Look, it's
New York. I think that's when it finally hit me that I was on the East
Coast is when I saw the skyline of the city. I don't know why it took that
long, but I guess I'm just weird that way.February 25th, 2006
So, here we are in Kings Point, NY. We got here last Saturday and got right into the thick of things by Sunday. I have only been that cold once before. Sunday, the temperatures dropped into the single digits all morning and I thought I was gonna die. Anyway, we started off with a tour of the campus and the training ship, King's Pointer. The ship looks like it's gonna be a lot of fun. We were somewhat amazed the staterooms aboard ship were quite large compared with other rooms I've been in. Our dorm rooms on the other hand....well, small is an overstatement. We weren't quite sure how we were going to fit all our crap into the rooms, but somehow we all managed. Some people went out and got small organizers and others, like me, stuffed things into any nook and cranny I could find. Saturday and Sunday evenings were spent trying to find the local Target (which isn't too local). The first group took about 3 hours and finally found it. The second group, including myself and my trusty GPS (trusty....yeah right), spent a futile 3 hours trying to find the blasted Target and failed miserably. We were so lost, that somehow we even ended up in Queens, which was in the total opposite direction. We were finally all so hungry that we gave up and headed back. Of course, on the way back, we passed both the Target and Wal-Mart. But by then, we didn't care anymore. The next day, we went back and got the stuff we needed. The Target is about 30 minutes away from campus and therefore won't be a daily trip, I guess.
Monday, we officially started classes with an introduction to the Merchant Marine Academy and the BOTC program. The following few days, we have gotten the basics of navigation and seamanship, as well as some knot tying (marlinspike intro) and intro to the Rules of the Road. I thought once I graduated college, I wouldn't have to worry about note-taking anymore. Guess I was wrong...terribly wrong. Good to know, I still am awful at taking notes. O well! Anyway, the rest of the week was going really well until Friday when we hit Radar Theory. I called my father afterward and told him that "I now hate RADAR". Others said that they never want to hear about vector analysis again. Haha...anyway, it's a very important subject that we will be spending another two or three weeks on in the future three months, so I guess we all better get used to it. To put it simply, it's one of those subjects (much like Organic Chemistry for me) that takes a while to understand, but once you do, it comes to you much easier. Anyway, today was spent going over chart plotting, as well as set and drift. Tomorrow, we finally have a day off. I believe some people may be going into the city, as well as some others who will be going into West (Worst) Marine to get foul weather gear. I told them I could go in with them and be their personal salesperson by sitting and watching them from the other side of the store like all the sales people did at the West Marine I worked at. Well, time for some pictures. I know that's what you all want to see anyway.
Look, it's
New York. I think that's when it finally hit me that I was on the East
Coast is when I saw the skyline of the city. I don't know why it took that
long, but I guess I'm just weird that way.
That's one
tall building. We talked the bus driver into driving through the city
instead of around because a few of us had never been to New York, like myself.
I'm glad somebody noticed the Empire State building, as I would've never even
known. Cool picture though taken from the bus.
So, this
street only had a few taxis on it. Other streets....oh my god!! I
guess it's true that nobody drives their own car in NY. Weird thing for me
to comprehend. I mean, can you imagine people in LA not driving their own
car? I mean, I lived in a house with three people and at one time we had a
total of 5 cars for the three of us. It's true that two of them barely
worked, but still!!
Here is the
classroom that we are using. Nice comfy chairs (good for sleeping in, I'm
finding...not because it's boring, but because I'm completely tired) and student
desks. At first, we felt like we were back in grade school, because they
have the cute little pull-out drawers, but actually they're pretty nice.
Good sound system too. I think we're gonna bring some movies up and watch
them.
Here
is the class getting their float coats. Those things are really warm,
which is really good as I was freezing. (*Pic by JT)
This is JT.
He's one of the other class members. He also is one the ones taking a lot
of pictures, so that always helps. (*Pic by JT's camera)
This is
the Officer's Club where I believe graduation will be held on May 25th, 2006.
So, I hope I won't be the only one with my own peanut gallery. Hopefully
dad won't bring the air horn this time...maybe the conch shells though.
Now, that would be hilarious!! (*Pic by JT)
One
of the streets on campus. Look, there's that fuzzy white stuff again.
It was starting to melt though. (*Pic by JT)
Here's where we eat on weekends.
It's the same place that all the midshipman eat at all the time. It's
basically a big cafeteria. Food is alright. During the week, we eat
at the Upper Deck where they have really nice food. Usually, it's just us
and maybe a few other instructors and guests at the Upper Deck.
This
is the T/V (Training Vessel) King's Pointer. We will be spending a bit of
time aboard this ship starting in March when we will be taking a number of
multi-day trips on her. I think the longest trip will be a week long
sometime toward the end of our training, but I'm not entirely sure of that.
Here's the
group hiking up the hill back to the main part of campus. Maybe next time,
I'll get a picture from the front. Probably better than looking at
everyone's rear ends (oh...excuse me...aft ends).
So, this is the main quad of the campus. Our residence hall is behind us. This picture shows some of the classrooms and the library (center building). (Pic by JT.)
This is a
rescue boat training lift. Basically, we will be using this to learn how
to lower and raise rescue boats like these. Now, the interesting part is
that NOAA vessels don't use these lifeboats as they are mostly equipped with
liferafts, which we will be learning about this Friday. (Pic by
JT)
Here I am....now
this is a much better uniform. Nice khaki pants with the nice warm float
coat. This is definitely more my style. (Pic by JT)
Here we are
(the aft-ends again) walking to the King's Pointer again. That ship is
quite big when you get up close to it. Big to me that is, considering I'm
used to 40 ft. sailboats.
Going aboard.
(Pic by JT)
Hanging
out in the marlinspike room toward the end of the tour. Nifty room with
lots of knots.
Ok, so that's the tour pretty much. I could put more pics up, but I've gotta save something for next week. So, I will continue again next Saturday. This upcoming week, we deal with personal survival stuff, more radar plotting, the beginning of firefighting training and few other things. Have a good week everyone!!
Cheers!!!