Hello Victory: Fall 2009 Sea Olympics

October 20, 2009, Indian Ocean.... a day that will live in infamy for the Fall 2009 voyage.

A day that will go down in history as the day that Danni, LLC extraordinaire led her sea, Andaman, to trounce the other seven seas in the traditional Semester at Sea Olympics. An entire day of scholastic and athletic competition, it is a highlight of every voyage, and this one was no exception. The Sea Olympics on my Fall 2000 voyage as a student were amazing, and I was my sea's spirit captain -- I lived on deck 3 starboard aft in the Andaman Sea then too. If it ain't broke don't fix it!

I'd been mentioning the Sea Olympics since my first sea meeting, and even went so far as to teach the old cheer I created in 2000:

Who da man?!
Andaman!

It is still as popular as it ever was... again...if it ain't broke.. :)

Finally the day arrived, weather perfect, sea eerily placid, like glass. Mouths agape, my sea decked out in orange, our official color, and met on the pool deck for a mini pep rally and group pic. It was the beginning of a truly triumphant day. The opening ceremonies were really fun, and my sea made me proud by dominating the ceremony with our spirit chant and torch made out of a foam pirate cannon (which one of my students donated after swiping it from a pirate ship tour in Cape Town :). We won first place in that event. I wasn't surprised. My sea is made up of the cool kids, the kids always skating on the line, getting into scrapes. It's a noisy sea of magnetic personalities, loudmouths and future leaders. My own little cellblock of beloved delinquents. I call them the Gridiron Gang, and I love 'em. Finally they had a chance to channel that restless energy.

The day went by in a flash, with my sea dominating the many events and challenges like the spelling bee, synchronized swimming routine, flip cup, water pong, pull ups, volleyball, makeup boy, make me laugh, pictionary, scattergories, scrabble, tug-o-war, dodgeball, banner contest, relay race, and don't forget the lyrics. It was all hilarious to watch, and demanding to judge -- I had to judge the water pong and don't forget the lyrics events. Only 2 headaches that I had that day.

The end of the day brought an amazing pic-worthy sunset, and the 7th pool deck filled with excited and happy students. Barbeque was served, and ice cream, and the music was pumping. Many students jumped in the pool fully clothed! Everyone was sweaty and exhausted and smiles were on every face. In the end, it was no surprise to learn that we'd won first place, but there was an upset when it was announced that the Balearic Sea, a small group of 27 members with the sea color of pink snatched 3rd place from the jaws of seas twice their size and more. When we heard that we'd won, the spirit and response was amazing. We danced and cheered for hours and are still riding the high!

Our victory pizza party on deck 6 is scheduled in a few days and I can't wait. More importantly than winning the prize-- the right to exit the ship first in San Diego, avoiding the long wait in customs -- we built an amazing team. My sea has spirit, and they love me right now... I intend to bask in it! It's like I've been known to say...

If you're having sea problems I feel bad for you son
They got 7 losing seas
Andaman ain't one
Hit me!