the voyage. I have to write my capstone paper this semester). Some nights I’ll visit Glazer Lounge, the lounge for faculty and staff only, but because I have to work on my paper I haven’t been up there too much.

22:30 Sheer exhaustion sets in, so it’s time for bed. Gotta get some sleep so the madness can start all over again tomorrow!

I realize after typing this that my day on the ship isn’t very different from a day I would have while working on dry land. However the primary difference is that on the ship, I have no weekends. There are no days where I can sleep in or just relax. Generally the shipboard community has free time in port but I’ll have to work then too and I don’t want to spend my only days in Hong Kong, for example, catching up on sleep on the ship! 

I’ve decided that basically this is going to be one crazy semester and by the time we hit London, I will be ready for one long nap!

In the driver’s seat

Monday I had the opportunity to lead a tour of the bridge, or the control center for the ship. I wanted to see the bridge anyway so when the call went out for volunteers, I said “why not?!”

Captain's hat on the bridge.

The tour was about 30 minutes in length and our guide, a Deck Cadet, showed us all the instruments and tools used to navigate the ship. The crew navigates using a combination of paper maps, computer models as well as the stars and other astrological “land marks.” The Deck Cadet also showed us how the ship’s systems, like the lightening, water purification, etc., can be controlled from the bridge.

During our tour the ship was on “autopilot.” There was a Second Captain at the helm but the ship was being steered by a computer. Another crew member was on lookout, which means that this person stares out into the open ocean and watches for debris and objects in the ocean that could harm the ship. This guy has a 4 hour lookout shift. Can you imagine staring out into the open ocean for 4 hours each day with most likely nothing to see?!

I was asked to lead three more bridge tours so my time exploring the bridge is not over. More updates later if I learn anything new in my additional tours. For now, enjoy the photos of the M.V. Explorer bridge.

The Deck Cadet, our bridge guide, showing us the map that has been used since we left Hilo.

Controls on the bridge.

Driver's seat and steering wheel. Much to the dismay of many people in my tour group there is not a big wooden steering wheel, only this small one.

The many maps and manuals needed for our voyage.

Trying my hand as the Captain. What do you think?!

Refueling in Honolulu

Welcome to Honolulu, Hawaii!

After a quick visit to Hilo on Saturday, we spent yesterday refueling in Honolulu. Unfortunately, we were not allowed off the ship as the stop was just for the ship to refuel and restock in preparation for our upcoming Pacific crossing. Today made me realize that if you look up the word “torture” in the dictionary, you’ll find one of the meanings is “making someone sit on a ship with paradise sprawling out in front of them.” Although we were not able to disembark, I was able to take some photos of Honolulu from deck 7 while enjoying the warm sunshine.

Now we are on to Japan with 10 days until we see dry land again. This Pacific crossing will be a true test of my patience and also my ability to not get seasick. The Pacific is supposed to be some of the roughest waters we’ll endure during the voyage. Full steam ahead-wish me luck!

View of Honolulu from deck 7 of the ship.

Port #1 - Check

After six sea days, yesterday we docked in Hilo, Hawaii, for the day. I had to work in the morning but was able to spend the afternoon and early evening in the city. I spent the day relaxing, walking along the bay and checking out the downtown area. Hilo is beautiful! The weather was gorgeous-sunny skies and warm sea breezes.

There are many outdoorsy things to see and do around Hilo including hiking Mauna Kea, going to Volcanoes National Park and checking out Rainbow Falls. Unfortunately since I had to work, I did have time to venture very far from this ship. While I don’t think the Big Island is an attractive of location when considering a trip to Hawaii, I would love to venture back someday to do some more exploring.

This one's for my Dad and no, I don't know what type of tree this is but it was big and impressive!

Kamehameha the Great, a former ruler in Hawaii.

Welcomed to Hilo by a beautiful sunrise and a whale sighting!

Watch out!

Trying out the fish eye effect on my camera at Hilo Bay.

Exploring Hilo Bay. 

My new home

Coming to you live from room 4068 on-board the M.V. Explorer! Below I've posted some photos of my new home on the ship. I have a room that could technically fit three people but no roommates so although the room is small, there is plenty of space for me and my belongings.

My cabin, #4068.

Entrance to the cabin.

Plenty of closet space. There is another closet with shelves and a separate set of drawers as well.

My favorite part of my room is my window! There are both inside and outside cabins on the ship and the inside cabins don’t have any windows. I was afraid I’d get an inside room since I’m a staff member and not paying for room or board. Somehow I lucked out! I’m grateful because I will never have quite a view like the one I do in my room on the ship – always changing as we sail around the world!

View from my room a few days ago.

My work has been VERY busy ever since embarkation and the weather has been rainy for the past few days, so unfortunately I haven’t had much time to take pictures of other areas of the ship. However, we have a long crossing between Hawaii and Japan so I hope to take and post more pictures during that time period. Stay tuned to see what the rest of the ship looks like. 

And we’re off…

Hello from the M.V. Explorer! As I write this blog, we are speeding away from Ensenada, Mexico on the way to Hilo, Hawaii. Wondering what my last few days have looked like?

• January 7: After a wonderful visit to Riverside, CA, to see my friend Erinn, Erinn and I successfully navigated the California freeways and made our way to San Diego. After exploring San Diego for a bit, Erinn departed and I settled into a hotel for the evening to prepare for embarkation.
• January 8: Embarkation day for faculty and staff! At 13:00 I made my way to the port with a few newly-made SAS friends and boarded the M.V. Explorer. I unpacked my suitcases and got my room set up and then orientation began in the afternoon. We had a few meetings, got to know each other and had a Captain’s Reception. Unfortunately the Captain was not able to attend because of travel delays in getting to San Diego but it was fun nonetheless (P.S. he has since arrived and is steering the ship. Don’t worry-we have a captain!).
• January 9: More orientation for faculty and staff. We had a few meetings but also got some time to work with immediate co-workers. My co-workers in the field office are Julie and Andrew. We will make a great team. After a lifeboat drill in the evening, we departed San Diego for Ensenada, Mexico. Also, two of my fellow staff members became engaged during the evening in a very public proposal. What a way to begin the voyage! (And fortunately, she said yes. That could have been an awkward 115 days.)
• January 10: One more brief orientation session and then the students began to arrive! The ship is full with the energy and excitement of nearly 600 students. I worked all day in the field office answering student questions. After another lifeboat drill we departed Ensenada at 17:00 bound for Hilo, Hawaii. Six days until we see dry land again.

Has it only been 3 days since I boarded the ship?! It seems like weeks already since so much has happened.

Student's arriving in Mexico! 

First glimpse's of the open ocean as we depart Mexico.

Departing Mexico.

Departing Mexico.

My home until May 2: the M.V. Explorer.

The day is here!

As I sit in my hotel room this morning waiting to board the ship, I am reflecting on my previous international experiences, my studies at SIT Graduate Institute and my time working at Semester at Sea in Virginia this fall. Although I feel like I've been planning for this big adventure for several months I can’t believe today is actually the day when I’ll step onto the MV Explorer and begin my voyage around the world.

I am feeling excited, nervous and anxious all at the same time, more so than with my previous experiences abroad. I think the reason is that this time I’ll be working instead of just being a student along for the ride! I know I’ll figure everything out with my work but right now, my stomach is turning. This will probably not be a good combination with the rocking ship, so these feelings better subside before the seasickness that’s bound to happen sets in.

I've received a few requests from readers about sharing this blog with others and the answer is YES! Please share with friends, family, co-workers, etc.-anyone who’s interested in travel or in this particular adventure! I plan to update this blog as much as possible throughout the voyage. However, I must mention that internet on the ship can be dicey so updates may have some lag time but if you ever want to know where I happen to be sailing, you can view the SAS voyage calendar.

Since the ship’s internet is not the best, communications between the ship and the U.S. can be challenging. If you would like to contact me, the best ways are by commenting on this blog, on facebook, or through my work email address: whitney.longnecker.sp14@semesteratsea.org.

Adios from dry land! My next post will be when I’m out to sea!