Chilly today, Chile tomorrow

Hello friends and family,

Well tomorrow we will be arriving in good old Valpariso, Chile. I have to admit that the past week or so hows passed by extremely quickly since being in Panama. That is most likely due to the fact that prior to arriving in Panama we were stuck on the ship for close to 3 weeks. After this is should be down hill considering we have close to a weeks equivalent of port days and only 3 weeks on the ship. We actually just finished out the first of two classes we ill be taking while on the ship. After our days in port we will start on our second month underway. But until then its nothing but llama's and beaches.

I will relay the tales of my adventures in Chile as soon as I am able,

take care,

S

May 24 Pic

To accompany the post on 5/24

More Pics

A final Shot before the bear set sail for Valparaiso, Chile.
Me and the Mira Flores Locks

Memorial Day

Well today we had a nice relaxed day due to the holiday. In honor of memorial day, and due to the fact that we are a government owned vessel, we had the honor of flying our colors(flags such as the national ensign) while underway. It is custom not to fly a ship's colors while underway, due to the fact that 1.) no one is around to see it and 2.) the constant use can wear out the flags. But on memorial day it is declared by presidential decree for us to fly our flag, something that is done very gladly. Usually we have BBQ's on Sundays, however this weeks was moved to today in, again you guessed it, honor of memorial day. I will have some photos posted later of the BBQ and the beautiful sunset at sea. ave a great day and email me sometime.

very respectfully,

S.R.Schiesser
MIDN 3/c USNR

"Far from Home We Lie"

Well as we travel further and further south, the heat slowly dissipates and I have begun to wear my jacket once more. Though the weather has gotten rougher, the Bear just seems to roll with the punches. It is a very odd experience seeing as for the past 3 weeks we have been slowly steaming southward and heating up, however since we past the equator all that has changed (as well as the direction of the spin in my toilet (well technically it is a head)) But other than that its pretty much same old same old here on the ocean blue. I am back on a day work rotation so I spend my afternoons for the most part, getting my hands dirty fixing something with whatever random group I get stuck with. It is always rather odd to me how our ship can require 40-50 people to work on something or other both deckside and engine work, 8 hours a day, almost year round. Sometimes I wonder how a normal ship can function without 340 devoted cadets to handle its every need.

I have come to realize something while on cruise. The reason so many stories of sea adventures sound so similar, despite who writes them, is because when aboard a ship you start to think that way. I am speaking of course of that classic writing style that goes something like:" I could see the white crash of the waves in the darkness and hear the wind rush through the rigging, and could feel the boat toss below me." I swear, that is how thoughts have formed in my mind sometimes... It just happens I guess when your on a boat. So I guess its official, I've gone crazy. Right?

"Though we roam the seas, far from home we lie, we will cheer for the good times and this land we fight to defend..."

Happy Memorial Day
your favorite high seas adventurer,

Stevie

The view really speaks for itself


a shot of El Toboga Island


We played out the slaughter of the soccer game below the Bridge of the Americas

Pic 2

Mira Flores Locks

Pic 1

Infront of our neighboring vessels in port 1 US Nuclear Submarine and 1 French Naval Frigate

Post: MAY 17

"Well tomorrow morning we will be arriving in Panama. I’m really looking forward to checking everything out. I am writing today, because I havent written in a while and well that is simply because nothing has happened. I figured you wouldnt want to hear about... "we passed alot more water today, it is still hot, and I still go to class every morning." In fact I know that would get boring. Because it is. But all that shall change come tomorrow. I will write again as soon as I am able, but feel free to drop me a line or two while I am in port. I would love to hear from you. I would also love even more to hear back from those I have emailed. Oh well...


catch you in a few days
MIDN 3+3/4 /C Schieser

Still not really 100% sure if I'm a third class yet... oh well..."


love so much


stev

Panamaha

Well half a week later, slightly sunburned, and with a nice sun glass tan, I am back on the ship headed full steam ahead (we have some time to make up for) for Valparaiso, Chile. For all of you who were wondering, we did not go through the canal. The canal is rather expensive to go through, and seeing as we are going to Chile, there really is no purpose in going through it. But that does not mean that the trip was not more than exciting.

The first day in port was my work day, but I was fortunate enough to receive an assignment to the ceremonial party to welcome the representatives of the Panamanian Maritime Academy. After that we were released for our half-day of liberty. We traveled via taxi to an area called Cosco Viejo. Cosco Viejo was a colonial settlement built in Panama. As we drove towards Cosco Viejo from the city I could see the different signs of the different countries that have come into Panama over the past few hundred years. When we turned off the highway we started in the old American housing complexes of the early 50's 60's 70's and then as we traveled further in, their were the remnants of the French who were there in the early 1900's and then when our journey finally came to and end our cab stopped in a place which resembled what appeared to be a Spanish-Mediterranean town. The rest of the day we spent in Panama City with dinner and a stop at the great American embassy – Hooters, Panama. It was a great day over all and despite it being a half day, it was just as tiring as the other days to come.

Day two was an adventure made in the name of edjumacation. We traveled to the Mira Flores Locks, the first locks in the 3-tiered lock system in the Panama Canal. After a tour of the canal museum, and the necessary required hours of waiting around doing nothing, as is required for all school functions, we headed towards the Panamanian Maritime Academy for a little BBQ and fun. Also at the Academy, the other cadets decided to invite us to a little soccer game. We were expecting them to just have a few random people there to play us, just like we had just thrown together a team to face them. But we were surprised to find the fully geared full UMIP (Universidad Maritima Internacional Panama) soccer team awaiting us. Needless to say our rag tag team of soccer players was no match for the nationally ranked team (a small nation, but still nationally ranked) Fortunately for us we redeemed ourselves from the slaughter of the soccer game, with the victory in a basketball game (it helps having all of Basketball team majoring in Business.) After a day of cultural interactions we headed over to the causeway community. It is a small sea side community on the outskirts of the city. There we arranged for a boat ride the next day and dined on some local food and drink before heading back into the city for the night. My group and I hung out at one of the local casinos, where we acquired a knack for attaining free drinks by simply appearing to be gambling. I can tell you there is not a whole lot of things that are more amusing than a few sailors running around a casino pretending to gamble just to quench their thirst.

The majority of the final day in port was spent on a little island called El Toboga. The island is approximately 20km off of Panama. Myself and a group of 31 CMA cadets and 3 faculty members spent the day on this little island. The island was covered with old colonial buildings and Spanish architecture. The island also had a quiet beach which so many of us found so very relaxing. We found the water warm, the sunshine bright and the calm breeze soothing. It was quite the way to end the last day in port. After we headed back in the late afternoon. We finished the day off with a quiet dinner and more working of the system at the Venetta casino as had been done the previous night.

As I am writing this at approximately 2025 local time, we have just passed the Equator. Though due to a lawsuit in the early 80's, there will be no "shellback" ceremonies, as is customary on other sea going vessels for those who cross the equator for the first time (feel free to Google it). I guess I will just have to wait.

Well that's it for now; let me know if you want to know any details.

later days,

stevie

Land HO!

Well tomorrow morning we will be arriving in Panama. I really looking forward to checking everything out. I am writing today, because I havent written in a while and well that is simply because nothing has happened. I figured you wouldnt want to hear about... "we passed alot more water today, it is still hot, and I still go to class every morning." In fact I know that would get boring. Because it is. But all that shall change come tomorrow. I will write again as soon as I am able, but feel free to drop me a line or two while I am in port. I would love to hear from you. I would also love even more to hear back from those I have emailed. Oh well...

catch you in a few days

MIDN 3+3/4 /C Schieser

Still not really 100% sure if I'm a third class yet... oh well...

Watch...

Well last night… er well early this morning, I had my first watch of this 2 week old cruise. It lasted from 0000 to 0400. It was a security watch, and the point of the security watch is to look for the 3 F's – Fire, Flood, and Fornication. Luckily the second one was the only issue that we had to deal with. One of the fan rooms (a roomed filled with- are you ready?- FANS!- its used to circulate air from the chillers to different parts of the ship) had flooded. Now when I mean flooded I mean there was a significant amount of water on the floor. We removed 100 gallons on my watch alone and hardly made a dent in it. Other than that the watch consisted of roaming the ship closing water-tight doors and wasting time. Our fearless trio of security was lead by a senior who told us many great stories and helped pass the time. Now the lack of sleep that this midnight adventure caused (the same lack of sleep that caused me to delete the first version of this post by accident) is going to make carrying out another watch tonight quite interesting. ( oh yeah, they just changed the watch bill today (after it had been "set in stone" to since the beginning of cruise) and I now have the 0000 – 0400 watch again "tonight" , the night before my first midterm. I will leave out my feelings about this change and the reason for the change.)

But all is not lost, for there is one soul aboard this who goes the extra mile ( its really more like 500 miles) just to make the late night watch standers smile. She is known as "Mom". Mom is the baker both while at sea and also while at school. She makes all the deserts and calls to all of her "sons" to come get one of her goodies. But she truly shows her true colors by waking up EVERY NIGHT, to bake fresh food for the 0000 and the 0400 watches as they come. She does this every night stormy seas or fair weather. I cannot even begin to describe how great she is, it is really something one must experience.

In other news…. After many boiling days on the route south, the staff has finally okayed the cadets to wear Khaki shorts with our uniforms, which means I can get started on that farmers tan that has been long in hiding since last summer ended.

Peace easy.

SS

P.S. feel free to leave comments; it would be interesting to see what you felt about what I wrote when I get back

is it hot in here or is it just me?

Today, when I ran up the stairs to the 0-4 deck (otherwise known as the helo deck) to line up for daily "quarters" I was hit by heat of the unprotected decks. It was then when I truly realized how south we had really come. Only a few days ago I remember standing on the quarterdeck looking at a pod of humpback whales off the port side talking about the nice cool weather. But I must say that was quite an experience to see. It is sights like those and the sunsets that make being at sea so special.

Other than that not a whole heck of alot has happened. I stand my first watch tomorrow from midnight to 4 am ( it is still considered part of tomorrow even though technically it is on Wednesday (some cadets have yet to figure that out)) During that watch the security of the great TS Golden Bear will lie in my hands, and it will be up to me to fend of the pirates that plague these waters.... (ok so Ive been reading the "Corsair" by Clive Cussler and it might not be that important of a job..) We'll see how it goes

peace easy,

Esteban

(were in Latin American waters... why not?)

Well its not Swine Flu, but it sure felt like it....

A common stomach flu has been ravaging the ship, condemning many Cadets to a 24hr bed rest. Last night I too fell vicitim to this very flu, and let me tell you, it is not a pleasant experience. But I am sure it will pass by tomorrow, and I will be back to doing what I had been doing before, which wasn't much.

The past few days have been interesting even without the Flu. Two days ago I got the chance to work with a team of Engineers on the Port engine, which is probably as big as my house. That same night we had Bingo night... yes bingo night. I didnt have very good luck that night so hopefully that will all improve by the next one. I never knew you could be bad at bingo...

Yesterday word was passed on to us that the ship no longer has State Department clearance to enter Mexico, and as of now, the ship will be reverting to San Diego.... which is a drag seeing as that is where I will be spending all of July. But who knows alot can happen over the next 6 weeks, but I will keep you updated...

later days,

~S

Though We Roam the Seas...

Probably on of the most amazing things that I realized to day is the fact that I was learning about international trade policies while enroute to then Panama Canal on a merchant Vessel (the T.S. Golden Bear is owned by MARAD... (This stands for something that involves Maritime Administration and Department I believe...)) Now if that's not hands on training, I know not what is. It's quite an outstanding feeling when you are sitting in a class room that is not only cruising across the ocean, but also rocking back and forth.

It is good to be on our way again, because though I have a deep love for Catalina Island, circling it just isn't that exciting when you know your on your way to Panama. Last night apparently we had some rough waves, however I would not know, because the rocking motion of the boat just tends to lull me into a deeper and deeper sleep. This is good for my future career.

I must announce that people of my major (well the males at least) are beginning to grow mustaches and I am joining in the effort, so we will see how it goes, I guess it is something to make the days go by faster. I'm sad to say that I have already watched the entire Generation Kill series (I highly recommend it to anyone that is a fan of Band of Brothers) as well as the entire Horatio Hornblower series (recommend it to fans of Master and Commander). That is a total of 22 hours of entertainment and it hasn't even been a week. But have no fear I still have all 10 Seasons of Stargate SG-1 and The Lord of the Rings extended editions, and these things called books which I am learning all about... hmm what a novel concept...

Later days....

Very Respectfully,

Cadet 3/c Schiesser
sschiesser@csum.edu

Catalina HO!

Well the past few days have been good under way. Monday morning we passed under what I am told was the Golden Gate Bridge, hard to tell for sure however considering we could barely see it from the helo-deck on top of the ship. The PJ exercise went from being an awesome C-130 HALO Boat drop from high altitude, to the boring task of raising a black Zodiak in and out of the water with our crane. Currently we are off of Santa Catalina Island do maneuvering drills. I have to say it is a pretty odd feeling being so close to Catalina, yet knowing that it isn't our destination. So after we do circles around Catalina for a day or so we'll be off on our way back down southward towards Panama.

Things I've learned so far:
1.) I would've been an engineer if I wasn't a Global Studies major. (they get to fix stuff (deckies break stuff alot))
2.) You can always find fun even in the most annoying jobs.
3.) Never tell a bunch of meat heads and work-out junkies the gym won't be set up for 3 weeks, because then they'll put it together in one night just to spite you...
4.) Getting lost is the best way to figure out and remember how to get places.

Mission 1: Successful:- retrieved 2 bags of Costco Trail Mix (hopefully will laugh)
Mission 2: Come up with third mission...

with all due respect,

MDPN* 3/c Schiesser
sschiesser@csum.edu

(*MDPN- acronym for Midshipperson, for Midshipman was found to be not politically correct)

We have lift off... Sorta

At approximately 0800 Vallejo Standard time, the Training Ship Golden Bear departed after sitting dockside for 4 days. The past few days have been filled with Marine Survival Training. On Friday morning we had fire fighting training which involved 1980's videos and spraying some fake ducks with hoses. That afternoon, we practiced our survival skillz by playing coastguard rescue swimmer (I'm like Ashton Cutcher now, just better looking..) with life jackets and an emergency life raft in the school heated pool. This was a blast! we had to do different task such as crawl in and out of the life-raft from the water and climb down into it from a ladder, all while being hosed down with icy water. It was quite the memorable experience, though I question the strength of my skill that I acquired that afternoon in the pool should the need actually arise to use them... I'm sure being an Eagle Scout and a Sea Scout will come in much more use than playing around for an hour an a half in the school pool.

The next day all the non-licensed cadets (like me) were given liberty for our last day in port and I was fortunate enough to have the Dods/Stewart clan from San Jose come up and rescue me. After a wonderful BBQ lunch at Gracies, (where the great Navy Damage Control Expert Chris Dods taught me all I need to know about firefighting in about 2 minutes) we headed off to Costco where they treated me a final supply run. (which I am so very appreciative of and can not express how much I meant to me). After that, we caught some cold stones and an afternoon showing of the latest X-men movie. After the movie and tour of my campus (complete with some hilarious/dirty pictures with Keema the school's bear) the merry band returned me to the ship (which has been quarantined due to the Swine Flu).

But finally today after leaving the beautiful city of Vallejo, we did circles around San Fransisco Bay through Richmond harbor and the Port of Oakland. Tonight there was a a reception for alumni and Faculty on the bear as we are dock along one of the countless piers between the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate. Tomorrow we get underway for Balboa, Panama (via Catalina). It should be a great first real day, filled with Golden Gate Bridge passing, classes, day work, and USAF PJs (that's United States Air Force Pararescue Jumpers for you all "un-cultured" people)

later days...

Very Respectfully,

Cadet 3/c Schiesser
Squad Leader, 1st Squad
GSMA,Division III
Blue Company
California Maritime Academy
sschiesser@csum.edu