Location: Underway to Christmas Island
Hi everyone (Mom and Dad, if youre reading this)! My day started right at 12 am for my night watch shift. My first time doing the 12-4 am shift. I was nervous I would struggle to stay awake, and to be honest, the first hour did go by a bit slowly. However, I think this may be my new favorite watch shift. I say this because it is the shift that gives us the most sleep + free time. Youre able to go to sleep before (4 hours if you go to bed at 8 pm) and after the shift, and even get a full 8 hours from 4 am-12 pm. Since joining Sea|mester, Ive learned that having this time to yourself is pretty rare and so it is much appreciated (& if you cant tell, I really value my sleep). We are definitely all adjusting to this passage schedule, and with classwork picking up, trying to find time in between it all to write some essays/study. I am not sure if youve heard in some of the other blogs, but there is unfortunately some sort of stomach bug (or maybe just sea sickness) going around (insert sad face). So watch team 2 was accompanied by Emma and Alice sleeping at the stern just in case they needed to lean overboard. Kyler also joined them mid shift. I wish I could say by morning everyone was better, but alas, it was just the start. With the boat rocking and swinging side to side, the chefs tried to prepare lunch while I tried to get in some studying for an oceanography quiz. Henry, who was the head chef of the day, killed it, and he made buffalo chicken mac and cheese. Today was definitely a day of struggle. As more of us woke up, more of us were sick. Thankfully, I have not caught this illness yet (insert prayer emoji* apparently Emma says the blog doesnt pick up emojis), but it felt nearly impossible to look at a computer screen, reading through slides with the boat rocking.
I had to pause the studying; otherwise, I mightve had to join the group up top, throwing up. Somehow, we all managed to make it through classes (marine biology and leadership). I also would like to remind everyone that we do not use AC, so picture a bunch of us in a small room rocking, seasick, sweating, trying to retain any information we can, or honestly just not throw up. On watch, Rai-ching shared how her one friend has a philosophy where he actively seeks discomfort. Zoe immediately responded, I think by signing up for this, we are all following this philosophy. Its funny because its so true. We have been experiencing ALL the things throughout this experience, highs and lows. It was one of those days where I looked around and laughed because 1. theres no way to get through these harder days if youre too serious, and 2.
What the heck is our life?! This is a CRAZY trying to do school as everything on the table (notebooks and all) slides to the left, taking breaks between cooking to throw up, spending 3 am in the engine room during a boat check, headed to a place called Christmas Island (I cant wait to play Christmas music here btw). We finished off our day by eating the Wahoo fish we caught. Fish tacos were made and followed by some sailing woooo! We pulled up the main sail while the sun set (the sunsets we get to see on this boat are SO pretty) and I started my 8 pm-12 am watch shift. Today was a reminder of how we may take some of the small comforts we have at home for granted. Watch has been a great time to step back and gain some perspective. We may be struggling, but we are in it together, so wish us luck on the rest of this passage, yay!