Time flies when you’re on a ship. Sailing around the world.
I still can’t believe I get to write those words.
I’m sitting in the sun in Gdansk, Poland, on a quaint road looking at cobblestone streets, charming rowhouses, and the largest brick church in the world, St. Mary’s Church. Every day on the ship is a busy one, and that sure makes time fly.
So much has happened already. New friends. Long office
hours. Green sheets. Itinerary changes (Barcelona and Rome instead of Ghana and Senegal due to
the ebola outbreak). Birthdays. Game nights. Taco Day. No wonder the voyage
seems to be moving so quickly.
I still had a grand adventure, visiting the Hermitage and
spending an evening watching a live performance of Swan Lake at the famed and
intimately-set Hermitage Theater. It was one of those reality check moments –
was I really sitting in this place,
the same place Catherine II hosted royals and other guests and the place, still
today, that serves as an attraction for world leaders and other dignitaries?
Indeed I was, and it was remarkable. On a funny note, two male students were
sitting behind me, and they couldn’t get enough of the show. Throughout the
whole performance, they were giving color commentary on the story line, the
execution of the dancing, the music (which, I might add, was a small live
orchestra) and the authenticity of the characters. I wish I could say the same
for myself. I, however, was watching the show, and all I could really come up
with was, “wow – they can jump really high.” Either way, it was a Russian
ballet in Russia. It doesn’t get
better than that.
I
was fortunate to enjoy a dinner with some of the students and a colleague from
the ship (on her birthday) at вкус съесть (Taste Eat), a new Russian cuisine. It
was billed as a “Secret Pop-up Dinner” because we didn’t know where we’d be
eating until we showed up there. As a traveler, I can’t get enough of those
authentic moments, and the ones that create a memory through good food, good
company, and good conversation tend to stay etched in my mind for the longest
time. We interacted with many locals who joined our group, and then were able
to stop quickly at the Church on Spilled Blood, one of the most recognizable
St. Petersburg landmarks. The sky was ominously serene.
And who can forget about celebrating a Russian birthday.
What a terrific day that started out with 150 people singing to me in the Union
prior to some big dispatches. My field office colleague and new friend, Kylie,
led the charge. I was once again serenaded with birthday songs from our tour
operator at the bus when we left for a tour of Baltika brewery. This place was
an amazing mechanized marvel with 108 tanks that each hold 230,000 liters.
That’s 7 million (or maybe 70 million – my math is off on this one) 12 ounce
bottles of beer. Great students, great group of colleagues and a great lunch
afterwards and a quaint little downstairs café where delicious blini, pelmeni and borscht were
served up. Once again, memories built on the community that builds when people
are able to slow down and enjoy a meal together.
We’ve since sailed from Russia and are now in Poland. I must
mention that along the way we celebrated Virgopalooza
in honor of all the virgo babies out there, of which the faculty and staff has
12. We had an 80s party and it was packed with staff and faculty alike, many of
whom dressed the part. With the itinerary change and resulting ripples, it was
the perfect time for us to blow off some steam. As many of my friends have
reminded me in emails and Facebook messages, the MV is indeed the best place on earth to celebrate my birthday.
Every day out here is an adventure. The adventure continued
when, on arrival, we rode bikes around Poland. Until next time, I dare you –
actually, I double-dog dare you - to make some adventures of your own!
