4/28/03: New Places

Sorry for the group email, but I've been catching up on my emails and my fingers are getting tired.

Portuguese is way different from Spanish! I was so lost.

The other day the weather was too bad for us to go to Cadiz, Spain, so we had an overnight in Lisbon, Portugal, instead of just one day. A group of us went to a traditional restaurant and they came around with skewers of all types of meat, including chicken HEARTS and turkey wrapped in bacon. It was just like a Brazilian bbq place I've been to, even down to the disc that sits on your table--turned one way to say, "Keep bringing the food," and the other way to say, "I'm stuffed, stop coming 'round."

The Baltic Sea is still frozen, so we had to cancel St. Petersburg, Russia, and Tallin, Estonia, this cruise. Instead, we're going to Warnemunde, Germany; Amsterdam, Holland; cruising the Hardanger Fjord (Ha! Who names these things?!) and Bergen, Norway. We told the passengers before they got on the ship and they had the option to reschedule. Once on the ship, they could do nothing about it. You have to have a special visa to visit Russia unless you're on a ship's excursion or are a ship crew member. So lots of people wanted this cruise just for that port. Bummer.

Last cruise we had about 70 2-17 year olds on the ship for Spring Break. Twelve of the 2-12's came to program and a few teens dropped in and hung out. Those who came were lots of fun. Three kids lost teeth within 12 hours! Two of them were missing about 4 front teeth. Adorable. It was a great cruise, except for two horrible sisters, whose parents taught them everything they know. I'm so glad they're gone! This cruise, the prelim numbers had two 2-5's, one 6-12, and three teens. That's six kids, folks. On the whole ship. Eleven days. Melanie left for vacation so I'm the head honcho. My feelings about being lead have changed over my time with NCL. You don't get any more money, it's good for a resume, it's good to have more responsibility and be the firefighter, so to speak, it's more paperwork, on and on. But in preparing the schedules for the next couple of cruises, I got excited about implementing my ideas from other ships. I have a lot of experience, and I bring a lot to the table in that way. I'm looking forward to the experience, and I hope I'll be able to transition as easily back to regular YC.

Okay, if you're still reading, thank you. I know this one's long, but are you really surprised?

I miss your voices. I'll call when I can.
Love you, Genoa

4/18/03: Hi From GENOA!!

I finally made it! I'm in Genoa, Italy! It's beautiful. The architecture and history blow my mind. I love it. In the past few days, I've seen Rome, Barcelona, Cannes, Africa (10 miles away as we sailed through the Straight of Gibraltar), Pisa, the Azores, and of course, my lovely city. There's lots more to come as we travel out of the Mediterannean and up to Scandinavia. Pesto is a Genovese specialty and I've eaten it the two times the Dream has been here. Delicious. All is going fabulously. My best to you all.
Love, Genoa

4/6/03: Rockin' and a Rollin'

We're set to stop in the Azores tomorrow. Rumors fly that we might not make it. Last year the weather was too bad to dock and we coasted into the Med pretty much sailing on fumes and feeding the passengers canned food. The seas have been pretty rocky the whole trip. I haven't gotten seasick, but I've felt a little yucky when I haven't been able to eat first thing in the morning. Abbey, Melanie, and I have a rotation, so for the three sessions we have each sea day, only two of us are there at a time. There are only 5 kids who come, so we're overstaffed, and it's nice to have some time off. I'll say it again, Una is the best roommate ever. We get along really well. There was a crew party and we went to Le Bistro beforehand. Did I tell you this already? Our shower is so small that I have to squat down with my back against the wall so I don't hit my head on the on/off/temp nozzle trying to get my shampoo, etc. on the floor. And I lean against the wall for support because of the waves. It's like I'm constantly drunk (metaphorically); I have no equilibrium. To accommodate for traveling across several time zones, we're losing an hour's sleep almost every night. Because of daylight's savings, we were afforded a reprieve the night before last, and that's when we had the crew party. The food in the mess is pretty gross, but we eat with the kids in the sports bar or pizzeria and by the time we get to eat Italian, French, and Spanish food, it will be like the gods themselves have provided us with a feast. That's the news for now. I love you guys. I hope you're all doing really well. Happy belated birthday to Kelly. Ruff ruff.
Love, Genoa

4/1/03

Mom,

The girls I'm working with are fairly new to ships, but they're cool. The crossing of the Atlantic will be a challenge because we only have about 12 kids, age 2-17, and they may all want to be involved. What do a 2-year old and a 12-year old have in common? Abbey and Melanie are used to having only a couple of kids in program, whereas I love a group of at least 15 so we can play games and get loud. But I've always thought I'm resilient and adaptable. I'll be fine.

I'm rooming with Una again, as she asked the assistant cruise director (ACD) if he would put us together. So that's cool, but our room isn't as nice as our palace on the Norway. It's small and dimly lit, and the previous girl left stuff because she is returning in Spain (but to a different cabin). There are several familiar faces and the ship is just as I remember her sister, the Wind.

I love you around the world and back again, literally.
Your daughter, Genoa

3/22/03: My Next Adventure

As another vacation draws to a close, I find myself looking back and looking forward. I suppose I do this often. My life has so many small chapters lately.

I've had a wonderful vacation. My mom was on vacation, too, so we spent a lot of time together, including in Paris, London, Bath, Warwick, and Edinburgh. We had a blast, taking the tube (London Underground subway system) everywhere and exploring castles and lovely old architecture.

While I wasn't in Britain, I've spent the last five weeks taking a quick trip to Vegas, spending quality time with friends, having my wisdom teeth removed, and smushing my face in the soft fur of my cat and dog. I also did my fair share of laying on the couch, under an afghan, curled up next to my mom, watching movies. It's funny the things you miss when you're away.

I'm leaving on Wednesday to cruise as a passenger on the Norwegian Sea for 5 days in the Bahamas to see a friend. On March 31st, I'll walk off the Sea and onto the Dream. We'll set sail from Miami to Civitavecchia, Italy.

I'm expecting to be on the Dream until July 21st. The ship does two cruises in the Mediterranean and then heads up to Scandinavia (England, Estonia, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway). There aren't supposed to be very many children, and I will miss that part, but I'm sure there will be plenty of playtime anyway.

I hope you all have an awesome next four months. Remember to notice the beautiful parts of every day and reach out to each other with love. Everyone deserves to be loved. Please take care of each other and of yourselves.

Love, Genoa

1/30/03: Genoa's Dream

Hello all,
I finally get to go on the Dream! I'll join in Miami for the repo to Europe. I'm so excited! I can't wait. There are two cruises to Genoa, Italy! Will you still be there on March 31st, Matt? Is anyone else going to be there? Europe, here I come! Far away places that are more than 100 years old. Yippee!! I hope you're all doing fabulously. Big hugs and best wishes to you all.
Love always, Genoa
St. Thomas

1/30/03: The World is Mine! :-)

Family and friends,

After nearly a year and a half, I'm finally going to cruise Europe! I've been begging to go on the Norwegian Dream, and I'M GOING!!! I go on vacation from the Norway on February 16 and I'll be roaming around for six weeks, so hopefully I can see everyone in America's Finest City. Then on March 31, I'll join to Dream in Miami. She will cruise across the Atlantic and hit Genoa, Italy, along with other amazing Mediterranean ports and over to Rome, or thereabouts. That's one cruise, then there's another one, Rome to London. From there, we'll be in Scandinavia--Finland, Russia, Sweden, Norway--for the summer. Yippee!! I can't wait to see everything! Load me up with camera film. I'll finish my contract July 21st.

I hope you're all doing great, too. I miss you all.
LIVE LAUGH LOVE
Love always, Genoa