Atlantic Crossing

For all those who may be jealous of my Semester at Sea voyage, this post should ease and diminish your jealousy. When we left Canada for Ireland, I wasn’t immediately affected by the week-long departure from land. Six days in, however, I am most definitely feeling like I haven’t seen land in a week. I’ve been a little dizzy and nauseous for the past 3 days, even with sea sickness medicine. Our ship has encountered heavy seas that hit us with 16-foot waves. Many of the decks have been closed. I haven’t walked in a straight line for longer than 5 seconds in the past 6 days. Dishes crash and break in the dining hall, people bump into walls, some fall out of chairs, and others are resigned to their cabin with sea sickness. I wake up from my amusement park ride of a bed (tonight, the 5th time-change and loss of an hour) to find things to wedge in between a swiveling television, opening and closing drawers, and sliding counter top accessories. I haven’t bumped into too many people because if the person walking next to me suddenly drifts 3-feet to the starboard-side, I did the same. Fortunately, I haven’t been sick, so I’ve been out and about and working in the library, but my days rarely involve trips to the outside decks since it’s windy and cold outside. With all due respect to the hardworking and dedicated crew on the ship, after this voyage I probably won’t eat potatoes for another decade, as they consistently arrive at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Arriving in Ireland is going to be exciting, to say the least. To see the sight of land, step on solid ground, and eat something different, is going to be euphoric. The photograph here was taken three days ago, about halfway across the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic Ocean is vast, deep, and powerful. I'm definitely in awe of the many stories out here, significant history, and the mysterious world underneath the water. From this long Atlantic crossing, I relearned that the ocean, and this world, is much larger and powerful than me. I spent many hours staring out at the ocean, and soon I can say that I sailed across. Well, technically Captain Roman did, in a motor vessel, but saying I sailed across the Atlantic is more likely the version of the story I will tell.

Comments

  1. UnknownAugust 29, 2012 at 8:20 PM

    Have you forgotten about the potato famine Jonathan, Ireland is known for potatoes: morning, noon and night! Loved reading of the adventure so far.xo mom

    ReplyDelete
  2. Katherine Ott WalterAugust 29, 2012 at 8:24 PM

    Wow!!!! Sounds like an interesting week at sea. Hopefully once everyone hits land they will get better and take the sea sickness medicine before they get back on the ship to sail again. Doesn't work if you are already sick, at least that's what the captain of our whale watching vessel said this summer in P-town. Not a lot to see yet, except the vastness of water, but the sunrises and sets have to be amazing. At least you won't have another cross Atlantic trip for a few months when you head back this way. Have a great time in Ireland.

    Kathy

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousAugust 30, 2012 at 3:27 AM

    whaaaaaaaaaa, my boat that's taking me on a free cruise around the world rocked back and forth a little bit. Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...I told you; unless you're discovering something you have no business being on a boat. Sailing around the wold for no good reason - Ive never heard of such a thing....

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownAugust 30, 2012 at 11:31 AM

    i agree with what your friend (? -maybe he's not a friend) manny said! enjoy irland and thanks for the mid afternoon (we're still in EST) laugh.
    Stef

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownOctober 17, 2012 at 12:32 PM

    I will check JRP out even if he returns in a Chevrolet, you know...

    ReplyDelete

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