Earthquake in Japan?

Lunch: Salad Bar (lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, dressing…), Pasta dish, Potato dish, Fish, Pork/Beef/Chicken, Vegetable dish, bread rolls, some type of wrap, some type of dessert, and of course PB & J.

Dinner: see lunch.

I’m not one to complain about food- I like most of the pasta dishes, potatoes, and the bread rolls. The only time I really have a problem is when it’s a fish and pork night. Regardless I’m an avid PB and J eater so everything has been great. Also if I want to splurge a little I can go up to the seventh deck grill and get a $1.50 hot dog, $3.50 Caesar chicken salad, or a $5.00 pesto and chicken pizza. So although I haven’t had a problem with the food aboard the MV Explorer, I will admit it is a very repetitive menu.

In lieu of our friend Ethan’s 21^st birthday, about nine of us decided to surprise him and have a “special event dinner.” For $25 one is entitled to a delicious five course meal:

Shrimp Cocktail with Devil’s Sauce

Or

Fresh Vegetable Lumpia (wrapped in a thin pancake with sweet oriental sauce)

Crab and Corn Soup

Or

Cream of Tomato Mimosa

Chicken Caesar Salad

Or

Mixed Lettuce and Marinated Heart of Artichoke

Tenderloin Beef Medallions with peppercorn sauce, Delmonico potatoes, and vegetable medley

Or

Seared Salmon Filet served with creamy Tarragon sauce, Boiled potatoes and Asparagus

Or

Creamy Vegetable Vol Au Vent

Cherries Jubilee

Or

Vanilla Cream Fruit Tart

AMAZING. Not to mention that they serve you champagne, lots of mini-appetizers, and cookies. Also Ethan’s mom ordered him a chocolate ice cream cake- you can never get enough chocolate ice cream, it’s a proven fact. Bottom line: $25 well spent and a nice alternative to PB & J.

Apart from that amazing birthday meal, we had a global studies exam today and more importantly arrive in JAPAN in two days. The seas have gotten insanely rocky and intense- the captain is making us go slower than normal because of the storm. Unfortunately we are now arriving in Yokohama later than expected. Also apparently there was a huge earthquake in Japan earlier today? The captain reports are pretty vague…

“This is the captain speaking; we have encountered heavier seas than expected as a result of the earthquake that hit Japan earlier today. We will be going slower than usual and thus will reach Yokohama at a later time than originally planned. Please secure all of your belongings and place heavier objects on the floor. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

Thanks Captain… glad you just managed to freak out and anger the entire ship in less than twenty seconds. Reporting from 26 degrees latitude, 24 minutes North of the equator and 158 degrees longitude, 30 minutes East of the Prime Meridian (that was actually yesterday’s positioning) I’m ready to face the wrath of the sea. Also I should probably add that the sea has clearly already won- I had to ask a teacher permission to leave class early today because I felt (sea)sick. Sayonara.