invasion of the baldies

March 20, 2010: NEPTUNE DAY!

      No one had any idea what would take place on Neptune Day except for the opportunity to shave your head.  The administrators kept everything secret.  Rumors were going around the ship the day before as to what was going to happen.  I had heard that the crew was going to run around the ship at 4am waking everyone up.  Luckily, it wasn’t until 8am when we got a noisy wake-up call from some of the crew members.  As soon as I heard it I jumped out of bed and grabbed my video camera to record it.  I opened up my door just in time to see about 8 crew members dressed in white clothes with face paint and cardboard cutouts of spears and shields.  They were banging drums, chanting, and blowing a whistle.  (I tell you parents, that was the fastest I have ever woken up and jumped out of bed. And sadly, I don’t think it was because of the noise [so that won’t work for you next time you have to wake me up] but I wanted to film it so badly I had to make sure I didn’t miss it).  They paraded around the ship for an hour.  Now that I was awake I went up to breakfast with the girls.  Then, I heard the drumming and chanting once more.  I noticed they were coming in through the cafeteria, but this time with many more people.  I turned on the video camera to film the procession of people as they walked by; and I am glad I did because in that line of people were Dean Crabtree and his wife Monica, Dean White, Dr. Gogniat, and many other faculty and administrators all dressed up in costume as they headed to the top deck.  I ran up to get a good seat.  They had a ceremony in front of the pool.  Dean Crabtree was King Neptune and we were all his “pollywogs”.  In order to continue on with this voyage past the equator, we had to prove our loyalty to him.  In other words…we had to go through initiation. (My first time ever experiencing an initiation of hazing… surprisingly since I have been a part of so many teams.) This was the process: First, a crew member poured a pitcher full of green juice consisting of fish guts and other smelly things.  Then we jumped into the pool to “wash off”, which was pretty disgusting by the time I got in there.  After swimming across to the other side, you got out and had to kiss a [real, dead] fish on the lips, then proceed down the royal line to kiss Monica’s fake blue stone ring, then Dean Crabtree’s ring, and then Dr. Gogniat dubbed us as “shellbacks” with his fake sword.  To prove that I am now a shellback instead of a pollywog I am getting a certificate with my name on it. All of that for a piece of paper…haha. No it was worth the experience!

                While this was going on, four staff members were lined up with chairs giving people haircuts.  There was a chair for cutting and three chairs for shaving.  I was front and center watching because I tried to film everybody who got their head shaved.  It hurt me to watch as Rebecca (staff member) cut ponytails off of the girls with beautiful long hair.  I was proud of those who did it because I knew I couldn’t.  The thought crossed my mind to shave my head, but my dad’s email “DON’T SHAVE YOUR HEAD!” ran through my mind and also the thought of playing volleyball in a few months with my hair at that  difficult length where I couldn’t tie it up.  But then again, Jackie Hamilton rocks that hairdo when she plays…haha.  Anyway, so many people shaved their heads.  And I was especially stunned with how many girls did it! I’d say at least 30.  Some of the girls who did it look gorgeous! Bald and beautiful.  Some girls can just pull it off.  Seeing them made me want to shave my head. But then again, I probably wouldn’t be so lucky and have a lumpy head.

                Along with shaving, people cut their hair to donate to Locks of Love.  This I was considering, more so than shaving my head.  There is one girl who is very quiet and shy on the ship.  I met her once when I sat with her at dinner.  But anyway, she had really really long hair.  Reminded me of mine once upon a time.  Her hair was down to her butt and she always kept it tied back.  So when she sat down in the chair everyone assumed she was shaving her head and gasped.   Rebecca took huge scissors and cut the braid off.  Her hair is so thick Rebecca was struggling to cut through it all. I am so proud of this girl, she must have donated around 2 feet.  The lucky person who gets her hair as a wig!

       During the day a lot of us hung out by the pool since we had no classes.  It was awesome! …Perfect weather, good music, and fun company.  Gave the illusion that we were on spring break; except for the fact that we all had a global studies midterm the next evening which obviously none of us were studying for while in the pool.  It is so easy to get distracted here.  There is ALWAYS something going on, someone to hang out with or beautiful sunshine calling your name.  The ship is the ultimate distraction because if it’s not one of the 1000 people on board, than something as simple as the ocean can be so distracting and mesmerizing.  

         That evening we had a BBQ for dinner….a treat for special occasions here.  It was so delicious: BBQ chicken, steak, corn, macaroni…all were delicious, unlike the ordinary dry pastas, dry boney chicken, and potatoes we usually get.  And then for dessert!... ICE CREAM!!!!!! J at the top deck bar they sell soft serve ice cream, but it kind of tastes funky.  So when I saw this dessert, I got really excited. I didn’t know our ship had real ice cream.  They must be hiding tubs of it down in the secret quarters for special occasions.

        To end the night there was a talent show.  Wow, our ship has talent!!!!  There were 30 acts… long night, but all very good.  There were a lot of dancers and musical performances.  I filmed most of the performers until my battery died.  I am predicting some of my peers will be famous in a few years.  Some are such talented singers/song writers/and musicians!  Makes me jealous.