And we're off!

I've been on the ship for 2 weeks now and it has been nonstop since the moment I step onboard.  In that two weeks I have seen friends I only get to see about once a year, welcomed 700 alumni onboard, spent the day in Cabo San Lucas, said goodbye the friends and alumni and have started the spring 2010 voyage.  Saying things have been busy is quite the understatement.

For faculty and staff the voyage officially began on January 13th when they boarded in San Diego.  Before headint to Ensenada for a couple days worth of training, the day in San Diego was spent getting all the last minute items for a 3.5 month journey around the world, and of course, a stop at In n' Out burger.

The few days that followed were spent in orientation meetings and training.  For my department, all of us have sailed before or have worked in the office so it meant less training and more of getting right to work.  On the 17th, the students boarded and took over the quiet oasis that was for those few days of training "our" ship.  To be honest, though, it hardly feels like they are here.  The ship is great at absorbing people and I have yet to feel like it is over crowded.  We have just about 600 students onboard.  It has been fun to watch them all get their sea legs and adapt to shipboard life.  It has been quite rocky the last couple of days; some of the worse I've experienced.  It is not terrible, but is annoying.  My office chair is on wheels which makes it even that much more entertaining.

We are four days from Hawaii.  So far I have no set plans for our port stay, and I kind of like it that way.  Last time I sailed, I had booked most of my time with field programs.   This time I want to just go with the flow.  I am attending a Luau Reception on our day of arrival which will be hosted by the University of Hawaii-Hilo.  After Hawaii, we set sail for Japan and return, for just a brief stint, to some winter like weather.

The voyage is starting to feel real to me finally.  For the last week or so, it wasn't quite real.  I am very used to being on the ship, getting it ready for the voyage and waving goodbye as it pulls away from the dock.  This time I was the one on the ship be waved at.  Once we hit Japan I think reality will finally set in for me.  On a side note, the staff and faculty seem to be a great group.  We have all commented that we all haven't met yet.  I'm looking forward to getting to know more of them once we all fall into our routines a little better.  I'm also lucky to know several people already, so it is great to have awesome friends here already.

Time to report to work (yes, to all those who think this job is all about sitting on a deck chair all day, I do work!).  More to come after Hawaii.