I've been so busy studying for this firefighter's test that I haven't had a chance to really write a blog entry (which I could then quickly upload when I was off the ship and around Internet...looks like it will only be once or twice a week).  I don't have too much time, as I have to get back to the ship soon for class again...I feel like I'm in school again! 

We had a big test today that determined if we would go home or not. Thankfully, I pass the test, so I don't have to worry about that "part" of the whole thing. But I still have a movie to watch today, more tests tomorrow and on Saturday, I have to put on a big fireman outfit and put out a huge fire! I also have to go through a huge maze without any light (and two people). Finally, I have to jump into the water and flip over a huge raft. (I'm not too worried about that)  It sounds hard...but I also think it will be fun too. I think I tend to over-think everything, and freak myself out for no reason.

I'm starting to understand the layout of the ship, but only the crew areas. We aren't allowed in the "passenger" areas yet, so I have only seen part of the ship so far. The crew here is very...interesting. There is a type of every person on this ship, and I've already seen some pretty crazy stuff.  I'll tell some stories next time, when I have more time to write.  Let's just say that the guys like to stare..a lot. The girls here are considered "fresh meat" because we don't know their history with girls, and they like that thought. Um, creepy.

The food here is so gross. The crew food, at least, is just not good. It's always the same thing every day, and it depends who makes it on how the taste will be.  I've found that salads, fruit, potatoes,  and ice cream are good, and everything else is iffy.  All the people who said I would be getting fat....looks like I'll be in tip-top shape. I'm eating healthy (super healthy), walking A TON (and I haven't even started my real job yet) and the thing to do when you are bored is work out.  Maybe I'll get some nice abs now. Ha ha.

Well, it's time to go for now. I completely UNDERPACKED and need to purchase some more stuff (more? ahh!). I'm going to make a fun list of all the LIES the recruiters told me...and everything I forgot/needed but wasn't told.

I'm in Hawaii! It's really beautiful here!  I've been really busy with training, learning the ship, adjusting to a new time zone (we are five hours behind Wisconsin…meaning that all my friends are "in the future"), and making friends (I made some great ones!).  I'm really excited too-it looks like I'm going to have a fun time here. Some things are a little bit of an adjustment…such as the fact that my recruiters failed to mention things that you kind of need to know…such as the recruiter who told me not to bring my cell phone (um, you really need it here…everyone has one!) or my laptop (really, really need that!).  I'm thinking of making a post telling you what is true and what isn't! (I'll have to do that soon)

As of right now, I'm in "class" for a week because if I fail this test we have on Thursday (and Saturday), I will be shipped home at my own cost from whatever island they leave me at.  Thankfully, I have to get a 70% or higher (that's 15 questions wrong) so I think I'll be fine.  I did really well in school, my mom reminded me, it's just that I hate multiple choice questions. They always have such similar questions, and I get all confused and choose the wrong ones!  But a 70%…I didn't really get C's too often…I'll be fine. I passed the first test already…so that's good!  (oh, these tests are on fire safety, CPR, and other stuff like that)

Friends…so I met a girl named Krystal who is going to be a Junior Waiter…we were sitting next to each other filling out paperwork when we got to the ship and she helped me figure out the tax information (yup, nothing has changed…that stuff still confuses me) and we just "clicked".  :)  I also met a friend name Lady who is Ultility (her real name is Felicia but she asked us to call her Lady). She started work this week (she takes the test next week) so I haven't seen her much.  And then…I met Jessica, who is another new photographer with me!  :) She started work last week and is taking the test this week, so I learned all this cool "inside" info about the photography department. Yay!  Don't worry everyone, I have plenty of postcards and letters coming your way.  AND phone calls and skype dates too! :) (although the Internet is a little slower than I planned…but it's not too bad. And at Starbucks, which Tiffany will love, it's free!)

Pictures…I know that I promised pictures but I haven't really had a chance to take any yet. I'm going to be carrying my phone around with me now, so I'm going to start snapping them and uploading them like my friends have been doing.  Next week, when I have my camera with me 24/7, I'll be able to take more pictures, no worries!

We went walking out last night on the beach, which was beautiful, and there was a full moon…but my camera was dead so I couldn't take a picture!

from google

I hate dead animals. I hate seeing them, thinking about them, I hate it all. Therefore, it only makes sense that I would not like seafood.  I don't mind eating meat, because I can't see the animal I'm eating.  However, when someone eats a lobster, you see the whole animal. You know what you are eating. That's disgusting! I don't want to see some creepy eye staring at me, reminding me of what a horrible person I am.   Ewww.  I can think of a lot of other foods that are just as tasty-and don't make me feel grossed out.  What is the East coast known for? Lobster. Everywhere I go, people are eating lobster!  I understand most people don't think like me, so no one is going to stop eating their food just because I'm grossed out, but couldn't you least not have your dinner's eyeballs staring at me? That would be the polite thing to do, correct? But no, every time we go out to dinner, some lobster is staring at me, saying "They killed me. They killed me. And you didn't stop it!"  Thank heavens that you can buy other food and not have eyeballs attached-or I'd become a vegetarian.  Some leafy green vegetables sound really good right now...