New Years and my birthday on the ship

(diary excerpt, 2012)

I'm in Jamaica! Just had an epic, very spicy and meaty beef patty!

New years was fun.. a big celebration with lots of balloons everywhere. Stayed out till 3am in the Officer's Bar after all the guests went to bed. The very front/tip of the ship is only for staff, so we like going out there and enjoying the breeze and views of the sunset. It's so nice because it's at the front so we can see where we're headed. At night it's still beautiful because of the stars and breeze.I'm still not used to the rockiness; last week I couldn't pour a glass of water because it was that wobbly!


That night, all my dresser drawers and closet doors kept slamming open and closed in the middle of the night! I need to buy tape for those really rocky nights. Other than that, it was kind of nice, getting rocked to sleep.

Tried parasailing for the first time in the Bahamas (gorgeous view!) and went snorkelling last week in Turks and Caicos. We went out with a boat and then jumped off backwards to plop in. I saw several barracudas which freaked me right out! They're so scary looking and of course are dangerous if they want to attack. The damn things kept following me around. The tour guide was pointing one out to us underwater (I went with a group, but I didn't know anyone I was with). It came so close (too close) to me. They tend to swim higher up to the water's surface so you're pretty much at eye level, instead of swimming over them, which makes them even freakier. I kept swimming the opposite direction of them but then later I caught up to the guide then and he said,

"Yo girl, you tryin' to get away from da barracuda?"

"Yes!"

"Well turn around.." (IT WAS SWIMMING RIGHT BEHIND ME.)

"Ah!"

"You are the barracuda's favourite, girl."

He took us out to where it drops down 7000 feet! I think my biggest fear in the entire world is swimming in the ocean where I can't see what's directly under/around me in the water. It was too deep to tell.

The corals and fish were really pretty though!I went out into San Juan, Puerto Rico for the night. So pretty. Just like Spain. Narrow streets, colourful buildings with balconies, cobble stones, latin live music, patios. I had dinner with one of my good friends, Tom, and we had paella and tapas. Mmm!

Performing on stage has been fun; having a live audience and being the host on TV! I love when the audience laughs at something I say or claps when I'm trying to get them all amped up to cheer for someone.

I'm learning lots about cooking as well. Trying to take mental notes from my chef on stage. It's funny how guests will recognize me from their TV's and comment on something I said on there and I'm like.. "wait, how did you know that about me!?"

On sea days, it's quite a lot of work. I'll typically have about 5 events and then usually a speech about something at night. (There are food related events or displays at night sometimes; and I'll do a speech at them, like the Dessert Extravaganza or Ice Carving.)

I do lots of other random things too. I host craft classes (I hate these) and towel folding demonstrations/competitions with the housekeeping staff (love these.. they're so much fun!) There's always so many people that come to this event so I like being on the mic for it.

On the very first night when everyone gets in from port on Sundays (Ft. Lauderdale) I get individually introduced on stage (in a theatre that holds about 1500) and I have to come out and wave while the main emcee talks about the Culinary Arts program and how I'm the host of it. On my birthday, he told the entire audience that it was my special day and all 1500 people sang me happy birthday while the spotlight shined on me and my face turned tomato-red. That's a moment I'll never forget.