Sept. 13, 2004

Life has started becoming more routine on the ship, which is a good thing, i think. We started our second week of school and, already, i wish weekends were three days long and not two. Not that my work is excruciatingly difficult or horribly bland, but it's fun to just play.

Last weekend I got to know the city of Dundee a little better. It's very cold, windy, gray, not so happy, but it's new and that is exciting. Dundee reminds me a lot of America, at least the people do anyway. They move faster and don't really mind bumping into you really hard. The drivers don't really care if you're in their way either. I was crossing the street with some friends and this girl's side mirror whacked me. Not hurt, but didn't feel the Scotland luv if you know what i mean :-)

Tonight I was privelaged to hear Deyon Stephens speak to our community. She is one of the co-founders of Mercy Ships. She lived on the ship for ten years - when it didn't have air conditioning :-) She gave a big picture update of what's going on with Mercy Ships. What I remember wo/ my notes in front of me - The Caribbean Mercy is debating whether to go back out to sea b/c another hurricane is coming to the FL/AL area. The Africa Mercy, while in debt, did raise all its projected funds necessary, but things not really in anyone's control have made costs significantly rise. New Steps in Sierre Leone was just appointed new leaders. There are a few other things she mentioned, but those were in my head.

I feel like i should tell you a little more about ship life. It's hard to write it all down, b/c it is unlike anything else i've ever done. So, the ship is composed of all these fun little shops and things that are open very specific hours. The ship shop, which sells shampoo, macaroni and cheese, Curry flavored Pringles, toilet paper, M & Ms, etc. is open from 12:30 to 2 every day, I think. Things are super cheap there, which is really nice and your purchases can come out of your ship account, so you don't have to have cash, American dollars, with you. lovely.

the Boutique is open once a week in the evenings for a few hours, it's basically one of those places where you can donate old stuff of yours and take other people's used stuff. Sometimes there are real steals though, so you have to keep your eye out.

The Sala Victoria is the coffee bar, which gives crew coffee and lattes and hot chocolate for extremely cheap prices. You bring your own cup and pay less than a dollar for a nice warm drink.

The Snack bar is open from 10:15am to 10:45 and 3p to 3:30 or something like that. You can buy a Coca-Cola and a normal-sized snickers bar for under a dollar - pretty great. while things are cheap, the selection is always small, but what they do have satisfies a hungry tummy. the whole ship has breaks when the snack bar is open. This doesn't necessarily mean that people take as many breaks as there are, but you'll always find some people hanging out on Aft deck, drinking a pop and chatting.

The gift shop has been open very seldom that I've known since I've been here. It sells all kinds of Mercy Ships stuff. Some of you will probably be receiving things from there :-)

The crew bank is open i think three mornings a week, from 9 to 12, however, all withdrawals must be done online, when the system is up. They have to be in 24 hrs. the day before and if you're in a new port, didn't plan ahead, and want that kind of currency you can make them very mad. It's nice to have a bank, but tricky to figure out their system.

There is a hair salon on the ship and it's free for crew - very nice. I haven't tried it out yet, but will let you know.

That's about all the little things I can think of now. Hopefully, it's a glimpse of what life is like here. My third roommate arrived today - Melissa Hall. She's from the UK, so that's a little different and nice. She'll be working in Communications for a year. I'm super excited just to have another body in my cabin since Lisa has been on vacation. Pray that we'll get along well :-) She seems very nice and likable for the few hours i've known her. Well I'm off to slumber - peace to all of you!