Pictures Galore - Europe

Ok, so I am trying to do this via the Blogger app on my iPad. So we'll see how this goes. I don't know if I have the option to write captions and space the pictures how I want, but basically these pictures are a bit of everything - Rome (the first and 2nd time) including St. Peter's Basilica and bits of the Vatican Museum; the red sand beach of Santorini; sunset in our unexpected overnight in Kusadasi, Turkey; Pisa ; and Athens. Has anyone been to these places? Any recommendations on when I return there over the next couple of months?

Leave some comments and share the blog if you like the pics! Take care everyone. More to come on my adventures in Europe with my sister! Ciao!

"Love in Any Language"

Well, we are coming to the close of our 6th 12 day cruise and as usual, at the end of the embarkation talk, we sing "Love in Any Language" which is at the same time both touching and cliche. Today, however, it was more touching than cliche for me. I think because of what is happening in the world at the moment (with the anti-Islam video circulating YouTube and the subsequent riots and unrest in the countries of Northern Africa and the Middle East and then thinking of the inevitable backlash from THOSE actions to create more fear and hatred in the general American public towards the Middle East in general - which is VERY unfortunate) and the fact that my ship was supposed to be sailing to that part of the world - and can't now because of the violence and the company wanting to look after its passengers and crew - it just made that song hit home.

"I love you" may be said so differently in different places and those places may be so different from each other, but love is love anywhere and everywhere. It is interesting, to me, to think about the inherent differences in the cultures and regions of the world because of their societies and the traditions born of them. Yet, so many things in our human core are so similar. Instinctually and naturally we are all very similar - we have the same needs and same desires.

Now let's face it - culturally, religiously, politically, philosophically we may never agree on what's "right" or "acceptable" but if you look around at the world, people are living and functioning in varying societies that have been in existence for many years. We don't have to agree on everything, but if we could love our neighbor despite our differences and respect one another, imagine the difference that could be made in the world. All of that to say, I was touched by "Love in Any Language" today - it may be pure cheese, but it's got a great message to ponder!

And speaking of cruising, do you all (all 5 of my avid readers :-P) think that people tend to just turn their brains off when they go on vacation, or do you think the average cruiser is just not the brightest tool in the shed? Maybe I'm not talking necessarily about actual knowledge and smarts, but perhaps more about how you act in public around people - manners and such. I hear/see so many people just coughing all over the place without covering their mouths, using hands to touch food and things at the buffet, being rude to their fellow guests and generally impolite to the service staff. It just baffles me - were they not brought up right? Or do you think people pay money for a vacation and the thought is "well I paid for this, I'm entitled" and thus it subconsciously pushes some of their manners out the door?

Anything else of note going on in my life? Well, we've gotten into a general routine now that all cast members are caught up on choreography. Every 3 cruises, we repeat itineraries and most of our ports are Greek and Italian in origin, so it's kind of fun when we come back to Barcelona - tomorrow will only be my 3rd day there! AND…I'm picking up my sister for this next 7 day cruise! She is studying abroad in Munich, Germany this next year and she just moved there earlier this week, but she doesn't start classes until October. She still has some things to do to get fully situated and ready for classes, but she had free time during this cruise!

There are just not enough hours in the day to do everything I want, though. Despite getting into more of a routine as far as waking around the same time, going to bed around the same time, going to the gym or doing tech/shows around the same time, I'm still not able to do everything I'd like as I'm trying to take advantage (at least to some extent) of being in Europe while I have this opportunity. To put things into perspective, we are in the Mediterranean for about 4 months and do about 11 cruises (most of them 12 day cruises) and when we get to the Caribbean, we are there for 5.5 months and do only 7 day cruises…so there will be a lot more repeating, and from what I hear, a lot less to do as far as sightseeing goes. It's more about beaches, water-sports, and relaxing (and, in my case, saving money :) ). That is why blogs have been in short supply lately. I'm trying to maximize my daytime experiences…and typing blogs on the iPad, while possible, are highly impractical without a bluetooth keyboard.

Other updates - I went to Rome again. This time by myself and I only went to the Vatican Museum and St. Peter's Basilica. It was gorgeous and a lot less stressful - and I saw rain!! The 2nd time only in about 4 months. I still kinda felt on edge the whole time until I got on a train headed back for the port, but it was much less stressful overall. I also went to The Pinnacle restaurant on the ship for the first time this cruise (and the Tamarind for the 3rd time). It was delicious and nearly everything a nice meal should be. Also, heading back towards Barcelona, we've experienced more fall-like temperatures. While we won't get to watch leaves change, probably, Greece is a bearable temperature, Turkey and most of Italy is just downright perfect as far as temperature (despite higher risks of rain). I think we'll be heading to the Caribbean at just the right time.

We also have lost several friends and a couple of stagehands along the way. Ship life is weird like that - you live in a bubble (a floating hotel) and every 7-12 days the guests change, the staff is constantly changing as well. Peoples' contracts may be 4-12 months long in general, but it's all rotational, so every cruise we are losing people and getting new ones. My life is constantly in transition here and reminds me that my time traveling with this ship and these people is transient. On a deeper level, I suppose it is a reminder that life itself is transient and we are all here for (in the grand scheme of things) merely the blink of an eye. I sometimes find myself sad and feeling even slightly lonely or homesick when I think of how my world is constantly changing and people are coming and going, but whether I'm here or on land, people are always going to come and go at some point in my life. I think it's natural to feel that way, but also healthy to remember to be grateful for the time that you are given with the people in your life and just to be grateful for life and health in general. Amen?

Alright, that's about all of note that I have right now. To the gym I go. I get to see my sister in less than 24 hours!

Cruise Life and an Update

Well It has been a long time since I have written one of these things. I will be writing more of them this year though because this is going to be the best way to stay in touch with people that I care about! So, for those who don't know, I have been rehearsing 6 shows for a cruise ship in Los Angeles California from around May 24th - July 3rd. I flew to Barcelona to get on this ship (which is a good deal bigger than my first ship that I did back in 2008 - and just gorgeous!), and we have been installing the shows since July 6th (our "sign-on") date and although we were supposed to have finished the install process a couple of days ago, we had some technical difficulties and were given more time (which, depending on how you look at it could be either a blessing or a curse…I think my perspective changes once or twice daily! Haha - but I do think it is more a blessing, just because this last show is a BEAST. There are so many props and tech things to think about on top of the show itself, so I'm thankful that we have a little more time to play with it and make it feel solid.)

This itinerary that we have on the ship is one that I just couldn't turn down - I thought that doing my first ship gave me some experiences that I might only have once and yet here I am, 4 years later, and I'm revisiting some of these places that I never imagined when or even if I would ever see again! We leave the Mediterranean about a month earlier than I did on my 1st contract, but then we have nearly 4 more months left in the Caribbean! This will be a great way to save money and avoid winter :)

LA was fun and an interesting experience - I had never been to California before or really even lived in a desert before. It was awful adjusting for singing because I always felt dry, but I loved the weather, loved getting to know the area that I was in (despite it being fairly ghetto…no joke!) and loved exploring bits of LA with my new cast and catching up with a couple of college friends who have moved out there. It was a little different than I expected - a lot of buildings had this old '50s feel to them which made them look dated and run down. There were a lot of architectural styles that I didn't expect. I think when I think of big cities, I think of the more urban feel that a lot of downtown business/residential areas have and I never really got that from LA (although I technically never saw downtown LA proper). It just felt like a giant spread out suburb with shops and stuff. And so that was really the only thing about my LA experience that made me not want to live there - the driving that I would have to do and how far everything is from everything else. Other than that, I loved it - it was different from so many places I've been to before.

When I left off before I felt like I had so many things to talk about on the blog - processing coming home from Japan, leaving so many friends behind, my weekend trip with my besties to Seoul, South Korea (and how I just missed seeing my friend Jay who lives and teaches English there), and just the displacement. I lived in Japan for 13 months, I experienced a lot of life, met some special people, felt like I had kind of settled into a community, and was getting to a point with my language skills where I was feeling more and more comfortable about communicating, and like that it was all over and I'm in the Detroit airport waiting for some disgruntled employees to get me a coffee and understanding every word that everyone was saying. It was surreal to say the least. Of course, don't get me wrong - I was SO glad to be in familiar territory and seeing loved ones who I had been away from for so long. It was just a big adjustment.

I've come to realize and appreciate the fact that my line of work is going to be like that. I knew when I got into this profession that I wasn't going to live a "normal" life. I knew I would be uprooted for who knows how long and being all over the country (and now, world, even!) for years of my life. I'm thankful for technology and thankful for the friends that I have that I can just pick right back up with no matter how long it has been.

I had a series of really great conversations with my parents while I was home and one of them was with my mother about this crazy life that I lead (and the fact that I wouldn't be home for the holidays again). The holiday traditions that our family has are so engrained in me that I always have trouble and a bit of self-inflicted guilt (knowing that it was my choice to take a job) when I miss them. I know it's just the nature of what I do and I know that they know - but if you are extended family I hope YOU know that my jobs and wanderings aren't a reflection of how I feel about you :) I love you all dearly and miss you much! Especially for these next 4 months in the Mediterranean, it's going to be difficult to communicate with folks (shady ship internet and exciting ports do not make a good combination for communication). Please e-mail me or Facebook me and I PROMISE I will give a personal response - but I think it's best if you folks take the initiative to update me or ask me some questions if you want a personal response. Other than that, I'll try to make my rounds with Skype and e-mail when I can, but save a few special folks, most of my updates are going to be more general (at least until the Caribbean) and posted here!! So please leave comments, subscribe, and keep reading! :)

That's a general catch up as to what life has been like. In my next post, expect some nostalgic remembrances and my excitement in remembering them from my experiences in Europe from my first cruise and my subsequent recent trips to some of those same places! Good feelings! And perhaps an introduction to my cast

Also, a shout out to my lovely friends in Japan - I think about you all and my time there to some extent every day. I miss you and the life we shared. I can't wait to see you again!

If you don't already have my e-mail or are friends with me on Facebook, but would like a personal update/response to anything, please find me on Facebook or ask one of my family members for my e-mail address. If you don't have ties to any of those people/things but would still like my e-mail, leave me something in the comments and I'm sure that could be arranged somehow!

Until next time - take care!!