The Final Days...

December 26, 2007

After Shanghai, we did a short stop in Hong Kong for a night, then headed out to sea for our remaining 3 days, before finally docking back in Hong Kong for disembarkation.  Confusing, I know and am not really sure if I can explain it.  Hong Kong is one of my favorite cities, and I have been here before with Semester at Sea, so it was a little surreal to return.  Mainly because I couldn't believe how fast two years have gone by.  

Upon arrival, a group of us (Makiko, Mariam, Ty, and Amanda) headed out in the port area of Kowloon for some Dim Sum, a leisurely walk through the park, and then Ty broke away and the girls caught a ferry to Hong Kong Island and headed up to Victoria's Peak for sun set and a view of the city (again, surreal because I had been there two years ago with Amy, Rico, and Jason).  The craziest thing was that once we got to the top, the two people we saw (the only people who were there for that matter) were Cherine and Sarah!  And they had just been talking about us, too.  Cosmic.  So now our newly expanded group headed back down the peak, walking through a little park, some trails, and talking about our spirit animals.  Pulju, you should have been there for this conversation.  We figured out Cherine is a dolphin.  We were on the fence about Sarah, but then it came to us the next day: Sarah is a butterfly.  So after leaving Victoria's Peak, we headed to Soho (a hip little district of restaurants and shops on a hill; very San Francisco-esque) for some dinner.  But on the way, we randomly stumbled upon an Africa Drum Session, which was Cherine's heaven because she plays the bongo drums.  It was a beautiful collective experience--the energy, the sounds...All of it magical.  When we eventually arrived in Soho, we found a little restaurant/hookah bar where we had drinks, appetizers, and great conversation.  Definitely a time to cherish, especially since Makiko and Mariam won't be here for the next voyage, and I will miss them dearly.  

The next day, Sarah, Amanda, and I took the ferry to Lantau Island, home of the "largest outdoor seated bronze Buddha" (I'm still laughing at all the qualifiers.) in the world.  I distinctly remember arriving at the top of the mountain and catching that first glimpse of the Buddha amidst the fog--So majestic; almost breathtaking.  Certainly creating the ambiance for spiritual connectedness, serenity, and peace.  You could just feel it.    

Currently, I am back in Hong Kong, sitting in a hotel, reflecting back on our inaugural voyage, which as of Dec. 23, officially came to an end.  And as part of the very first alumni group of TSS, also known as "The Bridge" for all the symbolism it carries, we have vowed to continue what we've started, all over the world. 

Four months in a blink!  Crazy, isn't it?  During the final days on the ship, we had our last open mic, filled with beautiful music, poetry, and even a little rap battle, which was hilarious.  And on our last night, we ended with a closing ceremony, which was very meaningful.  It was a re-creation of our first night on the ship, as our community circled together on the Aft deck.  Only this time, the faces weren't of strangers but of friends.  Friends that have taught each other, challenged each other, inspired each other, and deeply and profoundly touched each other.  There were heartfelt speeches, lots of tears, and a special note from our Navigation Officer, whose voice had become one of the cornerstones of our voyage.  Each Noon Report beginning with "Good afternoon, ladies and gentleman..." followed by a sky that was always "partly cloudy" (despite how it actually appeared)...and ending with "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your attention, and I wish you a pleasant day on the Oceanic II."  Consistent, reliable, and comforting.  

And now it's Dec. 26, my last day before going back to the ship tomorrow and starting it all over again.  My sense of space and time feels completely off.  Given that we only had 3 days in between the two voyages, I wasn't able to come home for the holidays.  So I had sushi on Christmas eve (What better present could I give to myself?:-), and ended up in an Italian restaurant/bar in Soho on Christmas night, with a group of random people from all over the world, who are now living in Hong Kong.  Amusing.  And different.  But fun.  

To my family and friends: Happy Holidays!  I wish I could be there with you all right now, but I am thinking of you and miss you very much!

It's been an amazing and crazy and intense ride!  And I'm actually starting the next voyage in a new role, as IRC Coordinator.  Riikka is now focusing on teaching, so I was promoted to her position and will be working closely with Cherine and Sarah, the other two Coordinators.  It's a great opportunity, and definitely a good next step in my career.  I am excited to be involved in the  "big picture" planning, to gain supervisory experience, and to work closely with Cherine and Sarah, two very inspirational and gifted leaders.  At the same time, I am a little nervous, because it comes with a lot of responsibility and a lot of details to manage.  Plus, it's my first time supervising professional staff, and transitioning roles within the same peer group might take some adjustment.  Kathryn, I keep thinking back to our conversations around this topic.  

I know that with this entire experience, so much of the integration will happen when I return home in April.  It's hard to gain true perspective right now because I still feel so in it.  But what I do know is that I am different now for having had this experience.  Not changed, but rather evolved, having learned more about myself, and thanks to leaders like Riikka, Alfred, I've also realized how much more there is to learn about others and the abundance of beauty and understanding that lies in the subtly of our differences.   

To close this entry (which I realize has been somewhat disjointed), I'll end with a quote, shared by one of our students, Dara, during the last open mic.  The quote is from the TV show "Northern Exposure"...

"In a sense, it is the coming back, the return, which gives meaning to the going forth.  We really don't know where we've been until we come back to where we were--Only where we were may not be as it was because of who we've become, which after all is why we left."

Ready or not...Let's begin Round 2!