oh the places you will go

      Today after I had breakfest and packed my lunch, lunch is not served on weekends so you pack one at breakfest. There was a carnival hosted by the Chaplancy and the Academy I ended up sitting outside on deck 8. It is the higest deck, with the exceptions of the pool deck, yes we have a pool but it is not in working order  at the moment. While I sat there in a borrowed camp chair I was able to see the coast line of South Africa. We are still about 10 miles off shore so it is a hazy blurry coastal mountain outline, but beutiful none the less.

I was thinking about how at this time at home I would be excited becuase pumpkin spice would be available at Starbucks and that means it is Fall. I pondered how I ended up here, on this floating hospital ship, teaching one student floating in the Altantic/ Indian Ocean I am not sure our position at the moment but in one of those two oceans. I was trying to figure out why in my head it made sense to email about a "job" and then three weeks latter step onto a plane to fly to West Africa. I dont know what possesed me exactly but I do know that it was meant to be.
There is no other way to explane how smothly and quickly it all went. I know I could be more usefull other places but I have come to know and trust that I am not necessarily here to teach but to learn. So that is what I am trying to do, learn. While I learn to live in a dorm setting again.  To work along Laura Ingalls with my one student in my makeshift class room of two small white baords and a zip lock bag full of pens. To love what ever comes my way.
As a sea life update I have seen whales twice and dolphins twice. It is so funny when there is an announcment  from the bridge or in a room where someone spots them becuase every one runs to a window or a deck. When  I say run I mean walk fast because we are not able to run on board. In the next week we will transistion off the ship to our country compund when the ship, my new found home is being fitted with new generators. I have large travel plans in South Africa or at least a long wish list. I dont know if I will have the time or means to see it all but I am excited for what is to come.

disapointments

There is a quote by Mark Twain I saw last week that really struck me and I wanted to share it with you all. Or really mom cause I dont belive anyone else reads this but here goes.

" Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you did not do then by the ones you did do. So throw off the bow lines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream."

I read this quote and right away wanted to live my life this way. Do what makes you scared go to the unknown. I love that it speaks of sailing as my current home is a floating ship somehwere in the Southern Hempisphere of the Atlantic. I want to live by this and can not imagine why anyone would not want to also. So to do what you want and have no regrets!

I think I will stay

Today was my second day of teaching and I have to say I like it and think I will stay. It is four weeks tomorrow since I wrote to Mercy Ships that I was interested. When I tell people my "Mercy Ships" story and I tell them it was three weeks to the day from the first email to when I got on the flight, people are amazed at the speed.
Since my last update we have began our sail, we are heading to South Africa. On the first day of sailing I saw four whales breaching and putting their tails in the air. It was so cool to think that as I sit here talking about English with a fellow teacher that I am
               1) on a ship in the atlantic
               2) just saw whales swim by!

We had mexican tonight for dinner which was fantastic! After dinner we started playing a crew wide game of assissins so that should be fun. I am starting to feel more comertable here and starting to know my way around. I am starting to understand the ship better and how it all works. I dont have to stop and think about where I am as often as I did before so that is nice.

day one down...

       I got into Togo last night around 6:30pm, 11:30 am at home. When I was checking into my flight to Togo there was a man in a Mercy Ships polo so I introduced myself to him; that came in handy latter. The flight was fine but the airport was a little bit more rough then I am used to. I did not know what passport line to get into so I just followed around the man in the polo. Which I also then did through customes. We were meet by four people from Mercy Ships at the airport, two of whom are fellow teachers, Christian and Ben. It was so nice to have people waiting for me who new my name, offered hugs after a LONG day of travel and knew how to navigate a very forgin airport. When we got to the dock and I saw the Africa Mercy it really sunk in that I was in Africa and will be on this ship for the better part of a year.When we got onboard everyone was very welcoming and nice, I was able to meet other teachers whom I had emailed with and there was a meeting that was getting over as I got there so I meet all the other teachers at once who were serving ice cream after community meeting.
        I was able to sleep most of the night wich was a pleasent suprise. I went to breakfest and meet someone in line and ate with her. We had a meeting after about the sail and what to excpect. After the meeting I went and spent the day in the Academy. Ten minutes in we had a fire drill, I have to say those life vests are very fashionable! After the drill I was given a tour of the ship and through all the Academy rooms, and was introduced to each of the 50 kids on board. It was a very overwhelming day but enjoyable. After lunch I went back to the Academy and started to help pack up the office. Since we are moving off the ship everythings has to be packed that we are briging with us. Then by the end of the school day I was able to sit with some of the other teachers who I am taking subjects over for. This was the first time I knew excatly what I was going to be teaching. I was asked if I was the french teacher about 5 times today, which as any of you who know me know there is no way in hell that is a good idea. I am teaching grade 2 (one boy) Math and English and am teaching grade 5 math (one boy, grade 2's brother) , grade 4/5 Science. I am really excited for it and know it will be crazy expecially during the sail and set up on land.
          I had dinner with one of my roomates. I am in a four person cabin and the girls all seem really nice. After dinner there was a new crew member oriantation tour, it was a little but more detatiled then my earlier tour so that was nice. I am starting to get tiered but really want to get on the right time zone as soon as possible and am making my self stay up, hence the post and I am sure many spelling errors and typos.

the day has finally come.

I am sitting at PDX early for my flight (of course as I am on Linderman time which means to be at the airport 3 hours early). Mom and I did well not to many water works. I am sitting and thinking about what a great last weekend I had at home and how three weeks from today I was only just looking into Mercy Ship and emailing saying that I was interested in the position and wanted more info. I wanted to post some pics from my last few weeks at home, they were lots of fun and more importantly full of people I love.

Its Official!

         Today I received my official acceptance letter from Mercy Ships. Which means I am going!!!!!!! I even bought my ticket today so I am pretty stocked.
            A week from tomorrow I leave Portland at 6:05 am and get into Lome, Togo the next day at 6:05 pm. I am really excited and tons less stressed and nervous then I was went I went to London. I feel so much better knowing there will people meeting me at the airport. The school principle Nikki will even be meeting me so it is so much less stressful. I had lots of lonely experiences in London along with many, many amazing ones and I hope this experience will have less lonely ones and even more amazing ones.

August, 3rd 2010