If you don’t know what Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas is, click here.
http://www.atlantis.com/


To get to Atlantis, Brian and I talked to several over priced taxi drivers before joining forces with two expat women and getting a group rate. We didn’t really know what we would do when we got there, so we just started wandering. There was a pool and a free aquarium. We got into the newer towers and passed through the casino without making a donation to the hotel. We got further along and then were told we’d have to show our room key to pass through. Too bad.

So we went back and up through some elevators to try and get a look at a hotel room. Up to the top floor and then down the hall. Then up six flights of stairs and through a “crew area” and back into the hall. There was a made cleaning the room at the end, and at first we walked by, but then Brian went back to ask if we could see in. I was so sure she’d say no, but I learned it never hurts to ask. She let us in and we took pictures from the balcony. We could see the entire water park, the ocean, even our ship.






We walked back down the hall, but the elevator only went to floor two. Strange, so we found some stairs and went down to one. And then we were inside the water park. Of course, you are supposed to have a wristband or something to be in there, but we just walked around taking pictures and no one said anything. It was so ridiculously hot and a dip in one of the many many pools would have been nice, but I wasn’t wearing my suit. Next time I’ll know better.

The park is pretty big, so by the time we walked through it we were exhausted. We found a spot to get a taxi and took it back to downtown. Our taxi driver dropped us near a local take out restaurant. We sat in the corner while the Bahamians bought their lunches and I ate my fried shrimp. Then we went back to the ship with our cameras full of pictures.

There's a whole different language on cruise ships, you pick it up as you go along. Up until today, I'd heard the word overnight, and how glorious they are, but had yet to experience one first hand. That changed today. We normally tender at Cococay (that means we're out at sea and these little boats take the people to the island) and then go to Nassau the next day. Unfortunately (fortunately?) the weather is bad today and we ended up having to evacuate the island and bring everyone back to the ship. Lucky for us, Nassau Port had a spot free so now we're docking there for the night. Why is that so exciting? Because we don't have a curfew!!! Normally when we dock in Nassau we have to be back to the ship by 11:30 to leave at 12am, so if you work late, you can't go out. Since we're staying over night with no curfew, even if you work until 2am, you can still go out! It's amazing. Well, not amazing for the security guys who have to sit at the gangway alllll night. But it's amazing for me, who gets off at 10pm. Did I mention that I'm excited? :)

I know you've been waiting on the edge of your seat to see a photo. Here's one at night, of just the edge of it, it runs the whole back of the ship. More in the daylight later.



And as always, more pictures at flickr.

I chose the paper for our group, and I knew there was a one in four chance of drawing the captain. There were only two papers left and sure enough, I chose the Captain of the ship.

For training, all new people must attend Gold Standard training and part of that is finding the big wigs on the ship (Captain, Hotel Director, Head Engineer, and Staff Captain), and then interviewing them and brining them back to the ship. Lucky for the ten of us, the First Officer was in our group; otherwise I’m not sure we would have ever found him. We went up to the Bridge and had to make some phone calls, but eventually the Captain came up and showed us into his office.

Still holding the paper, I was elected interviewer/writer. Of course I pretended to be confident and happy and smiley in front of the big boss, cause that’s all part of the Gold Standard! After, he asked who was new to cruising and I raised my hand.
“Well, you’re not shy, are you?” he said, I guess because I interviewed him.
“You can’t be shy on a cruise ship,” I answered back, which I think he appreciated.

Up until a few days ago, I don’t think I’d have even been able to pick the Captain out of a line-up. Then there was crew appreciation day, when he donned an apron and served us all ice cream.

I’d love to work on a newer ship, where my bathroom didn’t flood and the things in my cabin actually worked. But I’d consider changing my mind if that new ship didn’t have a back deck. The Back Deck is attached to our crew mess. It’s on the 4th deck of the ship, all the way in the back, and outside. It’s also attached to our tiny crew bar. It’s the perfect place to eat and relax (when there is time) and get some sun. And the best part is: it’s for crew only. I think we have parties out there, but there hasn’t been one yet. Last night there was a crew talent show, but I was working so I missed it. Going to sleep is really tempting when you finish a shift after 1am.

Photos to come, someday.

Starboard, Port, Forward, Aft. Basically the ship is a giant maze. And since this ship is only about half size of the new ones, I can only imagine what they are like. The first day I figured out a route to the main important areas: my room, my work, and the crew mess hall. It’s really not hard, as long as you can figure out which end of the ship you are in. I caught on quick, or so everyone said. Other new hires are still trying to get their heads around it. So anyway, everything makes sense until the evil water tight doors get shut, which happens when we dock and at other random times that I haven’t figured out just yet. When they close them, my routes are basically useless. But I think I’ve got it. There are green signs that lead to emergency exits and if you follow them, you’ll find your way to crew stairwells. Discovering that made things a bit easier.

I haven't posted anything for a long time, because I'm not in Japan anymore. But I suppose a Japan related post every now and then would be good. So I was laying in bed last night when it occurred to me how easy it is to get out of routines, and you don't even think about it.

So in Japan, going to bed was a process. Turn on the heated blanket, turn on the heater in the bedroom. Wait. Pick out clothes for tomorrow. Jump into bed. Turn off the heater, remembering to set the timer for the morning. Turn off the heated blanket, or just turn it down if you are me.

Then, getting up. Wake up really early. Turn on the other heater. Sleep. Wake up again when the temperature was over freezing, get up and put on the clothes that you laid out the night before. And we won't even get into the process of taking a shower in the winter.

Now, I have central heating. No kerosene heater and no heating blanket. Oh, and I have insulation. God bless insulation.

To all of you in Japan right now, stay warm. And don't burn the house down.

In a few hours I'll be 25. Feel free to send me a present from my Amazon.com wish list (to the left, on the side), to distract me from getting old. I'll need many distractions.

I'm in Mtown now. And have been for a day or two, but things have been busy, you know me. Anyway, hopefully I'll write about the last few days in Japan, but right now I'm off to a wedding in Wisconsin. So it'll have to wait.

When I came to Japan, you could have two suitcases checked, each weighing 70ish pounds. Even as late as this Christmas, that was the case. Not any more. 50 pounds! At least I'm not from the UK, they only get about 50 pounds total!

So anyway, I'm packing yet another box to ship with all the heavy stuff. My apartment is a mess. I'll go close my bank account today with Reiko. It's so hard to stay focused though.

So let's see, things to do:
-Close bank account
-Mail in Yahoo BB router
-Cancel my cell phone
-Pack clothes
-Clean bathroom
-Clean kitchen
-Pay gas bill
-Turn in my stuff at the BOE

that's all I can think of right now

Tonight we are going to Gohei. It should be a great time, there'll be about 15 of us. So, I'll be on my way to the airport in less than 48 hours.

I'm back from the trip with the kids, it went well, and if I get a chance, I'll write about it, but its not likely. It's 5:20am and in 10 minutes we'll walk down to the 7-11 to meet Satoru and go to the beach. Of course, Kaneko got sick and it's a rainy day, but we can't cancel our reservation, so off to the beach we go. I wish there were two of me, one to do all the fun things, and the other to clean. I'll be back tomorrow night.

In case anyone is worried, I felt the earthquake this morning, but it was pretty minor here. Niigata got hit again though. It's not as bad as 2004 though, so I guess that is good. Anyway, it's late and I have to be up at 5am tomorrow morning. Good night!

Should I WASH my dishes, or just throw them away.....where they will likely end up anyway.....hmmm

I have tons of things to write about. My last day of school, the enkai, the talent show, my new toy, etc. BUT. I have to pack, but before I can do that, I have to throw out all of my crap. Not an easy task, especially since there is stuff in my apartment that was here LONG before I ever got here. I've made a good dent in it, we carried 9 bags to the garbage last night. It's a big job though, and since I'll be gone the entire next week, I need to have it mostly done, so that all that is left is to clean and put the stuff I'm actually taking home into bags. This Kyoto trip is really bad timing, I'll say that. Anyway, I posted some pictures on flickr from the talent show on Saturday. I took them with my new camera. I'm still figuring out exactly how to work it, I haven't downloaded an English manual yet, and probably won't until I am home.

Anyway, so that's what is up with me. While I've been cleaning I've been watching Six Feet Under, I'm ready to start the last season, such a good show!

I just got a new baby! The Canon Rebel XTI (known as the EOS Kiss in Japan). I got two lenses and the price was cheaper than in America. I also got an extra 4000yen off because of all the money I've spent at the camera store in the past three years. WOOOOO! Digital SLR!!!

So on Monday I had the goodbye ceremony for the students at West. I really didn't want to go because public crying is totally not my thing. But what can you do? I sat at my desk forever, chatting with some of the teachers and then the principal escorted me to the gym.

I sat on stage while he said all sorts of nice things about me (most of which I couldn't understand), then I had to go to the podium. A boy brought me a big bouquet of flowers, then two third grade girls stood in front of me and gave a speech IN ENGLISH about how great I am. I had to look them in the eye, with all of the other kids behind them. Thinking about how much time they had put into making and rehearsing the speech made me cry just a bit. And then, only after they had already made me cry, it was my turn. My speech was TERRIBLE. I didn't really practice so I really fumbled over it. Especially the parts that Reiko had hand written that morning. Oh well.

I finished and then the students stood, parted in the middle of the group and I walked down while they all clapped. A few gave me high fives and a few gave me hugs. Finished.

Back in the teachers room I hung around a bit just in case there was anything left to do. The principal gave me a present (two handkerchiefs) and then I left, ran home with the flowers and then made it to private lessons ALMOST on time.

At lessons, we played a game with all of the kids and then they wrote me messages on a board and then we had a snack. Mrs. Koizumi gave me a fan and handkerchief as a present from that class and the high school student. In Natsumi's class (HS student) we talked and checked her homework. She gave me a very nice photo album. Then we had dinner with the grandkids and their grandfather. They wrote on the boards and then we played shiritori and just talked or whatever. They gave me a small Japanese bell wind chime. Some nice gifts. Then I left for the last time and went to the gym.

I SHOULD be translating. I SHOULD be making sure my speech is ok. But what I WANT to do is play with photos. I can't though, so here is ONE and only one. The party was two degrees of Michael J. Fox, sooooo
I was Rose from Titanic because Billy Zane (the fiance) was also in Back to the Future.
Mark was Jack from the Shining because Jack Nicholson was also in Mars Attacks with MJF.

Here we are: