Sailing Sunsets Off the Pacific Coast
It’s 5:00 a.m. and I am the sole human on board at the Serenity lounge on a cruise ship, the Carnival Panorama. Well, there’s actually just over 4,000 souls on board but I’m occupying the entire adults only lounge section. Essentially because I fucked up this morning. My iPhone’s clock hasn’t adjusted to local time and I failed to follow the ship time which left me to be awake an hour early. It’s debarkation day and we’re just under ten miles away from the port at Long Beach. The cruise is almost over but I’ve got time to reflect.
There’s a reason they call it Serenity. I spent my last evening here and now my last morning laying in a day bed overlooking the endless oceans of our planet. The sun, in which I’ve been casually chasing it’s settings over the horizon all week, took a few days off. The clouds seemed to match the color of the ocean making it a bit difficult to find the horizon. Not knowing where the earth starts and ends has a certain peace to it. Similar to life itself. For the most part, the seas have been calm and the weather felt shy of perfect. This is my first time exploring a neighboring country by water. I’m not really a water, large body of ocean, type of person, but this experience is by far one of the best.
Leaving the country is necessary. Traveling abroad to a destination that doesn’t fit your familiar routines is necessary. Experiencing a new culture that may be unconventional to your beliefs is necessary.
I’ve been able to touch down in a few countries the last several years and each time I’ve left with a new perspective on life. I can have a conversation with someone at the bar and can tell when they haven’t left the country. I’m not saying that to be worthier than his accomplishments, but some people can leave an impression on you that exhibits their barriers to foreign lands. The American gusto. Far superior in self-efficacy.
The reality in travel is the reverence you develop for people. I was in Barcelona, our Airbnb host, Paco, sent his wife to deliver our keys to their home. Off top, she was fluent in English. Obviously, for someone like myself, unfortunately unilingual, felt comfortable and safe that our host was able to communicate with us. Even if I were to understand Spanish (which I don’t), many Spaniards speak Catalan which could make it slightly difficult to understand.
However, Paco’s wife gave me peace of mind. Peace of mind that I carried throughout my tour in Europe. You have to be open and respectful in the lands of others. I wanted to envelop myself in their culture and learn their cultural norms
Side note: Wine is cheap as fuck in Spain.
I wanted to speak to the natives in their language. It’s impossible to learn a language in four days and be fluent. So I did the best I could with the minimum to show that I cared about them. Gracias. De nada. The little bit of Spanish I knew, I spoke it like I knew the whole language. I did this in France, Italy, Japan, and South Korea. It’s not much, but being able to show manners in the language of the country you’re in goes a long way.
Because in America, I’ve noticed while working in retail on the Las Vegas Strip where you’re most likely going to come into contact with a foreigner unable to speak English. Many of my fellow Americans were spent with frustration having trouble communicating with a non-English speaking visitor. Being incognizant of the troubles at hand, makes it uncomfortable and uninviting for foreigners to our country. Don’t we want people to feel welcome to our home?
I understand that English is a universal language, but not everyone is required to learn it. We are also not required to show our disdain for that matter. We should be compassionate and do our best to communicate without using language at all. The only language I know to be universal is love, and that can be communicated without conversation.
If we move through life with love, understanding, and an open mind, we’ll be able to communicate with each other without having to use language. Facial expressions can convey a myriad of emotions without saying a single word. nonverbal communication can go a long way in a country you’re experiencing for the first time.
Looking out into the ocean and seeing the sun set behind the horizon is my favorite moment on this ship. There’s serenity in one of the most moving phenomenons in our galaxy. I plan to see more of these moments around the world. Taking the time to appreciate the sun’s good bye for the night sets precedence to the next day. Set yourself right. Calculate your moves to sail sunsets and globalize your presence. Respectfully. Dive into other cultures and be open to adding some of their traditions and norms to your life. I guarantee you will add a new perspective to your self and refine your character. Traveling… does that.
