Anchors Away
Ahoy Maties! I send my best wishes and lots of buried treasure from aboard the Royal Caribbean Majesty of the Seas cruise ship. I know, I know. Sounds like hard work. But someone's gotta do it!
After 4 months of traveling by car, I thought I would add boating to my repertoire. Along with about 30 other Miss America contestants, I am in the midst of sailing from Miami to Key West to Cozumel and back. This means a week of lots dressing up, photo ops, and conversational chatter. It is refreshing to learn that each girl is experiencing the same things I am in her respective state. Everyone is friendly and everyone is working hard. Most do not get much time off, some are still in school or working another job as well. In fact, most of us have appearances once we return this weekend, just to turn around and board another flight to Los Angeles for the taping of the Miss America Live! reality TV show. I will spend time at the Pecan Festival this weekend, which I have been informed by my father is pronounced "Pee-can" not "Pa-can".
So yes, we are all anticipating LA, wondering what awaits us. But, we are all in this boat together. Literally. All of us agree that this bonding experience allows us to make friends in a non-competitive context, and before being thrown into an unusual and new reality TV situation. By the time Miss America is complete, we will have spent 3 days together in Orlando for Miss America's Outstanding Teen, 5 days in the Caribbean, 10 days in LA, and about half of January in Vegas for the big event. It's like a super-intense camp. And I predict that we will leave with the types of friendships you make over marshmallows and hide and seek as a child gone for the first time in the summer.
At a seminar yesterday morning on branding ourselves and marketing our abilities and the program we were encouraged to drink in these moments. They only happen once, our "Ta-Da" moments. These are the moments you can never re-live because they are unique due to the time, place, and circumstance. And we will always have these memories as the Miss America Class of 2008.
Time aboard the ship has also been a blessing because I have spent time bonding with North Carolina committee members (although not nearly enough!). Their support and encouragement abounds, and for that I am appreciative. They remind me to own the experience, make it memorable. They remind me that I am the only Miss North Carolina 2007 that ever was or will be. The reality of that has really hit me this week. More than any reality TV show could portray. To be here is a dream in and of itself, Miss America or not.
Here is a run-down of a few of the events we have experienced this week...
Key West Train Tour and lunch at Alice's famous restaurant (can you say Key Lime pie?)
Captain's Party and Guest Meet and Greet (filled with fellow cruisers who are curious about what so many crowns are doing on this ship, and rightly so!)
A Contestant Talent Showcase
Pool time
Meal time
And...the Halloween costume party is tonight (I plan to dress as a Twister game, spin board for a hat)
The best thing is that none of us will have time to miss one another once we dock at port tomorrow and go our separate ways. We will reconvene on Sunday for another round of activities and productions. This means that I am missing North Carolina and will look forward to the holidays spent with all of you!
Sailing away,
Jessica
After 4 months of traveling by car, I thought I would add boating to my repertoire. Along with about 30 other Miss America contestants, I am in the midst of sailing from Miami to Key West to Cozumel and back. This means a week of lots dressing up, photo ops, and conversational chatter. It is refreshing to learn that each girl is experiencing the same things I am in her respective state. Everyone is friendly and everyone is working hard. Most do not get much time off, some are still in school or working another job as well. In fact, most of us have appearances once we return this weekend, just to turn around and board another flight to Los Angeles for the taping of the Miss America Live! reality TV show. I will spend time at the Pecan Festival this weekend, which I have been informed by my father is pronounced "Pee-can" not "Pa-can".
So yes, we are all anticipating LA, wondering what awaits us. But, we are all in this boat together. Literally. All of us agree that this bonding experience allows us to make friends in a non-competitive context, and before being thrown into an unusual and new reality TV situation. By the time Miss America is complete, we will have spent 3 days together in Orlando for Miss America's Outstanding Teen, 5 days in the Caribbean, 10 days in LA, and about half of January in Vegas for the big event. It's like a super-intense camp. And I predict that we will leave with the types of friendships you make over marshmallows and hide and seek as a child gone for the first time in the summer.
At a seminar yesterday morning on branding ourselves and marketing our abilities and the program we were encouraged to drink in these moments. They only happen once, our "Ta-Da" moments. These are the moments you can never re-live because they are unique due to the time, place, and circumstance. And we will always have these memories as the Miss America Class of 2008.
Time aboard the ship has also been a blessing because I have spent time bonding with North Carolina committee members (although not nearly enough!). Their support and encouragement abounds, and for that I am appreciative. They remind me to own the experience, make it memorable. They remind me that I am the only Miss North Carolina 2007 that ever was or will be. The reality of that has really hit me this week. More than any reality TV show could portray. To be here is a dream in and of itself, Miss America or not.
Here is a run-down of a few of the events we have experienced this week...
Key West Train Tour and lunch at Alice's famous restaurant (can you say Key Lime pie?)
Captain's Party and Guest Meet and Greet (filled with fellow cruisers who are curious about what so many crowns are doing on this ship, and rightly so!)
A Contestant Talent Showcase
Pool time
Meal time
And...the Halloween costume party is tonight (I plan to dress as a Twister game, spin board for a hat)
The best thing is that none of us will have time to miss one another once we dock at port tomorrow and go our separate ways. We will reconvene on Sunday for another round of activities and productions. This means that I am missing North Carolina and will look forward to the holidays spent with all of you!
Sailing away,
Jessica
