"Bittersweet symphony, that's life..."

I am back in the United States. I didn't expect to be writing so soon but it is all I can think about. I can't believe it is over. I am happy yesterday is over because it was difficult and exhausting. I can't even explain how I feel - it's almost like it came and went and never existed because life has just gone on. This is the first time in 3 1/2 months I have typed my blog from the actual blog site instead of through an e-mail, that I have not had my semester at sea e-mail, that some of my best friends are no longer a few feet away but in states all over the country, that I won't fall walking down the hallway, that my bed does not rock, that the food actually tastes good, that there is no other country I will be visiting, that US is not just the currency of choice, but the only choice...same with English, that I have a cellphone and internet (what is that? I didn't really miss it...) It's all very strange and foreign and I hope it will ease. I'm listening to Christmas music trying to understand where the last half a year went and how it will be 2009 in 2 weeks and I will be graduating college in 5 months. Comforting words are welcome and appreciated. Reverse culture shock is now something I experience first-hand...

The end...

The Ambassador's Ball was so much fun. We all dressed up and ate filet mignon (and salmon) and had a big dessert bar. Everyone looked beautiful and the music was horrible on the dance floor. Then we stalked everyone dancing on the tv screen in our room which was even more fun. I don't have much to say because the last few days have been crazy and tomorrow is our last day. It has been a mix of packing and emotions and I am all blogged out. See you all very soon...

Me before the Ambassador's Ball in my dress made in Vietnam :)

Brit & I

Costa Rica

Yesterday we arrived in Costa Rica, and instead of docking in Puntarenas, we had to tender from Port Caldera. Puntarenas only has two spaces for ships to dock and I guess the two that were there were regulars and had preference. So anyways, we had to take the lifeboats to shore, and Savannah and I were on an SAS trip to La Paz Waterfall Garden. We didn't realize it was over a 2 hour drive there, but when we arrived it was all worth it. The first thing we did was get a buffet lunch there, which was delicious. They had a mix of American food like pizza and hot dogs, and also Costa Rican food including the most delicious sweet plantains! After that I had to run to the store to get batteries because my rechargeable ones surprised me by not being charged. I got to see monkeys, hummingbirds, and butterflies! The hummingbirds flew so quick and near my head, and one of the butterflies sat on my shoulder. It was so much fun. We also got to see some huge waterfalls. I stood under a few so I got soaked but got some good pictures :) The day was one of my favorites - I really was in awe of all of the nature around me. That night Sav and I had planned to meet the rest of the girls to go out, so we took the tender when we got back to the dock. We were almost at the ship, and they told us we weren't allowed to get off and had to turn around because it was so rocky and would be dangerous. When we got back to land, there were buses to take us to to Puntarenas (the ship would be arriving there at about 10:30 and it was 6:30 at the time). Sav thought maybe the girls were already off the ship and were going to meet us, so we decided to wait for the next group of buses. Well, we realized the girls were still stuck on the ship, and the next bus didn't come for an hour and a half. There were some MAD people. I found it pretty funny actually and just added another experience to the trip.

The next day we woke up early and all 10 of us had breakfast. We went out to the pier and met with a few different tour guides, and ended up splitting into groups of 4 and 6. My group went to go feed white-faced monkeys and these little coati animals. They were both so cute! The monkeys were adorable and took the banana out of our hands and ate it right next to us...I love monkeys :) We also saw a toucan there! Next we went to go see all the crocodiles under the bridge. Apparently the deciding factor of whether a crocodile will be male or female is the temperature of the nest, which I didn't know and found very interesting. Our guide was saying some people were worried about global warming and what that would do to the sexes. After that we went to a little rain forest/nature reserve and saw all kinds of fruit trees (papaya, mango, banana, etc.) and nut trees (cashews, almonds). We found out that cashews come from a fruit and in each fruit is only one cashew nut, which is what makes it expensive. It was beautiful there and very relaxing. By the way, I did not see ONE tarantula the entire trip around the world! In fact, I only saw one small spider about the size of a quarter that was bright orange and actually really cool! I am a lucky girl :) So anyways, after that we ate lunch at a small outside restaurant on the beach called Fiesta de Mariscos (Party of Seafood). We got a platter that 4 of us shared with enough to feed everyone for only $5 each! It was delicious...shrimp, crab, logastinos (not the right spelling, but small lobsters), calamari, mussels...it was so delicious! After that we walked along the beach and saw a beautiful scarlet macaw. Our guide told us there are only 600 left in the wild in Costa Rica! We also stopped at a small stand on the side of the road to get sugar cane juice freshly made. They put the stalk through a little hand machine right in front of us and the juice poured out. It was a little strange at first, but with a little lemon juice it was pretty good. Our guide and driver were so nice. Our guide is actually from Canada, and has lived in Costa Rica with her husband for 2 years as a tour guide and English teacher. That was the funny thing...before I knew that I mentioned I was interesting in teaching English in Costa Rica to get better at my Spanish, and she was excited and said that she's the one who hires English teachers at her school! I got her business card. Our driver (name is pronounced Ro-here...but is spelt Roger!) did not speak any English. It was so much fun conversing with him! I told him in Spanish that I had taken the language for 5 or 6 years but never got to practice and I really liked too. He kept talking to me and told me the key was to practice practice! He talked to me throughout the day and was so friendly, we both were able to communicate with each other and I think he was happy that I was trying. He told me at the end that I was muy simpatica y muy bonita lol After we finished our guided tour, I walked along the beach to look for souvenirs at the different vendors. They were all so nice! I really love speaking in Spanish, it makes me really excited when I can communicate with them. One of the guys spoke some English so we were going back and forth and he would speak in only Spanish sometimes to help me to practice. Sometimes I would say a word and wouldn't be sure if it was right, and he would tell me I was and then ask me what the word is in English because he didn't know. It really was a lot of fun - I would love to become fluent.

That night I went out with all of the girls to have dinner at this place called Kimbos that was recommended to us by our guide. It was delicious! I got a place of rice (with a lot of cilantro!) and huge shrimp for $5! And I also got a strawberry daquiri which was delicious. Once it got passed ten they put the dance lights on and turned the other lights off so we all danced for awhile. Some of the girls wanted to stay, but I left with a couple of the other girls so I could get a few hours sleep. It was a great night - we were the only Americans there!

The next day, yesterday, we woke up early again from breakfast and left to go on a canopy tour - zip lining! I was pretty nervous at first but it was so much fun and really not scary at all! I am so glad I went. It was a lot of fun and a beautiful view! The three days in Costa Rica went fast, and now I am back on the ship for just a few more days before the trip is over :( Last night Brit and I slept out on deck for a few hours (and Tori came out a little later), but when the ship started moving again when we left the port it got pretty cold so we decided to go in at 3am! The Ambassador's Ball is tonight so I will write about that tomorrow and post pictures! Remember that tomorrow I am going through the Panama Canal so if you want to see me, look for me on deck 7 near the pool when we are going through the Miraflores Locks at 8:30 til about 10. ..The link is below in one of my older blogs. I guess that's all for now, I am tired of writing blogs! You will hear it in person soon if you are interested :)

100 Days at Sea

100 Days since the voyage began and a week left. I will be waking up in Costa Rica about 6 hours from now to see the sunrise. Today has been pretty relaxing...went to the gym, hung out with my friends outside, and I just watched Elf which put me in the Christmas spirit. Just wanted to say... HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY! :)

Post Finals & Panama Canal Info

I am officially finished with exams. I took my last 2 today, and I am putting all school work behind me - I have 10 days left of the trip of a lifetime. Where has it gone?

Below is information sent to us about the Panama Canal. If you want to watch us go through on Thursday, December 11th, check out the link at the end:

The canal consists of artificial lakes, several improved and artificial channels, and three sets of locks. An additional artificial lake, Alajuela Lake (also known as Madden Lake), acts as a reservoir for the canal. The layout of the canal as seen by a ship passing from the Pacific end to the Atlantic is as follows:
•       From the buoyed entrance channel in the Gulf of Panama (Pacific side), ships travel 13.2 km (8.2 mi) up the channel to the Miraflores locks, passing under the Bridge of the Americas
•       The two-stage Miraflores lock system, including the approach wall, is 1.7 kilometres (1.1 mi) long, with a total lift of 16.5 meters (54 ft) at mid-tide
•       The artificial Miraflores Lake is the next stage, 1.7 kilometers (1.0 mi) long, and 16.5 metres (54 ft) above sea level
•       The single-stage Pedro Miguel lock, which is 1.4 kilometres (0.8 mi) long, is the last part of the ascent with a lift of 9.5 meters (31 ft) up to the main level of the canal
•       The Gaillard (Culebra) Cut slices 12.6 kilometres (7.8 mi) through the continental divide at an altitude of 26 metres (85 ft), and passes under the Centennial Bridge
•       The Chagres River (el Río Chagres), a natural waterway enhanced by the damming of Lake Gatún, runs west about 8.5 kilometres (5.3 mi), merging into Lake Gatun
•       Gatun Lake, an artificial lake formed by the building of the Gatun Dam, carries vessels 24.2 kilometers (15.0 mi) across the isthmus
•       The Gatún locks, a three-stage flight of locks 1.9 kilometres (1.2 mi) long, drop ships back down to sea level
•       A 3.2 kilometer (2.0 mi) channel forms the approach to the locks from the Atlantic side
•       Limón Bay (Bahía Limón), a huge natural harbour, provides an anchorage for some ships awaiting passage, and runs 8.7 kilometres (5.4 mi) to the outer breakwater
Thus, total length of the canal is 47.9 miles (77.1 kilometres).
For the EXPLORER the Panama Canal transit will continue as follow:

Starting canal Transit 06:20 hrs

Mira Flores locks
Arriving 0830hrs
Departing 1000hrs

Pedro Miguel                                    
Arriving 1100hrs
Departing 1130hrs


Gatun locks
Arriving 1530hrs
Departing 1810hrs
ETD Cristobal 1900  hrs

Canal lock size
Initially the locks at Gatun had been designed as 28.5 metres wide. In 1908 the United States Navy requested that the locks should be increased to have a width of at least 36 metres which would allow for the passage of US naval ships. Eventually a compromise was made and the locks were to be constructed to a width of 33 meters. Each lock is 300 metres long with the walls ranging in thickness from 15 metres at the base to 3 metres at the top. The central wall between the parallel locks at Gatun has a thickness of 18 metres and stands in excess of 24 metres in height. The lock gates are made from steel and measures an average of 2 metres thick, 19.5 metres in length and stand 20 metres in height.
The maximum dimensions of a ship that can cross the Canal are: Length: 950 feet (289.6m); Beam: 106 feet (32.31m); height: 190 feet (57.91m); Draught: 36 feet 6 inches (12.04 m).

Live Cameras
These live cameras show operations at the Miraflores & Gatun Locks, as well as other points of interest in the Canal, can be accessed on the internet at:

http://www.pancanal.com/eng/photo/camera-java.html

This is written by my ship neighbor from his digital story just played on Sea TV. This is more true than I can say...

"When you see me cross over that line -
I may not look any taller, but I've grown.
I may not seem any smarter, but I've learned.
I may not act any different, but I've changed."