Travelouge: Nagasaki, Japan

Greetings, Travellers! I come to you today from the beautiful, wonderful Port of Nagasaki, Japan! No, I didn’t make it to the Bomb museum today, but I hope that the next time we are here I can make it! …which is in September. Stay tuned, folks!

It’s true that Nagasaki is a beautiful port. The streets are clean and there are parks everywhere. Even the terminal has grass! It doesn’t feel like a big city, which I love. It felt really open, at least until you start wandering the side streets. (No, Grandpa, I was not wandering the side streets! That just happened to be the fastest way to the restaurant that our friend knew of…)

I did make it to a nice local restaurant today. The menu had both Japanese and English text so I was able to read it enough to order hamburger meat with some beans and some sort of coleslaw thing. It was actually pretty good. (I don’t like coleslaw though, so I didn’t eat it.) It also came with a sidebar option, which was a drink, a soup and three mini desserts. I forgot to get the soup, but I did get some orange juice and some dessert. (éclair and a jello that tasted like coffee.) The third option for dessert was yougurt so I decided to pass. They even had free wifi! (which is a big deal when I have to pay $4 for an hour onboard.) I was able to chat with my boyfriend and download the new pokemon Go app. I couldn’t get it to work right away though, so It may have to wait until my next port day.

After that we wandered around a local mall. It was a beautiful place. It was outdoors, but there was a glass ceiling overhead, so it was both outside and inside. We didn’t really have a lot of time to shop, though. While my friends shopped I spent some time looking at merchandise and pondering the differences between US and Japanese marketing techniques. I did see some really cool shops that I would love to visit when we come back. There was even a pet store!

I’ve heard rumors of cafes in Japan and maybe South Korea that are centered around animals, like Pet cafes, where there are cats running around that you can pick up and pet. I’d love to visit one of those at some point. I really feel like cuddling a kitten right now. (Or my boyfriend, but that has to wait until I’m back in the states. <3)

Unfortunately, we left the ship early afternoon and only had a couple hours in Port, so we had to get back to the ship. We took the tram car back, which cost us a grand total of 120 Yen per person. (That’s about $1.20 in US currency) It was a flat rate too, which I love. They were really prompt, and fast-it took us longer to get on the ship from the terminal than it did to get to the terminal from the mall.

I really hope that our Next port day in Nagasaki will allow more time for sightseeing. I would really love to visit the bomb museum, from an American-seeing-the-reprecussions-of-our-actions standpoint, and I heard about a beautiful catholic church near the terminal I would love pictures of. (my friend Ben had pics, and I want to get some at some point!) There’s also an observation deck up on a hill that allows you to see ALL of Nagasaki, so that’s also on my to-visit list. Finally, there’s the Peace Park, which I think is near the bomb museum so those can be visited at the same time.

As always, there are pictures of my Adventures HERE if you want to see them. (They upload faster for me there, but it still takes time if there are a lot. Pics come when I can upload them.) I add them all to the same album so make sure you check the whole thing if you don’t see anything new right away.

Safe Travels, folks!

-Tinker

Travel Tip: Asians do not and do not like tipping. They consider it rude and an insult, as it insinuates that you need more money rather than a reward for a job well done. (Unlike in the US where we really do need more money.) So if you do not get tipped by a Japanese or Chinese guest, this is probably why. Don’t get insulted, it’s part of their culture.

Travelouge: Fukuoka, Japan

Travelogue: Fukuoka, Japan

Greetings from the Open ocean again! I just spent the most wonderful day in Fukuoka, Japan. My first time onshore in two weeks! I was only ashore for a few hours, but I still had a lot of fun!

I left the ship early in the afternoon after helping over 3,000 guests debark for excursions and tours. After a quick lunch and a change of clothes, I was ready to head out! I decided to travel with my friends from the production cast, and we went to a mall known as Canal City.

Eat your Heart out, Mall of America.

Seriously, the place was beautiful. Half of it was open-air, some was inside. Beautiful plants and fountains filled the place. I’m told there was a fountain show on a regular basis, but I didn’t get to see it. There were a TON of amazing shops, but I didn’t buy much because I’m trying to save my money. I did start to plan out birthday presents and souvenirs, though. Take a look at this lovely Link!

There were also some restaurants, including what I’m told is a REALLY good sushi place, but none of us were very hungry so we didn’t stop. I did buy two items on my trip: A belt (because I seriously needed one for work) and a gorgeous red hat that was 70% off the original asking price of $50 so I bought it. (Plus it looks like Carmen SanDiego’s hat and how could I possibly resist?)

After a few hours we got tired out (and crew all aboard was approaching) so we returned to the ship. It was a short mall excursion, but I still had a lot of fun! I can’t wait for the next time we’re in port. I’m told there are some old castle ruins with really beautiful gardens, and I can’t wait to see them!

Until next time, Travelers!

The Open Ocean

Travelogue: The Open Ocean

Greetings from Asia! I know you all haven’t heard a lot from me in the last week or so, and that’s because I’ve been super busy! Between constant trainings, work, seasickness and longing to go into port, I’ve been on my feet a lot and crashing hard when I crawl in my bunk at the end of the night.

I know you’re all (and by all I mean Mom) super curious about my job, what it’s like living on a ship and working in a place that is never in one spot for too long, and to be honest I’d love to tell you all about it. HOWEVER, Security’s a pretty big deal on the ship (It’s actually this week’s safety topic) and I want to be careful about what I share. There’s a fine line between innocent chatter and accidentally sharing something that could put the ship in danger if anyone ever wanted to attack it. So if I keep some details close to the vest, that’s why. So no pictures of my cabin or work areas for now. :P

However, I can give you a quick run-through about what my average day looks like:

Morning: Haul myself out of bed and shower, then go to breakfast…on the opposite end on the ship. Breakfast has been pretty good, but if I show up too late the French toast gets cold and starts to harden, so I’ve learned to go early. Late morning, I usually have some form of training. Because I’m a new hire, I go through a WHOLE slew of trainings to ensure that I don’t panic if something happens onboard. Again, safety and Security are two very large concerns. But rest assured I know which fire extinguisher to use should I see flames.

Afternoon: Sometimes I have additional training (Company policies, etc.…) and sometimes I have work. My work schedule not only varies each day, but each cruise, because each cruise is a little bit different. I usually manage to fit lunch in there somewhere too. I usually have an hour or two I can sneak onto the internet and chat with family if it’s not too late in the evening their time. Or play Tomb Raider.

Evening: THIS is where most of my work day happens. Because I’m a member Stage Staff, most of my work is helping with productions. I could be operating a spotlight or moving a piano in the pit. I also do a lot of crowd control, which I’m okay with talking about because 3,000 guests see me do it on a regular basis. We have a parade on the Royal Promenade (our “Main Street”) that opens every cruise, and I help set up the props and keep people from running onto the parade route (which seems to happen every cruise) This is important because parts of the parade have bikes and performers that move VERY quickly, and the last thing I need is some little old lady getting run over by a giant panda. (Royal Caribbean is partnered with Dreamworks, so certain dreamworks characters appear in our parade and at special events.) I do a lot of setting up/taking down miniature stages for bands to perform on throughout the day.

I also assist with crowd control on our Ice Show. Because it’s a copyrighted event, I have to endeavor to stop people from recording the show. Thankfully it’s really easy to see the record button on phones. At one point in the show the Zamboni comes out dressed up as a train and a few children are allowed to ride. I have to stop EVERY OTHER CHILD in the theater from jumping on. Ok, so it’s the parents we have to worry about-the stories I’ve heard about parents trying to get their kid on the train make me jumpy every time it comes out.

I mainly work in the Savoy, our large theatre. It’s not only security but professional pride that keeps me from talking too much here; Theatre’s no fun if you know all the behind-the-scenes stuff. :P but This is where I run Spotlight or help move things backstage.

Also dinner. That’s in there somewhere too.

Late evening after I’m done, I come back to my little cabin and either crash right away (which is more common when the seas are rocky and I just want to sleep) or I’ll sit on my computer for a bit and write letters and blog entries. I don’t stay up too long, though-I have to get up early the next day and do it all again!

Until next time, Travelers!

Musings on Intercultural communications

In my week aboard the Mariner, I've come to realize just how much we rely on language, both vocal and physical, to communicate. A person's stature can relay so much about their mood, their thoughts, their goal. Certain movements and sounds are constant across all languages and cultures, such as shouting, pointing, and waving arms in the air madly.

The only reason I've noticed, naturally, is because I can't speak Mandarin and have to rely on other communication methods to get my point across with our guests. Particularly on the matter of recording a copyrighted performance. (when I say 没, I MEAN 没. )Thankfully I can sign up to take Rosetta stone language courses onboard, so I've done so. I've learned about three words in Mandarin Chinese, (Hello, No, and Thank you) but it's not quite enough to get me by when someone asks how to get to the restroom.

So stay in school kids, and take those language courses. You never know when they will come in handy.

(and I promise I will get pictures for you all eventually, but the weather's been lousy and I'm stuck on board as the Duty staff for this week.)

Cruiser Q&A

Or: I have the nosiest mother in the world. <3

Hey Folks! So I've completed Day 3 of my time aboard my lovely ship, and I've got to say that I've learned a lot. I've also gotten both homesick and seasick (and I'm not sure which is the easier of the two to manage) A lovely anonymous reader of mine (coughmomcough) asked me some questions about my life onboard, and I will endeavor to answer them as best I can while still respecting the privacy of our guests and my fellow crew members.

Q: What is your cabin like?

Small. Really. Really small. It’s even smaller than my dorm room was at college (and that’s saying something!) There’s two tiny closets, two beds, and a miniscule desk with some shelves. And a bathroom/shower that wouldn’t be out of place in a travel trailer. It’s a space designed for efficiency, not comfort.

Q: What is the food like?

Delicious! While it’s not quite as high quality as what is served to the guests, the food we crew get to eat is really good, with a lot of variety. It’s a buffet style, but I don’t eat a lot because I have a small stomach (which is really annoying when there’s a lot of food and my eyes get bigger than my stomach.) I usually try to get some bread and fresh veggies along with whatever entrées are being served. Breakfast in particular is delicious. I’ve yet to find a good dessert though…

Q: What is your average day like?

I Don’t know yet! I’m still in the process of training, which involves classes in the morning for general ship rules, policies, etc.…. In the evening I’m shadowing my co-workers on events to find out how things are run, how the equipment operates and so on. The first two weeks are going to be different than my normal schedule, but most of my work takes place in the afternoon and evenings, meaning I’m up late but I can sleep in a bit if I feel like it.

Q: What is the primary language spoken on the ship? Do they use more than one?

English is the primary language spoken by the crew on the ship-it’s required. I’ve heard a lot of the crew speak in their native language though, mostly between themselves when they’re more fluent in it. We have a very diverse crew from all over the world, and naturally a lot of different languages! The main language spoken by the guests is Chinese as they are currently our primary demographic-which creates an interesting challenge when Chinese who don’t speak English try to ask for help from staff and crew who don’t speak Chinese (like me)

Q: How are you adjusting to the time change?

Slowly. The first couple of days when I flew over and joined the ship were really rough because of jet lag and anxiety. Now that I’m starting to even out into a more consistent schedule my sleep cycle is starting to regulate. I get about six hours a night, but it’s my own body waking me up and not my alarm so I can’t really complain. Plus, I take a nap in the afternoon between training and work.

Q: Are you seasick much?

I wouldn’t say it’s full-on Seasickness-I can still work, I just get a bit off-balance and wobbly, but it is taking me a bit to get my sea legs. Right now I just have to realize when I’m hungry or haven’t eaten in a while, and try not to read or work on the computer during rougher sea days. It’s mostly been when we’re on the open ocean.

Q: Is there anything that you miss?

Oooooooh, yes. Now that I’m halfway across the world I’ve come to realize just how much I love my family and miss them. (and appreciate their ability to help with stuff, like things I forgot to pack and getting paperwork that I forgot I already had. :P) I also really miss talking with my online Friends-I really took Discord (an online communication program like skype but for a lot of people) for granted back in the states, and now that I get about an hour of internet every day (if I care to pay for it) I’ve come to realize I really miss the connectivity it gave me. As much as I love my new job, I really look forward to the day I get home and get to see everyone again. <3

And that's it! If you have any questions about my job, what I've seen or want to pester me about other stuff, feel free to shoot me an e-mail leave your question in the comments below!

Until Next time, Travelers!

Travelouge: Shanghai

Greetings from Shanghai! I made it safely through airport security, a 6-hour layover and a 12-hour flight to arrive in one of the most beautiful and well-known cities in the world. No pictures for you this time, but I can share what I saw through my 24+ adventure through words! How exciting!

...

Unless you have to get up at 3:30 A.M. Which I did yesterday. My flight left at 7;00 A.M., and I was staying about an hour’s drive from the airport. Considering security and being at the gate on time, I had to leave about 4:30. Which meant getting up an hour earlier to make sure everything was packed and put together.

Mom and I had a tearful farewell at the security gate. It really hit me then that I was going away for a long time, and wouldn’t get to see her until I returned to the states.

Sadly, any such poignancy and dramatic start to my adventure was quickly ruined by having to stand in line at security after about 10 feet. But security was relatively light, and I made it through with no issues.

I slept the entire way through the first flight. I’d gotten about 4 hours of sleep the night before, plagued by dreams of a TSA robot that detected a TINY amount of metal on me and wouldn’t leave me alone. (In a spot that would, were it human, get it quickly labeled a pervert.)

San Francisco was where things got interesting. My connecting flight to Shanghai didn’t have a listed gate when I checked in, so I was at a loss about where to go when I arrived in San Francisco. I decided to at least find the international terminal and a place to park my butt until I could figure it out. Thankfully, I got an alert that my flight had been delayed (which I already knew) and it gave me a gate number. There were these adorable little booths for travelers to charge phones and work, and I quickly took one over for my own personal use.

After about 4 hours, I checked my mail and discovered that not only was my flight delayed by another hour, but it had been moved to a different gate. As I packed up and changed locations, I bought myself a Sandwich-I hadn’t had a lot to eat for breakfast and I was getting hungry.

Boarding for my Shanghai flight went smoothly as well. I had a window seat, so I could spend the entire flight looking at the Pacific Ocean. (Yay!) 2 meals were served on the flight, but I only had 1 because I had the sandwich and I wasn’t that hungry. There were also movies playing, which was nice because my laptop had died when I wasn’t looking so I couldn’t use it. I have to say that The Lego Movie sounds just as funny, if not funnier, in Chinese. (This was before I realized that there were three different translations on three different audio channels, including English.)

So I slept. And read a book. And slept through Zootopia, which I had actually wanted to watch so I was a bit bummed out.

12 hours later I made it to shanghai. We were running late and the place was congested, so we were put in a standing terminal and everyone had to take a bus to the main building. I’d put my sweater back on because night had fallen and I thought it would be a bit chilly and I finally got out of the plane an-OH THE HUMIDITY.

It’s hot. And humid. I grew up in hot and dry.

I got through customs and met with the person who was supposed to meet me. We got to the hotel (and I fell asleep on the way again.) and I was able to get checked in with no issue. Thing is I think they charge for Wi-Fi in the rooms so I’m not going to be on any longer than necessary. (Sorry Mom!)

And that was Day 1 of my adventure in China! Tomorrow I board my ship and begin two weeks of training and safety courses. I’m not sure what my internet situation is going to be like so you’ll just have to stay tuned.

Until next time, Travelers!

(Ok, obviously posted a couple of days late. Turns out some sites are restricted in Shanghai. Oops.)

Yes Mother!

Hey folks! Just a quick note to let you know I made it to Shanghai safely. Full report of travel will follow soon.