So, I was peacefully eating lunch today, some yummy beat salad and black bean and veggie mix, when the librarian comes over to chat. I know her from my many trips there to use the Spanish-English dictionary, and other various things (We tend to go old school with limited internet). All of a sudden Morroco comes looming out of the fog, it was awesome, and not even 10 minutes later you could see the mountains in Spain. Then it all hit me. I'm really in between two completely new continents. Not only that, but I'm on a ship looking over the water eating my lunch like that's a completely normal thing. Then I meet the assistant dean of whom informs me that she is an administrator at my brother's college (Duquesne). So not only did I meet the assistant dean which is nerve racking enough, but I'm in my swim suit on the deck of a ship eating beats, of course I got some on my shirt, and now I have to chat with her about Pennsylvania. It was a good conversation, but I am not used to meeting such formal people in such an informal setting. But really that's a good example of how life is on this ship, people from all different ethnicities, backgrounds and even ages just coexisting, and quite casually ...normally. Granted there are a few of whom think they are better than everyone else and are only travelling to spend money and be drunk a lot, which is quite unfortunate because that's not what this trip is about. I would be lieing if I said I wasn't going to drink, but I plan on being responsible and being with responsible people...just to help anyone who may be worrying. So to continue my story, as dinner approached we arrived at the Strait of Gibraltor. So I was laying out while taking pictures of the landscape, giant tall mountains with little buildings nestled in. Also big houses of which probably belonged to the people driving around the many sail boats that were out. Then when I was trying to change for dinner itself, I noticed a ship practically on my porthole.......it was there refueling and I actually got a video of it coming towards us. Even though we've only gone through a straight I've already begun to feel some of the culture shock, old buildings mixed with new, friendly people waving from small yachts. Not to mention again, I was sitting on a cruise ship, eating dinner, between Africa and Europe AHHH. Oh, 2 silly facts. One, the apes of Gibraltor, are actually Marmasets(spelling??). Regardless if you're actually on the rock of Gibraltor (we did not get off the ship) they steal your food and they're supposed to be really entertaining :) Second silly fact. So the two sides of the straight are called the Pillars of Hercules, one is the Rock of Gibraltor, and the other ....was something else I don't remember..but the point is one is Africa and the other is Europe, technically in Spain. For some reason Spain owns the pillar on the African side and no Africa doesn't own the other side, Britain owns the Rock of Gibraltor (the other side). People do weird things. Another thing I'm up to is I signed up for an "extended-family" which is a life long learner or a kid that you get to have dinner with and celebrate different things with etc. I have this really sweet lady that I had met previously. Some groups are made up of 8 people some, like mine are only four. They mixed people up so friends aren't put together. This way we meet more people. It was sweet because the person I was assigned to, Jeanne, sent me a post card to my room today from the Bahamas and was thanking us for dinner and offering to help us get our trips set up etc. I am sorry this is so long, I am just taking it all in. It finally hit me. And I love it and I never want it to end...however I do miss everyone. Hug my puppy for me (and everyone else of course) I am aiming to post pictures online on Tuesday. We have to plan it very meticulously because of the high number of pick-pocketers, laptops are really important and that would suck to get stollen. My group has started brain storming ideas for communication and not losing anyone. When we are out and about we are going to leave sticky notes on our doors, after actually memorizing each others door numbers. You know, I'm at the gym until _____ join me if you'd like :) etc. etc. or Hey I decided to go off with some friends so I won't be joining you on the trip to..lets say the Sistine Chapel. We'll have to write down our room numbers though...Everyone just seemes to know where Lindsay (my roommate) and I are because our room is 2012...which is doomsday and therefore easy to remember. So we have that, for if someone gets stuck on their trip late or generally changes their mind to be with us. That way we know if we need to look for them. Plus before each port we're all making a list of top five things we want to see and coming up with times different people can get together. Now this doesn't mean we won't swap people, just means we'll expect someone to meet up with unless there's a sticky note or they tell us they're going off with another group. No big deal, as long as noone is alone. This way, we all have someone who knows where we are, and can look for us if we've disappeared. Paranoia maybe, but it makes this less stressful. So we established this system, but we're actually going to plan out Spain and Italy. Spain will be nuts because they don't even eat dinner until 10 at night and they eat like hobbits throughout the day. Then if you want to go to a dance club, even the traditional ones, they don't open until 1 or 2 a.m. It's okay...I didn't need sleep. But I'm looking forward to the markets, with all the fish and vegetables, and eating in the bars. Just people everywhere chatting eachother up, kids and adults. Everyone. There is so much more I could say, but it is almost 2 a.m. and I have class at 8 a.m. good night! :)
Me
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