Day 62 – Logistical Pre-port

Oct 29th

Logistical Pre-port
After Bob “the Voice” made some suggestive jokes about seeing his wife in Vietnam, they announced the results of the onboard mock election: 74.5% Obama and 24% McCain. While we are all totally excited for the upcoming election, most of us are bummed we don’t get to physically vote or be it is so much more rewarding. Then we turned to more informative news: due to low tides we won’t be able to pull into port until noon! However, the ship docks very close to the center of downtown Ho Chi Minh City, so government regulations require that we take a shuttle bus to and from town. This way cyclo drivers won’t congregate at the port gate. Also, no one can enter or leave the port between the established evening curfew hour until 6:00am. To end, the medical staff shared warnings about the “extra services” with massages you can get in Vietnam. (Molly, Falyn, Brti and I couldn’t contain our laughter, seeing as our Malaysian massage experience went far enough.)

Halloween Dance
Since we will all be off in port for Halloween, we had our own designated “Freak Night” on ship. Becca and I wrapped ourselves completely in toilet paper to be mummies. I was a little scared no one would know who we were or care to approach us (since we covered everything but our eyes), but gradually the paper fell off throughout the night. Once it started to drizzel, I looked more like used toilet paper than an actual mummy. Sara and Christina dressed as the morning after. Goldie and Brit dressed as team America with overstuffed bellies, sweat bands and all. When we got upstairs there was a hilarious collection of outfits, including gypsies, four boys connected as Mt. Rushmore, Anna Nichole, Professor Shoppa (my global studies teacher) and two boys that were trees connected by a hammock. We danced the sober night away and mingled with the various celebrities, creatures and animals that showed up on the deck.

Highs and Lows
My “high” was having another Middle School style dance on the 7th deck. My “low” was watching my mummy costume disintegrate under everyone’s dancing feet.