Love You So Matcha

We came up with a point system for traveling in Japan. If you got us to a train station, found good food, or made an actually funny joke, you got one point. For those who directed us to a Michelin Star-reservation only restaurant when we were all hangry, kept getting on down elevators instead of up, or kept dropping things in the mud, you lost a point. I either came out with the highest or lowest amount of points. But who’s counting?

We had an incredibly busy and fun four days in Japan. Seeing land and getting off the ship for the first time in 12 days (RIP Jan. 16th). Our first day, we took the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Tokyo. Zoe almost got run over by Japanese paparazzi and it took a little bit of time to figure out how to validate our JR Passes, but we made it. Our first stop after the train was obviously food. Japanese department stores have food halls on their basement floors, which are just little stalls of amazingly perfect food. This was my most favorite memory from when we went to Japan in 10th grade, so I was really excited. That night we walked around Shinjuku, had sushi, and made our first stop at 711/Family Mart. We ended the night eating ramen. 

Our first full day was the longest but most efficient day. We woke up early and took the subway to the Tsujiki Fish Market. (side note, they have a tuna action at 4 am, but going at 9 am for breakfast is just as fun). We walked all the way through the market, trying mochi, the best fresh tuna, and tons of other foods. By 11 am, we had had a full sushi meal. We walked from the fish market towards the Imperial Palace. A man heard Julianne yell that she was a New Yorker so she knows how to jay-walk and started talking to us. He was born in New Zealand but has lived in Tokyo for 35 years. We walked a few blocks with him and he gave us a full rundown of things we must do and dropped us off at a waffle store in Ginza. (Ginza is the Beverly Hills of Tokyo). Caster got her phone fixed and after some time to recharge and warm up, we walked to the Imperial Palace. Even though we couldn’t get into the gates, we took some pictures and continued on to Harajuku Street. All of this happened before 130 pm. We walked 10 miles that day. 

On Harajuku street, we got incredible matcha ice cream crepes, bought cool jackets, and everyone tried on crazy wigs while I took pics. Our next stop was the Shibuya crossing, one of the most crowded street crossings in the world. Everyone we asked gave us different directions and I’m pretty sure we made an unnecessary huge circle but we made it, we literally walked across the street and that was that. We “balled out” on conveyor belt sushi and took a cab back to the hotel to get ready before going out. 

All the SAS kids ended up at the same club that night, called Womb. It was fun to see everyone, but Zoe, Juj and I left and wandered to a club called Atom. We peaked. It was the best night of our lives. No explanation, it just was. Zoe would wander, stick up her glow stick bracelet so we could find her, and we made it back to the hotel by 4 am, after a brief stop at 711. 

After 4 hours of sleep, we got up, went to back to the department store, Juj and I bought a full 7 course meal and we got on the train to Kyoto. 

Our hotel in Kyoto (thanks to Ranger Rick) was a traditional ryokan hotel. When we arrived, they showed us to our rooms, set up tea on the mats on the floor and made our beds. We slept on the floor on mats that night and wore traditional robes and clothing. In the morning, they gave us a traditional Japanese breakfast on the floor. (Pics to come)

Here is Kyoto in the best run down I can give: 3 matcha ice cream cones (within 24 hours), 70+ samples of mochi, 1 monkey park after a hike up the hill, 1 golden temple, 1 stop at the Fushimi Inari Arches (⛩), more mochi, one horrible pizza from an Irish pub, 6 stops at a 711/Family Mart/ Lawson Market. 

Kyoto is much different than Tokyo. There are millions of temples and historical sites, alongside small little walking areas with different stalls and places to stop to buy things, but we mostly just bought food. The last morning in Kyoto we walked through Nishiki Market and through downtown Kyoto. We made it back to Kobe before on-ship time, with at least 4 bags of matcha kit-kats, new warm socks for China, and lots of dirty laundry. 

Normally, by the end vacation, I’m excited to go home. This time was no different, except we were all so happy and relieved to get back on the ship. See ya in 2 days, China!

P. S. Maggie found 1000 yen in her purse in our cabin, after we tried to spend all our cash on matcha Kit Kats in the train station and had to run around the terminal to find extra cash to pay our taxi driver. Minus a lot of points for her. 

Cheeehoooo

We’re on the way to Japan, but tonight we’re crossing the International Date Line. I will never experience January 16th 2018. Could have been the best day of my life, but I just will never know. They told us to stare at the horizon and a dotted red line might appear, so I’m going to do that once I finish writing. Update: I saw the line and got a Milky Way as a prize. 

As we slowly sail away from Hawaii, I thought I would give you all a rundown of our tropical island day (except I was in class while people were at the beach). 

Each class on Semester at Sea has a field class, in one port country, where the professor plans a day that correlates with the topics of the class. Because Hawaii was only a one day fuel stop, you needed to be in a field class or have signed up for a SAS program in order to disembark. Naturally, I signed up for International Relations with a field class in Pearl Harbor thinking I was cheating the system. Lol

We all woke up really early to watch the sunrise as we pulled into port. Everyone was turning their phones on and face timing friends and family. Love you all but I like not having a phone. We had a big breakfast (pre-port pastries included because Anna told me thats the best part) then immigration officials came on. My favorite quote of the day was a random girl behind me in line asking if we have to go through immigration in every country. 

Rachel and I met up with our class and took our first steps on land. My legs were still wobbling even while sitting on the bus on the way to Pearl Harbor. Because of some time issues and honestly I don’t know what other issues, we ended up going straight to the USS Missouri, docked on an island across from the Pearl Harbor Museum site. We ate boxed lunches there before meeting Neil, our tour guide. He shared his personal story about growing up in Hawaii with Japanese grandparents and how the unfolding of the war impacted his family. He was really emotional and informative so Rachel and I took a picture with him after. It was genuinely the most awkward picture we could have ever taken. But it was fun.  

The Siegal family, while enjoying their Hawaiian vacation, stopped by to say hi and bring snacks. MUCH LOVE xo

As we were leaving, we saw Tim Tebow. I’m not really sure who that is but Rachel noticed him and goes yup thats Tim Tebow right as he walked by and he just nodded his head. 

Our next stop was at the University of Hawaii where we heard a lecture from a political science professor. She shared some really eye-opening information about the annexation and creation of Hawaii as a state and the political resistance that the US government faced. We watched a clip of family members being dragged from their houses by policemen, sent by the US to clear the land. The professor speaking to us was so passionate about the activism of the natives that she even teared up as she was reading a personal story. We stopped by the student store after, stocked up on snacks, and headed back to the ship. 

Being on land for a day was almost a tease now that were on the way to Japan with a little more than a week to go. 

I started writing this blog yesterday, the 15th, but finished it today, on the 17th. Mindblowing. Stay tuned for Japan! 

P.S. Kaitlyn is the bomb and I thank her for posting this blog while I am in the middle of the ocean.

If I forgot anything or you have any follow up suggestions or questions, you know where to find me. xo

Wave after Wave

Reporting live from Semester at Sea. Hello everyone and welcome to my first real blog post. I'm currently writing this as we are less than 170 nautical miles away from port in Hawaii. While waiting for our next meal, I figured this would be a good time to say hi and let everyone know that we survived the first week. The sun sets at 17:55 and dinner is always around 18:30, unless were especially hungry. For all those wondering, the food isn't fabulous but the company sure is. 

Tonight is our first logistical pre-port meeting, marking the first stop on our multi-country world tour, except Hawaii is still in the US but we can pretend. Shout out Jamie- see you soon!

Shout out to Maggie for being roomie goals. Her and her ear plugs keep me moving forward. 

Here are some of the key things that I have learned so far.

In my schedule, A days are for class and B days are for tanning and catching up on reading. 

Life vests are under the bed but they suffocate you.

If in the unusual case of any problems, my sea reports to the B deck. 

The iced tea in Berlin restaurant is horrible. Sorry Zoe and Caster and Juj for making you drink it. 

The professors love to chat. Two nights ago we watched the sunset alongside a bunch of professors.One of them was even offering to take pictures of people. 

Running on the treadmill is really nauseating. Would not recommend. For all the haters out there, yes I ran on the treadmill. 
 
​Yesterday was a special day because I got to go on a tour of the bridge. That's where the captains steer the ship. I asked if I could hang out for longer, but I don't think they appreciated the distraction/unnecessary entertainment. This ship has four engines, but we are currently only using two. We use approximately 47 tons of fuel each day and each ton costs upwards of $700. Its the little things. 

Our final segment is for those wondering what my day-to-day life is like, so heres a good rundown. Wake up in the morning. Steal lots of fruit from the restaurant. On A days four classes in a row then to the pool deck and wander till dinner time. Post dinner, there are always some activities like a seminar or movie night. Haven't participated in either but eventually I will. On B days, wake up, lounge, read, lounge, read, etc. Every night at 22:00 there are brownies on Lido. Get there early because by 21:50 there is an aggressive line. And only get the brownies with the white frosting on top. 

For those of you that have made it this far, email me (alana.entin.sp18@semesteratsea.org) with your favorite knock knock joke, so I know what I'm working with in terms of an audience. 

xx, 
Alana 

Around the World in 104 Days

Welcome to my blog! Thanks for joining. This is your way to follow me on my voyage around the world...

Thanks to my parents for inspiring and allowing me to go on this journey. I can't wait to share all my stories, the good and the bad, and the ones that make my mother worry. 

No promises that my blogs will make sense or be chronologically correct, but I hope you follow along as I embark on 104 days of adventure, fun and learning. 

go (ocean) blue