Some new stories

So it has now been 2 weeks on board this ship and WOW! My schedule is such that I wake up at 7:30 and go to work at 8am. Then break at around 2 pm and back to work at 4:30pm until close at 10:30 or 11pm. 12 to 14 hour days is something I am not used to, but it's becoming the norm. Any free time is sleep time. I never took naps until now. Sleep is so precious to me now. We were in Vancouver last week and I slept right through the whole day as we didn't have lunch service.

Anyways after the first week and the end of the first cruise I was invited to drink with "The Mafia" otherwise known as the Filipino people to know in the kitchens. They drink a lot, and they show up the next morning still drunk. So I walked down to the crew mess and one guy was standing outside and asked me to come in. I walk in and there's about a dozen of these guys sitting around a table with a glass and a bottle. They pour a drink and push out a chair. I looked left and right as if trying to get some sort of comfort in this strange situation, but none was to be found. I sat down, I had a drink and then another. Before I knew it I was having a good time. I made some friends and am now able to get what I need when I need it in these kitchens.

In the kitchen I work in there is the chef Jomon Jose, he is from India. He is actually a very nice guy and helpful in the kitchen. I sense some tension because I view things differently, but it's not that bad. His contract is up in a month, and then we get a new chef. My assistant cook is Lemont and he is crazy good. He has been on this ship for 6 months now and has 4 months left. That's a long time.

On a friendly CIA note, I met up with Martin Smith of AOS 4 in Ketchikan, Alaska yesterday. He owns a restaurant in town and his father in law owns the fish shack on the docks. I ate at the fish shack and some real tasty halibut. It was good to see a familiar face.

Oh and thank god for Skagway. They have a microbrewery. I went there and sat down for a tasty pint of their IPA. I look forward to going their next week and trying a new beer. I never will get a chance to really see Juneau as we are always busy for lunch and by the time we are done with lunch I have maybe an hour to get off to see the town. Now Vancouver lends itself to plenty of time for me to see. No lunch service on that day means 6 hours to spend in Vancouver or in bed sleeping, I don't know.

Still having trouble with pictures. I am going to try uploading on facebook or something.

1 week down

So I have completed my first week and first Alaskan cruise. We start in Vancouver then on to Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan. We cruise the Inside Passage and Glacier Bay. It has been very difficult adjusting to a whole new way of living, but I am getting there. So anyways I work in the restaurant called the Pinnacle Grill. I work the grill and veg station. We are short handed in the kitchen, but we manage. After the first week I kind of have the schedule down so that I can go ashore. I think there are problems with internet connectivity on board, so I am going to find a place with free wifi ashore to post some pictures. I have a feeling the next 4 months of this Alaskan cruise will be the same every week. I will post any interesting stories or events that occur, but I think the start of my experience has been well explained. Now I will sleep, as that is something I find very precious and valuable here.

Finally settled in

Well after a few days of running around trying to find my way in a place full of wrong turns and dead ends, I finally feel settled in. At first I was definitely overwhelmed, but now not so much. I was constantly being told by many that cooking on the ship would mean I wouldn't get to go ashore. All of the cooks kept making it seem like I would never see the light of day. I got freaked out! Especially because I hadn't seen the light of day in 3 days. And for me that's a long ass time, considering I have 6 more months of this. Luckily one of the guys I work with, Lemon, told me that we could go ashore. Sure enough I did, setting foot on land in Skagway, Alaska. It was freezing cold, but the view was amazing. I forgot my camera, but no worries the scenic photos will come later. Did I mention I apparently get sea sick! Yup I thought from my various voyages on boats before I was fine, but nooooo way. They do have a miracle chewable tablet that rids the problem and it's been "smooth sailing" ever since. Among all of the people here I am the only American in the kitchen. Most are Filipino or Indonesian and most are quite nice to me. Anyways as I figure things out a little better I will be able to go ashore more often. I seem to be having issues uploading pictures, but if anyone has any suggestions let me know. Well tomorrow we are cruising Glacier Bay and then on to Ketchikan, Alaska. But pretty much it is the same 7 day cruise for the next 4 months. I look forward to sharing more of this adventure with some visuals, hopefully.

My First Day

After traveling from San Diego to Vancouver and spending the night in the airport hotel I was ready board the ship. About 40 of us mustered outside in the somewhat cold weather of the morning. Then off to the docks, where I was greeted by a huge ship that was awaiting my arrival, and about 1300 passengers but that's besides the point. After orientation and signing in I was so overwhelmed and still am. There is so much to do on the first day, check in unpack, classes, computer courses, tests, and a literal crap ton of paperwork. Not to mention I had to go to work because the previous chef de partie already left the ship. I will get some pictures up as soon as I have some extra free time once I'm settled in. But from what I understand there are 3 of us in my kitchen for lunch and dinner for about 200 a day. Not to mention I have no idea what the hell is going on. I definitely got my ass handed to me tonight. So every day my schedule is 8am-11am then maybe a break, then from 11:30am to 3 pm then maybe a break and then 4pm to 10:30 or 11pm. And that's everyday 7 days a week. Oh well I guess thats what I signed up for. I was told there are days we will be closed for lunch so I might actually get to go ashore. Tune in next time for an update and some pictures of my cabin and the ship.

Upcoming Voyage

A new chapter is about to unfold. I have left the comfort of Napa Valley after three years within the walls of my culinary school. Two years of an education lead to a year of employment that furthered my knowledge and connections. I know await a ship that will travel the world. My dream of working on a cruise ship is finally realized with a departure date fast approaching. May 12, 2010 will be my first day aboard my new home. For 6 months I will live and breathe the ocean air, or maybe just the bowels of the ship. I have no idea what is in store for me on my upcoming voyage. My work schedule of 10 hours a day, 7 days a week will be an interesting deviation from what has been the norm for the last year. I mean I doubt I will ever have weekends off again. The ship will be cruising the Alaskan coast for the summer and then will head off to the South Pacific. With a packing list provided from the company I have eagerly put everything aside already. My newest cookbooks, laptop, and clothes are about the extent of what I will bring with me, but I am a little upset I cannot bring my knives. They have always been with me; it's like leaving a part of me behind. Some of you may understand this. Filled with excitement, anxiousness, nervousness, happiness, and a little fear I await my new destination.