Ocean Swells and Faint Spells

Today began with an ocean as placid as a lake and ended with a hopelessly depleted supply of Dramamine.  It is funny how quickly conditions can change while you are in the middle of the Atlantic, and I was taken aback at how much of a difference a few hours made in the stability of the ship. 

I’ve been nursing a pretty serious sunburn since two days ago, but it has not stopped me from spending every free minute outside on the top deck.  Reading and relaxing while watching the sunrise, sunset or any other time of the day from the top of the ship is still one of my favorite things about being here.  Beyond that, I have found myself increasingly fond of the friends I have met, and never before have I felt so close to people I have known for little over a week.  The people I met on the airplane to Halifax still remain some of my closest acquaintances.  There is that certain camaraderie that always exists between passengers who survive a hellish, delayed layover together, but rarely do these passengers get the chance to share that fast friendship beyond the duration of the flight.  We did, and so far I’ve really enjoyed the company of everyone I’ve met, whether on that flight or not.

I have also found that my interest in class is heightened on the ship, and I am in that rare state of mind that involves being overly excited about class readings, eager to complete assignments, and enthusiastic about my professors.  This academic high may not last long, but I am going to ride it for all its worth and hopefully get ahead in my classes while I can.

Tonight I took a travel sketching seminar with Leah and was reminded of my art lessons with Mrs. Tonya from grade school.  I was pretty impressed with my abilities, especially since the ship seemed intent on thrusting me across the room.  That was until I looked at the other students’ drawings, all of whom were art/graphic design majors, and realized that I have quite a ways to go before I can call myself a sketch artist.  For now I am going to file that skill into the ladylike-skills-I-need-to-improve category along with cooking and mending clothes.  We will see how it turns out.

I wasn’t very social tonight because for the first time yet this voyage I got legitimately sea sick.  All better now, but for a while it was not pretty.  Tomorrow we pass the Rock of Gibraltar at noon, and I am thrilled at the idea of passing a significant piece of land.  We are almost to Barcelona—Can’t wait!!!

Yours truly,

Bonnie

p.s. If you would like to reach me, I can receive free email on the ship at bkreay@semesteratsea.net.