A few more pictures...

the friendly neighborhood lemur 

just chillin

A friend of mine from the ship-Sabena 

Working on shore 

the kiddies playing :-)

view of the ship 

Coming up...Maputo, Mozambique! 

A tiny piece of heaven

12-9-11 Tolognaro (Port Dauphin) Madagascar Expedition 

Unfortunately, this story has no pictures to go along with it…so I’ll try to use a few big words to brighten up the images in your mind, but I make no promises, just use your imagination. I must say though…it is definitely worth a read.

It’s funny how so many little things happen in order for an end result to occur. We usually think of this only when trying to map out a path to reach a certain goal, decision or end point. But this happens every single second of every day. Today for example is an unusual day because we are docked in Tolognara only until 4 p.m. which means that most crew will not get to go out all because that is exactly when our break usually falls. I on the other hand got conveniently called after my morning meeting and asked if I wanted to go for a run around 11 (which I usually don’t finish work until 2:00-but of course, my running partner is the F&B Manager…and seeing as he makes my schedule-well, you get the picture, I went for the run.

This comment is kind of irrelevant-but just a note to anyone who plans on running 10k in Madagascar anytime soon-11 a.m is not the best time to go running…for various obvious reasons that I chose to ignor.

To say the least, coming from a Bahamian-the heat here ain nothing to play with. I literally had to will my body to keep going. Anyways…because it was so hot, and because Ludovic was about 15 mins behind me-what did I decide to do? Duhhh-go for a swim on a beach where there was nobody except for a few old wooden canoes! I hesitated for about .5 of a second contemplating whether or not an empty beach should signal danger, or just a quiet place-I opted to go in-and luckily for me I did, or maybe it was just meant to be. It was amazing, and absolutely needed after that run! I dunked myself under a few times and then went to sit up on the beach for a few minutes before heading back.

The next moment I turn around I see three little girls walking cautiously towards me smiling, but a little nervous to come closer. I smile and beckon them to come to me; they start running, laughing and screaming on the way. Immediately they start going on and on in broken French/Malaganese and pointing to the water, while simultaneously stripping down to their birthday suit. I may not speak a word of either of those languages, but I got the point, they wanted to go in the water with me. So, off we went… communicating between French, Malagansese, English, a few hand signals and the famous strategy of speaking louder when the other can’t understand (I always find that hilarious-I mean, if you can’t speak the language, the tone will make absolutely no difference-right? LOL), we played and splashed in the shallow waters on the coast of Madagascar.

My next instinct is obviously to start teaching them proper swimming technique. I was completely in my element. Even without being able to verbally communicate to them-I managed to teach all three girls freestyle breathing and a little bit of backstroke. I felt like I was on cloud nine. They were amazing too…I would just swim a little bit and motion what I was trying to show them, and then they would mimick me. It took a while, but eventually they all got it and the look on their faces afterwards was priceless I every sense of the word. In between time we played chicken fight and I let them jump off my shoulders like I used to do with my daddy when I was little. They were so comfortable in the water, I threw the smaller ones out of my hands flying into the water. They loved it. Before I knew it there were three more girls that had joined the crowd. We played and swam for about an hour before I realized that the ship would be leaving soon!

I was so sad to leave, and that I had nothing with me to give them. Before I left, one of the little girls-Meriana, gave me a ring made from palm tree frawns. She slipped it on my right ring finger and kissed my hand before I walked away. I’m sure my story writing skills have not done this justice, but I was seriously at a loss for words during this experience. On my walk back I kept thinking I wish I had something to leave with them, some money, food, clothing-something. But then I realized that I had given them something so invaluable- I had empowered them. The difference in the demeanor of the group before and after our time together was huge. The look on their faces after accomplishing those strokes was heavenly. It was more than I could ever ask for in an afternoon. It gave me hope, that I can make a difference, somewhere, somehow-you just have to open your eyes and your heart. I mean, who would’ve though I would end up teaching swimming on the shores of Tolognaro to children who don’t speak English?

And this, this story is definitely just the beginning… 

A little insight...no one cares!

12-7-11 

I’m starting to like this blog thing a little-honestly, I have no idea who is reading this, if anyone is, but it’s sort of become a mini personal journey for me, and blogging makes me feel like there’s someone out there who may get a little something from my thoughts and stories and if not, well that’s the beauty- I never have to know!

This place, or rather-this journey and these places have a way of making you realize how completely insignificant you are in this world. I mean, seriously-no one cares, no one cares about where you grew up, who your parents are, what school you went to, what you ate for breakfast, who your best friend is- I mean, maybe I’m being dramatic-yes, people care…but not really. As soon as you step food out of your little world where people know you and care about you, no one else does. You are only what you present yourself to be-nothing more, nothing less. You could have all the education in the world, you could have been to the Olympics, shit-you could be an Olympic gold medalist and there are still millions of people who will never know your name.

For so long, I’ve been wrapped up in my little swimming/school cocoon-thinking that in order for people to accept me, for people to think I’m a good or even great person that I had to accomplish certain things, certain tangible things during my swimming career. Eventually I let those feelings get the best of me and I stopped enjoying the sport that I loved so dearly as a child, the idea of failing to accomplish goals that I thought would help me gain recognition and acceptance completely consumed me and started to make me hate the sport. I mean, some of you know what I am talking about--the famous Bahamian saying “oh you went to the Olympics-you win da gold?!” I don’t know about you-but I find that hilarious, people always trying to downplay what you did. And if you did win a medal, they’d probably say something about how you cheated LOL

And it’s true-in some extremely small circles, those things do matter a lot-like say, on Auburn swim team-well it would matter a lot, but after those 4 intense years, that gold medal will do nothing for you if you haven’t developed as a person and can’t impress people with your ability to pursue life passionately in whatever you chose to do. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not downing the gold medal-I’m just realizing that everyone can’t be that, but that doesn’t make you less of a person, less of an athlete, less of anything, it just makes you-you-and it you’re being the best you can, people notice that and that is a worldwide language. I’m finding it more and more important to be passionate about what you’re pursuing, no matter what it is, because at the end of the day you can only be one very tiny person in this gigantic world. So that is my lifelong goal, to maintain passion in everything I do-to search for that passion, to empower others to show the same-to use the things I love to help others. Trust me, it’s not about you or me-no one cares. 

An eye opener...

11-9-12

Today was my first day in Africa. We’ve been in Madagascar for a few days but only to remote places, jungles and beaches etc. Today we docked in a city called Toasmsina and I got off during my break to look around. It was so sad, I had to hold tears back. I was walking through town and some markets and there were children everywhere begging for money. The city was filthy and so were these children. One little girl followed me for ten minutes as I walked down the street. Another little girl (about 5 or so) was holding a new born baby and begging for money & food. I know that this place probably isn’t near the worst off on this continent…but I just couldn’t take it. I felt so helpless because I couldn’t do anything to help them-when I looked into their eyes, I saw so many different personalities that could become something great-but they won’t, they’ll never see the success that they have the potential for. and I got so mad because some of the others that were with me were just stopping and taking pictures like they were a spectacle. I so badly want to help, want to do something meaningful-something I’m passionate about because I have the chance, the abilities, the means.  I’m afraid though, afraid that I will end up like the rest of them-seeing the poor underprivileged people and feeling bad about it, but then just moving on with my life as normal. I so badly want to be able to do something, I know I can’t do everything-but something. We are so easily wrapped up in our own life and upward movement that this kind of thing is much easier said than done.

Anyways…just some thoughts I wanted to share. I can’t stop thinking about those little children, it seriously broke my heart, it makes me never want to want anything ever again-because I have so much more than I need already. It makes me never want to cry or feel sad about anything again, because in comparison I have nothing to feel that way about. 

Madagascar Expedition 12-1-11

We are now in full expedition mode in Madagascar until Dec 14^th. If you’re wondering what “expedition mode” is, basically it means that we travel from day to day around the Island of Madagascar to remote areas where we have to anchor. Once we’re anchored, residents, guests and crew go ashore in zodiacs (those little dingy boats) for various overland tours, hikes… ‘expeditions’. We have a special team onboard during this time leading most of the tours and as crew, our only way to go ashore is to sign up to help with life jackets and beach landings of the zodiac boats.

Strangely enough, most people don’t want to sign up! More space for me! I try to get off every break I get, or even sometimes during work if they need help. Yesterday was the first day and I went ashore a few hours before my shift and I decided to just casually follow along one of the hikes with the residents. Weeks before arriving to Madagascar we were warned time and time again about the malaria problem and dengue fever problem with the mosquitoes there and to wear loads of bug spray and clothes to cover up. I mean, there were announcements, notices, emails, you name it…there was no way you couldn’t know….or so I thought. The three member band, who is onboard for 5 weeks came along the hike as well… the sole girl member showed up in booty shorts, a tang top and strappy sandles! Oh-and did I mention her sole mean of taking pictures was a blackberry?

Let me just give you a quick visual of this hike… this was no nicely laid out path with signs or water breaks. I mean we were trekking up a mountain, no trail.. no steps, no nothing. It was pretty cool, we saw leemurs which are native to Madagascar one of the only places that have them. Camellions, snakes, spiders…don’t remember the scienftic names of all these things-(sorry).

Anyways, half way through the hike I realize that it’s almost time for my shift…so yes, I turn around and venture back alone. A little scary, but definitely worth it…of course along the way the leemers decide to fight/play and make extremely loud noises…

After we got back, i started helping with the beach landings and hanging out with the locals in between. It was amazing, in between time we just sat on the beach watching the sunset eating one of the juciest pineapples I’ve ever tasted-even compared to Eleuthera pineapple which is sayin a lot! I got to go for a swim too-how many swimmers can say they trained in the beaches of Madagascar huh?

It reminds me so much of home…it’s weird how you can travel so far and feel so close to your roots. The only sad part was the little snorkeling I got to do, it seems that these areas have been so over fished that all that is left area a few small fish and sea urchins. Soon there won’t be anything left!