APRIL UPDATE!

Hey all,

Well, I don't remember the last time I blogged... WOW - time flys hey! Every single turn around day comes fast. Unfortunately, some turn around days are sadder than others, only because there are some many people coming and going and I have to say goodbye to the friends I've gained and then begin new friendships with new sign ons. Not to mention the fact that it gets me thinking about my own sign off day - haha... I'm that much closer to my New Zealand snowboarding adventure with my girls - yipppeee!

I said goodbye to my room mate last weekend. Booo! Bjanka - you're awesome girl. I hope all is well back home in Serbia and you got the welcome home signs at the airport like you hoped for.

So I've got a new roomy now... Courtnay! ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS! I have been totally blessed with two awesome room mates now. Courtnay is a youth staff as well and she's fantastic. I have now doubt the next ten weeks will be filled with good times.

I also said goodbye to some wonderful friends today. Matt and Yo yo - boy, I'm going to miss you guys terribly. It's not going to be the same on the Monarch without you. But, like i said to you in the car this morning... certainly not goodbye, but see you later!

As for me... things are going well here. It's heating up in the Bahamas (as it's going into summer), not to forget the humidity. It really feels like home when I'm sun baking on the beach during my few hours off work.

As for the job itself, unfortunately, it's not really challenging me much any more. I'm starting to get a little bored. Don't get me wrong, cruising life is fun, but i know within myself I need to be learning every day and unfortunately with the job itself, I'm at a point where I can't learn anymore. I find enjoyment with the interacting with guests and the kids on board... so that keeps it interesting. Although some days, when you've been working for hours on end in the sun and all you wanna do is sleep cause you were up till early hours the night before, it can get annoying. Anyway, so I'm praying for a bigger ship with a better itinerary next contract (with more ports). If I don't get a Voyager and Freedom class ship, I'll certainly be considering my options. I just feel that I was made for a bigger ship, where I can work with a bigger team, do more activities other than just rockwall... I probably won't hear about my next contract until late May, early June, so fingers crossed. I had also thought about changing departments and moving to Divers/Aquatics Staff. But again, this would intail getting my diving certification, so I possibly couldn't do that until my third contract anyway.

I've got two friends visiting me this month and next. Marcin, a friend of mine, whom I met in Canada while I was staying in Banff with Bec, will be on vacation in Nassau Bahamas next week, so I'm meeting up with him for lunch on Wednesday. And then on the 15th, Erin, whom I met in Canada is coming to cruise on my ship for a week. Hooray! I'm excited just be seeing faces of friends, who don't work on the ship! haha! I'm hoping to do a few shores excursions with Erin while she's here, like swimming with the dolphins, snorkeling etc!

What else...

I managed to get to Orlando Mall last turn around day too! OMG - I went a little crazy. It's hard when you're on board and you can't just jump in your car and go to the shops. So I picked up quite a few nice purchases. I have no doubt I'll have to buy a second suitcase to take all my stuff home. I had to buy heaps of uniforms while on board to, so they'll all have to come home with me as well.

Well I better sign off now. Hope all is well back home and you're enjoying the Autumn months. I'm bummed I'll be coming home to winter, but hey, i shouldn't complain as I'll have spent the past 6months in the gorgeous Bahamas!

Take care, see you all in ten weeks!

Lots of love
Hayley