Lingo

I wouldn’t say being on a ship takes you out of your comfort zone. Maybe “raising your comfort level” is a better way to put it. (We cross the comfort zone line by stepping off the ship and into a country with no plans but to experience.)

The comfort level meter began to rise the second we got on the ship. “Proceed to the Union, located at the bow. Lunch ends at 1300 hours.” Say what?

My computer has been set for military time since I was stranded in the Atlanta airport for four hours my freshman year of college. Thank goodness I’m used to telling time like a sergeant now, or I’d be just as confused as my classmates.

Since being on board, we’ve all picked up the basics and been severely confused by the terminology for the elite on board. Something like the staff having a secret code. And although we’ve learned the following terms, they don’t mean anything to me while I’m inside the ship. Unless I am looking at the water or feel the rocking of the Union, I am directionally challenged, lost with no way to orient myself.

Port Side- the left hand side of the ship.

Starboard Side- the right hand side of the ship.

Aft (stern)- the back of the ship

Bow- the front of the ship. Where the Union is located, and the most exercise is gotten (people running from their seats to the bathroom, clutching their mouths or stomachs).

Military Time- a system set over a 24 hour span (not in 12-hour increments)

Stabilizers (anti-rolling tanks)- fluid filled (usually with water) tanks that are used to keep the ship steadier in rough seas. In my opinion, they don’t work.

Bank- elevated areas of sea floor. We’ve passed many cruising down the Amazon. They shift shapes frequently due to the speed of the current and amount of sediment deposited. There’s one at the mouth of the Amazon that is the size of Switzerland. Word is we cleared it by three feet.

Ship- what we are on. You get in trouble if you call it a “boat” or a “cruise”.

Bridge- where the captain is supposed to pilot the ship from. However, due to advancements in technology, I saw the captain’s entire staff up on the pool deck standing around the bar having drinks and sharing stories . Who’s driving the boat?

Gangway- where you get on or off the ship.

Decks- deck 1, deck 2, deck 3, etc… Not floors. Decks.

Knot- 1 knot = 1.15 mph

Code Blue- No one knows, but they’ve said it twice over the PA system, and it kinda freaks people out.

Porthole- a round window. What we have in our bedroom.

Pre-port- a very long, mandatory meeting they have the night before we get into port. It usually involves some very strange skits and musical arrangements, along with terrifying information about the diseases and problems you’ll encounter as soon as you set foot in their country. Stay positive?

We arrive in Manaus at 0800 hours tomorrow. I only have planned a city tour with my class and Samba lessons in the evening.  We’ll be here 5 days! All I know how to say in Portuguese is “Obrigado”, which means thank you. We’ll see how far that gets me.