For some reason the administration has decided to change all of the showtimes and corresponding dinner seatings on board. We used to always have shows at 7 and 9pm, and now they are all at 7:30 and 9:15. The strange thing is that this slight change has dramatically increased the number of people to our shows. Where we used to have only a couple of people at the first show, its now really full, and so is the second show. Its amazing that half an hour or fifteen minutes could make such a difference to people, but for some reason tons more are coming to the shows. As a result we're having a lot more fun performing - it sure is nice to have bigger audiences!
Tonight we are off! There's a comedian giving a show and we've already played several nights of jazz, so finally we get a day off. We haven't had one in a couple weeks. So the band is all going to the dining room again! I'm pretty excited. The food is so good.... Anyway today I'm out enjoying my day off and the free internet. Poor Marie is on the ship practicing clarinet for the show tomorrow. There are some really challenging clarinet parts in the show, which will be a violinist from England, a lady named Nicola Loud. We met her last night - she came and listened to us play our big band set and then introduced herself and bought us all drinks. She is very nice, and really funny and outgoing. And she seems pretty young. I'm excited to play her show tomorrow - she has a reputation of being the best violinist that plays cruise ships. And her show is supposed to be hard. We might be in for a long rehearsal tomorrow. It should be fun, though. Thats all for now!
Mont Blanc
Monday, July 30, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Rhodes, Greece
Our new band leader Jorge is fantastic! It’s a totally different band with him here. He is easygoing, responsible, and funny. We can spend time together as a band outside of playing music and still have a great time. Our former band leader was extremely antisocial. But now things are really good. There’s a good atmosphere in the band, because for the most part we genuinely like each other. It’s a really good feeling, and very different from my first weeks onboard. Everything is more fun, even the performances, because of the way Jorge runs things.
This cruise I got my first mail from home! It was SO exciting!!! Thank you to my wonderful family! I know it was sent a while ago but things take a long time to get here. I realized I never posted my address, so here it is if you want to know:
Andrea Smith (Entertainment: Musician)
Galaxy
P.O. Box 019031
Miami, FL 33101-9031 USA
Another bonus this cruise – I actually know someone on board from home!! One of my former Spanish teachers from APU, June Hamlow, is here with her entire family. It’s the first I’ve seen of anyone from home since I’ve been here. And for anyone who’s counting, that’s just over two months. Hard to believe that two months have already gone by! (Four more to go – but again, who’s counting??) ☺ Anyway, I hope to work things out to spend a bit of time with Mrs. Hamlow, she is a wonderful lady. It was actually a bit providential that I ran into her - I knew there was a chance she would be on board at some point during the summer, but I hadn’t had contact with her and didn’t know if/when she was coming. But, it just so happened that during the guest emergency drill (the first thing we do each cruise once everyone’s onboard), she happened to be assigned to the meeting point that I help monitor. We were so surprised to turn around and see each other! I can’t wait to tell her about the Spanish church that I’ve found here – especially the fact that they sing two songs that I already knew because I learned them in her class.
Each cruise we have two drills – one for guests and certain crew members who assist guests in evacuation (including me), and one for crew only. Today was the crew boat drill, which for us means a lot of standing around and waiting. Really all we do is go to our “muster station”, wait there for 15 minutes or so until we are told to go to our lifeboat station out on deck, and then wait there for 20 minutes until the drill is over. And today the drill lasted longer than normal because they decided to practice lowering all the lifeboats to the water (not with us in them – just the pilots). It is quite hot today, and we stand out on deck, so I was very glad when it finally ended. Our cruise director has a tradition with the drills: when he is making the announcement that the drill is over he always pauses a really long time before finishing the sentence that gives us our freedom: “The drill for the crew…………(unbearably long pause)…………..is now complete.” It always makes us laugh, and all the crew says the last part with him - we have basically the whole speech memorized since it’s exactly the same every time.
This cruise I got my first mail from home! It was SO exciting!!! Thank you to my wonderful family! I know it was sent a while ago but things take a long time to get here. I realized I never posted my address, so here it is if you want to know:
Andrea Smith (Entertainment: Musician)
Galaxy
P.O. Box 019031
Miami, FL 33101-9031 USA
Another bonus this cruise – I actually know someone on board from home!! One of my former Spanish teachers from APU, June Hamlow, is here with her entire family. It’s the first I’ve seen of anyone from home since I’ve been here. And for anyone who’s counting, that’s just over two months. Hard to believe that two months have already gone by! (Four more to go – but again, who’s counting??) ☺ Anyway, I hope to work things out to spend a bit of time with Mrs. Hamlow, she is a wonderful lady. It was actually a bit providential that I ran into her - I knew there was a chance she would be on board at some point during the summer, but I hadn’t had contact with her and didn’t know if/when she was coming. But, it just so happened that during the guest emergency drill (the first thing we do each cruise once everyone’s onboard), she happened to be assigned to the meeting point that I help monitor. We were so surprised to turn around and see each other! I can’t wait to tell her about the Spanish church that I’ve found here – especially the fact that they sing two songs that I already knew because I learned them in her class.
Each cruise we have two drills – one for guests and certain crew members who assist guests in evacuation (including me), and one for crew only. Today was the crew boat drill, which for us means a lot of standing around and waiting. Really all we do is go to our “muster station”, wait there for 15 minutes or so until we are told to go to our lifeboat station out on deck, and then wait there for 20 minutes until the drill is over. And today the drill lasted longer than normal because they decided to practice lowering all the lifeboats to the water (not with us in them – just the pilots). It is quite hot today, and we stand out on deck, so I was very glad when it finally ended. Our cruise director has a tradition with the drills: when he is making the announcement that the drill is over he always pauses a really long time before finishing the sentence that gives us our freedom: “The drill for the crew…………(unbearably long pause)…………..is now complete.” It always makes us laugh, and all the crew says the last part with him - we have basically the whole speech memorized since it’s exactly the same every time.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
My favorite internet cafe, Kusadasi, Turkey
We had a day off yesterday, which was really nice. Marie and I watched a movie together and and relaxed most of the day. Our luck continues, because tonight we are off again! Actually, the reason is that the guest entertainer, a soprano named Izzy (a show I haven't done yet), came down sick and postponed her show. So tonight in her place they have Bob Arno, a professional pickpocket - if you can believe that. He's amazing - I've seen him take the same guy's watch, glasses, and tie without him noticing!! He's a funny guy, too. Anyway, when they moved Bob to tonight, no-one thought to give us something to do (usually we'd be playing jazz sets or big band or something during his show), so we're off again. We have plan's though - today is Lisa's (new sax girl) birthday. So we requested to eat in the restaurant, and hopefully we'll find a cake for her. I hope this makes her feel more welcome - she's having a hard time because she doesn't speak English very well at all, and by some miscommunication was hired even though she doesn't double on clarinet (she bought hers three days before she came here)....the poor girl has been practicing clarinet every spare minute. I hope tonight is good for her.
Oh, and I saw dolphins the other day!! Only two or three, and really far away, but still! It made my day. I've also seen a lot of Jellyfish, which makes me scared to swim around here....oh well. They're small. :-)
Oh, and I saw dolphins the other day!! Only two or three, and really far away, but still! It made my day. I've also seen a lot of Jellyfish, which makes me scared to swim around here....oh well. They're small. :-)
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Messina, Sicily
I had an incredible day today. We arrived in Messina just a bit earlier than scheduled, so I was able to get off and make it to town square at noon, where the famous clocktower chimes the hour, plays music, and also does something similar to the clock in front of Small World - with all the little figurines doing a sort of parade around it. The clock is covered in gold figures, and each of them move a bit for the spectacle. It's only at noon each day that all of them go. I guess the most famous is the lion at the top who lets out a really loud roar. The whole thing was fun to watch, and I took a video of it. While there, I ran into Claude-Eric Brunelle, one of our guest performers, and we talked and walked around a bit together, which was fun. His show is my favorite one. Unfortunately, after tonight I won't get to do it again until November.
Anyway, the cathedral next to the clock tower was actually open for once, so I wandered inside. Much to my surprise I witnessed the end of a wedding in there - the highlight of which was the organ playing the recessional. I was so thrilled - I couldn't believe I was actually hearing the organ play in the cathedral!! The cathedral is enormous and the organ is the largest in Italy, and 3rd largest in all Europe. Things kept getting better - after the wedding they had a mini concert with the organ! A virtuoso demonstrated several different types of organ literature, and I recognized most of the pieces. I just sat back and soaked it in.....the sound of that huge organ filling up the whole cathedral gave me chills. I was basically in heaven. I found out they're doing it again when we're back in 3 weeks, so I'm going to take Marie.
Our new band members are here, as well! Our drummer is from Iceland - he's nice, funny, and a great drummer. Our saxophonist is a tiny lady from the Czech republic, who is very quiet because she doesn't speak English very well. She plays very quietly, also, and it turns out she doesn't play clarinet at all - she bought hers 4 days ago, right before she came. She's got quite a lot of practicing to do, but I really like her and hope she makes it.
Anyway, the cathedral next to the clock tower was actually open for once, so I wandered inside. Much to my surprise I witnessed the end of a wedding in there - the highlight of which was the organ playing the recessional. I was so thrilled - I couldn't believe I was actually hearing the organ play in the cathedral!! The cathedral is enormous and the organ is the largest in Italy, and 3rd largest in all Europe. Things kept getting better - after the wedding they had a mini concert with the organ! A virtuoso demonstrated several different types of organ literature, and I recognized most of the pieces. I just sat back and soaked it in.....the sound of that huge organ filling up the whole cathedral gave me chills. I was basically in heaven. I found out they're doing it again when we're back in 3 weeks, so I'm going to take Marie.
Our new band members are here, as well! Our drummer is from Iceland - he's nice, funny, and a great drummer. Our saxophonist is a tiny lady from the Czech republic, who is very quiet because she doesn't speak English very well. She plays very quietly, also, and it turns out she doesn't play clarinet at all - she bought hers 4 days ago, right before she came. She's got quite a lot of practicing to do, but I really like her and hope she makes it.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Istanbul, Turkey
Tonight we'll have a new bass player! He is also going to be our new band leader after Atanas leaves, so I'm anxious to meet him and see what he's like. I have a jazz set tonight, and Marie is going to join me for it. She really likes playing, and it makes it more fun for me to have another horn player to play with. Plus it takes the pressure off a little. :-)
One thing I really miss out here (besides all of you, of course) is root beer. It is nowhere to be found. None of the countries I'm in have it anywhere, nor does the ship have it. It might be a silly thing to miss, but I sure do miss it. It might be the first thing I have when I come back. :-)
I'm finding that whenever I pray for a chance to share my faith, God is faithful in giving me that chance. I've had a couple of other times to do just that, recently with a guy who told me he was an atheist. But he was willing to listen to everything I had to say, and was even interested to hear it, and thats really all I can ask for. Mostly I just feel sad for everyone here and how far they are from God, all the strange ideas they have about life. I never realized how it felt to be a complete minority in what you believed - its difficult. When everyone thinks you're crazy for believing what you do, to the depth that you do, its a far different situation than growing up in a Christian family and going to a Christian college. It is staggering to realize that this is what most of the world is like. It makes me feel very small at times, but I am sure of what I believe, and I hope I can make a difference here.
Since we are overnight in Istanbul when we come here, (every other cruise), last night about 20 of us went out to Taksim square, where the biggest nightlife is here. We got there after midnight, and couldn't believe how many people there were on the streets. Lucky for us, we had a Turkish crew member with us who took us around since we had no idea where we were going. It was fun to hang out with some of the band, activity staff, and youth staff. We had a bit of an adventure, though - while we were walking on some side streets packed with people, there was suddenly a power outtage. The entire street went pitch black. It was pretty scary since there were so many people and it was a narrow side street....but Alex our A/V manager took charge and led Marie and I out onto the main street where there was still power. I'm glad he was with us! I realized later that I had a little flashlight on my key chain which would have been useful....oh well. Hooray for adventure! :-)
One thing I really miss out here (besides all of you, of course) is root beer. It is nowhere to be found. None of the countries I'm in have it anywhere, nor does the ship have it. It might be a silly thing to miss, but I sure do miss it. It might be the first thing I have when I come back. :-)
I'm finding that whenever I pray for a chance to share my faith, God is faithful in giving me that chance. I've had a couple of other times to do just that, recently with a guy who told me he was an atheist. But he was willing to listen to everything I had to say, and was even interested to hear it, and thats really all I can ask for. Mostly I just feel sad for everyone here and how far they are from God, all the strange ideas they have about life. I never realized how it felt to be a complete minority in what you believed - its difficult. When everyone thinks you're crazy for believing what you do, to the depth that you do, its a far different situation than growing up in a Christian family and going to a Christian college. It is staggering to realize that this is what most of the world is like. It makes me feel very small at times, but I am sure of what I believe, and I hope I can make a difference here.
Since we are overnight in Istanbul when we come here, (every other cruise), last night about 20 of us went out to Taksim square, where the biggest nightlife is here. We got there after midnight, and couldn't believe how many people there were on the streets. Lucky for us, we had a Turkish crew member with us who took us around since we had no idea where we were going. It was fun to hang out with some of the band, activity staff, and youth staff. We had a bit of an adventure, though - while we were walking on some side streets packed with people, there was suddenly a power outtage. The entire street went pitch black. It was pretty scary since there were so many people and it was a narrow side street....but Alex our A/V manager took charge and led Marie and I out onto the main street where there was still power. I'm glad he was with us! I realized later that I had a little flashlight on my key chain which would have been useful....oh well. Hooray for adventure! :-)
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