Best yet

So I am really happy because I have really been honing my sales technique with my guests. Yes, I have to sell Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. Some people may be uncomfortable with that terminology, but it is a fact. Not many people are familiar with the medicine, what it can do, and the amazing benefits they will receive. So, I have to sell. I have a lot of sales background, starting from my highschool and college jobs in telemarketing and retail, and running whole dealer networks in the telecom industry, to selling bicycles and having my own business of professional bike fitting. I have been in sales a long time! A lot of it now comes naturally, it takes a lot of learning and practice. Anyone who didn't have that before coming into a position like this will either sink or swim if they don't learn. And it can be learned! This has been my best week yet in terms of financial gain. The cruise guests do make a difference though, and it can fluctuate greatly on what kind of clientele we get week to week. I will keep practicing and every week will be better than the last.

I am getting to know more people on the ship. Sometimes having a hard time connecting with them. Well, I think I have that problem on land too. haha no change there! I will just keep living in my own little Noel World. It is a friendly place from what I hear. We had a big crew party last week, the theme was Rock and Roll. There are some good DJ's on board, and I heard all the American rock I could have hoped for. Free drinks and whole fish to eat don't hurt either.

AHHH, now I am gaining weight, desserts.....you will have to stop tempting me now, please...just stop!!!! I do work out at the gym at least 3 to 4 times a week, so that helps. I kind of miss my Boulder bike rides though. I pretend I am climbing Flagstaff when I am on the stationary bike. :)

All and all, life is good. It is great practice here to take one day at a time and live in the moment. I don't have to worry about a lot of things here, and it is a nice break from reality world. When you don't have a lot of stuff, you don't worry about losing it as much. I will take all of these lessons and continue to live them on the sea and the land. You can too.

Here are some pictures. Beach day in Dubrovnik, Croatia with my friend Robert, followed by lunch and wine before getting to the ship at the absolute last minute!

A nice moth-type friend, they are all over the flowers sucking nectar.

My friend Inge in Ravenna, just a cool shot. She is from South Africa.

Lunch in Ravenna with the local wine and their specialty of piadina, kind of a boring sandwich, pita thing. oooh, big deal....