A Spanglish Summer

It's so hard to come up with the opener of my blog entries. Why do I always feel the pressure for it to be something profound? Well for the sake of finishing this blog entry let me declare

***Untitled Profound Opener***

There that was easy.

(Side note: Listening to Ben Folds- You Don't Know Me, and LOVING IT!)

Well it's happening. I'm moving to Los Angeles. Well technically "we" are moving to Los Angeles. Yes, I'm a we. I have a boyfriend that I love very much but we share pretty much everything as of late and well...this is my story.

After what seemed like the LONGEST summer of my life I officially start my trek to La La Land tomorrow. For the last two months I've been living with my bf in an extra room at his parents house. Now in my attempt to be delicate let just state the facts. My bf goes to school full time meaning he is at school from 8am-3pm. During this time I am alone with my bf's father, a 72 year old Colombian man who speaks spanish and english is limited to the following words: "hello", "how are you", "good", and "food". That is all he has ever said to me. I was told last week by a family member that he speaks fluent english. So the apparent lost in translation is by choice. Moving on....The shower is never hot enough to make steam. The walls are PAPER THIN (yes this was cause for tramatizing/embarrassing breakfasts in the morning). Oh and the most important fact would be I do not have a car, so no means to escape *ahem* transport.

However, every home has its corks. The glue that holds this family together is love and respect. His parents welcomed me into their home, fed me, gave me a beautiful room to stay and treated me like family. From the bottom of my heart I am so blessed for everything they have done for me.

I lot of obstacle's have got in our way this summer. While car accidents, extra deposits, and health emergencies attempt to ruin our plans, we survived. Even though it pains me to say this, and it does, my bf is right. Everything just might be ok.

An unpleasant conversation...

Alright I've been avoiding writing this blog for a long time....clearly. As you can see the last time I was on here I was just getting introduced to the cruising lifestyle. As some of you know I left just about as soon as I came. I didn't want to explain why I left because, well to be quite frank I felt like a failure. No one wants to accept that something they worked so hard for was in some ways a waste of time....and all in all a big mistake. However, with all the mistakes come the inevitable lesson. I'm coming to realize the lessons I've learned from this experience make everything absolutely WORTH IT! ;)

So here it is...

I missed home. Not home as in Orlando, Eddie, or my dogs (although I missed all of them terribly) I just missed freedom. I missed freedom to eat when I want. Nevermind the fact that I had to eat the same 7 meals every week. I missed the freedom to not have to smile when I walk out of my room. Nevermind the fact that my room was literally as big as a walk-in closet I've had in the past. Sometimes that living environment doesn't exactly encourage a bright and shiny glow. I missed the freedom to be up past 2am. Nevermind that my job left me little to no down time so I rarely was done with work before 12:00am.

I could go on....but you get the point.

Here's the good part, the part about where I said it was worth it. Well before I tell you that let me give you a little background about my life pre-cruise ship.


waitress + restless + bored + unmotivated + uninspired = ME

Now, while life on the ship was NOT for me I'm starting to know what IS for me. I went to film school straight out of high school. Before the ship I was having a little crisis of faith if I had made the right decision. I felt so out of the loop and felt like I had no idea what I wanted to do. However, being on a ship and literally wanting to go man overboard while calling Bingo numbers (yes I called bingo numbers) I realized that doing THAT for sure was not what I wanted to do. I started feeling this strong crazy compelling urge to be working. Yes I was technically working but where would it ever get me. This wasn't me! What happened to the girl who had the fire in her eye...the girl who always considered herself and underdog but NEVER was. What happened to my exciting career in the entertainment industry? It's like I uprooted everything I had worked for so long because I had a few wrong turns. I'm not saying I know exactly what my every step from now is or will be but I know that I'm in the right direction. And THAT makes it all worth it.


DEEP BREATH


Blog Published...CRUISE OVER



*sigh of relief*

;)

Sea Sickness But Worse

Well I know I haven't kept in touch (its harder than I anticipated) but in short the first week here I was searching for the quickest route home! I was living in a fish bowl. I was the new girl and in a living environment where you live, work, and play together. A new person is a BIG DEAL. Not only was I new, I was a new AMERICAN (one of about 20 on the ship). The crew is mostly Phillipino (don't think I spell that correctly). Let me tell you first hand that if you can ever have the opportunity to be a complete minority...do it. It's not easy but it is certainly a learning experience. There are 56 difference countries represented on the Spirit. Every country has what is called a mafia. I'm obviously apart of the US mafia which is a good thing currently because all of the tech guys are American so I have first dibs on getting my computer fixed or new dvd's, phone cards and so on.

All in all everything is an adjustment. The first week was the hardest. Fortunately time can go by fast here. When you don't think of weeks as weeks but as cruises, a month goes by in no time.

And this week as I was finally starting to get into the groove of ship life I was introduced to the splendor (insert sarcasm) of GI which is a slang term for norfolk virus. Norfolk virus is a HIGHLY contagious virus that is caught for any number of things. WELL... without getting into too many gruesome details, I spent many hours in the bathroom where I was quarantined in my cabin for 24 hours. Yep no leaving. You have no idea what not seeing sunlight or fresh air can do to you. Thankfully being healthy and having a good immune system helped me fight it off fairly quickly and I'm ok.

Now I have to go back to the ship for training....which seems never ending.

I love and miss you all.

The Calm Before the Storm

With a bittersweet mix of emotions that have seemed to found refuge as a ball in my throat, the day has finally come. I'm leaving.

Most life changing experiences happen in mere moments but sometimes if you're lucky enough to experience it, these changes are there waiting for to grab ahold of. You can see them, acknowledge them, and most importantly decide to do whatever it takes to make sure these shifts in the universe happen. I was lucky enough to experience it twice this year. I was apart of electing a President that is sure to go down as the most inspiring candidate in recent history. His election win opened my heart up to the possibility of the power of positive thinking. I have carried this shift of thinking into my own life by getting a job that will allow me to explore my two loves: travel and writing.

For those of you that don't know, I'm about to take voyage on Norwegian Cruise Lines, The Spirit, as a social hostess which is more or less a mistress of ceremonies. I will be traveling through the western Caribbean for four months.

I'm leaving what has been my home for the last four years for something completely out of my comfort zone. I think everyone needs this. With the recession and so many people loosing jobs and loosing everything they feel is close to them, ponder this. What is close to you? As I'm packing my life up to fit two suitcases I'm starting to see clearly what are my necesities. I thought I would share what I have packed...

Adventure. Thank you Jared for inspiring me to see the world. I couldn't go on this Journey without seeing your unyeilding enthusiasm for travel and new experiences. I will take your passion for life and travel with me. I without a doubt will be comforted that in any rough moment I might have over the next four months, you have probably been through too.

Strength. Thank you dad for the strength you have secured in me. On every journey I have gone on you were and are there with advice to make sure I am safe and completely prepared. I feel like I have a unique ability to be dropped in any environment and can adapt in a quick, smart, calm fashion. I follow my instincts and never walk without making sure I know what's around the corner. I walk with confidence and while I might be small, my father made sure I could outsmart anyone who dare get in my way. I get this from my father and I couldn't be more thankful.

Love...Oh mom...Thank you for your unconditional love. I certainly could not and would not be here without you. In any week moment where I felt like I couldn't go on, you were there, just loving me. Sometimes you just need your mom to hug you and love you. Know that no hug or "I love you" was wasted. I will take them all with me and use them as needed while on my trip. Thank you for your openmindedness and thirst for knowledge. I will take your childish enthusiam and zest for truth with me. You don't give yourself enough credit...You are my rock. I love you.

My small living quarters on the ship only allow for two suitcases and that is just fine. You see...I have everything I need right here in my heart.

Right now is the calm before the storm.

Ok...

Take a deep breath...

Let it rain.