Day 63

CAPE TOWN TOMORROW!!

I GET TO SEE MY PARENTS TOMORROW!!! 

I MADE IT INTO THE TALENT SHOW! 

I'm very excited. 

TALENT SHOW! 

Does this mean I should tell you what I am doing in the talent show? Hm…. 

Alright I guess I will. You know The Evolution of Dance? It's a viral youtube video from a few years ago. If you don't know what it is you should go look it up and watch it. It's basically what I am doing. Except I am extending it into more modern dances. Like Single Ladies. 

It's awesome. I have to download the rest of the music I need in Cape Town and then I can finish piecing it all together. 

I'm in act two. 

I'm so excited. 

You know what else I am excited about? Seeing my parents. I am getting up at 5:45 to wave to them as we pull into the port. We won't actually get into the port area until about 7:30 but everyone says that this is the port to get up and watch our approach and entrance into. Apparently the view is absolutely incredible. 

Our immigration process here is a lot more complicated than it was in every other country. It is a new process that they just implemented. We are the second ship to go through it. Basically every single person has to get off the ship and go through face-to-face immigration, including the crew. While we are doing that they will board the ship with dogs and sweep the entire thing. They may do random cabin checks and passenger checks. To quote my RD Nathan, "It will be thorough and intense." 

The good news is that I will be in the second group to exit the ship because I am part of the parents trip. So I won't have to wait too long to see them! 

In Cape Town SAD has experienced the highest rates of criminal incidents. ATM fraud is one the most common forms. As well as muggings while hiking Table Mountain. 

Dean Eddie had some good lessons for us during logistical pre-port:

1. If you choose to go swimming with friends and/or locals and decide to take off your clothes and be one with nature then make sure you put your clothes somewhere no one can take them. Because getting on a bus or back to the ship will be hard in your birthday suit. 

2. When with vendors be mindful and don't be by yourself. Never lose control of a situation. 

3. Don't try to sneak people on the ship, even if they are family. You will be done. 

4. In addition to Dean Eddie time there is also Archbishop Tutu time: 14:00. Get to the ship early. 

Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you guys. Archbishop Desmond Tutu will be coming on the ship to visit and give a talk on our last day! He is actually an alum of SAS. He has sailed twice before and has come on the ship several times as a lecturer. So cool. 

I got some fabulous Dr. Dave quotes at cultural pre-port tonight. He is still my favorite: 

"If you don't use your sunscreen, your ears will fall off." 

"Call up your boyfriend or girlfriend. Not the one on the ship, the other one back home." 

"Deet doesn't work if you leave it in the bottle." 

*Talking about things that could go wrong with high risk activities* "Shark diving – the cage goes out. Sky diving – the plane goes out. Bungee jumping – whatever." 

Speaking of that. We aren't technically allowed to do any of those activities because they are not covered by our insurance. But I know of a lot of people who are doing them anyway. Molly is going Shark cage diving tomorrow. And Lillian is planning on going sky diving and bungee jumping. Fingers crossed for them. 

At least we are not at risk of Malaria. Technically. 

Logistical pre-port is always the highlight of the day right before a port. Basically the only other thing I did today was go to class and watch Iron Man 3. Man, I bet my dad is really concerned about my schoolwork. Although probably right now he's not thinking about it because he is in Africa. (Love you dad) 

The only other thing that happened today was that Cody wrote on his pants with a pen in class and had a freak out. I cleaned them for him in about two seconds and also sewed the button back onto them. He's a child. Oh Cody.  Again I am not going to see him or Molly the entire time we are in port. So much withdrawal. 

Oh actually I had a really weird dream last night. It started by being memorial day and we were having a pool party. I don't know who we is, it wasn't specific people. I was really into the wifi that I had and kept taking pictures on my phone and posting them to instagram. Then we discovered this underground tunnel and we turned it into a walk through experience of the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Then, one day, all the Disney Villains came to life and chased us down the hole and through the tunnels. We escaped by going through the homes of other cartoon characters and into a carnival type place. We lost the villains by hiding in a carousel type ride where you dress up life the villains. And that is where the dream ended. Sure…. 

Could it be my malaria meds? I heard they give you weird dreams. 

Whatever. 

I'M SO EXCITED! 

I want to see a lion and a giraffe and a rhino and a cheetah! 

SOUTH AFRICA! WOO!