The end of the cruise

I know that is has been months since I left the ship, but I miss it and I never finished my updates from the rest of the summer. Currently the Seven Seas Mariner is in Thailand, and it would be nice to be there with my friends. However, ship life is definitely something that you have to get used to. Since I have been off the ship, people have asked why I did not try and stay on to work in another position. I have to tell you, it was definitely something I have thought of. BUT, if you had seen my accommodations over the summer and compare them to what I would have with a different job, you would understand too. I lived with my coworker in a guest suite with our own balcony and walk in closet. If I got a new job, I would be below decks with the rest of the crew in an extremely small bunk bed and only the possibility of a porthole.

Would those living conditions be worth it if I got to travel the world (or at least the pacific rim)? Maybe, but I am also the type of person that enjoys getting to know the places that I travel to. It would be torture for me to be in a new place and only be able to stay for a couple of hours and then have to move on. The only benefit to the cruise style of travel is to be able to see a bunch of places to then know where you would like to go back in the future. So many people never get that opportunity to go back though. My remedy for this dilemma is just ask my friends, who have traveled around the world on any of the 4 seven seas ships, about where they would visit again. My only other idea is to apply for a spot on the Amazing Race.

Anyways, the rest of the summer ended well. Laura and I had so many amazing kids in our program. Some of them are my friends on facebook, and one family even mailed me a book. It was such a joy to be able to meet so many great people. I truly enjoyed my experience and I would definitely do it again. Maybe next year? I have been asked, but we shall see what I am doing up until that point. As of right now, I am totally free to do it again, but after this summer, I decided to be a personal trainer. i spent a bunch of hours in the gym with a variety of people on the ship. The drummer, trombonist, assistant cruise director, cruise director, ballroom dancer, trumpet player, sax player, guitar player, and Laura were all in my workout crew. I had so much fun training them that they got me excited about maybe doing it for a living. I am currently studying for the exam and will try and be a trainer part time or full time depending on if I go to graduate school. Lets just say, I'm all over the place when it comes to finding my calling in life, but I am enjoying every minute of it!