Life on the Ship

So I don't think I really talked about life on the ship and what it's like so I'll try to briefly write about it although I think seeing pictures will be the best was to describe it. I've had such a refreshing experience by doing semester at sea that helps me as a young professional in student affairs to see the bigger picture and realize that yes, the things we do impact the lives of our students. I know when I return to the states, I'll have a withdrawl and feel lost and confused. I'm coming from a community where you know a lot of names, something about them, and most of the faces are pretty familiar by this point. You also get 200+ instituations represented and so for someone in student affairs, being able to talk with these students and learn about their schools helps me in turn think about how I work with my students at NYU and in the future.

In my daily routine as the RD for my sea (Caribbean sea) and in charge of student programs. I get a taste of both worlds. I continue my work in residential education and deal with the typical roommate conflicts, homesickness, and in general great students who I live with. I also get to be in many ways the director for student activities. I advise the student groups, support their programs, put on movie nights, talent shows, and set up a place for student to take a break from the intensity of their academics. Aside from going to Global Studies, having a meal with a student, or engaging them in conversation gives a completely different feel to things. I'm starting that point on this return journey in which I know there will be a void for some time. When I've been focusing on human interaction on a morning to night basis...having no access to television or excuses that I'm busy...that will be a big change.

Athens and My Birthday

So leaving Egypt, I also took a stomach bug with me if you know what I mean. They've been making light of it and calling it "Pharaoh's Revenge". About 300+ people caught this bug so I did not feel alone in this process. I tried to take Immodium at first but that did nothing for me. I went to Athens with stomach cramps and you know what. So I made it through the first day where I saw the Acropolis and walked through the ruins of ancient greece. I really liked Greece a lot, Athens being the only big city, I was enjoying it more than Rome because it wasn't as crowded and you got to walk through it all. I think my pictures best describe that piece. I was on duty that night so I split of with my friends who left to Mykonos that first day and dealt with a night of duty that kept me up until 4am. Got 2 hours of sleep and then caught the ferry to Mykonos to meet up with everyone. While Greece was an expensive trip, I thank all those that sent me birthday wishes and I had a blast. I celebrated my 27th birthday in Mykonos and Athens having nothing but good food, a welcoming place, and great friends. Sitting around the beach and experiencing what the locals and rest of Europe were doing during their "holiday" you see another important aspect of life. In many of these places I've met very friendly individuals wanting to engage in conversation about the US. It reminds me to think and learn about the other. So many people know things going on with the states that you feel embarrassed. so leaving this journey I'm reminded to think about the other. Other than Thailand and London this has been my biggest journey in seeing the rest of the world, now that I can put a mental picture to what I briefly saw while I was here.

My Time in Egypt

The night before we arrive at each port, we have a cultural and logistical preport. This is a chance to give some basic language, arts, music, and cultural information about each port. Our academic dean or executive dean generally begins the presentation with “name of port, tomorrow” so in this case “Egypt Tomorrow” or a few days ago. Wow, I was not ready for Egypt by any means. It was a place where I unlearned all that I was taught from 10th grade World History and even in earlier grade school. While I was taught about Pyramids, Kings, Queens, Mummies, Tombs, and in general Ancient Egypt, not knowing much about modern Egypt took me to a different place. We docked in Alexandria named after Alexander the Great. It was a pretty hot day but Marco, Kat, and I decided that we would spend the day wondering around given that we would be going to Cairo the following day. Walking out of the terminal into the city you are greeted with individuals who want to drive you around. You get prices that vary and persistent individuals. As I attempt to say “no thank you” and walk away you are reminded that you no longer are on the ship or in Italy but a developing country with individuals trying to earn a living. We hit the waterfront and go in the wrong direction that we had intended on. I see a bakery and think oh great my first introduction to some Egyptian delicacies. We enter a store and find on one side of the store desserts that I find in the states strawberry shortcake, cheesecake, chocolate cake. On the other side you find items that I don’t have a name for. You taste different spices mixed in giving you a moment in appreciating the other. You also find yourself unable to communicate with the salesperson only to try asking for a few pieces and walking out with 1 kilo worth which included about 50+ 2x2 square inch sweets. Luckily we found a group of students walking by that we were able to share it with. Again I was at a place where I had to find other ways of communicating. I did not understand them and they did not understand me. Is it rude using your hands to make gestures? I’m not completely sure. But the gentle smile on their face and the sigh of relief and smile on my face communicated that we both reached our goals. She got me the desserts I came to buy and I walked out with my desserts. Kat split off after that, it was about 92 degrees with 77% humidity so it was hot. I don’t think any of my shirts had been completely drenched in any of my trips so far. We made our way to the original goal, the Alexandria Library, finding that we were exhausted and made way back to the ship. On the walk back, we see the city moving, the heart of life is centered around the square and shops in the streets, what you find at a bazaar but this was much of the city center. There are not traffic signals anywhere and you do your best to make sure you cross without getting hit. I’ve now learned the skill of dodging cars. The rest of the night was uneventful, we had to get up early for the Cairo trip so we walk around. The city is not awake until 11am and most stores close up shop around 1 or 2am. You find everyone walking around, men at hookah rooms smoking and drinking mint tea. You see the mosque awaiting individuals for prayer. You see women covered up from head to toe. You see the differences of values and culture and are humble to be reminded of the diversity you see in front of you and the diversity and freedom of being in America.

The next morning we took off for Cairo, a 2.5 hour bus ride where we see salt lakes, and industrial pollution. Nivene our Egyptologist guide is giving us a history lesson and glimpse into the world of Egyptians. She prepares the Americans for what they will be seeing. The cultural sights and how to protect oneself from the aggressive individuals trying to sell you things. During the history lesson, I’m taken back to high school, being reminded about how pyramids were built, the king and queens that ruled the Nile, the British colonialism, and much more. I start to make sense of things and boom we past by the pyramids, built over 4500 years ago and I am taken out to the dessert trying to create an image of ancient Egypt. We visit the tombs of the dead called “Mastaba’s” and experience the intricate details designed to honor the dead. I see paint bushed on by papyrus trees still intact. You see the images of life and understand why people love history and why history matters.

In short the trip was filled with visiting pyramids, museums, and stopping at the bazaar. While I could continue to write about how beautiful it was to see the pyramids, what I truly walked away with from this trip but a humbling reminder of my privilege, going back to what I started writing about earlier.

Looking around and seeing the living conditions of the city and seeing people bare the 100 degree weather in hopes that a tourist would buy the white cloth that you wrap on your head or the postcard, small statues, pictures, clothes, and so much more. In this process you realize that while they set the price so that you can bargain, I just wished I didn’t have to and that I could just give them a value to a product that was reasonable. I do this because having the bargain and be told by our guide to do it reminds me that people come into Egypt in hopes to get cheap goods. While everyone wants a great deal, it was really hard to not want to give them their asking price. While they asked for 1 dollar, having to bargain down to 50 cents was a conflict. While this is part of the social networks of the countries to do the bargaining, how does one choose one store over the other because someone gave it for 20 cents less? The students I think found themselves in a place where they could appreciate what they have as they saw what others did not have. I was pretty impressed by how the students reacted. I think given that I had gone to Thailand before, I wasn’t really surprised, but with students who’ve for the first time left the United States, I hope they are eagerly waiting on their next trip back. This wasn’t a place where you could hit up the designer stores, sit at clean cafés, relax by the pool. It was a place where life was happening and you were experience it. I have so much to still think about Egypt and that’s why it’s taken me a while to write this post but I look forward to more.

From Istanbul to Cairo

This post is a series of post regarding my time in Egypt. On July 27th two nights before we were to arrive in Instanbul, Turkey we received news regarding two terrorist attacks that took place in Istanbul killing 13 and injuring over 150+ individuals. We spent July 28th anticipating a possible change in itinerary awaiting information from the US State Department and other ISE sources. At 6pm on July 28th it was announced that we would be going to Alexandria, Egypt with side trips to Cairo. We all gathered in the union to hear this news. When it was announced the entire union jumped with joy. I on the other hand was feeling bitter sweet. While I agree that it was a good decision to move, we didn't get to process it. For me of the 8 ports that we have/will visit, Istanbul was in the top 2. I had heard so much about it and I was so thrilled to finally get a chance to see its beauty. I am not angry because I never anticipated that I would be going to Egypt and to see the history that I've learned from a young kid until now, this also was a dream come true. I hope there was a similar sentiment amongst my community but who knows. Could you really compare the ruins of some 5000+ year pyramid and tombs to the Hijia Sofia or Blue Mosque? I also want my Turkish Bath but I guess I'm getting a sweet in the desert. 

All in all I got a great deal and just need to put Istanbul on my agenda of places to visit in the  future. I spent all day in Alexandria today and wow talk about culture shock but i'll do that after I come back from Cairo.

And Then Some...

My trip to Italy provided a comparison and contrast between central and southern Italy. Of course 4 days is never enough to absorb the culture and history, it gives you a small taste, urning for the the next trip back. We docked in Naples and similar to Bergen, the city is built on hills, you see layers of homes stacked on top of each other. In Naples you find many things, in this case the most evident is a city trying to put itself back together. A trash strike left the city with trash piled up on streets for over a year. While we were lucky to not have to deal with that. All it took was a street similar to Manhattan to change the feel of the place. You find that people hang their clothes on their balconies. You see the luxurious hotels, apartments, and homes by the water and up on the hills, while the city areas have apartments that in my lens would be unbearable to live in. Again that's where I see my privilege. I led a city orientation where the guide gave us some history behind Naples, once being the capital when Italy was two kingdoms. She left us in the Palace Square to situate ourselves in hopes that we would come back to the palace, basilica, opera house, etc...I went to the place that everyone congrugated: Gambrinus. I enjoyed a cup of Caffe Fresso Con Panna (Iced Coffee with Cream). I entered a happy zone, it was no more than about 4 oz and dark, but somehow I found myself getting 3 cups of it daily for those 4 days. None compared to Gambrinus but they were all good in their own way. We would stand by the counter, have my drink, and be off. This is what people did and I got to do what people who do it on a regular basis do it. After the city orientation, my attempt to visit Capri for the rest of the afternoon failed so I walked around and got lunch at a pizzeria, not knowing that you get a cover charge of 1.50 euros to sit down, I ate the pizza only to pay a bill that I wish I didn't have to pay, but it was pizza and I was in Naples.

John and I headed to Rome the next day, the train ride was 38 Euro's each way so I had to make the most of the $100.00 USD ticket. We walked and walked and saw all the things people tell you to see. We sat at Cafe's, had Gelato, and relived history. Being in the present and now helps you feel so more complete. No longer was I reading books and taught this material, I was seeing it first hand. While traveling in Rome in the summer isn't the most pleasant thing to do, I was able to get us at a nice hotel that allowed for some R&R after a long afternoon. Zuri finally made it to the hotel after not being able to communicate with me (I had no more minutes, he lost his phone). It took us a while to pick a place for dinner but we did, it wasn't amazing but I have never been the biggest fan of Italian food. After dinner, I joined Zuri on a night walking tour of the city, seeing everything I saw in the morning and afternoon all over again. It was a beautiful evening and seeing the lights of the Colliseum was just sooooo cool. We ended up walking into a free play at the Rome Forum which was also really cool. We walked and walked and walked and saw the city and it was great.

The next day we woke up as early as we could to see the Vatican City and stopped first at the Sistene Chapel which we dogdged groups and made our way there in a pretty good amount of time. All I can say is that I was taken to another place seeing that piece of art. I felt as if the images were reaching out and taking me into the painting back to where the scenes dipicted were. Now that sounds like an exageration, so I will say that it was really awesome. We walked around more, ate lunch at in Farmosa which I had a nice big plate of lasagna and loved it every bit. We eventually made it back to Naples. So to see the city of Rome and Naples, it was just so different. It's amazing how tourism does impact a place. Naples is trying to up its ante by attracting more people but it was definately a very unique 2 places to be.

I'll keep Capri short because I need to come back and fully experience it. I was trying to meet up with people but that didn't work out so I justed hiked and walked around myself. In the area where we ported, I took the funicular up to the city center and what I got off on was the Rodeo Drive/5th Avenue of Capri. It was all designer stores, expensive 5 star hotels and resorts and you could just smell money throughout the streets. I enjoyed my David time a lot walking down the hills and seeing the blue water so I need to come back and formulate my conclusion about it. For now the blue waters and hot sun cannot be beat.

Amsterdam

The difference you learn about a summer voyage compared to a fall or spring voyage is that you don’t have the luxury of in between time to unpack everything you experience from the prior port. Given that in many ways, I’m also on a more privilege itinerary meaning that aside from Russia and Turkey many of the countries I’ve visited either speak English so it makes communication easy and it’s relatively easy to navigate on your own. I know I’m saying this really early, but I definitely want to come back, this has truly been an amazing experience.

 

When I come to a new place that I have quiet prepared myself for, I get tense. I believe this is the type A personality in me but when I can let my guard down and remind myself that this is the purpose of the journey I find myself ready to learn, compare, and embrace. So a group of us headed over to Amsterdam, the city center right by the train station was busy and I wasn’t really impressed by the city. It wasn’t until after you leave the area that you find the true beauty of the canals, buildings that look slanted, and green trees lined up from sidewalk to sidewalk. Given that the city is built over water, the metro system runs street level and you really need to look left and right before crossing the streets since a train could easily take you with it if you weren’t careful as I very quickly learned while dodging cars, bicyclist, and trains. We all needed to use the restroom and Zuri who has lived in Belgium took us to a café that he knew of and surprisingly enough it was called the “420 café”. So walking in, you find a room that smelled of pot, it was like sitting in a hot box. I couldn’t handle the heavy smells and after using the restroom and looking around, I had to walk out. So given the heavy unregulated use of pot and drugs in Amsterdam, the café/bar sold only water, juice, and drugs. The menu was a list of drugs that you could buy, in order to not mix drugs and alcohol, they could sell one or the other. So that was lesson #1 in Amsterdam. Right across the alley was a pleasant surprise, “maoz”, a falafel restaurant that has found it’s way from Amsterdam/Europe to NYC. I had to try it out and it tasted exactly like the one back in NYC. To another pleasant surprise I ran into “Wok to Walk” which has also found it’s way to NYC. It was really cool to see how much of NYC has imported these unique stores from other countries and truly making it a global city. After eating Maoz, we found our way to the Red Light District. When you first enter it, it looks like any regular street in Amsterdam but boy was it different. Windows one after another with women dressed in bikini’s tapping at the window in hopes of grabbing attention of the patrons on the street. Many of the women were extremely attractive and you start to wonder why they would choose this profession. It was that same moment that I had to step away from my American centric mentality and viewpoint because similar to if they would visit the states, I’m sure there are going to be moments in which they question the values and behaviors. Mixed in between these windows were bars and sex show venues. Most places charged about 25 euros to enter and it would be watching live sex. As we strolled along the way the group of us are called out on the street by our students about 10 of them standing in front of one of the places. They had walked into what was a 2 euro for 2 minute venue where in about 12 doors that would then look into a frosted window until you deposit your 2 euros. At that time you are greeted with a man and woman having sex on a rotating bed. So that felt like the longest 2 minutes of my life. The awkwardness of watching but the even more uncomfortable feeling of being watched by the performers, it is an art in a way isn’t it? After walking out of the show, we all had comments about the action of, but we didn’t really talk about the feeling of. I had always heard about the red light district and while it was stepping out of my comfort zone, I am glad I did go and experience it rather than walk around passing judgments.

 

The red light district was located next to Chinatown so you walk through it to get to the Chinese community. I always enjoy seeing Chinatowns in all the neighborhood, it gives me a sense of comfort and that I could find a place to recharge even if it meant seeing people, street names also written in Chinese, and the smell of Chinese spices, not I didn’t mention the smell of food. We ate at a Chinese restaurant for dinner and while it wasn’t bad it wasn’t the bed that I’ve tasted, but it was okay I hadn’t had really sit down Chinese food in over a month which I don’t recall ever having done in my life so thankfully I got a taste of home. We walked around to the bars and ended up at this place called “club nasty” it wasn’t really that nasty, they had cheap Heineken beer so that’s all that mattered, by the way I’ve decided to try a beer in each country, yes David is drinking J it has actually been really cool and to see openair bars have been really cool. Being tired from the day, Marco and I called it quits early since we wanted to do some museums the next day so while the others went out more, we hailed our Mercedes taxi, the weirdest thing about Europe is that all the cabs here are nice leather seated Mercedes. Although we told ourselves that we were going to be waking up early, we didn’t get out of the hotel until around 9ish where we went to the Anne Frank House. I remember reading The Diary of Anne Frank when I was younger but only bits and pieces remained, so going through the museum and seeing first hand what, where, and who she was writing about was touching. The rest of the day was spent walking around and just being amongst the locals. I didn’t get to talk to any of them, but nonetheless it was some good times.

 

This  trip was mixed with lots of things, the food was great, the people were nice, the emotions ran in a myriad of directions. I look forward to talking to others who have been to Brussels, Amsterdam, Antwerp to hear about your perspectives. I miss the waffles and I learned that Belgium chocolate does not cause me headaches.

Antwerp and Brussels

So we were cleared to take the Kiel Canal from Denmark to get to Belgium which was really cool because for 11 hours I got to see a bit of Germany. We saw mainly land but right at the end of the canal before we hit the rocky waves of the North Sea we were greeted by the community along shore or more so we interrupted the festival that they were having. So while I never got off the ship, I saw a piece of Germany, hope that counts but I definately want to go back and visit.

The shipped docked in Antwerp which is the 2 largest city in Belgium with over 450,000 people. After doing the RD job of passing back passports, I left the ship with Laarni and Marco and along the way we made a new friend, more like a grandpa of sorts. We walked into city hall which we thought was a tourist office and looking lost an older man very enthusiastic and energtic approached us and asked where we were from. We told him we were a part of the ship and he got really excited as well. His name we learned was Jan, age 73 living out his retirement and just happened to be visiting the city, he lived on the other side of the river. Wow, his energy was beyond belief, he took the three of us on a private 2 hour tour of the city. We stopped for coffee at a really nice cafe which used to be a rich persons home converted into a cafe/restaurant, we know this because every rich home would have it's own private altar so that was really cool. Since it was a monday morning and we were looking for a waffle given that it was Belgium after three attempts at the authentic good stuff we find a place. It was like food heaven, a waffle topped with lots of fresh fruit including one orange looking item which I did not know what it was so it was really cool nonetheless. Jan has travelled the world, he spoke spanish, flemish, french, english, and more. He loves Thailand and spends many months there as well. He was a kind man and we really appreciated his hospitality. Lesson learned, get lost and maybe someone will stop and talk to you.

We headed back to the ship for a trip to Brussels! this city rocked as well. It was what I had imagined as the typical European city, it had more gothic cathedrals, smaller streets, lots of brickstone roads, and tourist! the other places were at least more calm...

getting sleepy, i knew this would happen...to finish tomorrow :)