Japan in Words

With no concrete plans prior to arrival, Japan was sure to be an unexpected treat. My favorite moments were spent exploring the fancy bathrooms with waterfalls music in the stall just in case someone needed the extra boost, eating local Japanese food and trying new and unknown street foods, and navigating the railways system to the point where I was sad to leave because I feel like I finally figure it out...on our last day. 

Jan 24

Japan Day 1:

Travel buddies- Kelly, Laurie, Christian

After helping the crew security team get all passengers through immigration, I ventured out with my friends for the day. We took the free shuttle from the port to downtown Kobe and then took the tram (public transportation) to Osaka and then found Kuromon Market, which is nicknamed Osaka’s Kitchen. We grazed and tried all different types of food such as sushi at a place with the conveyer belt, green tea made from powder, local beer, green tea donut, red bean mochi, okonomiyaki (Osaka’s soul food aka savory pancake), pork cutlet curry from the cutest place where a man and his wife made us dinner in front of them. I bought their curry and can’t wait to try it back home.

After a day of eating and walking, we got lost trying to make our way back to the port and then adventured around Kobe’s Chinatown. We ran into a bunch of students who had all had great says and ended at the 100 Yen store, my favorite the dollar store!

We spent longer than a week at sea so seeing everyone enjoy their time in Japan makes me smile. This experience is one that I treasure and I want to remember it all.

I am extra thankful for Christian who is the perfect photographer and captures every moment. Plus, he has an iphone 10 or whichever one takes crystal clear pics!

Jan 25

Japan Day 2:

Travel buddies- Oli & Gabe

We set out to conquer Kobe and while I can’t say that we saw everything, we sure did maximize our time in the city. Our first stop was the Fushini Inari Shrine. This location is famous for the thousands of red/orange torii gates that line a huge path along the grounds. There was no entrance fee (!!!) but there were quite a few activities that a person could pay to do. Some of them included buying a painted piece of wood and writing a well wish on the back, drawing a stick out of a container and paying for the corresponding fortune, buying a candle to light in remembrance of ancestors, purchasing a token for a variety of things (good health, prosperity, educational success, wealth, etc) and the typical souvenir shops. The education and good health buckets were empty!

My friend Oli wanted to take a taiko class across town so Gabe and I took the train and city bus to the Golden Pavilion. We stopped at a 100 Yen store and bought snacks along the way and then paid the 400 Yen to enter. The sight was expansive. The pavilion is 3 stories tall with the top 2 floors made of gold fragments. The entire structure reflected on the small body of water that surrounds it and the trees created the perfect backdrop. My phone was dying so I took pictures sparingly but still was able to capture the moment.

We ended the day by taking the local city bus for about 35 mins to Kyoto Station, hopped on the JR Train to Sannomiya Station, and found the best gyoza hole in the wall spot. The entire restaurant was no larger than the biggest cabin onboard but was amazing. Menu items were tapas style so we tried a bunch of things: spicy shrimp, shrimp with radish and lemon, curry, and pork. I also had the local Asahi beer and enjoyed it so much that I got two! Overall, we had a great day!

Jan 26

Japan Day 3:

Travel buddy- Anaeis

With no solid plan for the day, I went to breakfast to see if anyone wanted to go to Hiroshima. I wanted to go and was willing to figure it out on my own but definitely preferred a travel buddy for the day. Ana is one of the Dependent Children coordinators and we had so much fun together. We asked a lady at the information desk in the port terminal for directions and fee information for the to train. We asked if there were railway pass options and she informed us to ask the ticket office at the local JR station for special pricing for a rail pass that would save about $50 per person. When we got to the Kobe Station the ticket agent confirmed that the pass route was our best so we each bought a pass that cost 140 Yen (about $135) and the pass would allow access to all JR trains in the region. Spoiler alert! I shared my pass with Gabe on Day 4 so we split the cost! A cheaper price and half off, winning!

It took approx. 2.5 hours to get there by special rapid and bullet train. The bullet train looked like a spaceship. The legroom was amazing (about 3 feet), they offered food and beverage service, had wifi, and outlets at each seat. I can see why people love the bullet trains so much.

Once at the Hiroshima train station, we took the streetcar about 20 minutes down the road to our stop (180 Yen). We stepped off the streetcar and there it was, the only building still partially standing from the Atomic Bombing of 1945. We took pictures and meandered throughout Memorial Peace Park. We got to see the Children’s Memorial, Cenotaph, and the museum. The museum cost 200 Yen ($2) and was fantastic! There were video recounts of survivors from the bombing, artifacts generously donated by family members, many pictures and a lot of text about the history and present day like in Hiroshima. We spent nearly 2 hours inside of the museum; and I don’t typically like museums.

When we left museum to experience a winter wonderland as snow fell from the sky. It was beautiful! We took pictures and videos before stepping inside an Italian restaurant to share a pizza prior to making our way back to Kobe.

Our journey back was slightly shorter and took just over 2 hours. We were a bit pressed for time at the end since I had to report for duty at 8pm but I made it just in time to relive Remy and settle in for the night.

Jan 27

Japan Day 4:

Duty Day! With a required day on the ship, I spent it well. I had no calls overnight and then woke up t a great breakfast with a few friends. After a short nap, I woke up and it was lunchtime. I needed to make the day productive so I got dressed in workout clothes, grabbed my laptop and a movie. After lunch, I went to the gym and walked 4.75 miles while watching the movie Stand by Me on my laptop.

I cleaned my cabin and put away maps, clothes, and bags from the previous days travel before handing the walkie-talkie back over to the next RD on duty. I did leave the ship that night with Ana and we found a Y100 store where I bought s few souvenirs, a local spot for a beverage, and walked the lively streets at nearly midnight on a Sunday night.

Jan 28

Japan Day 5:

Travel buddy- Anaeis

Today was a great day! Ana and I took the free shuttle bus to Motomachi Station (Kobe Station) and then used our prepaid JR pass to Sannomiya Station where we took a short walk up a main road to the Herb Garden for the most beautiful view of Kobe. The cable car cost Y150 but with a 20% off coupon from a helpful lady at the Port Terminal Info Desk, it only cost Y120. The cable car ride was about 8-10 minutes and scenic the entire way.

The Herb Garden was pretty barren but the green house had a pretty display of a variety of flowers and a restaurant with a view of it all. There was a lovely I took plenty of pictures but also froze while up there. I forgot that going up the mountain would drop the temperature and I bet it was near 30 degrees.

After the Garden tour we adventured by foot back down to the Sannomiya Station area and found a place to eat lunch. We first asked for a menu in a restaurant where they quickly stated “no Kobe beef” so we said okay, thank you and walked away. We looked left and saw a place that advertised, with a huge banner sign, 100% Kobe Beef. The prices were right and some English was spoken so we took a seat at the hibachi style restaurant. I paid 27,000 for 80g piece of meat and because it was lunchtime they included miso soup, a fresh salad, and rice for free. It was delicious! I didn’t have this experience on my radar so it was a nice treat.

Another thing to note is that most restaurants have hooks on the walls for your coat and a designated space for your bags. Sometimes they have an individual bucket or basket for each person to put their purse, bags, etc in at their table.

We left the restaurant, took the JR back to Kobe Station and then searched for wifi. We stopped in at McDonalds, found RD Christian, and ran across the street to Starbucks where I uploaded pictures from Hawaii to my blog. I spent my last 1,200 Yen at the Family Mart across the street so I ran back to the bus (free shuttle to/from the bus to downtown) with a backpack full of snacks. Back to the ship we went and from there we worked the security lines and greeted happy SAS travelers!

Notes from the Sea

My journal from time spent in Hawaii & our long stretch at sea!

Jan 12

Hawaii (quick pit stop)

I worked the gangway on Deck 3 and had a blast! I played music and danced for 3 hours straight. It was so much fun! If you have to work and watch everyone leave the ship without you, it might as well be enjoyable.

I was on duty for the second half of the day, which means that I was free from 2-7pm. I first found a local Walmart and shopped for a few things before walking the streets and stumbling upon a market, convenient store to buy guava strawberry juice, and ended up renting a bike for $3 to give myself a mini tour of the area.

I facetimed with Chris and Priscilla who were home with their 3 day old baby, Xavier. My favorite part of the day would have to be journaling in a park with the sun setting on my face and without time as a factor.

We set sail again late at night during our first cabin party. The other RDs, our bosses, and I met up in a cabin and shared beer and wine, some stories from the day, and our fair share of laughs about the students who keep us on our toes.

I was able to facetime with Jeremy but that won’t last long since I disconnected my cell service and the time difference will become farther and farther apart.

Jan 13

Using the day to recover, the only thing I had to do was present an alcohol orientation to my sea at 8pm. We met, took roll, went through the presentation, and then I gave announcements on a few upcoming events. The big event for students is tomorrow. We will begin evening beverage service. This is where students can check out a card that will allow them to purchase up to two alcoholic beverages on each night that beverage service is being offered. While this is a big hit for some, it’s not for others. I couldn’t even tell you which nights had beverage service throughout my voyage as a student because I never participated.

Jan 14

First beverage service for students and it was crazy. They pay $4 per drink and can only buy two in the hour. With 200+ students in line, this was chaotic. I am hopeful that students will see it is not worth it and will find something else to do. Plus, as an RD, the crew security team wants us to stand around and watch students drink their beverage. We have to enforce rules like to bags, backpacks, and water bottles in the deck. This is because previous voyagers have been sneaky and hid alcohol in their rooms and at the next beverage service combined all four drinks only to drink them quickly in order to feel the effects and get buzzed.

Ironically, I transitioned from beverage service to an event where I hosted and moderated a panel discussion on Spirituality. We had six panelists who represented Catholicism, Christianity, Judaism, and Buddhism. There were approx. 30 people in attendance and I chalked it up as a victory. Especially because the program started at 10pm after beverage service.

Jan 15

Easy day! No programs, just planning. And a workout for myself. I have been really good about going to the gym and I am hopeful that I will be able to keep it up. The food is decent and served at set mealtimes. So, I am eating regularly but do treat myself to snacks in my cabin on a semi-regular basis. I could definitely cut the snacks and be a-okay.

The other thing that I am noticing is that I wake up gradually to the sunshine in my cabin. Alarms haven’t been necessary. It’s probably because we continue to gain an hour almost every night!

Jan 16

Lost day! We went from Tuesday, January 15 to Thursday, January 17 with the blink of an eye. We’ve been gaining hours so inevitably we had to give back a day. Time travel is so crazy!

Jan 17

I had two great accomplishments today. The first was convincing myself to go to the gym to complete one mile and finding my stride early on, finishing at 3.5 miles in 35 minutes of consistent running! A few days ago I was very sluggish on the treadmill and reminded myself that fitness is gained on the hard days. So today when it felt easier than I was expecting, I smiled knowing that I had fought through a tough day and landed on a day like today. And that felt really good!

The second victory was in the creation of a bulletin board and flyer that I have been working on behind the scenes for a few days. We have some creative student assistants who I collaborated with to create a bulletin board centered around sexual assault awareness and bystander intervention. It looks really good and with a few final touches tomorrow, it will be done. In addition, I finished a flyer for what might be my biggest day of programming while on board. With a Study Day in 2 days, I have planned a Wellness on the Water day where members of the chipboard community have volunteered to lead sessions on all things Wellness. The first event starts at 07:00 and the last one ends at 23:00.

Lastly, to top things off, our Dean of Student Life (Oscar Felix) bought our team grilled chicken sandwiches and a drink in the Fritz Lounge. The Lounge is only open to Faculty, Staff, and Life Long Learners so the space is quite nice and very exclusive.

Jan 18

A normal day at sea with a few highlights. We had our Sea Olympics Prep Rally where all of the seas met in the Kaisersaal Union, competed in the first event of the Olympics (trivia, and we did not win), and then met as the Baltic Sea to make our banner, practice cheers, and sign up to compete in a variety of events.

We also hosted our first SAS dance and it was so much fun. Seeing the voyagers enjoy themselves, without the aid of alcohol, was really satisfying. I enjoyed a margarita in the Fritz Lounge to end the night and was happy knowing that today was a good day.

I don’t want to forge the crowded gym or the beautiful sunsets! My slow mornings and comfortable clothes lifestyle won’t last forever so I am savoring it while I have it.

Jan 19

Wellness on the Water day, that’s what I call it. Students and Faculty would say Study Day! Throughout the day, voyagers had their pick of twenty different events ranging from fitness & exercise to meditation to financial wellness (traveling on a budget) to identity (through bracelet making) to reflection (coloring and arts and crafts). My favorite session may have been Journaling Your Journey where a colleague, Oli, facilitated a conversation on journaling practices and invited everyone to think outside the box when journaling by using it as a scrap book/thoughts. One technique she mentioned was to start with I am… and then finish the sentence. Or, start with Dear Kayla, and write a letter to my younger or future self. Some tears were shed and many smiles were formed as everyone took in the knowledge and practiced what we learned.

The day was jam packed and very well received! I do love a good pat on the back and feel that it is well deserved for this mass effort.

Our Student Life team was quite helpful and all hands on deck, which made the day much easier to manage. I finished the evening off with two margaritas and hamburger and fries.

Tomorrow I get to meet my extended family, am hopeful that I’ll get in another workout, and look forward to a few less busy days where I can enjoy slow mornings and maybe even watch a movie.

Jan 20

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…I love slow mornings, especially on the ship. With a busy day yesterday, I woke up and had the pleasure of watching a movie from bed. I meandered to the gym, had a great workout, and then finished a few lose ends from yesterday (emails, took down signs, put things away).

And then I got to enjoy lunch, a lowkey afternoon meeting, and met my extended family. You are hearing words from a single mom of 5 college students. This program is amazing and one that I really enjoyed as a student. I signed up to be the parent, or mentor/friend, to a group of students throughout the voyage. I have 5 amazing students, all female (Abby, Steph, Lauren, Megan, and Alma). They are from all over the map and have solid plans for travel in Japan and China. We just missed one of their birthdays and have two birthdays in April so we will be sure to celebrate them in a special way. Ice cream cake on the ship is reallyyyyyyy good. So are the cookies. So, I have a feeling we’ll partake in both!

The only downside, if I can even call it that, is that the weather has been overcast and a bit cooler than previous days at sea. Japan will be cold so we have approached the point on this stretch where long pants are necessary and eating outside is not an option. When it’s windy, like today, the crew put the outdoor patio furniture away as a safety precaution.

We get another hour tonight so I will remain a calendar day ahead but when strictly thinking about hours, I am 6 hours behind PST and 8 hours behind CST.

Jan 21

I think I figured out my travel plans for Japan!

Day 1 – Osaka: eat good food, visit local market

Day 2 & 3 – Kyoto: visit temple, shrine, possibly shop

Day 4 – Duty (on ship)

Day 5 – Kobe: hike, People’s Square, shop at 100 Yen store ($1 store!)

Tonight, the Admin team hosted a reception for staff and faculty and I took full advantage of the free event. They had beer, wine, and champagne, along with appetizers. I got to talk with the Captain who is a Russian man of few words. I also got to spend more time talking with the Hotel Director (Siegi), Safety Officer (Alicon) and my favorite bar tender crew members.

Jan 22

Lazy days are okay, right? I felt full and heavy all day long. Maybe it was the reception from last night haha Anyways, today was a regular sea day with Global Studies, our Student Life Team Meeting, Evening Programs, and a few meals sprinkled throughout. I have been complemented a few times for my smile and generally happy demeanor to which I smile and think about how blessed I am for this opportunity and remind myself that, prior to coming back on SAS, I longed for slow mornings, beautiful sunsets, and a relatively stress free environment. Now that I’m here, I don’t want to forget that!

Jan 23

Just a regular day with lots of meetings and pre-port for our arrival in Japan. As an RD, I report for duty at 07:00 and have committed to waking up early to watch us pull into port for each country. So, to bed I go. I'll be up before the sun and plan to make the most of my time in Japan.

A (1/2) Day in Hawaii!

With a half day of duty where I can't leave the ship, I had just 5 hours to explore the port area. I rented a bike and gave myself a tour, journaled in the park, walked around Chinatown, and ate dinner with the most gorgeous sunset and live entertainment. 

Sunrise as we arrived!

Downtown Honolulu

Sweats for the early arrival

The BEST juice. $0.80 for the can!

My goal is to take a picture of the ship from land in every port

Sunset at dinner!

Me and my bike! Rented it for $3.67

More to come!

XO

Journey to Hawaii, Part II

I'll first share an abbreviated story about the student I referenced in my last post. He is very bright and from one of the largest slums in Kenya. He comes from a humble background (poor) and earned s full scholarship to do this program (scholarship is awarded to just one student in the entire continent of Africa). He flew on an airplane for the first time and navigated his way to California, and soon around the world. He has very few dollars with him and has found every opportunity to connect and be a wonderful community member. There was a family, who he had a lose connection with prior to the voyage, who bought him clothes, a phone, and shoes for the voyage. I see him daily and an reminded that we can do anything we set our minds to. He speaks English as his 3rd or 4th language and is often in the Writing Center. He will graduate next academic year and will be the first person in his family to earn a college degree. I'm inspired and hope you are too. 

Jan 10

Another day at sea and the most beautiful sunset to date! Plus, my third day working out. There are two workout spaces on board. The gym has 6 treadmills, 3 ellipticals, 2 bowflex contraptions, free hand weights, and yoga mats for stretching. There is also an outdoor weight room that includes 5 stationary bikes. I find that running on the treadmill is easier the faster I go. The more in motion, the easier it is to stay steady. My goal for the voyage is to workout consistently throughout the entire voyage. 30 mins a day plus some stretching should do the trick ;)

Jan 11

Another beautiful day at sea with a lot of anticipation for our first port tomorrow…Hawaii! I'll tell you about pre-port in a little bit but first I need to recap Shabbat. As the Wellness and Spirituality Coordinator on the ship, I assist voyagers in creating their community, organizing services onboard, and arranging opportunities for worship for all religious and spiritual groups. Tonight was Shabbat with Jews on a Cruise. The group was 20 people deep and the students did a really good job of planning out the service. I had requested challah, grape juice, and salt, and water from our Hotel Director (dining) and they had brought their battery operated candles, a speaker to play music and prepared a powerpoint with the words of a prayer. We even sat in a circle and shared a moment of gratitude before digging into the challah and washing it down with grape juice.

Next, we moved on to pre-port meetings. These are the most important, in my opinion. This is where our administrative team hands out green sheets that inform you on the ins and outs of the country (language, currency, cultural practices, etc), port (location, phone numbers, etc), and local emergency information (how/who to call). This one was simple and straightforward. All students were getting off the ship only if they were on a field class or program, so there was no independent travel on this voyage and we knew no one would have had alcohol and everyone would be back before the on-ship time.