Beating You To The Punch

Now that I've finished my contract with the cruise ship, many of you might ask me "What's Next?".

Well, I'm beating you to it and going to tell you What's Next.

1) I've reapplied to Norweigan Cruise Lines giving them my availablility Jan-MAy 2010 for another seasonal (short) contract. My #1 ship is Jade which goes here.

If I don't get Jade, I applied for Dawn which goes here and my friends Janelle and Bern will be aboard during a charter cruise called Cayamo.

It goes here.

And Lastly i chose one out of LA in hopes of staying close to family and friends while still working on the high seas...on booze cruises.





2) Working on an organic farm in my mother country (or other country).

Farm 0001

LOCATION: center of the transylvanian highlands, 400m over sea level, hilly grassland with woods and high diversity. Agricultural use, small farm entities, touristic area.
FARM: mixed organic (biodynamic) farm, roses for cosmetic use, herbs, vegetables, soft fruit, cereals, 10 cows, fodder crops.
MONTHS WHEN WE ACCEPT VOLUNTEERS: April - September
VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES: garden works, planting, weeding, seeding, harvesting, herbs, roses, fruit, jam preparation, cheese preparation, making bread, marketing, harvest of hay and straw.
SIZE OF FARM: approximately 35 HA: 22 PASTURE AND GRASSLAND, 5 ROSES, 7 CEREALS, 1 VEGETABLES AND HERBS
FAMILY: the farm is run by two agric,. engineers, 1 tractorist, a cook, two persons responsible for the animals, vocational training for 5 young adults.
LANGUAGES: English, German, Romanian
DO YOU HAVE PETS? dogs and lots of cats
DIET: we eat meat but a vegetarian can survive easily.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: the farm is only in year 3 of its existence, there ae many construction works, accomodation is very simple, hot shower and rich food is assured. Next town and rail station si 8 km.

3) I also applied for a very wonderful job for May-August which I don't want to get my hopes up so I won't even jinx it with a photo. Should find out by January. If not I will apply to work May-Whenever back on the Gem going Here

4) I am sending out a letter and resume to STA Travel inquiring about current openings within their organization. Details to follow on that.

5) Also, a Costa Rican woman I met...the wife of the chief engineer...owns a few hotels and islands and offered me to come live with her and her family while I get an 8 month tourism degree.

WHO KNOWS?

Video From Monaco

What I came across in front of the Montecarlo Casino. (old video but i finally got internet)

MERRY LOVELY CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I miss all you guys so much and I have to say.......something weird and definitely not anticipated has occurred...and I can only assume that tucked back deep in my psyche or subconscious or something it's because I'm longing to be with all of you in this holiday season...but I'M TOTALLY GRINCHIN!!!!!!!!!SCROOGEFEST 2009!!

Ya! Can you believe it!??! The last 5 things that have occurred starting with a 4am wakeup from drunken coeds screaming and turning all the lights on in my safehaven cabin---- all the way to now where I just got my revised schedule for today that says instead of working 1030am and getting off at 8pm (Everyone rotates to have this EASY DAY once a week...mine is on xmas)...and anyways now I work 730 to 1am. Neat. In between were a few more Debbies (Debbie Downers) for me but I'm trying to turn my mind around with an NPR "All Songs Considered XMAS Edition" Podcast. So listen with me please to Snowed In's "White Christmas" and maybe your positive vibes will come eastbound.

Wow I already feel em coming!

Today is a Merry Merry day and many children's dreams are coming true and for that I can celebrate.

And you know, it is Jesus' birthday and I never pass up a good party!

And things aren't really that bad...I'm going to bring my ipod to work and turn all the 6-9 yr olds into hipsters and liberals with my NPR mix.

ANDDDDDDDDDD I have unlimited hot chocolate here! That solves it, I'm going to get some cocoa!

Much love to you all and see you soon and very soon!

Peace

The highs

More details to follow up but here's the highlights

1) somehow got on stage at the crew bar to sing Final Countdown with the Gem Band "Prisim". I will not deny the 80s rock head-banging that transpired during the guitar solo and subsequent neck muscular failure. So i'm back in bed early at night and fixin to get a heat pack from the doctor soon.

2) STRANGER SHOUT OUT: This one goes to Javier from the BAhamas NAtional Guard for the free shuttle ride from the ship to town with miniml sexual advances and a confusing recommendation to use the "free internet cafe...only $5".

3) an all too close bathroom accident involving an indian man and his country fare.

And that's all for now folks.

My most recent thought

Sorry if I'm getting a little existential for you my 16 readers, but this is my most recent thought:

Isn't it weird how the people who choose you for a job, choose the life you will lead in many ways.

I wonder if they know they have this kind of power.

finally, some negativity!

ok i'm going to make this short because i'm in a really negative mood right now and no one needs to hear too much griping from a 23 year old girl working in the bahamas on a cruise ship. it's just wrong.

and plus i just bought this thermos from walmart and i couldnt be more pleased. thanks kikfeichy for the inspiration.

but i've hit the point in the contract where everything annoys me. someone stopped in front of me when i was walking down the main "highway" of the crew floor and you should have heard the inner monolgue of mine...something straight out of a 13 year old boy's myspace bulletin about his idiotic parents.

it's crazy, i don't know whats changed, maybe it's the fact that i've been feeling really stiff and sore with a headache since new york (saturday) but still , i know everyone's got their ailments. speaking of stiffness & headache, i finally went to the doctor...that's actually when i got the negativity bug...in the waiting room. (prob not the only thing i caught with GI supervirus sweeping the ship and some South African photographer hacking all over me, not to mention some little girlt he night before screaming in my ear so hard that a mass of saliva and snot shot out of her mouth and on to my jacket and hands.

where was I?

oh ya,negativity.

so after waiting from 930 to 11 to just see the doctor, a 5 minute consultation, and a confusing direction to the exit which actually brought me to a womans room who was reciving some "procedure" i cannot name----with all that--- I had only a theoretical "Muscular Virus" diagnosis, Vitamin C tablets, Ibuprofen, ICYHOT (as if I didnt smell like old people enough after the Transatlantic Cruise) & MUSCLE RELAXERS to treat my soreness ---to show for myself.

Fine, at least I had some serious drugs I could either take, or sell to any rave-wanabees in the teen center.

And we were in the Bahamas on a private island, so this California girl new a quick tan sesh and dip in cool clear waters could right any wrong...

But no, as I swiped my card to get off the ship the alarms sounded. Alarms make people look at you suspiciously, wanna know what makes people look ever moreso? When all the security start yelling "NO NO NO, GI GI GI, SUPERVIRUS, SHE HAS GI!)

Move over scarlet letter, GI is in this season onboard the Norweigen Gem and most cruise ships. But it was just a miunderstanding. the doctor forget to clear me after our consultation. it could be cleared up easily & quickly, and leave me bronzing in no time, right?

Wrong.

I will spare you the details, but after the entire security team of Nepal's finest, millions of terrified onlookers, two nurses, 1 unsuccessful trip to the medical center, and one very slow walking Doctor arrived, I was cleared 1.5 hours later and able to sit in the afternoon shade of Grand Stirrup Cay.

That was yesterday. Today is today. I feel better venting all that.

And Bye Bye Bye is playing so I'm smiling and thinking of me, bern, & lanas night in my car in Culver City.

And I am reminded that I am going to give a special shout out to my bestest lovely cutest brightest most amazinigest funniest cousin Taylor an

and my power just ran out so ihad to go back to my cabin adn get a power cord! see everything is so HARD. haha. ok here comes a little girl i have to babysitt for the day so nore more writing.

no pictures for today, as my negativity does not inspire photography...though now that i'm thinking perhaps i will work on a project highlighting my current genre of sentiment.

much love to you all AND ESPECIALLY TAYLOR!!!!

peace
al pal

Wanna see some real magic?

BARCELONA PICS UP

Click here for more

Young Life Comes To Cruise Ships

So my favorite part about Young Life are the gamezzz (well, few other things too like proclaiming the freedom gospel of an infinitely loving God) but the GAMESSS!!!!

So i mentioned earlier we tried something "new" aboard the Norweigen Gem and I got to be a part of it. Here's the pics of the first annual Norweigen Gem Family Double Dare Challenge!

And for you YLers who were concerned, yes Cheeto Face was represented well!!!!

Crossed The Atlantic

Hey Peeps, It's been a little while since I last wrote. We have made it across the Atlantic from Barcelona to New York! ...(With a few stops in the first 4 days...Cannes, Livorno, Civitaveccia, Corsica, & Malaga). 6 Days at sea and we didn't even get to get off in NY because of immigration and a Coast Guard drill that took twice as long as expected.

I wasn't too bummed to not get off because i havent been feeling well....no GI or a supervirus, my body is just really achy and sore adn all i wanna do is sleep. My guess in dehydration & exhaustion which means i'm cutting back on the cabin parties and countless coffees per day. I'm sure i'll be better today since i slept from 2pm-6am and am writing to you now.

My next excitement is we land in Pt Canaveral tommorow and there's a walmart!!! I can't wait for cheap stuff!

We got new uniforms is the rumor, I hope the pants are respectable.

ok hopefully i get off in FL next stop so i can use my phone, because the ship doesn't really get any service.

Love
ally

PISA tOURIST photos

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

PHOTOS: Nice & Monaco & Montecarlo!

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6th day at sea!

And rumors we won't get off the ship in NY which will mean 9 days at sea total. Needless to say, I have no travel photos but a multitude of cabin party ones. Here's some highlights, as you can see I haven't let a little makeup change me and my facial expressions in most pics.

I miss everyone and can't wait to get to US waters to make some well-deserved phone calls.

LOVE XOXO

PS Gossip girl, ihavent watched in 2 days. OVER ITTTT




Peace Corp Boy and Alabama Slammah Sandwich

Got a call from security the next morning but luckily Tango my roomate has them all in the palm of her hand....


Coworker Dinner;;;check that face


Weirdest night cabin party in the botox dotor's room with hypnotista from colorado and Peruvian dealer. Tango my roomate is the one in the middle. I'm on the right.

Rome Photos Up!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=35167243&l=3cf25a654e&id=10801606

Click there for more~!

Romanian Rumbles, Philipino Pleasure, & The Magician's Stateroom (PART 2)

Romanian Rumbles, Philipino Pleasure, & The Magician's Stateroom (PART 2)

VICTORY! I've finally made my way into "The Mafia" cabin party guest list. The Mafia is what the crew calls group of Philippinos who work in the fine dining as cooks because they always sneak sushi and escargot and basically anything they can out of the restaurants and into their parties in there cabins.

So i heard rumors. My roommate who is a cruise ship pro has been getting invites since the early 2000s but i knew it was my destiny too. i knew if i only worked hard, kept my eyes peeled, i would be eating sashimi at 3am in no time.

TONIGHT WAS THAT NIGHT! i saw the Philipino with the japanese bandana on from a mile away. i asked the casual questions...where do u work. what's good on the menu. when should i come visit...and then he replied...THE RESTAURANT IS NICE BUT COME VISIT cabin 3274 if you want real sushi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i ran into my room scribbled down the cabin number and with my class 1 status i will now ask the right question of my roommate to find one of these infamous parties. fishy updates to follow.

update already: i got invited to la cuchinas cabin party with shrimp and mussles. they invite us bak from garlic shrimp scampi tomorrow night.

and a plus...the lighting tech for the stardust theater alerted me that since i have befriended a passenger thaat there are no cameras backstage....ayayyaya. no need im sure.

and thirdly the magician/juggler/action comedian as he prefers to be called invited us to his cabin for some "room service". i dont know why i put quotes. it was a tuna melt. only a tuna melt...and chocolate cake...and strawberry shortcake. and 3 guys and 2 girls...so no scandal. in fact, we convinced him to do a kids show at the center so hes bringing his gear sans assistant to show us some moves!



more pictures AND video to follow.

Romanian Rumbles Philipino Pleasure, & The Magician's Stateroom (PART 1)

Romanian Rumbles Philipino Pleasure, & The Magician's Stateroom (PART 1)


I've broke this up into 2 parts because its a little bulky)
Lot's has happened you could say.

So i've been had!!!! I think...well i'm not sure but heres the scoop

REWIND: Its thanksgiving night, and somehow im kicking back with Elena, one of the most well known romanian sweethearts aboard the norweigen gem. and I tell her im romanian and id love to learn some...so she teaches me "how are you" and "im really good". She says...ull never forget how to say "im good" because it is...excuse my french/romanian...."Fuhk Bina"

oh my,
we giggle.

So im walking past her the next day i say "elena, ask me how im doing.." she asks.... I reply "Fuhk bina!". she laughs and shakes her head.

fast forward 2 days...a strapping romanian man walks up to me in the crew area. he asks me when i got here. we chit chat. i decide its time to show off my SKILLZ! "ask me how im doing". i say..... ( i really gotta learn this first question right?

so he asks "che fatch" or something like that. i reply (with great pride)

"Fuhk Bina!" and he screams followed by doubling over in laughter!!!!!

Laughter: great under normal circumstances but not what im going for with this one. Laughter? Why are you laughing??? He says

"Someone taught you wrong! That means you are good in bed!!"..

....

"WHAT???" I THINK!!!! Does that mean the romanian sweetheart punked me on my own country's holiday!

I'm pissed but also i kind of like it this way....i mean, pranking is a romanian custom. and she's basically the best of the best..


BUT IT GETS MORE COMPLICATED! I'm hanging with another Romanian Paul and i tell him the funny story....but no laughter. He says..."No she taught you right,...that other romanian guy was messing with you!"

So now I really don't know and internet is far too expensive to google the answer. So if someone wants to do it for me....or let me live in ignorance because maybe its more fun to solve the mystery on my own...over time...TRIALING AND ERROING.

NEW PANTS!!!!!!

Befriended a Philippino laundryboy and now I'm wearing these!

ALL MY PHOTOS SO FAR

here's the links...i am posting a new album every day so check back!

lovesies
al


Civitavechia /?? SP?


Herculaneum & Mt Vessuvius


Cannes, France

Good News/Bad News

good news is im not pregnant
bad news is i am starting to look like i am
this buffet is too good!

i waged war against the food on this ship this week, since the 2 previous weeks were full of unsavory eating behavior .

the new rules
1) only desert at dinner....seems obvious right? .... wrong.
2) no stealing sandwiches...unless i really need them in port.
*note: in my frugality i confused saving money in port by packing a lunch with outright gluttony. it was brought to my attention only when i told someone that i steal sandwiches from the buffet to which they replied "...why?..". It was only then did i even ask myself that question. so no more sandies...unless im really in need.
3) 4 meals a day...which is about half of what i was doing
4) ice cream is best served cold....no more icecream in my coffee and no more coffee at every meal though my daily caffeine headaches are starting to convince me otherwise.

that's all i've come up with for now, and i might say denying that desert section at breakfast time is very empowering.

right now im doing "port play" which is just me and whatever kids show up to be babysat essentially while their parents get off the ship. we only have 30 kids (next week we will have 900 onboard for some perspective)...so i've got no kids. just me, my laptop, and my personal jukebox in the teen center ive turned up loud enough to hear from the 2-5 yr old movie room where i write to you from 2 lovely beanbags with Don't Go Chasin Waterfalls tantalizing my senses. and now i hear an octave lower voice singing along which happens to be Michael the philipino housekeeping guy who is in charge of sanitaizing the childrens jungle gym every couple hours.

OH I FORGOT SOMETHING REALLY BIG HAPPENED A COUPLE DAYS AGO !!!

I withheld the information as i knew some of you (mom) would be very very worried but 2 days ago i woke up to a phone call from my boss early in the AM. She said "hey, you guys need to go to the doctor asap!". I was like...oh ok thinking it was a routine check up i didnt know about (monst things i have to o on this ship i dont know about it seems). so i got up and told me 3 roomates...but where was smiley...the 4th?

apparently i had fallen asleep during the first 15 minutes of Jodi Foster's hit film Flight Plan and missed all the drama. In the time between me faling alseep and me receiving the call from my boss Simley our roomate whom we shared many hands of popcorn and sour skittles had been diagnosed with GI...the supervirus of cruiseships. It's uncontrollable diahreea and vomitting and apparently she came down with it and was quaranteened...all before I could say Good Mornin. So I freaked out thinking i was gonna catch it and die.. (but slightly hoping to catch it just to shed these extra buffet pounds of course)...PS now Rock the Casbah is playing...i love making mixes. I have no rules.

So anyways, the doctor was extremely unhelpful and i spent the next 2 days hovering over our toilet as it is poo transmitted and not taking a shower as the vomit was all over our shower curtain. Housekeeping eventually came, Kris our steward, was terrified as he cleaned and my lack of trust for his cleaning meant one more day of bathrooming in public areas, no shower, and hanging in the crew areas which meant watching the most BIZARRE MOVE IVE SEEN IN A WHILe...i dont know the name but it was gweneth paltrow and some other people and the premise is somewhat confusing...anyone seen it?

Since i left you i believe i was in BArcelona. Since then we traveld back through Cannes though the sea was rocky and tendering took so long i had only about 2 hours on land. I did have a great espresso there though and went into ta choctaltier and smelled the beautiful smells of candies i coudlnt afford.

oh and i got paid! that was surprising, i almost forgot this was a paying gig. and it was more than i expected with tips and babysitting money being split between the 15 of us. apparently the new york route is way better for tips (about $100/2weeks) so I'm looking forward to that!

next day after Cannes was Livorno. I adventured off by myself in the crappy town and bought some souvenirs for you people back home. then i bought some pear juice, walked to a statue in a square, pulled out my SS (Stolen Sandwich) and hand a picnic. Lovely.


Yesterday was Civitaveccia or something like that. I had a lunch Date with the Alabama Slamma guy who i said is really funny but I'm not in love with . Well, still not in love with but we had a nice lunch on the ship...hold on need to jukebox....1999 by Prince...anyways, lunch then we met up with Nina for gelatto YUM!!!!! i got cherry ! yum. my mouth is watering, and then it was amazing with chocolate! holly crap. so good.

Then i told them of my dream: To eat pizza and drink wine in a square. and they agreed on the dream. so we went to a market got a $7.50 euro bottle of wine we thought the 7 was a 2 but he opened it before we realized. this would normally infuriate me but instead i rolled with the punches. we got a pizza with mushroom mozzarella to go and fulfilled the dream.

lastly we went to subway for famed internet and espresso surprisingly. the espresso was about an 7/10 (fyi i put 8/10 and then changed it ...like it matters) and the internet was done.

all in all a great success of a day.

and now it's The Way You Make Me Feel by Michael Jackson and I think it's the perfect time to say goodbye.

Gossip Girls Update: Blair and Nate are broken up...it seem like for good...and i can olny suspect he'll go after serena but i can't see how she would ever chose him over Dan. The way Dan looks at her...that's love.

I''ll be in New York Dec 12th, until then its 6 days at sea.

Cabin Fever Enriched Details To Follow

New Photos From Naples!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2144170&id=10801606&l=eab88a0a54

Click that link friends!

I was able to upload my photos finally in Cannes so I will be putting up 1 album a day....I've got about 5 or 6 i think.

Lovesies!

Al Pal

buenos dias

hey party people, i think it's been a while since we last spoke because my last email was written while watching house and now with that season ended, i'm on Gossip Girl episode 3 or 4. i really think vanessa is better for dan than serena but things have changed since she left....that's for sure. the ship plays one episode a day of GG...or whatever show the Broadcast Tech, Jason, decides . i've befriended him in the last week and i'm thinking of nuzzling my way into getting ABC's the bachelorette but its too soon to tell.



ok where did i leave off, ah! i went on a free tour to Rome which was UNBELIEVABLE!!! it was surreal to be standing by the colloseum (where i met 3 girls from pasadena who took my poorly framed and only picture of me and the building). i loved it and we had a 3 course big italian meal which i thought was only 1 course...which means i regretfully filled up on break only to have to scarf down pork, green beans, a salad, tiramisu, 3 glasses of wine, and a coffee.....after my lasagne.

then i finally got seelcted to go on a crew free tour legitimately....not borrowing someone elses ticket. Monaco, Nice, & Montecarlo. For you info it was beauttttttttiful wonderful, felt fake it was so pristine and perfect and precious. And Montecarlo was so exactly how they say....Bentlys & Mazeratis pulling in, rich people everywhere, the coast for miles, a lovely jazz band playing...and yes...the casino. I knew i had to gamble a bit there but i spend about 5 euro a day so i ended up risking 2 hands of 1 euro black jack. two back to back losses and ii was outta there!

and yesterday was Livorno where you can take 2 busses and a train and get to Pisa. so i did the whole push the tower over thing with 3 other counselors from the ship.

today was barcelona and i went to sagrada familia to....see it...with 3 other counselors i met up with accidentally. its really fantastic seeing people you know (crew or passengers) when u are in port, it makes me feel like the worlds a little smaller and warmer and nicer. The church was really impressive, i'll put pictures up soon...still havent gotten fast enouh internet. maybe ill try 1 or 2.

oh thanksgiving! it was great, my boss invited me and the only other amiercan on our staff to a french bistro on the ship for thanksgiving dinner with 5 other guys who are in the band. we had a rip roaring great time, and then the cruise director whos from US too set up a little get together with the promise of turkey....though only cheap wine showed up.

i havent fallen in love and i think hes like 35 or something, but i think i've met my comedic soul mate for this trip. hes from alabama and he had me dying laughing all thanksgiving dinner. dryest humor ive met in a while. i hope for more of him in my world...kind of a kenneth parcel type.

speaking of falling in love, ive taken an italian lover...octovio our bus driver to Mt Vessuvius bought me my first espresso in italy. he has fingernails grown out like guitarist have...but on both hands "for the ladies". sick. he coudl only say in very perfect english "I dont not speak english"....it took me a while to believe him because of his stellar pronounciation.

and lastly, today in barcelona in a park i challenged a spanish park sitter man to public ping pong....it quickyl became USA vs Espana tournament...all the park (3 people) were cheering and YES I WON!!!!!!

love to all of you, fill me in! thanks to kai for her update. lovin the twins and 2xs the diapers!

this week i'm back to 2-5 year olds...wish me luck! this is the cruise where we go across the atlantic...rumors in the crew bar that sseas are gonna be rough!!!! free seasick pills in the medical center.

Eruptions

yes! i finally got 1) to babysit a girl all day with two dads 2) a tour of the Herculaneum and Mt Vessuvius! Both equally as facsinating I'd say the tour wins slightly.

highlights, seeing 2000 year old preserved town. flirting my way to a free coffee with the italian bus driver who perfecltly could say "i do not speak english, only neopolitano italian" and nothing else in english whatsoever. so our coffee talk was limited to gigantic hand gestures and my amateur spanish.

tonight we had work 7-1030 since we are in port and i was assigned to help with the 6-9 year olds....lovely but i really missed my 10-12 year olds. espeically lydia...this 11 year old from boston who was sporting flannel and cordoureroys the minute i met her and has remained equally as cool as each day passes. she has a little brother nicky that is on his way to coolness who is 8 so it was nice being with him today...but i miss her. tommorow i will be back with the 10-12 year olds and we wil hopefully play timebomb...a dodgeball game that involved just pegged the crap out of each other from close range for 10 seconds.

after we went out to Bliss a passenger nightclub that was mainly inhabited by crew. my boss bought me yet another drink which means the drinks bought for me today count is at:2. that's how i like to keep it.

i also made some friends in the smokers lounge...a dancer girl that i befriended in safety training who then introduced me to the dance captain of the team. he asked for my number and wants to be my "girlfriend" so i think i'm doing alright.

tommorow i have another tour (the one today was given to me by my roomate smiley who already went on that tour last year) and tommorow to rome was given to me by my other roomate eyore who has training tommorow and can't use her tour. so the tour operator must hate me because i've signed up for 8 tours without getting picked, but will have gone on 2 unofficial tours as of tommorow. suck it shore excursions.

more to come, and hopefully pictures to follow, i gotta find some fast internet. as for now here's one of me and mt vessuvius and some 2000 year old ruins.

Spanish, Streets, & Secrets

today was another delicious success! i woke up at 645am and couldnt wait for the roomies to wake up so i set out on barcelona solo! a 30 min walk to las ramblas with no getting lost i was high on life. i wandered there, found some fre internet at subway. all the vendors and street performers were setting up so i thought id find a postcard landmark and then go there....park guell it is! i went to the tourist shack and found out the bus i needed to take $1.50 euro, found the bus stop after a few "donde esta la parada?"s but luckily realized the underground was cheaper and faster! so i did that, then walked from metro to the park. its up up on top of the city and they have even installed escalators in the actual street. lovin it.

the park itself is magic. its also the set of americas next top model finale in gaudi halls in barcelona. look it up.

i had a cheese sandwich i made at the buffet and hid in my city map from the cruise officer and listened to phil collins. ryan adams "love is hell" and some patty griffin also graced the barcelona playlist.

today was day 1 week 2, new kids and i'm on a team for the 10-12 year olds. im so excited because i know a little bit more about how to entertain them. there was only 6 of them, but we had a twister tournament and the semifinalists (3 boys) challenged ME! Sonar! i won, and put my but in an asian preteen's face....generating dreams for years to come.

i went on the staff deck to watch the stars with a girl youth counselor tonight. it was fun, i introduced her to sufjan stevens and then out of nowhere she said "OK! I GOTTA TELL SOMEONE THIS SECRET AND YOU SEEM LIKE YOU DON"T GOSSIP"....YES!!!! anyways, ironically i am telling u all but dont worry girl your secret is safe with me...kind of a let down because i already suspected the thing she told me. boo...why can't people drop bombs like they used to.

well tommorow is a sea day, that means double the work hours which is boo but its all good. Tuesday i work all day but have the night off, adn same with Secret Girl, so me and her and going to dress up for Formal Night and go out to a restaurant and a show. Whadupwhadupwhadup!

highlight: the little 2 year old greek girl from malta came running to me when she arrived at the kids center which erupted in a giant hug and giggle fest.
lowlight: too many cookies today
diamond in the rough: preteen twister

The Pants

Nicey Nice

update C:

hey people, its been a while since i last wrote...well feels like a while but prob only a few days. we left off in Civitaveccia....or something like that.....If you were wondering, the gelatto was FANTASTIC@!! and huge!!! ive never eaten that much ice cream ever. i have pictures but have to get to a port to upload them or else itll cost about $2 a picture...worth it? i duno, worth a thousand words...definitely. Is the cost of a thousand words $2....i haven't checked lately. ok what was i saying...oh ya....crew party!?!?!

The 80s prom throwback crew party was amazing. Best staff social i've had...but thats due to the fact that it was about 500 people shakin it and breakin it on the dance floor. not to mention we finally got to slide out of those highwaisted pants and throw on some makeup!!!!! jk guys, i still haven't had to wear makeup, lets hope for the best. i had an hour talk with my boss in Cannes today and she didn't bring up my appearance so i think i'm safe til 2 week evaluation. anyways, the party, wow im scattered today...prob because I just lead a team of 7 spanish speaking kids thru the ship on the Amazing Race. I have become the go to spanish speaker if Rico and Tango are both off duty (as they were tonight). Pretty sweet, they are all around 9 or 10 and super cooool. and i translated jeopardy for them and we could cheat a little because no one else understood what i was telling them...bueno.

After Civitavechiwhat?, we arrived in Livorno. 20 min train out of Pisa and 1 hour out of Florence. Livorno itself leaves much to be desired but i think the cruise ships like that fact...because then people buy their tours. Business Travel And Tourism. So we went to Florence and WOWOWOWWEEHWAH, i love it. I think im going to go to Pisa next week since we only have a half day in port. But the 3rd trip to Livorno (and last) im going back to florence to hit up St Marcs Square, Duomo perhaps, and just basically soak it up.

Today was Cannes, France. WOOWOWOWOWOWOWOEWEEEEEEWAHHH, even better than I could have dreamed! I decided to fly solo in Cannes (sometimes it just feels right ya know) and wandering around this place was magic. Today was my best day i think. And it has all to do with the fact that I found a tiny little shop on the outskirts of town with a "Before 11am, espresso & mini croissant for $1.50!!!!!!!! It was my first thing to buy (other than a shared panini in Florence that was about a 6/10). Anyways, I told the waiter who spoke little english and looked Chinese that i worked on the cruise ship and would be back next week. He gave a big smile but his need for me to repeat the word "ship" in as many synonyms I could think of worries me. UPdates to follow if he remembers me.

For those of you who are new to this blog...welcome...and welcome to the world of my mind stream of consciousness writing. There's not structure, plot, or spell check so enjoy the ride.

I'm on my break right now (worked 3-7 and then 9-1030) so pretty decent considering I toured france today too. We are having a pajama party so (i think) i get to come dressed in pajamas. Update to follow if I was in fact supposed to or if just the kids are and everyone is in their uniforms when i come back.

In unrelated news, Bernadette must be summoning my spirit back to her in LA or vice versa because I have been wandering into Hello Kitty Stores, ice cream cones, magazines, photos, post cards, etc.

Ok feel free to write me back and give me some updates because me writing these things feels a little egocentric when no one tells me what theyve been up to.

Ok, I will upload pics as soon as I can as there are some real winners, but til now...Ciao and keep it real.

lovelovelove
al

Malta Pictures!

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Oh Whaddup

HEYYYYY

(sorrry for the typos but im writing fast and i hear 10 languages (5 real/5 baby talk) a day so my english is depleting.)

update 2. 2 girls are slepping so il make this quick. i went out to the crewbar tonight. it was jammin's (youth counselor) last night and i thought i should because everyone on my staff does. i was nervois if i would find them, be accepted, make conversaion, etc. but it went off witout a hitch and my coworker and future superviser come dec 19 bought me 2 drinks. i even stayed out later than my roomate who has been doing these rodeos for years.

anyways, i was scared but now i am feelin alright. hopefully my gesture of going out when we have a passfail exam 8am tommorow wont go unnoticed. im really nervous for it and for the homework we must turn into lenny...the ex brit navy guy.... i havent been this stressed over homework since 6th grade goldrush project.

well im gonna try to go to bed, got my 2 beer in an hour buzz on and the ship is rockin which adds another brew to my center of gravity.

ive been showering here....well once so far since LA...but its real nice. staying hydrated. making friends. attending shows. my next misssion is to get dressed up and get cocktails in the passenger areas well some girlfriends (dont worry LA girlfriends....they aint got sh@& on you! seriously, everyone ive met is lovely but they are in the "cruise mentality" which i dont think i am. many girls are on their 5th or 6th contract and this is their element, where they thrive. ps theres a party in teh cabin next to me. its louder than hannon on opening weekend.

day 3. woke up early to sit by myself in the staff mess hall to study. i got my first glimpse of malta from the window i sat next to and i almost started to get a little misty. it was so beauitful and it was so surreal. but then i got a hold of myself and drank my passionfruit guava juice!

ANDDDDDD i missed 2 on my exam out of 60! yes!!!! and i passed my written evacuation exam too so now i am living life so happy. i was pretty stressed...so stressed this mornign that i forgot we didnt have to work til 3* and wore my crew uniform to the test while everyone else was in their street clothes. the pants rising so high really stress me out so its amazing i only missed 2.

*i woke from my nap to go to work at 3 only to be told at 430pm by my boss that i wasnt scheduled til 5. haha. not.

back to the monring: then i found out that i didnt have training until 1130 so i met up with 2 youth counselors and we went out to malta. malta is seriously beautiful and wildly romantic ...almost everything is made out of limestone so its very fort-esque and the streets are narrow with little shops carved into the stone. i didnt go on a tour and only had an hour and a half there but we took some good pictures and i feel like i got a little taste of the place. it's fancier than i thought with tons of tommy hilfiger shops and burger kings and jewels??. ok i dont shop.

a highlight was talking with a fisherman who was selling 1 shark on the street. there was a tour sign that said "the malta experience" and we asked him to take our picture under it...he could absolutely not understand why we thought it was funny/worth a picture. hes like...this way with the beautiful view! this way with the market! this way with the horses..!?? no, this way...with this silly sign please sir. half exasperated, half intrigued he bid us a friendly malta aideu.

ok im going on break with 2 counselors, we are going to the passenger buffet which is amazing!! indian food, ice cream, crepes, etc. im going to grab a cappucino and read and i think they are doing hte same. work back at 7pm til 1030pm. pretty easy day i think .

kizzzes, as you can see im not roughing it with the spa and malta and passenger buffet. the only hard part is not being able to share it with you people that i love.

update1: ok we are in naples this today. i work 7pm so after training at 1 i am going off the ship for some pizza i hear is good...updates to follow..

miss you people
last night i had 2 horrible dreams and one of them was i was confined to a pitch black box and i woke up and i was sleeping in my bed iwth the curtains closed....in a pitch black box essentilaly. dreams do come true

update: naples was a little lackluster. the thing to do here is climb mt vessuvius & go to pompei. also you can go to sorrento which is supposed to be beautiful ....but naples....eh ....theres a bunch of trash everywhere and construction, granted i only had 1 hour there to walk around with Elmo...a nice phillipino girl from canada who is also a youthcounselor who was here 2 weeks before me but slept at every port town last 2 weeks so is touring with me as her first time seeing these places too. she is trigger happy with the camera which means ill have a lot of me standing giving thumbs up and peace signs in random places.

update 3: sorry for all the updates ...last one for now. its 645am and i cannot fall back asleep so im listening to some pattty griffin and writing you lovely people. i have evacuation drillls from 930-12 today while we are in port in chitiavecia sp? or something...very near rome. we have 12 to 4 i think in rome. apparently we are going for world famous gelatto here. i am very excited.

ok officially im done for now. love love love. tonight is a crew party with everyone on the ship that work. thats like a 1000 person party. the youth counselors happen to be hosting hte event so its in the spinnaker lounge (see Ncl.com desc of my ship The Gem for goof photos of the ship) I volunteered to bartend for 1 hour of the night which is just opening beer and wine and a good chance to meet people. its 80s throw back prom night so im feelin good about that!

love
al pal

First And Foremost

hey everyone,
(send this on to those i missed)

ive abstained from email the first couple days because 1) i was afraid it would make me homesick 2) i wanted to be fully present while learning all there is to learn for this job. 3) other?

but im here, i have 5 mins before I have to go to more training. I've done a lot of training...a lot. but they made me work my first day at 730pm to 1030. that was last night. everyone on my staff 15 youth counselors like me and 1 supervision who is a combination of jen dingman and coach thompson....most of you only know either one or the other so that is a really bad explanation. anyways, shes super cool.

everyone has been soo friendly. i got in the hotel in barcelona at 10pm and there was 5 philipinos eating dinner and they invited me to eat with them. i see them all over the ship now and its so funny to think they were my first friends. small world.

big boat. the boat is huge. bowling alleys, rock walls, full spas (which are open to crew after 1030pm. ) a few of us went to the spa last night. it was awesome, imaigne the nicest spa u can imagine and then think nicer. i couldnt believe it. and free.

speaking of free, all the tours are free to staff and we have 90% of port days off! the ship is incredibly overstaffed for youth. today me adn 3 counselors...all in their mid 20s...played ringtoss with 2 little girls...one from malta, amy, with impeccable english but some more or rainman thing going on...and the other, marissa, from..??? where no one knows. 2 days of playing with her and i dont know what language she speaks.

did i mention im assigned to age 2-5 this week. pretty bummed at first, or unprepared or insecure even but actualyl its working pretty smoothly. the teens are a separate program but i will try to weasel my way in.

the uniforms pants go above my bellybutton and we tuck in our shirts. do the math. i look like a clown.

thats all for now...there's a few rebels in the youth program who are trying to encourage me to go out to the crew bar everynight with them and "not remember" much but that seems a little scary to be honest and not too fun. i'd rather forget a night when i know i wont wake up in a Nicaraguan's crew bed wearing nothing but a banana peel and using a maraca as a pillow.

ok gtgo to training. theguy who runs it is ex brit navy and late is NOT AN OPTION. he even has a retractable metal wand to point to things on the screeen.

what else, ...im not sad or homesick or anything. they say it will come but i really hope it doesn't. i miss you guys but in the most wonderful way where it doesn't make me sad it just makes me feel love and happiness. hopefully that keeps going cause otherwise it could get dark in this 4 bed cabin with high waisted pants and all.

ill send pics next thyme......(i meant to mispell that...add a little disorder to my orderly lifestuy.)

ally