South Africa

We have arrived! The coastline of Capetown was amazing at 5:30am. More than 1/2 the boat stood in the prow to watch. We're taking a short break from our pre-port welcomes so I just wanted to say: Can't believe I'm here, none of us can and we are at the bubbling point to get out and explore.

Mohawk Day

Yesterday was Mohawk Day. Male and females were offerred an opportunity to cut their hair for Locks for love and sport a mohawk. An amazing number participated. Tomorrow is Neptune day. The day when all shellbacks, new people crossing the Equator for the first time, are subjected to unknown punishments. In the old days it mandated shaved heads for one and all. Today we get to choose. I'm quite sure I would look horrible, rather like a bowling ball, so I'm not getting shaved but quite a few are. We have no idea what will happen tomorrow.

Another first for our ship. We had our first drug testing group and everyone passed. This apparently is not usually so.

Be well all.

Day 80: Salvador,Brasil and Beyond

We left Salvador 2 days ago. It was all prep aside a very good visit. We were the first voyage to have no acute injuries and no reportable gastro problems. We ahve been commended by our medical ship crew as they have big headaches when there's reportable diarrhea. I,however, got to deal with all of the non-reportable diarrhea/vomiting as they returned to ship the last day. Lesson: try never to be on call on the last day in port! All that aside, and apologies to the non-medical readers, let me tell you about Brasil.

The people are beautiful and very friendly. More than accepting of our poor attempts to communicate. As we were told many times Carnival is the biggest reason for problems but it is also the most joyous of times. I did not go to the big Carnival celebrations that involved many bodies crammed together and dancing, drinking until wee hours. Hear tell from the students that it was a blast. I did get to participate or rather observe what is referred to as the Traditional Carnival. This is same thing on smaller scale, involving families and held in the old part of Salvador. Music was loud enough for me, groups were entertaining to watch and you could not help but move to the rhythms. There are small groups of individuals that gather and dress and perform a theme. Often there is a switching of genders. One of the pictures shows a group of men dressed as catwoman. Per our orientation and guides Carnival began as a way for the poor people to act at least for one night w frivolity and to be equal to those w money.

A few of our students were relieved of cash and cameras, some by knifepoint but no one was physically hurt.

The city has a beautiful outline as you come into port. After a tour though, I learned that the jagged outline that follows are the middle class followed by the favellas or slums. Middle class is not as we define it and to us seems a step above slum. People literally build on any available plot of land and then on top of those buildings. Most people earn about $200 month and that is considered good income. They seem to be trying to make inroads into the poverty, lack of education etc. Right now school is mandated till 6th grade and parents are paid a small amt to send them but in the favellas especially the children are generally kept at home to earn money. Administration is not strict on follow-up.

Merry Medicals

Merry Medicals

Medical Revue

Day 88

We arrive 6 am tomorrow at Salvador, Brasil. We have all gotten into such a nice routine that in a way stopping seems foreign. Our pre-port orientation has also scared most of us. it seems Salvador and rio are not great places during Carnival for people in small groups. We are all planning ahead to travel in groups of 5 or more preferably with at least one male. No jewlery, watches, wedding bands, provocative clothing etc. I'm going on several day trips which I'm looking forward to. This is one country I'll be glad to be a tourist.
I have "adopted" a family of 6 students and will meet them when we set sail again. There are still 80 students to be placed with an adult voyager. Homesickness is always just around the corner for all of us.
If this works correctly you will see a picture of our clinic and our group. Matt Handley is the physician out of Seattle and a terrific person. Multi-talented. We performed tonight a medley of tunes warning about STD,diarrhea,sunburn and malaria. We even received a standing ovation.
Emily Allina,RN is an ER nurse. She is literally a ray of sunshine. We all have a good working relationship. When an 80 yo passenger came in with chest pain, she whipped into action and I was glad to let her. When they come in w rashes,colds etc she's happy to let me see them.
The 2 in white uniforms are the ships's medical crew, doctor and nurse. They'll assist us if we request it and act as liason between us and the ship owners. They are fun. I imagine it's hard for them to adapt to a new medical group every 4 months but they keep smiling.
I'm also adding a picture of my "room". The virtual tour on the SAS site shows a pretty 2 bed room with a view, ours are crew quarters and no room,no window. The ship is the fullest it's ever been so we were relegated to crew quarters and the crew went Heaven knows where below us. It is very hard to get up in the morning or to go to the room during the day time just b/c there is no light. All I want to do is sleep.
It's been a wonderful voyage and promises to get even better with time. activities will start in the evenings. I'm in a Bridge group with the LifeLong Learners and some students. LLL are generally retired individuals who prefer this way to tour and like being with college students. Neat group. I'm not sure I shouldn't be a LLL as I feel the best I've felt in years. Of course napping every day, walking for miles every day and having healthy food placed in front of me 3 times a day may help. That's it for now. I wouldn't want to miss the 10pm snacks they offer.
Be well.