We made it!

After five weeks of surviving Texas humidity, we’ve finally made it to the Africa Mercy! So unbelievably excited to have arrived in my new home. It's kind of like my old digs, except louder, more confusing and with 400 extra housemates. I’ve spent the last week exploring (getting lost) on the ship, figuring out how IKEA works, trying to correctly place names to faces, and getting into training for my role as a writer. In between, there has been plenty of time for treks to the beach and adventures around Las Palmas.

I’ve lived in a pretty wide range of places before, but making a home on a ship is like nothing else I’ve experienced. For one thing, it’s always moving. At this point it's pretty subtle - if I'm not looking out the window, I usually can’t feeling myself swaying. That's definitely going to change during our two-week sail to Cameroon. Prayers against sea sickness will be GREATLY appreciated.

- We live in a community where you eat, work, bunk and hang out with the crew each and every day. It might sound a little optimistic to say this, considering it's only week one, but community life is already one of my favourite things about Mercy Ships.

- The toilets flush on a vacuum system - think an airplane toilet flushing every time. Definitely made me jump the first (and possibly second...) time it happened. Also: two-minute showers are a real thing onboard.

- There's a Starbucks on board - except thanks to their wonderful sponsorship of Mercy Ships, drinks cost around $1 or less. Kind of a bonus.

- Breakfast is from 6:30 to 7:30 each day. I REPEAT, 6:30 to 7:30. I made it for the first three days, and I plan to make it at least one more time during the rest of the year.

But as strange and disorienting living on a ship is, it’s funny how quickly a place can begin to feel like home - thanks in part to the lovely folks on board, and most of all to the fact that I’ve never felt so at peace about a decision in my life.