The Dangers of Being Athletic

Of course being on land and playing sports is dangerous enough. Concussions, broken bones, you name it, it happens.

Playing on a moving ship is a whole ‘nother ball game, no pun intended.

Tonight was the first night of intramural co-ed basketball. We won! I’m terrible. Basketball is hard. Dribbling, not slapping peoples arms when they shoot, no pulling their shirts or shoving them, none of the usual soccer strategies. I need something bigger to run back and forth on. And it’s even harder when you throw in added obstacles like a rolling boat, hurricane-force winds, and a half-dark court.

Sometimes you’re dribbling down the court and you just kind of fall into the wall. But so does everybody else. So it looks more like a college frat party than a basketball game. Sometimes you put the ball up for a shot against the wind and it falls 2 feet short. Sometimes you shoot with the wind’s assistance and it assists your ball right over the backboard and into the safety nets. Thank goodness for the safety nets. Like playing in a monkey cage at the zoo, but necessary.

There’s also the issue of running on the treadmill. Holding on the whole time. Same goes for using the elliptical. I fall over doing lunges. Widen my stance extra far for arm exercises. Position my body horizontal to the rocking of the ship for ab exercises. You learn the methods and strategies of working out on the MV Explorer and you go with it.

I was so looking forward to the blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean, getting away from the muddy Amazon River. But I know when the waves start rolling outside the waves of stomachs start rolling inside. Not for me, thank goodness. I’ll probably be able to read on car rides when I get back. Some of my classmates, though, are doped up on seasickness patches, wristbands, AND pills.

Your bed is your safe haven and only solution.