Good Morning from the Middle of the Ocean!
Today is NEPTUNE DAY!!!!
If you are unaware of what this is let me fill you in : )
This is a tradition that started in the Navy over 400 years ago. When one crosses the equator for the first time, they go from being a Pollywog to a Shellback, but there are a few steps involved.
The morning we crossed the equator the crew came through the halls banging on drums to wake us up bright and early at 7 am! (I knew this was happening and woke up a bit early to film it)
After being woken up, my roommates and I grabbed some breakfast and went back to our room and lathered ourselves in sunscreen. Me especially because I got really badly burnt a few days ago. They ain’t lying when they say the sun is harsh on the equator lol! Halfway into our sunscreen party, we hear, “Bee Boo… May I have your attention, please. Will everyone go onto the pool deck at 8 am where the ceremony will commence.” With only 2 min till 8 am we finished putting lotion on and ran to the pool deck!
First, we started with an oath and then it was time for the actual crossing! On Semester at Sea, the line for this part was quite long and extremely hot! I looked as if I had already jumped in the pool by the time it was my turn.
To officially become a Shellback you must first have fish gut slime dumped on you (which def smelled like it). Then you jump in the pool and swim across. When you get out you have to kiss a huge fish (def my least favorite part)! After this, we kissed Neptunes Ring (aka out Captain painted fully green), bowed to the Queen (Our Dean), then we are dubbed a Shellback! In the traditional equator crossing, the navy would all shave their heads. Although this was an option and many women and men did it, I chose to opt-out of this part!
After this many Semester at Sea students will write 0 degrees on their hand for pictures, and yes I was one of them!
Overall the day was super fun but overall very short. All the festivities were finished by around noon and the pool deck was closed to drain the pool and clean up the deck. Many people used the rest of the day to tan but me being already super sunburnt I caught up on some homework, worked on my journal and read my book!
Be sure to check out my youtube video on Neptune Day –> HERE
See You Soon!
xoxo from the Shellback herself – Gina