Aloha-oe!

Well hey there, campers! How nice it is to be back in the states! We got in around 4:00 am, and I still had yet to go to sleep from the rehearsals the night before... imagine that! Us. Rehearsing! Go figure. Anyhow, I got in line for the crew immigration inspection around 6:30, and I was still way toward the back of the line. Very frustrating, a US Immigration inspection. Let me explain:

Imagine if you will, 892 crew members from all around the world, all needing to go through Inspection. This is the time where the US folks come aboard and make sure that everyone's I95 (not the interstate) are up to date. This includes us poor US folks. I know, we don't get I95's. But we still have to wait in line. So. I am there early, kinda tired, but having made a bunch of phone calls upon our arrival... the guy behind me in line is from India, the one in front is from the Philippines. What an interesting situation already! Let's just take a moment to discuss the human phenomena of "personal space" shall we? Now, usually when you are in a queue, you allow a certain amount of personal space between yourself and the people on either side of you, right? Let's just say that this is the case for the US and the Philippines, but not necessarily India. For over an hour, I had this Indian guy literally breathing down my neck. We are now picking out china patterns and deciding what to name the family dog. Man, that was frustrating. I tried to be polite, and eventually, when we got to the point where the TWO immigration officers were checking all 892 crew members (you do the math time-wise) I was able to get a little ahead and not feel like I had been violated with my clothes on.

So. After Immigration inspection, I went to get a bite to eat in the Horizon Court. The captain came over the loudspeaker to announce that there had been a severe earthquake off American Samoa, and that there was a tsunami watch out for Hawaii and the other islands nearby. In my head, "The Morning After" started playing, and all I could hear was Shelley Winters bellowing out "But Manny...I can't swim!" Needless to say, everything turned out okay, and as of yet, there are no huge waves headed our way. Yet.

So. Wanna hear the new Hawaiian words and phrases I learned?

ComeonIwannalayya - roughly translated as "I am horny and want to jump your bones."

Youknowyougonnalikeit - roughly translates as "You are horny too, aren't you?"

Downdahallandtotheright - roughly translates as "My cabin is over there."

CanIhaveabeer - roughly translates as "Can I have a beer?"

And that all conversations should end with "Mahalo" which means "Thanks!"

Isn't that thrilling? I tried out the first one on one of the locals and although she smacked me, she was very nice about it and smacked me on the behind. I understand this to be a local custom of greeting. When I tried that out on another guy, the taxi driver, he didn't react the same way. he made me get out and walk.

Went to Wal-mart and Borders. What else are you supposed to do when you are in Waikiki? Came back to the ship around 5, took a nap, had dinner, and now I am waiting to go to...rehearsal! at 11:30 until who knows when.

Tomorrow there is no shore leave for crew until after our US Coast Guard inspection. It was supposed to be today, but I think the tsunami had the guys all out guarding the coast. Hopefully it won't take too long tomorrow. I was hoping to go ashore in La Haina and get some taro chips. If you have not ever had them, they are an amazing potato chip-like thing. Made from the taro root, they are very meaty and hearty, and when they are kettle cooked, they are like the crunchiest meatiest chip you have ever had. Only in Hawaii, folks! I'll let you know if I am able to get them. They are a favorite of mine since coming to the islands the first time way back in whenever hundred and ninety whenever! More later!