Neptune Day

Soon as we left the Amazon and got on the ocean again, the whole ship felt that pain of being seasick, including ME! I felt horrible. It was the first time the ship rocked that bad. It scares me when they tell me “You still haven’t seen anything.” If that was not bad, then, I’m screwed!

Well, everybody took time in their cabins to rest, to be drugged out from the seasickness medicine – that luckily the ship offers – and to wonder if that rocking back and forth would ever finish.

The next day, things were much better. it seems like little by little I was able to see faces again walking around the ship, without the throw up looks.

On Wednesday, February 8th, we had what they call NEPTUNE DAY!
They woke us up at 7am, banging on our doors, and told us to wear a bathing suit. Still being half asleep, I did not realize what was going on, until it hit me – WE WERE CROSSING THE EQUATOR!

It is a tradition when it’s the first time crossing the Equator line, to ask permission to the god Neptune.
I thought it was hilarious seeing the president dressed up as Neptune and his royalty. I thought was even funnier seeing my cabin steward dressing like soldiers of the ocean.

Within the tradition, all of us had to get “puked” with “fish guts” and jump in the pool. Then, after we had to kiss a fish (yes, a real dead fish), and Neptune’s ring.
Some of the students shaved their heads, also as a tradition. Don’t worry mom, I did not shave my head, although I was really attempted to get a cool haircut.

Overall, I thought it was fun to wake up in a different way and be part of the Semester at Sea’s tradition. It definitely woke us up, and made it much more exciting to be crossing the Equator.

Now, I am just hoping I won’t feel seasick anymore, when the ocean decides to be mad at us.

Dia de Neptuno

Logo quando saímos do rio Amazonas, e entramos no oceano novamente, o navio inteiro se sentiu doente, incluindo EU! Eu me senti horrível. Foi a primeira vez que eu senti o navio se mexer tanto com as ondas. Me assusta quando me dizem “Voce nao viu nada.” Se aquilo nao foi tao mal, entao eu estou simplesmente ferrada!

Todos tomaram o seu tempo para descansar nas suas cabinas, se drogarem com os remédio para enjoos do mar – ainda bem que o navio nos oferece esses remédios- e pensar se essa tremedeira de um lado para um outro ia acabar.

No dia seguinte, as coisas melhoraram. Me parecia que pouco a pouco todos voltavam ao normal, enquanto eu via os rostos novamente sem aquelas caras de vomito.

Na Quarta-Feira, dia 8 d Fevereiro, tivemos o que eles chamam de DIA DE NEPTUNO!
O pessoal nos acordou as 7am, batendo em nossas portas, e mandando colocarmos um biquini. Ainda dormindo, nao estava me dando conta do que acontecia, ate que eu lembrei – ESTAMOS ATRAVESSANDO A LINHA DO EQUADOR!

E uma tradição de quando for a primeira vez passando pela linha do Equador, pedir permissão para o deus Neptuno.
Eu achei hilário ver o presidente do navio vestido de Neptuno, e mais hilário ainda ver o atendente da minha cabine vestido de soldado do oceano.

Nessa tradição, tivemos que ser “vomitados” pelas “tripas dos peixes” e pular na piscina. Depois, tivemos que beijar um peixe (sim, um peixe de verdade e morto), e o anel do Neptuno.
Alguns estudantes rasparam a cabeça, também parte da tradição. Nao se preocupe mae, eu nao raspei a minha cabeça, mas me bateu vontade de cortar meu cabelo com um corte irado.

Ao todo, foi muito divertido acordar de uma maneira diferente, e ser parte das tradições do Semestre do Mar. Definitivamente, me acordou e fez mais divertido o fato de estar atravessando a linha do Equador.

Agora, so espero que eu nao me sinta mais doente quando o oceano decidir ficar chateado com a gente.

Categories: At Sea | 2 Comments

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2 thoughts on “Neptune Day

  1. Sorry you were sick! I hope that’s the last of it . . . .

    I remember crossing the international dateline when I was maybe 8 or 9 years old, my first time on a ship (and very seasick!)–the tradition was a little different. Thank goodness I did not have to kiss a fish! But we put on our clothes inside out and the captain or someone dressed like Neptune and we all got certificates–I wonder where mine went?

    Dawn did a Portuguese song in Zumba this morning and of course I thought of you! Then I hurried to Kamehameha School to practice Zumba (what else?!) with friends who had also gone to a jam session 2 weeks ago. It was different songs on Sat. and Sun. so we shared our notes and music and then video-taped ourselves. Everyone was really nice–and talented, compared to me! So we’ll post on youtube just for us and I can keep practicing. You might know Tiffany Remedee and Cedi Roberts, who shared the Sunday songs, but you may not know Gayla Traylor (she teaches music at Kamehameha School) and Heather Murphy (mom of a darling 2-year-old boy, and just accepted into UH law school). They are good dancers and remembered way more of the Saturday songs than I did, so it was great to work with all of them!

    I read your other post on jamming with the famous guy from Ghana, and I disagree only with your “my star is not shining now, it is someone else’s turn.” I think you were among the first to shine, and everyone will always look to you for radiance for the rest of the trip! It’s wonderful that you were able to help build a Brazil-Africa bridge for them!

    Oh, Wendy leaves for Peru tomorrow, and I can’t leave work to take her last class, so of course I am sad, but she will have a wonderful time with family and friends so I can’t be TOO sad! And I will be very busy preparing for my trip to Korea. We both come back about the same time (March 23 or so); by then, I know we will be eager to dance again! And until then, Tiffany will be teaching some of her classes so I will still have some fun 😉

    But now I have to make my lesson plans for tomorrow.

    Keep on shining, Suse!
    Love,
    Suzanne

  2. Rose Sampaio

    Oh my dear, it’s good to know that you are not shaved your head! lol

    Spirituality is present in human life, the ritual to King Neptune

    is a thank you to the sea.!

    Recognizing the creation of God.

    Much love,
    Te Amo.

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