On March 15 the MV Explorer celebrated the ship crossing the Equator with Neptune Day! Those who have previously crossed the equator are known as Shellbacks and those who are to cross the equator for the first time are known as Pollywogs. Pollywogs are to participate in a ceremony that commemorates a person's first crossing of the Equator, by ship.
The ceremony features King Neptune, which was our captain painted all in green with a white wig and triton, Queen Minerva and the court, which included faculty and life long learners.
Everyone was woken up on the ship at 7am by crewmembers banging drums and blowing whistles. We all went up to the 7th deck and gathered for the ceremonies to start while music was blasting, and everyone was around the pool waiting for King Neptune to arrive.
Once we recited our oath to King Neptune we started in the official process of becoming Shellbacks! I got with my group of friends and crewmembers poured Fish juice or something that smelt disgusting all over us, then we hopped into the pool and when climbing out of the water we had to kiss a fish and King Neptune's ring. Another part of the ceremony is to shave your head! Don't worry I couldn't commit to actually shaving my head but there were a bunch of girls who shaved their heads and others who partially shaved their heads! They get props for taking the full commitment!
I had a lot of fun getting to interact with all of the students and share the experience of becoming Shellbacks together!
They posted some great pictures of Neptune Day on the Semester at Sea website. http://www.semesteratsea.org/2013/03/15/photo-gallery-neptune-day/
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