I'm getting used to the ship. I got really seasick yesterday, our first full day at sea. Luckily we weren't working much yesterday so I had time to just lay down in my room and try to forget about the rocking of the ship. By the end of the day, I felt much better.
In my job, it's only a two man crew basically. Me, the Broadcast Operator, and Johnny, the Broadcast Manager/my supervisor. He's very nice and I think I lucked out in getting such a good guy. He's from Texas and has been kind of looking after me since day one. I'm very grateful for the advice and any help he gives. He's been helping me meet people when we're off of work, too. We'll go to one of the bars on the ship and sit down with a few staff members and strike up a conversation.
Unfortunately, I haven't been talking much though. My voice left me when my sore throat really hit. I started out with a rather "sexy" raspy voice, but suddenly one morning, my voice was practically gone. So even though I've met people, I haven't really had a chance to actually talk to them. I made sure they knew I had no voice so they knew that was the reason for my silence. My voice is slowly coming back, so I'll be able to be more lively in conversations soon.
Today we docked at Aruba at 7AM. I went to a training class at 11, ate lunch a little after noon, and then a new friend, Katrina from Australia (saxaphone player for the orchestra), her roommate, and I walked around the shopping areas in Aruba. I'm not very impressed by what I've seen so far. I think it's too americanized for tourists. I can't wait to see Europe. I have a feeling you can even almost just feel the history while walking those streets and seeing all the ancient architecture.
We have dry dock in a month or so in the Bahamas, fully paid. I have a feeling I'll be hitting the beach all those days or taking advantage of the time to sleep a bit more.
We are getting a new Avid soon (the one right now is broken, we've been using Video Store to edit the videos in to the Broadcast system) and Johnny says I'll be able to use the camera any time for anything and practice editing any time I'm not working. I can't wait.
I took picture stoday, but unfortunately haven't been able to get an adapter yet to charge my computer in order to get wireless and post pictures up. But I will be doing that some time this week, I'm sure.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
San Juan, Puerto Rico
After a long day of being on the plane, I have finally reached my destination: San Juan, Puerto Rico. The time change is what is throwing me off. It's now midnight here but it feels like eight PM to me. Plus, I slept as much as I could on the airplane (I always hope that sleeping makes the trip go faster), so I'm not very worn out. I'm glad the hotel has free internet access right now. I know once I get on to the ship tomorrow, it'll be harder to email and keep in touch.
My flight left at 6:20 AM this morning. My whole family came with me to see me off at the airport. I tried not to cry. I don't think it has really hit me yet that I won't see my family and friends for 6 months. I'm sure it'll go by quickly.
When I got to Puerto Rico, I just got a taxi for fifteen dollars to the hotel. The hotel service was really nice when I came in. The woman gave me a voucher so I could get some food at a cafe down the street. I did that quickly and came back to lounge around in the hotel room, and to enjoy the internet.
While I sat waiting for my food at the cafe, an older gentleman asked me if I was on vacation. He saw that I had a voucher from the hotel, like he had. I told him I was just hired as a Broadcast Operator for Celebrity Cruises. He's a stage manager on a Royal Carribbean ship and has been for eleven years. It comforted me to just talk to him since he was so nice. He told me a little of what to expect tomorrow morning going to the ship. A shuttle is picking me up at 9AM to get to the ship by 10 AM. I really can't wait to just get started and get to know everyone on board. The man told me that someone will be helping me out the first few weeks and teaching me things, but after that, it's all routine, so it won't be too complicated. I was thankful to hear that from him even though I've heard it from Iris also. It's just comforting to hear that over and over again.
Tomorrow shall be interesting! I hope I get along well with everyone I work with.
My flight left at 6:20 AM this morning. My whole family came with me to see me off at the airport. I tried not to cry. I don't think it has really hit me yet that I won't see my family and friends for 6 months. I'm sure it'll go by quickly.
When I got to Puerto Rico, I just got a taxi for fifteen dollars to the hotel. The hotel service was really nice when I came in. The woman gave me a voucher so I could get some food at a cafe down the street. I did that quickly and came back to lounge around in the hotel room, and to enjoy the internet.
While I sat waiting for my food at the cafe, an older gentleman asked me if I was on vacation. He saw that I had a voucher from the hotel, like he had. I told him I was just hired as a Broadcast Operator for Celebrity Cruises. He's a stage manager on a Royal Carribbean ship and has been for eleven years. It comforted me to just talk to him since he was so nice. He told me a little of what to expect tomorrow morning going to the ship. A shuttle is picking me up at 9AM to get to the ship by 10 AM. I really can't wait to just get started and get to know everyone on board. The man told me that someone will be helping me out the first few weeks and teaching me things, but after that, it's all routine, so it won't be too complicated. I was thankful to hear that from him even though I've heard it from Iris also. It's just comforting to hear that over and over again.
Tomorrow shall be interesting! I hope I get along well with everyone I work with.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Passing Out
Things have been going smoothly so far for the trip, except for recently.
I just went to the doctor's today for some blood tests that are required for the medical center on the ship. Unfortunately, I've never done well with blood tests. They had to fill up three tubes of blood and even before the first tube was half way full, I started feeling sick and almost fainted. So now I have to go back tomorrow to try again because the nurse didn't feel comfortable to keep going. I called my twin sister, Sarah, about it and so she and her boyfriend will be going with me tomorrow to try to help distract me if possible and just be there in case I pass out fully. I can't wait to get this over with.
Plus, the cruise line just told me today that I need to go to the police department and get a criminal background check and fax it to the cruise line's offices. If only on "Crisis Point", we had an officer come down from Oakland. Then I'd know one already to go straight to for this. ha ha.
I still have to finish some necessary shopping and things and say good bye to certain friends, so things are starting to get hectic again. I'm starting to not really be nervous to get on the ship, but more anxious so that I can stop worrying about getting ready for the ship and just start worrying about work instead.
I just went to the doctor's today for some blood tests that are required for the medical center on the ship. Unfortunately, I've never done well with blood tests. They had to fill up three tubes of blood and even before the first tube was half way full, I started feeling sick and almost fainted. So now I have to go back tomorrow to try again because the nurse didn't feel comfortable to keep going. I called my twin sister, Sarah, about it and so she and her boyfriend will be going with me tomorrow to try to help distract me if possible and just be there in case I pass out fully. I can't wait to get this over with.
Plus, the cruise line just told me today that I need to go to the police department and get a criminal background check and fax it to the cruise line's offices. If only on "Crisis Point", we had an officer come down from Oakland. Then I'd know one already to go straight to for this. ha ha.
I still have to finish some necessary shopping and things and say good bye to certain friends, so things are starting to get hectic again. I'm starting to not really be nervous to get on the ship, but more anxious so that I can stop worrying about getting ready for the ship and just start worrying about work instead.
Friday, February 15, 2008
A New Beginning
Within the last week, I went through a few decisions and life altering changes. I suddenly got emails and calls from Celebrity Cruises and have been hired to be a Broadcast Assistant on a cruise ship for the next six months. Broadcast Assistants help film the guests on the ship and edit.
Six months ago, I was looking for a job to go to after my time with "Curb Your Enthusiasm" was over with. Knowing I needed to extend my knowledge on Avid, Iris helped me and contacted her friend still working for the cruise line, handed him over my resume, and gave a great recommendation for me to work there. I didn't hear much of anything about it after that until now. So when they called me after I had been hoping for another job in post production and with more of an income, I felt I needed to grab this opportunity to see countries I had only dreamed of visiting, while also learning and using my skills in Avid and editing all at the same time.
After answering all the technical questions correctly over the phone and letting the woman interviewing me know more about my personality and life, Iris's friend called and left me a message. "Let's get you on a ship!" I was ecstatic, but scared. This is all going to be so new to me.
I'm leaving L.A. Monday morning. I saw Margherita Wednesday night, Laura, Tess, Summer, and Stephanie on Thursday night and during the day, I had seen Kendall for lunch and a Wii tournament at his place, and I dropped by Sunset and Gower Studios to say a final good bye to Carmen, Adam, and Sonya. I'll have breakfast with Iris tomorrow, then see Fernando in Whittier, then see Anthony and friends in Irvine at night for Todd's birthday. Sunday will be coffee with Jim, packing, saying good bye to Marcelo (the best roommate I've ever had and will have when I get back I hope), and then early Monday morning, I'll go to Oakland. I'm flying out to Puerto Rico that next Sunday.
So this is where I'll blog about what's going on while I'm on the ship. I'll post pictures when I can. I have friends' addresses, so a lot of you will probably get a more personal letter from time to time, but this is an easy way to just talk in general about what goes on.
I'm going to miss Oakland and L.A., but I know this is an opportunity of a lifetime that I cannot pass up. It's going to be an adventure I can't wait to experience.
Six months ago, I was looking for a job to go to after my time with "Curb Your Enthusiasm" was over with. Knowing I needed to extend my knowledge on Avid, Iris helped me and contacted her friend still working for the cruise line, handed him over my resume, and gave a great recommendation for me to work there. I didn't hear much of anything about it after that until now. So when they called me after I had been hoping for another job in post production and with more of an income, I felt I needed to grab this opportunity to see countries I had only dreamed of visiting, while also learning and using my skills in Avid and editing all at the same time.
After answering all the technical questions correctly over the phone and letting the woman interviewing me know more about my personality and life, Iris's friend called and left me a message. "Let's get you on a ship!" I was ecstatic, but scared. This is all going to be so new to me.
I'm leaving L.A. Monday morning. I saw Margherita Wednesday night, Laura, Tess, Summer, and Stephanie on Thursday night and during the day, I had seen Kendall for lunch and a Wii tournament at his place, and I dropped by Sunset and Gower Studios to say a final good bye to Carmen, Adam, and Sonya. I'll have breakfast with Iris tomorrow, then see Fernando in Whittier, then see Anthony and friends in Irvine at night for Todd's birthday. Sunday will be coffee with Jim, packing, saying good bye to Marcelo (the best roommate I've ever had and will have when I get back I hope), and then early Monday morning, I'll go to Oakland. I'm flying out to Puerto Rico that next Sunday.
So this is where I'll blog about what's going on while I'm on the ship. I'll post pictures when I can. I have friends' addresses, so a lot of you will probably get a more personal letter from time to time, but this is an easy way to just talk in general about what goes on.
I'm going to miss Oakland and L.A., but I know this is an opportunity of a lifetime that I cannot pass up. It's going to be an adventure I can't wait to experience.
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