More Sailing Training

So much has happened in the past few days, and I've just been too exhausted to get on here. I guess the main reason for that is because I grossly underestimated the amount of upper body strength required of a sailor...my Saturday was spent hanging from the yard, unfurling and furling the sail. Of course, in order to get to the yard, I climbed up the shroud--essentially a rope ladder going up from the side of the ship to the roundtop--or "crows nest" on whaling ships (on the picture, look for the black ropes coming off the side). Here's the real hoot of the matter: we wear a safety harness, but only when we are at our work station. While hanging from the yard and messing with the sail--yes. Climbing 70 feet in the air, on the side of the ship, looking down into the water--no. Transferring from the shroud to the yard--no. I think I'd rather be fastened in while I'm hanging over the water on a rocking ship moving and when one clumsy step on a piece of rope could send me toppling down below!! Long story short, sail training Saturday was an absolutely incredible and TERRIFYING experience. I thought of my loyal blog readers while transferring to the futtocks (any sailors out there who know what I'm talking about? The futtocks are the part of the shroud just before the roundtop, when the climb changes from straight up to leaning back while grasping the ropes). I was thinking of you all and how I couldn't wait to update everyone on my exciting experience, so I definitely couldn't panic and absolutely must continue upward. While I was very excited and wanted to share this all with you right away, yesterday I couldn't bring myself to do much of anything except lift a water glass to take my IBprofen. I'm feeling better today (still very sore!) and I am one step closer to sailing on voyages this summer. Now I just need to listen to my former Navy SEAL coworker and be sure to do upper-body exercises that he taught me to increase my muscle strength!

Obviously I'm very excited for sailing, while interpreting and talking to the public is still going wonderfully. I have to keep reminding myself that this isn't my actual job--that I am here through the summer but I start my actual position of Outreach Educator in September. I had a moment yesterday where I realized I will enjoy Outreach even more than interpreting: educating will be a constant, without the interruption to deal with "lost visitors." "Lost visitors" is a term we use (and used at Colonial Williamsburg as well) refer to visitors who either a) are part of a tour group that has to stop by on their way to Busch Gardens/WaterCountryUSA or b) think they are already at Busch Gardens/WaterCountryUSA. No matter what you have to say, they have no idea where they are or why you are talking to them. I spent a couple of minutes talking to a family about the Jamestown Settlement and general information as to why the settlers came over, and briefly answered their question as to why Jamestown is so important. I thought I had really connected with them, but as they were leaving my ship, I got the dreaded question: "Can we get our picture with a pilgrim?" Aughhhhhhhhh......my answer?? "I don't know, you'll have to go up North because there are no pilgrims here at Jamestown." So clearly they got nothing from my interpretation. Oh well, it is bound to happen once in awhile!