Neptune Day! I'm Bald!

Today we celebrated Neptune Day! Neptune Day is a line crossing ceremony that is a very old naval tradition, Semester at Sea has turned it into their own celebration. When a sailor who has never crossed the equator by sea they are considered a pollywag and most do certain initiation rights to be considered a shellback. Technically speaking we crossed the equator yesterday, so we kind of celebrated a day late but who cares, it was a fun day!

We got woken up bright and early this morning by the crew, around 7:30AM. The crew came dressed in togas banging on our doors, blowing whistles and playing their drums. Needless to say, it was quite loud and woke everyone up. I got some breakfast and after I finished, I noticed the crew back with their togas and playing music in the dining hall heading outside, only this time they were accompanied with the deans of Semester at Sea and other faculty all dressed up in appropriate attire. We all followed them outside to the pool deck for the start of the ceremonies. Our Executive dean was dressed as King Neptune and the faculty was his royal court. He demanded that we be initiated to a citizen of the sea. We then got "fish guts" poured over us (it was actually just a green liquid that smelt odd) and then we swam across the pool, got out of the pool and had to kiss a raw fish. We then had to kiss the rings of the royal court and then we were officially deemed shellbacks.

After that we had the option to shave our heads as part of tradition, I figured that I might as well partake. I have never shaved my head, I was even born with a full head of hair! Most people just got clippers taken to their heads, so they weren't completely shaved. After I did the official ceremony of clipping my hair I figured I should go big or go home so I decided that I wanted to be completely bald so my cousin bicked my hair with a razor. My head feels so weird! I can't stop rubbing it, and neither can people on the ship! I have had random people come up to me to rub my shaved head. My scalp is completely white because I have never even had short hair before, I am going to need allot of sunscreen for my head. My cousin also took her henna tattoo ink and put some designs in my scalp. Don't worry everyone, I will have hair by the time I get back.

I am surprised with how many girls shaved their heads, there has to be at least 10-15 of them. Bravo to them, I know hair is a big deal to girls. At night there was also a talent show and I must say that this ship has so much talent in it! There was allot of singing, dancing, poetry, a stand-up comedian, and my cousin also partook in the talent show as well with some latin dancing.

Mauritius in 2 days!