9/18/11 Bizarre Life on a Ship

Yesterday was Neptune Day. It is a sea traveller's tradition by where you are turned from a "poly-wog" to a "shell-back" on the day you cross the equator.  On Semester at Sea, it is an excuse for silliness and a party.  We were all awakened around 7 am with a parade of trident-holding, crown-clad people playing drums, clanging together pot and pan lids, yelling, and banging on our doors.  We were told to get up, have breakfast and then report to the pool deck where the ceremonies would begin.  King Neptune (the ship Captain) was escorted onto the deck by his Queen (the Executive Dean) and a whole bunch of other dressed up people.  The captain had been spray-painted green and was wearing only a white skirt and a crown, and holding a trident.  We were all told that if we had never before crossed the equator that we would need to be initiated, in order to please the King.  This initiation went as follows: 1) Get "fish guts" (looked like green water to me) dumped on your head, 2) jump into the swimming pool, 3) get out of the pool and kiss a dead fish (REALLY! See Jeff's blog soon for pictures), 4) bow to the Queen, 5) kiss the King's ring, and, 6) have your head shaved (only about 50 people actually did the headshaving part, but many were girls.  Apparently Semester at Sea has developed a reputation at some ports as being the cancer-survivor's ship). Reade and Tate went through this initiation 3 times, Jeff just took pictures, and I opted out, having done it in 1988, my first time over the equator.  Most of the rest of the shipboard community participated, so it turned into a huge party.  Because it was also on my birthday, I adopted it as my birthday party.  It will forever be a memorable birthday!