Mel @ Sea

My next week had an explosive start… Literally. I went to the seafarers training academy to put all of the things I learned in the classroom to use. We safely entered and exited a life raft, properly used a life jacket, and tried an immersion suit. We also navigated our way through a two-story, zero-visibility maze. The best part of the day was fire fighting! We were given a full fire fighter suit. We learned how to put it on properly and use our air tanks, then it was off to the fire zone. Our first test was putting out a small fire with a fire extinguisher. That was easy enough. Then, we were put into teams, given a real fire hose, and put face to face with a massive fire! The suit weighed approximately 40 pounds, and the hose was super heavy too. I got to be in the front and lead my team straight into the fire. It was a total blast. After learning all of these life saving techniques, I feel like my name tag should read “super hero” instead of “photographer.” As soon as we got back I...

The big adventure has officially begun. On November 13, I bid farewell to the fall leaves and cold weather in Missouri, in exchange for a consistent 80 degrees and sun drenched Hawaiian beaches. Not only was that day one of my most life altering days, it was also one of the longest. My alarm clock startled me at 3:44am. While most of the city slept, I double checked my packing list and headed for the airport. My first plane was an hour and a half hop to Denver. I could barely keep my eyes open, but that did not stop the man next to me from talking my ears off. I probably sat between the two most interesting characters on the plane, and confirmed that this new chapter of my life will be far from ordinary. After a short layover in Denver, I boarded my second plane, destination Hawaii! I found my seat and wondered who God had in store as my fellow companion for the 7 hour flight to Honolulu. Much to my surprise, it was just the person I needed to meet. After his college gradu...

I am 9 days away from taking off on the adventure of a lifetime, and I could not be more excited! If you want the low down on all things Melissa, here it is: I just graduated from Pittsburg State University with a degree in commercial graphics: photography. I love portrait photography the most because it is one of the only jobs where you get to see people smile all day long! I am currently moving to Hawaii to work for Norwegian Cruise Line's Hawaiian cruise as a shipboard photographer. The swiss family robinson treehouse is my dream home, and I would love to be a member of the Brady or Huxtable family for a day. I am a die hard Kansas City Chiefs and Royals fan, and I believe that football ranks supreme over all other sports. I am never satisfied with routine, and I am always looking for an adventure. God has blessed me with the most amazing friends and family I could have ever hoped or dreamed of. If it weren't for them, none of this would be happening. They deserve a little r...