“this is not a signal to abandon ship”
These two
statements, my title and the phrase just above, were heard by us all not
respectively and not in direct relation to one another. They were, however,
said over the PA system on Friday the 10th of January, 2014.
Embarkation day. I have no idea at this point how long we had been on the ship
before those announcements were made. I had arrived in Mexico though not less
than two hours before. There were quite a few notices given over this beautiful
vessel’s PA system but these two were what stuck with me most and caused for
myself - as well as others, I am certain - the most emotion. The first, my
title, caused in me a frenzy of spasmic (that is totally a word now and should
be self explanatory (; )
excitement. The second statement I chose to share with you because I found it
amusing (while the circumstances I viewed as necessary and somber) enough to
ensue a chuckle from my throat. Yes, I know, it doesn’t take much for that to
happen for me but still. I also find it amusing that those should be the first
two statements read. It’s an attention grabber and one so clever if I do say so
myself that I couldn’t resist. Anyway. Back to my voyage.
I can’t say
the exact reason but all the students boarded the ship in Ensenada, Mexico, a
different location than the check in station of the San Diego Hilton. I arrived
at the San Diego Hilton at about half eight the morning of the 10th.
There were lots of people and even more bags. Thankfully there were also lots
of SAS staff members to help us out. I got my luggage tags and my own name tag
with plenty of time before my shuttle bus left for Ensenada. I even had time to
fill up my water. The drive was beautiful and not too long, no more than three
hours. Customs was a breeze. I practiced my Spanish some. The customs officials
did not seem impressed. Then we were standing right next to her. The MV EXPLORER, gleaming patriotically in
her red, white, and blue paint. Earlier arrivals were strolling along her decks
and waving at us. Despite the heat, the wait to board was short. On we went to
check in to the ship. This went flawlessly for me also. At this point I had met
quite a few of my shipmates: one from Texas, one from Alaska, one from Mexico,
one from New York, one from China, and one from Philadelphia. We do seem to be
quite the eclectic mix.
Of course,
when travelling, it is rare that logistics always work perfectly. Somehow SAS
assigned me to a two person room…with two other girls. It was easily remedied from
a helpful crew member at the pursers desk. Getting a new key was, anyway. The
hard part was getting my luggage (already marked with the wrong room) to my new
location. I tried to tell the crew members whose job it was to deliver bags,
but still I worried. I made my way up to one of the higher outside decks where
I could see the cityscape and the dock. There were so many bags being lined up
near the customs building. I could not see which were mine.
I knew
though that my bags would be on the ship somewhere and that it wouldn’t be
impossible to find them. I was feeling quite a few different things at this
point, nerves and excitement and amazing curiosity that the last thing I felt
like doing was eating but I had lunch anyway. Met some new students and one of
my new teachers. Then I went on to do some more exploring. I will be using
nautical or military time from now on as it is commonly used here and because I
like it…I will try to remember also to translate it: at 1400 (2pm) there was a
meeting for us. A man spoke about his profitable and worthwhile career after
his SAS voyage. What he lacked in speaking and organizational skills he made up
for tenfold in enthusiasm. When he finished speaking we were asked to return to
our cabins for the lifeboat drill. The MV
EXPLORER’s life boats are quite the sight. They look large enough to hold
at least 50 people. They are roofed all out of the same material and even have
small rudders. Like a mini cruise ship. I am not sure how many there are but my
guess would be at least four.
Once I
returned to my room on deck three (that’s the Dionysus deck) I met my roommate
in cabin 3044. It happens she sat behind me on the bus. She is very nice.
Together we looked for our life vests. The PA system beeped and the captain
began giving instructions. There was silence for a while, then a number of loud
beeps sounded. My roommie asked what that might mean and I said it was probably
that they were testing and letting us hear the emergency signal. We put our
life vests on. On cue, the captain’s voice returned telling us those beeps were
the emergency alarm signal, and then he said…”it is not a signal to abandon
ship.” Well, I thought it was funny. We found our emergency muster station on
the deck near life boat 6. There we waited a while until finally the all clear
signal was heard.
Everyone
took off their vests right then and slowly we made our way to our rooms to
return them. I was on my way to go look around some more when the PA system
blared again and the captain requested all visitors to the MV EXPLORER return to the dock because…the ship was then under
sailing instructions. Right there on the stairs between deck 5 (Selene) and
deck 6 (Apollon) I had a little freak out moment. Still, my situation still
didn’t seem real. Lots of people gathered on the decks outside to see off Mexico.
It was sunset and simply gorgeous. We even saw some seals. Everyone cheered
when the horn sounded. And off we sailed. But the day was far from over. I
didn’t feel tired until it was fully dark (I had found both my cases by this
time, thank goodness) and land, if we were near any, was not visible. There
were more meetings to attend though and I had to wait up some. I was not
expecting to be sea sick at all, but I did not feel completely normal. Still,
sleep came with ease and lasted through the night (except one moment when I
woke up with a start and had no idea where I was…recognition came eventually as
did, with a smile, I fell asleep again).
Written for 10 January 2014
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