Talent Show and Vietnam Day

I swear we do go to class and study on this trip too!  It just happens that we had a lot of exciting things going on on the ship lately that I would rather report on.  haha

The day after Sea Olympics was the SAS Talent Show.  After the awesome job people did with the lip sync competition, I had high expectations and they were definitely met!  I can't believe that people can be so darn talented!  We had singing, dancing, acting, instrument playing, and some things that were a little hard to classify to be honest.  

The life long learners sang SAS's theme song which is actually quite moving.  My ship parents are the couple on the left.  :0)

The dependent children know how to boggie!

Remember this kid because he is going to win an Oscar someday.

My awesome global studies discussion leader jamming on an instrument from India.  

The ASL club signing "Wavin' Flag."  ( I'm in the club too, but missed the meeting when we learned the song.)

The SAStreet boys.

Complete with their own fan girls.  haha  

Performing the Firefly theme song!

My talent was dressing like a goof with my roomie.  Ok, not really.  We had a fire drill that day too.  :0P  They said that we had to wear hats so I wore my awesome jungle had since I don't have a normal baseball cap.  

The next day the fun continued with Vietnam Day.  There were presentations going on all day which were very interesting!  All of them had to do with the Vietnam - American War from different perspectives.  The first speaker talked about the history of the war as well as the history that led up to the war.  It was sad to learn about because the whole conflict was based on really stupid decisions going back decades.  The war caused so many individual tragedies that we have to lop them together in the form of statistics.  The land was bombed and sprayed with chemicals, people were killed in their home country, soldiers were killed far from home, and the U.S. was torn apart in it's efforts to come to grips with what was happening.  The only silver lining is that some people did learn some things from the disaster.  Now we would never see the anti-soldier sentiments that were popular back then.  Even among those who protest current military action the most, the sentiment has changed to be, "hate the war not the soldier."   There has also been an increased consciousness of the environment after chemicals did so much damage to the land and people in Vietnam.   None of these positive effects are enough to make what happens ok.  Many in both countries still suffer each day from the physical, emotional, or economic damages during the war.  

The next speakers were people on the front lines of the home and war fronts, Senator Charles Robb and Lynda Bird Johnson Robb.  (That would be former senator of Virginia and LBJ's daughter, by the way.  Aside from all that they are also really wonderful and interesting people.)  Senator Robb opened up the talk with, "To them [meaning most of the U.S.] Vietnam was a war...but for us it was a country."  I thought that was extremely relevant to us on the SAS voyage.  Our whole lives we have only heard about Vietnam in relation to the war.  Soon, we will get to see the country and start thinking about Vietnam as a place, not a tragedy.  

Senator. and Mrs. Robb were excellent speakers, very funny and candid.  Senator. Robb talked about his time in the military where he led a company in Vietnam.  His stories were exciting and sometimes very sad.  Of one young man in his company, he said, "the only thing we could send back to his family was a boot with a foot in it."  I can't even imagine.  Some of the Vietnam Veterans who spoke later said they were really proud of Senator Robb  because he could have easily avoided combat due to the fact that he had recently married the President's daughter.  But he chose combat even though there were posters all over his area offering a reward for his capture.  

Mrs. Lynda Robb talked about her experience on the home front.  LBJ gets a lot of bad vibes for his part in the Vietnam War, but those who really knew him (or read his biography) would say that he hated the war more than anyone.  He had these huge hopes for a "great society" and the war went against what he believed in.   'Mrs. Robb talked about how awful it was to see her father work so hard to end the war, worry about her new husband who was fighting there, and have people standing outside her window shouting, "hey hey, LBJ, how many boys will you kill today."   

The talk ended on al lighter note with them talking about family jokes and their excitement to visit Vietnam.  I believe the final picture that was up on the screen was the first picture taken of earth from space.  LBJ did a lot to start up NASA so this was in part his success.  He had sent the photo to all the heads of state and had received a reply from Ho Chi Mihn.  It was the first communication between the two countries since tensions started before the war.  

After a lunch break, Don Howard, a Vietnam War Veteran spoke about his experiences.  He said he was lucky to get into the air force after he was drafted and flew transport planes in Vietnam.  His missions included hauling anything from wounded soldiers to food rations.  He was very humble and frank about his experiences.  Though he didn't engage in combat directly, he says that he feels responsible for thousands of deaths that the bullets or bombs he transported caused.  He thinks that anyone who is involved in a war is equally responsible for the damage and should act that way.  He wishes everyone over 18 could be drafted so more people would care and the country would go to war less frequently.  Hard to argue with that!  He concluded the talk with what he learned from his experience in Vietnam.  The things that stood out to me were no one is invincible, no one wins a war, honor the warriors not the war, and that you should never listen when someone tells you the war will be over in just a few months - it is never over that quickly.  

The final panel of speakers were three students who were either from Vietnam or were Vietnamese-Americans.  They talked about the struggles their parents had to go through because of the war and how it still effects them today.  I thought it was really brave of them to put themselves out there and speak about such an emotional topic.  Most of them said that they didn't always know about the war directly growing up, but looking back, they realize that some of the things their family went through was because of the war.  They talked of separated family members, jailing for trying to leave Vietnam, and lost fortunes.  In so many ways, none of us in the room will ever understand the true impact the war had on their families and how it still impacts them today.  

India! (Day 3)

   What a wonderful day!  I started things out right with waking up extra early to make sure I didn't miss breakfast.  :0)

   When I got to the bus, I was happy to see that my guide from the first day would be leading us again today!  We ended up exchanging e-mails by the end of the trip!  The bus ride was about an hour and a half through the new center of Kochi and out into the suburbs.  We arrived at the Chendamangalam Village where we would spend the day.  The village has many different types of jobs that are independent or funded by the government.  The government here gives everyone a job to ensure that poverty does not exist.  Maybe it does still exist somewhere, but I have not seen evidence of it yet.  I'm telling you, things are run well in this state!  I love it that every kid has an equal opportunity to succeed, not matter what their background is.  I can see why the communist party wins almost all the elections.  (They do have an opposing party but everyone I talk to says that it is a party who only cares about rich people so they never get elected.) 

  We were greeted with jasmine garlands and coconuts to drink when we arrived at the village.  The people putting on the program for us, as well as some prominent people from the village were introduced.  Some of those prominent people were actually kids who met every Friday to discuss important matters, study, and work to support tourism in their village.  I was very impressed at how ambitious and mature the kids were!   

  The greeting also included a drum performance and a dance and singing performance.  In between each act we got to explore the nearby area and talk to the people who lived there. 

 I took the opportunity for a pit stop and was baffled when this was it:

  It's actually easier to use than it looks though.  Luckily, I had my own toilet paper because there was none to be found there.  

   I was getting really hungry and ready for lunch by the time the welcoming was finished.  Lunch was amazing!  It was even more amazing because we got to see a demonstration of how it was cooked and received a copy of the recipe!  In the traditional manner, we were served some truly delicious food on a banana leaf and I opted to only eat with my hands this time.  I swear it makes the food taste better!  

   

   After lunch, we talked a bit more with the villagers and I was presented with the unique challenge of explaining why I used a wheelchair in very basic words.  (Hint:  Dysautonomia and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome are not basic words.)  I think I finally made sense by showing a normal heart beat with my hands and pointing to myself and showing it beating rapidly.  

   We then got a tour of the village.  I wanted to wheel myself to get some exercise, but there was nothing I could say to convince the boys that I could do it myself.  I was getting a little frustrated until I realized that it wasn't about me needing help.  It was about them wanting to help the American girl.  If I insisted on doing it myself, I suppose I would have felt more accomplished, but if I let them push me, they would get so much out of learning to push a wheelchair and being able to help someone.  After all, that's kind of what I am doing in a lot of the service visits; going to people's homes and saying "I'm going to help you now."  So I completely changed my attitude and made sure to thank them many times and give them each and origami bird as thanks at the end of the walk.  Turns out I felt accomplished after all.  :0)

  The village was absolutely beautiful.  The houses were HUGE and painted bright colors, sometimes with carved designs.  We also got to meet more of the people who lived in the village during the walk.

This is one of my wheelchair helpers outside his house. You can't see it because of the trees, but it was a big beautiful white house.  

Snake Tail Fruit

   And of course there were lots of cows!  I was determined to pet one despite the emphatic advise of some of my fellow SASers.  The cows seemed to be pretty scared of people though.  Every time someone would walk close to get a picture, the cow would run away.  But I was determined.  I found that I could get close to the cows to take pictures if I went slowly and talked calmly as I inched forward.  The ladies from the village were laughing hysterically because I was talking to the cows and thanking them for letting me take their picture in the local language.  I suppose that is a bit silly.  haha  I finally got the guts to walk up to a cow and try to pet it.  I was surprised that when I got within a few feet, it actually came towards me.  I let it sniff me and it must have approved because it liked my hand and nudged me trying to be pet.  I spend a while petting it's nose until one of the ladies from the village spotted me and said I should catch up with my group.  From then on, they kept an eye on me whenever a cow was around.  oops.  I can't bring myself to regret it though.  :0) 

   When we got back, we sat back in our seats near the wonderful, beautiful, amazing, fan and cooled off for a bit.  The lady who ran the program came up to me and said, "You look Indian."  I smiled and said I was actually Russian and Italian.  She shook her head and said, "no you ARE Indian.  Not just in how you look.  Welcome home. Welcome home."  IT was truly a beautiful moment.  :0)

  

 After saying our goodbyes (that I must say were almost tearful) we loaded back onto the bus to go to our second to last stop.  This was a fabric weaving factory.  I hate to say it, but it reminded me of the sweat shops I learned about during the American Industrial Revolution.  The room was incredibly hot, and it was full of people working very hard on monotonous tasks.  I was surprised to see how happy the workers seemed.  Of course it could have been an act for us tourists, but it could have been genuine.  The people working there were excited to show us about their craft and explain (in the local language) what they were doing.  

 

  I ventured behind the building to search for another pit stop and found a really dodgy looking bathroom.  I headed inside to go anyway but was met face to face with a spider that was probably bigger than my head.  I held in a scream and was out of there at superhuman speed.  The bathroom stop would have to wait!

  Our last stop was just down the road at the place where the woven fabrics from the factory were being sold.  I bought a bright teal piece of fabric that is usually used as a bath towel, but I'm going to try and make it into a skirt.  

  

 The bus ride home was quite long with the traffic, so I took the opportunity to take a few pictures and doze.

Good News and Good Times

   Before I can write about anything else, I must say WE GET TO GO TO MAURITIUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  The assistant dean made the announcement this morning that some spectacular efforts from the captain, crew, and immigration officers will give us four hours on land!  I am so excited!  I'm a little fuzzy with the details (I don't know if port day will be tomorrow or the next day) because I was too busy jumping on my bed and clapping to hear the rest of the announcement.  Big time happiness in the SAS world right now!

   Before this was known, SAS was already being awesome and trying to make up for the fact that we were missing a port.  There have been tons of things going on starting last evening and running through this evening. 

  The night started out with celebrating my friend Josh's birthday!  We had fun goofing off and eating cake.  :0)

One person found some dodgy filament in the cake and we got into a heated debate on whether it was a fish bone or a piece of plastic.

  I finally made it to an ASL club meeting (I always go to the wrong room or am too seasick or fall asleep too early) and it was fantastic!  We watched a movie about deaf culture and it was really interesting.  I could relate to so much of it.  Like thinking of my illness as something needing fixing as opposed to being part of who I am.  That's something many people who are deaf have already figured out and learning more about the culture is providing me with some great role models.  

  

  Afterwards I fully intended on going to bed but my friends convinced me to go get dressed for the dance party on the top deck instead.  I reluctantly headed back to my room to get changed and must have gotten my second wind because I even put on makeup!  When they came by to pick me up, we decided to head to the piano in the now abandoned union to sing show tunes for a bit first.  No big deal.  It was only everything I hoped to happen during college and was finally happening.  We sang songs from Wicked and Next to Normal and I was pretty much in heaven.  :0)  

  As if staying up until 10 wasn't awesome enough, I decided to head to the dance party...just to say hi and make an appearance.  Then, against my will, I started having fun and ended up staying until the end.  It was actually one of the most fun things I've done on the ship!  I couldn't dance for very long without starting to black out, so I would alternate dancing and sitting.  I got some strange looks, but I couldn't quite care.  :0)  Towards the end, it started pouring and we all ran out from under the overhand and proceeded to dance to Waka Waka in the pouring rain.  The final song was actually after the music stopped.  One group started clapping and singing "We're not going to Mauritius.  We're not going to Mauritius.  We're not going to Mauritius anymore" to the tune of "We're not gunna take it."  Pretty soon we were all clapping, singing, and dancing our acceptance of missing a port.  It was a really good night!

POTSie break!

The next morning continued the trend of awesomeness when we woke up to finding out that we would be going to Mauritius after all!