As promised, here are my "first impressions" that I wrote in my journal last night. At the time I wrote this I was on-board little more than 24 hours. They aren't ordered by priority, it's just a list of thoughts.
1) Really, really, need to learn French!!!
2) Once I learn French things will be more fun in town :)
3) I really think I'll like it here, there will be challenges but overall, once I adjust to differences I think it'll be a really good experience.
4) How am I going to remember names?!?!
5) The people on-board all seem extremely friendly and helpful!
I arrived Saturday night, got checked in and received my Mercy Ship ID and orientation schedule, after that I unpacked and went to bed. Not an overly exciting first night, but I was exhausted from traveling and so I didn't mind.
Sunday morning I was so mixed up on the time and so I felt like I didn't know if I was coming or going, but living in zombie-land with jet-lag. So it was in this state of mind that I received a tour of the ship, what's even more surprising is that it actually stuck and I've been able to find my way around without getting lost. You just have to remember some key factors to know where you are and after that it's a simple matter of know which deck you need to go to.
After the tour some of us decided that we wanted to walk into the city which was fun. Basically, we walk for what I'm guessing is 1 1/2-2 miles out from the ship then turned around and walked back. It was nice to get out and into the sun and not let myself sleep!
It was during that walk that I realized how beneficial learning French would be without it is impossible to communicate to some people who start talking to you. Luckily I was with a couple people who had a limited knowledge of French and so that was helpful. How cool would it be to work at learning the language and then being able to practice it? If I'm going to be here for a period of time why not try and then be able to actually talk to the people here.
There will be several challenges, like when I need personal space (hasn't been to bad so far), or making sure that you get up on time (that's gonna be hard!!), and adjusting to "ship showers." For the most part, I'll be fine with ship showers because I don't take long showers. A ship shower consists of:
- water on, get wet
- water off, wash up
- water on, rinse off
- exit shower and proceed as you normally would.
I still haven't figured out exactly how many people are currently on the ship other than a general number that is a little over 500...that's a lot of people! But so far, everyone that I've meet has been really friendly and helpful and so it's great!
Sunday night I was actually able to sleep all night (not as long as I would have liked, but at least it was overnight). Then Monday morning (today), was the first day of orientation and so I basically got to sit and listen to what I'll get to do/need to be aware of.
This week is a week of final preparations and training all of us newbies :) except for Wednesday. Wednesday will be a very different day...that is our screening day. My understanding of screening day is when everyone lines up and will be escorted through several different stations where we will find the patients that can benefit from the services/specialties offered.
I'm assigned a job for the day, and so I'll be out there interacting with a lot of people. I would ask, that you also join me in praying for this day.
1) That the patients who need our help find us
2) that those whom we can't help accept what they are told
3) that during the long day and in the heat those of us from Mercy Ships be able to love the people we meet, keeping a positive cheerful smile.
Please know that all your prayers are appreciated, and I wouldn't be able to do this without your partnership in prayer.
Last little note here and then I'll wrap this up, I have some pictures that I was going to upload but the SD card drive on the computer isn't working and so I'll have to wait or figure something else out...sorry, hopefully I'll be able to do that in the next couple of days (not Wednesday).
1) Really, really, need to learn French!!!
2) Once I learn French things will be more fun in town :)
3) I really think I'll like it here, there will be challenges but overall, once I adjust to differences I think it'll be a really good experience.
4) How am I going to remember names?!?!
5) The people on-board all seem extremely friendly and helpful!
I arrived Saturday night, got checked in and received my Mercy Ship ID and orientation schedule, after that I unpacked and went to bed. Not an overly exciting first night, but I was exhausted from traveling and so I didn't mind.
Sunday morning I was so mixed up on the time and so I felt like I didn't know if I was coming or going, but living in zombie-land with jet-lag. So it was in this state of mind that I received a tour of the ship, what's even more surprising is that it actually stuck and I've been able to find my way around without getting lost. You just have to remember some key factors to know where you are and after that it's a simple matter of know which deck you need to go to.
After the tour some of us decided that we wanted to walk into the city which was fun. Basically, we walk for what I'm guessing is 1 1/2-2 miles out from the ship then turned around and walked back. It was nice to get out and into the sun and not let myself sleep!
It was during that walk that I realized how beneficial learning French would be without it is impossible to communicate to some people who start talking to you. Luckily I was with a couple people who had a limited knowledge of French and so that was helpful. How cool would it be to work at learning the language and then being able to practice it? If I'm going to be here for a period of time why not try and then be able to actually talk to the people here.
There will be several challenges, like when I need personal space (hasn't been to bad so far), or making sure that you get up on time (that's gonna be hard!!), and adjusting to "ship showers." For the most part, I'll be fine with ship showers because I don't take long showers. A ship shower consists of:
- water on, get wet
- water off, wash up
- water on, rinse off
- exit shower and proceed as you normally would.
I still haven't figured out exactly how many people are currently on the ship other than a general number that is a little over 500...that's a lot of people! But so far, everyone that I've meet has been really friendly and helpful and so it's great!
Sunday night I was actually able to sleep all night (not as long as I would have liked, but at least it was overnight). Then Monday morning (today), was the first day of orientation and so I basically got to sit and listen to what I'll get to do/need to be aware of.
This week is a week of final preparations and training all of us newbies :) except for Wednesday. Wednesday will be a very different day...that is our screening day. My understanding of screening day is when everyone lines up and will be escorted through several different stations where we will find the patients that can benefit from the services/specialties offered.
I'm assigned a job for the day, and so I'll be out there interacting with a lot of people. I would ask, that you also join me in praying for this day.
1) That the patients who need our help find us
2) that those whom we can't help accept what they are told
3) that during the long day and in the heat those of us from Mercy Ships be able to love the people we meet, keeping a positive cheerful smile.
Please know that all your prayers are appreciated, and I wouldn't be able to do this without your partnership in prayer.
Last little note here and then I'll wrap this up, I have some pictures that I was going to upload but the SD card drive on the computer isn't working and so I'll have to wait or figure something else out...sorry, hopefully I'll be able to do that in the next couple of days (not Wednesday).
All that korean soap operas .... can't make use of it at all?!! :o) Sounds like you are settling in. Keep us posted. He he.. had to chuckle at how quickly and seemingly well you seem to do with chicken.. Praying for you. Hugs.
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