The 'honeymoon' is ending...

Salut! I think I have now been here long enough to finally allow reality to set in. Or, I'm just really tired from working alot and from the past two nights of staying up late giggling with Cara.

Its all been a bit kaotic lately as I have had soooo many scattered morning shifts [9am-4:30pm] closely mixed with soooo many night shifts [4-11pm+] that its beginning to wear me out. We tossed up the idea of working one week all mornings and one week all evenings, but somehow we universally came to the conclusion that we enjoy having shifts with different staff each day. And we can have some days to go out or some evenings to participate in programs each week - instead of only evenings one week and only days another.

Wednesday was a public holiday up here in the Big Q which concluded being our biggest and busiest day thus far. I worked all that day, then worked all Thursday, which really just smacked all the sanity and normality out of me. I also had to change rooms on Thursday evening, so straight after work I had to cart my gear from one end of the ship to the other - something that certainly wasn't high on my "Awesome things to do today" list. The move actually refreshed me because both Cara and I got to put our stuff wherever we both wanted - instead of being provided a slither of space to occupy and live in from those who already resided in the cabins.

Random side note: I could easily say I feel like I am on school camp. Most people on the ship are around my age - so basically from 18-28. There really aren't that many people older than that in comparison to how many people are onboard. This means there are loads of riff-raff and cheeky ninja-pranking behaviour, which also means a load of laughing. Add to that the confusion of new languages and translations and words being used that mean one thing in one culture and something different in another, and bouts of random laughter just flow from all sources.

Speaking of laughter - I have become humbled to my own since being onboard. I used to think I was unique and had too many varities of laughter, a characteristic to be shared and enjoyed by others. Then I met Thabo from [insert country here]. He trumps my laugh and its so hillarious. Its soooo much louder than mine, so high squealing, so out there, so contagious... if you are a Simpsons fan, think Dr Hibbert [who always laughs at the most innappropiate of moments], times that by 10, crank the volume, and make the "hee-hee-hee's" top shelf high pitched. He is soon to leave - like so many other awesome people I've only just been getting to know - so until he does, I taunt him with the "Why, hee-hee-hee's". I've even gotten to a point where I don't have to say the whole thing... just "Why..."... hahahaha!

Anyway, back to my update...

The rest of the STEPpers arrived yesterday. I have only met about 7 girls and 3 guys so far - there could be more. Its really weird having them finally around because we've already been here for 2 weeks and have established friendships, know how to get around the ship, and have our jobs already. Its like an invasion into our group and I know that sounds nasty and judgemental from their first day but here me out. We've already done the awkward moments, got introduced to our group, got to know each other and the rest of the Crew, we've been there - done that. Now they have finally arrived, we certainly don't feel like we fit in with them. We're still apart of their crew but - not. Its like we have one up on them because of our arrival earlier, so its like its two groups instead of one. And their jobs are interchangeable because all STEPpers do those jobs, and they don't necessarily like them, whereas we actually applied to do our job as Coffee Barista's, so our job is more personal to us, and our time isn't the same everyday. It really will be interesting to see how the dynamics work out. I really pray we do gel well with them all.

So other than that - all is well. I am finally almost over being sick. My sprained ankle unfortunately is not healing fast at all - still very swollen, very sore and just an annoyance I'm ignoring - which means its not healing because I just keep doing life on the ship. Add to that the fact that I totally bashed myself up about a week ago with one of our external doors. [I may have mentioned this earlier... sorry]. Some of the doors are really heavy, and most need a key to open them. There is also a variety of door step sizes, which has been tricky to avoid tripping over when I'm in a hurry collecting milk or cookies for work. So picture this...

I arrive at a door needing a key to open it [crew only]. I have my key on a neck chain for covenience as I brought work pants with no pockets [great idea]. I open the door, and while trying to get my key out again, begin stepping through the door - not quite getting my leg high enough over the step, the key finally releases from the lock, and while loosing stability I grab the door to correct myself, resulting in pulling it closed with my legs caught between. This has got to be the most random way to be jammed - you seriously cannot correct yourself gracefully.

Hope you had a laugh. I certainly did writing that. I am uncoordinated at the best of times - but I feel that since being on the ship I've become so much more awkward and easily damaged . Bruises adorn most of me from just running into random things - or randomly assaulting myself like the above.

Another cool thing is that it seems we have free dental - and I'm having un-wise wisdom teeth problems again, so I'm going to look into seeing if I can get the problem ones removed. I mentioned as a joke to the Dentist if she would like to pull out some teeth - and she all too quickly and excitedly said that she'd love to - scary woman. I'll go suss her out.

And that pretty much concludes this update! We set sail [hahahahah] on Tuesday afternoon - bound for Darling Harbour, Sydney - berth 5. Please pray for efficient cleaning and packing for all of us, pray for good sailing weather and seas, particularly that sea-sickness is minimum. The biggest prayer point for me right now is my future. I haven't been here very long at all and the suggestion of returning in Feburary as a Pre-ship has been thrown around by my crew mates - but also from some in leadership [wowsers] - so I really need your help in prayer as to a direction and to know if God wants me here and not accept the idea because I'm having a great time - you know how it is...

Love, love, love... [doo be doo...]

View from I-Cafe'...

I like to be beside the sea side...

Hi everyone! How are you? Can you believe its been officially ONE WEEK since I jumped onboard the ship and almost 2 weeks since I last saw most of you guys? WOW! Can I just say I feel like its been so much longer - but not in a "so boring" kinda way, oh no. Its just full on. I know my way around the ship now, have met many many random people from all over the globe, and have even visited the doctor onboard [the Neoh's if you were aware and its okay, its just an ear infection]. Its cool.

The Barista-ing life is fantastic. My team includes Cara: 23 - QLD, John: 33- QLD, Bev: 53 - NSW, Elliott: 24 - NZ, Maricel: 32 - MALAYSIA, Liza: 21: Manager - SA [South Africa] and Captain Ashley who is our "Big Boss" and not just because he's the Captain. The International Cafe is his little pet project, so anything that goes wrong we tell him. He has been getting loads of stuff for us regarding setting up. We've just received today our final piece of work attire in the form of an apron & cap with the Doulos I-Cafe' embroidered on it. The cap is like a hat with no bill [if that makes sense]. NOW I think we'll feel like we're really a part of the crew. And hopefully soon we'll get out most fantabulous ID Badges instead of the most un-funky Guest Badges, which hopefully will stop people asking why a Guest is working there. Enough already.

We're still in all the early stages of development, trial and testing many things etc etc. We dont have Decaf Coffee - and I'm not sure if we will because all the coffee has been donated to us. Nice. We might be having syrups coming soon so we can funkify the menu, but thats probably happening later so we can get better at making shots and doing the milk. I'm a little backwards with my milk, making frothy milk for Latte's [and having to spoon off the excess] or making flat milk for Cappucino's [not enough froth at all]. Its hillarious! But it's definately improving!

Where we're positioned on the ship overlooks the bow, and I have some awesome photos of that view of mine but my camera is having a caniption and wont be recognised on the computers I've tried. I'll try again later I hope! The only down fall of where we are positioned is that when its a windy day all the coffee grinds get blown around and we've had several cases of 'Caffeine Eye'. Its not a cool thing to catch. Nor is "Chocolatte Eye". Thats a mixture of coffee grains and chocolate dust. We also get a fair bit of sun since they took down half our tarp covers so people could sit drinking their most fancy Latte's in sunshine, and this also has allowed the one night of rain we've had to get more drift onto our un-waterproofed coffee machine and computer. But that all adds to the fun!

People are genuinley liking our coffee, and really appreciate that we're all still learning - so that really has helped. I think we've only had one case of 'complaint' about what was wrong with the drink they were given, and they sound like they were a little toffy - which is to be expected since we're 'parked' [that is the ship I mean] right in the middle of lah-di-dah town. That has a cinema. That us Douloids get like half price discount at. Wee-ooh!

Ah, in other aspects of the Doulos life, its hard to get to know people when so many of them are leaving soon. So conversations are really quick or really random or really just "Hello!" as we walk by. Its amazing the friendships that are developed in such small spaces of time. The Auckland STEPers are soon to leave, and its amazing to see their friendship not only with each other but with the long-termers. I really pray that as time goes on here that I get to continue to meet really amazing people.

Another funny thing is the whole "SP" Priviledges that people have to apply for. You may have heard me mention this to you before I came onboard, but the Doulos has very particular 'friendship' rules. No one is to date within the first year [lucky for me I'm here for 3 months!]. After that if a girl fancies a guy and the feelings are mutual - then they go to some dude or chick high up in the co-ordinating department and apply for a "Special Persons" priviledge to spend extra time with their "Special Person". How hillarious. And from that point their relationship is public - and can often be mentioned or congratulated in meetings or prayer nights. Ha! Embarrassing much?

Very funny!

Well I must go get some fancy cards that I have to sign for and to work out what to do with my washing [we have washing days - and you can only do your washing on those days], and the only other machines we can use are for Families only. Which I think is a bit unfair because I just want to wash my clothes and because I have to work I couldn't wash all my work clothes and can't wait 2 days to get my clothes back! ARGH!

*Well thats about it for now. I don't know if you groovers have worked out you can write to me, or you are just opting to let me be adventurous for now. My mum did seem to think I had told everyone that they couldn't write just to tell me they hung up the washing. This is true, I don't really want to know you hung up your washing. But that doesn't mean you can't tell me if you have been struggling lately or that your life is going fantastic. I do also have at the top of the page my email address but perhaps that explanation doesn't make sense so I'm going to put it in better terms here... carola.bradford@gbaships.org... okay?*

*...*This part has been edited recently... sorry if it confused you before hand.

Ciao Whoops!

PS - Please pray for health, I can't rest to get my energy back so its taking longer to get better - and thats frustrating me. Pray also that I wont be distracted by the new environment and the 'new fishing pool' - people don't necessarilly act different on the ship to how they would in real life, but everything heightened when you work with someone all the time or you see someone all the time. I hope that doesn't sound too weird! I don't have a problem with it but I want to be focussing on doing God's work.

I think thats all... for now! :)

Carola xxx

Mucho Update-oh

Its been a crazy few days! I am totally EXHAUSTED! It could be because there are endless stairs to be climbed and decended throughout the entire ship [I'm sure I'm going to come back half the person I used to be - ba-dom-cha!]. It could be because for 3 full days its been all go and the only stop I get is when I’m vertically standing. I could be from all the information we’ve had to absorb in 1 day that any other STEP team/crew had atleast 3 days to take in. It could be because Brisbane has FINALLY pumped out some better Brisbane weather instead of Adelaide weather [it got to 5*C at one stage I’m sure they were saying!].

But I am having a total blast!!! And I really can understand why so many people do this for longer because the experience itself is truly amazing. I think I’m going to really miss leaving all these wonderful people! And you would be so shocked to know I didn’t act at all like the person I'm usually being [loud, crazy, chatterbox, clown - You know the one!] - until today! That’s a pretty big challenge but don't act so shocked! I can’t take all the credit - I had the flu :( – so I was far more intent to listen to everyone due to lack of voice. So I had you going back there. You were thinking “She hasn’t even been gone a week and she’s a totally different person!?”. I think that would probably take something really big..

So I’ll describe what the ship is like…. its TOE-TAH-LEE OOR-SAHM!!! [Have you watched “The Incredibles” anytime recently?]. Coming from afar it looks so …Majestic. Intriguing. Facinating. Superb. Even as I continued to walk up closer to it, its sizing did shrink a little but I realised how real it was! And then I was onboard. Well I managed to haul myself on board anyway. Mr Holland [or other country - I never got his name or nationality] was cleaning the sides of the stairs up to the ship [as you do] and saw my luggage [it wasn't shocking!] and without me even putting its lah-di-dah roller handle down he was hauling it up the stairs. And inside. And through some doors. And all he said [and has said since] is "Ya!". Hahaha. Good introduction to the ship and crew!

Mr Daniel Wong [STEP Co-Ordinator] then collected myself and my luggage [I know!] and showed me my room - and its TINY! Sooooo tiny! I will show pictures soon. But its sooo tiny! I get the wonderful blessing of sharing with Gerdia from South Africa. She has alot of stuff [really puts me to shame!] and its really - everywhere! But she's been here for almost 2 years, is about to get married, and has shared a room with herself for a while! She's sooo lovely! We have our own telephone box sized shower & bathroom - thank goodness! Its so groovy!

Up stairs from my floor [known as "Main Street"] is the dining room. And upstairs from that and around a corner is my "workplace". I believe I was blessed with such a good location so that I could get my ankle & knee back to some working order - so that by August or September I'll likely to change rooms when Gerdia leaves *tear*.

Thursday evening [the day I arrived on the Doulos] was "Prayer Night". This lasts for up to 4 hours! Its intense! Its a bit of info night, a bit of singing, a bit of randomness, a few skits, and oh - some mega praying! Its very spirit filled. I unfortunately lasted till 9pm and then "karked" it, exhausted from the flu and Brisbane weather. I unpacked what now seemed like very small amount of luggage and pretended to go to sleep. Pretended because I was so HOT! Having been used to going to bed with a hot water bottle in a cold room, to then go to having a regular temperature throughout your whole home/office/gym/library [note it mention some random things because these are all on the ship and this is where I spend most of my time!] ...of 23*C [perhaps?] was really bizzare and I felt so stuffy!

Sleep did finally arrive and I was awake at 5am when Gerdia went for a run, and then managed to drag myself actually off my bed at 5:30am to get ready for early breakfast with our crew which magically grew from 4 to 7 for coffee sampling in a cafe within the city. Wee Ooh!

So the team which originally consisted of Bev - NSW, Cara - QLD & John - QLD, has now grown to Liza - South Africa [on a long journey with the ship and is also our Cafe' manager], Elliott - NZ [who sailed on the ship to join us as Barista's around Australia - cool!] and Marcelina - Malaysia? [who is also on for a long journey]. We also met Brett McDonald - brother of our Cap'n Ashley and Barsita extrodinaire. Due to the early start we enjoyed the coffees [note - plural :)]. It was a funky way to learn some things - and invade someone elses Coffee making space. Then we had orientation for the rest of the day. That probably was the most intense and exhausted me the most as it was so full on and jammed in because instead of 3 days Orientation we had only 1. When I really had no brain left, I managed to have dinner and do more learning in the evening [I've seriously forgotten what we did because I was so brain dead - and it was only last night].... wait - we all practices making coffess, I remember. Then most were so exhausted that they went to bed and Elliott, Brett & myself set up and practiced making coffees on random people until one of the randoms brought back his friends. So I got to give it a whirl. Wee Ooh. Said Random actually returned today.

Wrapping this up quickly, my first shift was today, and it was pretty crazy! We had about 3 hours off as we used up all our milk [all 14L's!] and then finished my shift technically at 4:30 but as I'd had register/money/EFTPOS experience from Bi-Lo, I got to teach people how to use it - with the guidance of Mr Paul C - IT crazy man from IRELAND! :)

So - thats about it! Make sure if you write me emails you send to the email at the top of this page - the one in red - and replace the [at] with @.

Kisses to the ones I miss-es...

Carola

Day 1: Brisbane [Not in Kansas Anymore]

The journey has officially begun.

I'm still coming to terms that I am going to be sailing on a ship making coffee around Australia for 3 months. Despite having only left Adelaide last night, even arriving in Brisbane couldn't secure some guarantee that this really is happening. I even went into town today and yet for some reason feel like I've wagged a day of work. Its a rather strange feeling! Added to that is the great blessing to already be updating this.

At the airport I had a wonderful send of by some dedicated N'worthians who really wanted me on that plane - delayed or not! As I was walking the gangplank to the plane I obviously had something stuck in my eye, because it began to weep, but God busted a move and let me sit next to this cool 6y/o called Jennifer. Jennifer is vibrant, bubbly, entertaining - and has Scoliosis. She has had one lot of surgery to correct her back last year, and in 5 years time she has 2 more operations. Her Mum, Amanda, is legally blind and her brother who is 13 [not on the plane] had his feet amputated as a baby. Talk about wow! Jennifer and I exchanged drawings and we watched cartoons and laughed. And then I was in Brisbane!

Trav wonderfully collected me and my delayed flight from the aiport, drove me and my luggage back to greet his lovely wife who was waiting in the warmth of their very Queenslander-esque home [one of those houses on stilts kinda things]. The Mad-Oxes and myself then chat for an hour or so. Night owls much? It was great to catch up with them!

Finally calling it a night I haul my slightly over-weight [hahah] suitcase onto my bed where the top handle decides that its previous attached location does not suit its style any more and therefore detatches itself. Nice.

Bed. Ah. Bliss. I wake only to hear Trav & Jo tip-toe out the house about 7:45am and I roll back to sleep. 45minutes later I receive a text message which I begin to reply to before accidently falling back to sleep [I really didn't mean to!]. I wake half hour later discovering I'd not finished the text - consider doing so - before rolling over and falling back to sleep. I wake at about 9:45am.

After pottering around and trying to fix my suitcase I have some breakfast and consider the days events. I should get out and explore, though the ankle isn't terribly excited by this:

Lovely. Who sprains their angkle 5 days before leaving on a new adventure anyway. Oh right. Me!

Proof that I am actually here in Brisbane. And if you sit outside on the CitiCat's you look like this:

And now for some random snaps from the day to tie you over till the next post.

XOX Carola

Countdown...

1 Week before M&P move to "Face Mask"

Kaos.
Insane-ness.
The want to do everything with recognition that that is not possible.
The want to see everyone with the recognition that that is not possible.
The want to stop time just for a moment with the recognition that that is not possible.
Having faith that all will be well, but in my weak human nature, still doubting that.

2 Weeks before P.Andy moves to VIC

Exciting!
Nervousness!
To have no idea what to expect, but expecting the unexpected all the same!
To know that this is only but one small step into a bigger journey called life!
To be slightly scared about where exactly my life IS going...!!!
To be more excited about what amazing things might happen in my life!
To understand that I don't need to take everything in order to 'have it all'...!

3 Weeks till I leave Adelaide bound for Brisbane...

Because I have nothing really to tell about what is happening with me - I have instead been telling you all the crazy weird things that have been running through my head instead!

Forgive me...

But I will admit to having dual emotions running round. Not doubt that i'm doing the right thing, I'm 99.98% certain of that. Its just sadness to be leaving friends who mean the world to me mixed with excitedness to be making new ones! Sadness to not have as much contact with my family while i'm away, but excitedness that in my absence they might just blossom in their own relationships with each other! Sadness to not see the funny people I work with now, but excitedness with what my job might be when I come back [and find it!].

What a big ball of crazy energy!

*grabs her earlobes and begins rubbing them between her fingers...*

Ciao-whoops groovers...

People, Places & Passports

Just a random update about random things for all my readers who possibly read this... [yep, thanks for reading, Alihsee... :)]

In relation to my trip on the MV Doulos, I've had the pleasure of meeting 3 wonderful gals.
It's actually been really - surprising!

I met Cara B when the short term co-ordinator Jane suggested that I say hello to one of my soon to be fellow co-Baristas. So I did. Little did I know that in saying hello I would find my twin! Okay not overly really - but the similarities between Cara and myself are many. Our main name initials are both CB. We both use the 'car' analogy when explaining our names. We're both 23. Both of us are overly bubbly with seemingly infectious personalities. I could go on... I am very excited to meet Cara - and hope we get along famously!

Then there's Rhea - who found me via a Google search [woohoo!] with words including "fundraising" & "Doulos" because she was trying to find some information about how to raise money while being away on the ship, and came upon my lil blog here. Little did I know that from her simple enquirey we'd become email buddies!

Then we come to Bev - the 3rd and final gal out of the 4 Barista's for the Doulos. Bev & I have spoken briefly but already I feel like we have a connection - or just both have excellent sense of humour! The granny of the team she claims, but I think she is very young at heart and i'm really excited to chat to her!

Its been pretty cool! I cant wait to find out who the bloke is in our team - and where he's from. He'd probably really like to know now too since its only 3 weeks away - TODAY!!!! It would be nice to know where he's coming from and what he's been doing ministry wise up till coming onto the Doulos. Its just facinating to know why each of us are doing it!

In other news - everything has pretty much fallen into place - thankyou God!

• My passport arrived swiftly [and it is sooo exciting to have one that i've embarrasingly been sleeping with it under my pillow... hahaah... hmm tho now that i've mentioned this on the net, I think i'll stash it away somewhere safe... hahaah].
• My total in money to raise was raised with a month spare - which was just such a blessing and made my heart literally burst with joy! Its really awesome to have so many people excited and encouraged by this little adventure I'm going on!
• I have my suitcase and backpack ready to pack...
• Flight to Brisvegas booked...
• A place to stay in Brisvegas from arrival in the city till arrival on the ship 4 days later...

Its all really just made me more and more aware and impressed that when God wants you to do something - it will happen! Even if you never thought something like this would be or could be possible! Amazing! Exciting!

Oh... i am so excited to be going on this adventure - but I'm also really quite sad - and scared! July is the month of departures for my lil niche of groovy friends. M&P move to the town of "Face Mask" so M can be a full time teacher, which is SOOO exciting for them! But that happens on the 12th of July. P.Andy's last Sunday as our Pastor is on the 13th of July, and then himself and his delightful wife are making a new adventure in VIC, she's already there as her new job started 8 weeks ago?, and P.Andy's official leaving town date is the 18th of July.

And I leave on the evening of 27th of July... for 3 months... crap! When i say crap, what I mean is, whoa-crap! I've not been away from somewhere for so long - so that kinda scares me. And the idea that many changes will take place between now and when I come back with people, places, personalities, picturesqueness [no, not exactly a real word but run with it!]... just the changes that will probably occur. And it will be hard to fit back into life here I think, because i'll have changed too. But then, were the changes for good or bad? Or what about if something hasn't changed, when it could - or should've. What will reactions be like? It will be interesting to say the least...

But the friends i'm going to be missing when i'm away. Their characters. Their spark. Their quirkyness. The fact they actually slightly understand my crazyness - or atleast recognise it as just a part of me. I have to train a ship-load of people to realise that I often make NO sense... and its best if they just nod, point, and laugh. My friends here think its funny that I have different laughs, and that often when I laugh I stream a fountain of tears down my face - and that is funny. My "Angry eyes". NO ONE WILL GET THAT! But - that definately comforts me to know that when I return, those funny little things are likely to have not changed. Or worse - they've had time to think up really good jokes, or pranks, and i'll provide the perfect victim...

ahahahaahahahaha...

Hmmm well thats about it...
Ciao just for now...
Carola xxx