In American Indian languages there is no word for art because everything is art

Ah. Where to begin.  These past few days at sea have been long, to say the very least, and generally run together.  I had to re-read my last blog post in order to figure out where I left off.  I’ve been meeting more people, classes are great(!), the food is still terrible (think Loyola dining with more half-frozen fish and less vegetarian food. Yeah.), I miss my boyfriend, yadda yadda yadda.  ANYWAY!

I’m finally reading “Siddhartha.”  I brought it along as one of the four books I’m planning to read for fun (“Brave New World,” “Everything is Illuminated,” & “Martin Eden” being the other three) and luckily, it was assigned in my Philosophy in Lit class.  I really like it so far and feel like it’s a nice re-introduction to Buddhism and Hinduism.  I’m the only person in class who has even an elementary understanding of Hinduism, so I have to more or less explain the caste system, ascetic culture, etc.  It’s kind of awkward because I’m from a Judeo-Christian background and I took the class a year ago, plus I don’t want to put up this front like I fully understand the complexities of a centuries-old religion.  I just wish it were easier to explain that the caste system isn’t inherently evil, that it’s supported by centuries of intense religious indoctrination (very hard to unlearn), and that we’re examining another culture from a Western perspective…without sounding like a completely self-involved and pseudo-intellectual asshole.  Life is hard, you guys.

After a week of intense waves and rockery (rocketry!), the sea is finally smooth.  The Lifelong Learners (generally 50+ year olds who do SAS post-retirement) are able to avoid breaking bones falling down stairs, girls in short dresses can once again stay moderately covered on the outside decks, silverware stays on the dinner table, and professors are able to stand in one place during class lectures.  I was under the impression that the ocean was THAT rocky all the time, but luckily I was mistaken.  Now there’s only a faint roll, comparable to a hammock.  It’s lovely sleeping here, aside from the ship’s noises that sound like a mixture of high-pitched shrieking and whale calls.  I’ve jumped out of bed a few times to see if there was a whale outside, chattin’ away.  No such luck.

I think it’s insane that we saw our very first ship today, after traveling on the sea for 24 hours a day for five days.  It’s unbelievable how big the Pacific actually is – I know this is an obvious statement, but really, it’s astounding.  I wish the ship would go past the giant trash heap in the center, but we miss it.  Which is too bad, because I’d like to add one more thing to the list of Most Depressing Things Ever. 

That brings me to my next subject: the ship’s theme of sustainability.  You don’t have to tell me about the intense hypocrisy of that theme of my voyage around the world on a CRUISE SHIP, but I’ve learned so much the past few days about the current state of the world, environmentally-speaking.  Not to say I wasn’t aware of the trash heap, or the near-extinction of coral reefs, or anything else for that matter, but it has really been in my face recently.  I keep learning more and more about over-fishing and the horrible effect that eating meat has on the environment, and I’m so excited about that – not because I love learning about particularly depressing things, but because it renews my faith in vegetarianism and veganism as a positive lifestyle choice.  For those of you who don’t know, I’m not eating meat on the ship because it is disgusting, but I am in port.  I doing this for three reasons:
a. I think food is a major part of culture
b. not knowing the languages of the places I’m visiting more or less prevents successful vegetarianism (people in the US think fish is meat, for example)
c. I’m really interested in food in general, as well as experiencing traditional dishes within each country.  I don’t want to be restricted by anything, especially dietary needs.

To sum up my feelings on sustainability and the intensely depressing course material offered, I’m so happy that the part of me that has given up on social and political reform is waking up.  I’ve been reading the news everyday, participating in discussions over aforementioned reform, and have been generally soaking up all the information I can.  Keeping a journal has helped tenfold.

Also, even though I hate the insane restrictions SAS has on the internet, I’m really happy that there aren’t any distractions here.  I can’t call ($2.50/minute!), text, use facebook, watch TV, or anything that I generally love doing.  Even though I miss NBC Thursdays and will probably freak out when “LOST” starts up without me, it’s so nice to be free of distractions.  My days here start at 7am and end around 1am, which means I have 18 hours every day to learn, read, nap (to be honest), and spend with other people.  I’ve met (and had conversations with) probably half the ship at this point – it’s nearly impossible to enter the lunchroom without knowing someone at every table.  Everyone here is really supportive and kind and just excited to meet everyone else.  I feel like it’s probably impossible to be on this ship and be unhappy.  Homesick, perhaps, but not unhappy.  In fact, I’ve told numerous people that I’m so concerned with how much I like everyone and how happy I am here (aside from homesickness, obviously), that I’m not going to be able to be funny or sarcastic or mildly strange anymore.  I’m becoming my mother’s daughter!  Happy and nice to everyone!

For example, last night there was a “coffee house” type of thing in the piano lounge, which Normal Kristina would find obnoxious and hokey.  However, Ship Kristina thought it was awesome how talented everyone was – there were 5 musicians and none of them sucked, one 16 year old who read her slam poetry (seriously – she was amazing), and a Japanese student who sang “My Heart Will Go On” so off-key it hurt, but whose passion and willing to put it out there, so to speak, made it awesome.  Not to mention, afterwards I joined a group of people I didn’t know in a game of “forehead,” or whatever it’s called (where you have to guess who the famous person on the slip of paper stuck to your forehead is using a series of yes-or-no questions).  I was The Situation until my friend Jeff accidentally told me, and then I was Pumbaa.  Anyway, it was super fun and I met like 12 people I genuinely liked.  One guy’s girlfriend goes to MIAD (attn Dune, if you have made it this far in my blog post) and another is not only joining my improv troupe, but is interning with “The Colbert Report” this summer!  Awesome!

Which brings me to my improv troupe, which is where I will leave you, because this post is insanely long, as per usual.  I’m starting an improv club that will meet once a week to play games, do scenework, learn about the various forms of improvisation (Harold, ASSSSSSSSCAT, etc), and just be comedy nerds together.  I’m really excited about it and think it’ll be terrible comedy-wise, but really fun.  Plus, everyone here is so supportive of each other already, so I don’t think I’ll have to tell the performers to “yes and” each other very often.  People who don’t wish to perform are allowed to watch, although we will encourage those who haven’t tried it before to play. The goal is to perform, critique openly but not cruelly, and just have fun playing with each other.  If we have a few good scenes, even better.

Okay, I lied about leaving you.  I’m going to Hawaii tomorrow!  We’ll be in Hilo for two days, and then Honolulu for two days.  I’m going to try and visit a waterfall, the Hilo Botanical Gardens, Diamondhead, Hanalma Bay for snorkeling, a volcano of some sort, and the Bishop Museum (to learn about Polynesian history and culture).  Obviously, there will be updates, because we are on (technically) American soil.

And PS – after studying the history of Hawaii, I’m totally in favor of it becoming an independent nation.  Just saying.