It's a hard days work

To fully describe my job would take a bit of time, include many elaborations and several examples before someone has a sense of what it is I really do.  To many, I work on a ship and that is “so cool”.  Had I not worked for Semester at Sea for so long, I don’t think I would completely know what it is I do.  There are multiple sides and facets of my job that stretch from two opposite ends of a spectrum.  It ranges from student affairs all the way to sales.  If you asked me to describe my current job in the most simplistic of terms, I would tell you that I am in the business of saying no.

I have been on ship for 18 days and I have said the word no or moved my head in a side-to-side motion more times than I can count.  My work is spiced up when I am giving the opportunity to say more than just no.  It has included, “I’m sorry that can’t happen”, “That is against ISE policy”, “That is not allowed”, etc. etc.  It has been interesting working in higher education for the past 7.5 years and seeing the change in college students today.  Living with nearly 600 of them has made me even more aware of the latest generational trends.  In particular, lack of commitment.  My “just say no campaign” is more a result of this lack of commitment.  The students have made their field program choices, but constantly want to cancel or change them.  Their reliance on instant satisfaction and pampering from their [helicopter] parents allows them to think that if they want it, they can have it.  Then they come to the Field Office desk and hear (and based on their reactions, they are hearing it for the first time) no. 

To counter this, there are many positive aspects to my job that include the fantastic students that come to the desk (yes, they do exist) and the many opportunities this job provides.  As an example, I am currently sitting on Deck 5 aft, legs stretched out with nothing but blue ocean as far as the eye can see.  I cannot ignore the fact that I am circling the globe.  To quote one my favorite fellow SAS alums, “My worst day at sea is better than my best day on land”. 

Because of this job, the last 18 days have been exciting, tiring, long, short and everything in between.   After a rough ride from Mexico to Hawaii, we arrived to Hilo, which is located on the eastern side of the big island.  Often referred to as the wet side of the island, Hilo is more industrial and lacks the hype and allure of Waikiki or other travel resorts.  That is a good thing.  While I am open to traveling to many different places, a tourist trap is often last on my list.  Hilo had a feel that was more off the beaten path and true to local island life.  When the ship arrives in port, the second half of my job comes to life.  I, along with my colleagues in the Field Office, are responsible for seeing each field trip off.  This means that as the hundreds of passengers rush off the gangway to explore the island, we get to go only a stone’s throw from the ship.  Once the trips are away, we get a little playtime ourselves. 

My two days in Hilo provided some quality time to relax and to spend with friends. It included a walk through downtown Hilo, a Lu’au and a drive south on the island to explore Volcanoes National Park, tidal pools and a natural hot pond.  All-in-all, it was a good reprieve from the battering we all had taken while crossing the Pacific to reach the island chain. 

  

Local brews.  Always the way to go.

 

Tidal pools on the Big Island

Volcanoes National Park.

Arriving in Honolulu was a reminder that we had traveled thousands of miles, but had gone nowhere at all.  A modern U.S. city, Honolulu has the hustle and bustle you’d find at home.  If you avoid the tourist trap that is Waikiki and the resorts, you’ll find some amazing things on the island of Oahu.  Armed with a rental car, we took off with no set plan but to explore the island.  Within 10 minutes of leaving the hustle and bustle of downtown Honolulu, you are taken up the mountainside, where the car’s temperature gauge drops from a warm and welcoming sunny 81 degrees to 70 degrees, foggy and rainy.  Our drive took us along the northeastern side of the island, following the coast to the North Shore with random stops along the way.

 

Photo op on the way to the North Shore.

Following Hawaii, we began our 10 day stretch to Yokohama, Japan where will we arrive in just a few days.  The seas have been cooperative, though I hear we are to experience some rougher waters as we turn more northward tomorrow.  The Pacific Ocean in winter often leaves little to be desired.  That aside, I do have some exciting things to look forward, including a capsule hotel stay in Tokyo, more random exploration, sushi and an overnight bus.