When one thinks of another country, they may think about the diversity of the country; the language, the architecture, and the customs. Let me tell you that’s not even the half of it. When you enter a foreign land, there is a strange air to it. Your head starts to spin as your brain tries and fails to recognize the faraway elements of home. For spring break of freshman year, my parents decided to take my siblings and I on a cruise to Mexico and Honduras. The trip would turn out to be one of the best weeks of my life (and also the week I discover shrimp cocktail). After a long two days of sleeping, driving, and more driving, we arrived at the port in Miami. Huge ships and cruise liners floated alongside the dock, although they seemed more like the long hotels we had stayed in the night before due to their size and the checkerboard-like pattern of windows that led to the very top of the ship. As we boarded, a man in a vest and bowtie took our photos and handed us our tickets at the security checkpoint. After being directed down a corridor lined with pamphlet tables, we entered a hallway that must have stretched from bow to stern. We found our room towards the end, set our things inside, and instantly dashed off to explore. “I’ll be back at the room by 8:00!”, I shouted over my shoulder. I had no idea how to navigate around the ship, but it didn’t take me long at all to find the observation platform overlooking the bow of the ship. I leaned on the rail and closed my eyes, allowing the breeze to play with my hair and the salty sea air to fill my lungs. Looking back to the mainland as we departed, it felt as if all my earthly cares were being left behind. I felt truly alive and free for the first time in a long time.

I honored my commitment to meet my parents for dinner, but I was unprepared for the level of hospitality and class that the restaurant offered. I didn’t know if there was such a thing as a six star establishment, but if there was, the dining room on the ship was for sure, exactly that. The restaurant resembled more of a fancy theater! Curtains on the far north wall pulled back to reveal a twenty foot window encapturing the most beautiful sunset I had never even imagined! Life sized glass statues were placed periodically around the room. We dined on shrimp, chicken, and ice cream. The next two days were simply dreamy. I found another group of teens and we went around the ship causing havoc. James, Ashley, Jessica, and Clara became my partners in crime. We wouldn't leave the ice cream bar alone, we would sneak in and out of shows, and I convinced the staff at the adult pool that I was eighteen so that my friends could use the deep end. Ashley had brought her best friend (Jessica) along with her family, hailing from Chicago. James was a beefy 17 year old who had just finished his first section of military training for the marines and had driven from Richmond. Clara was the only one who was my age at the time (14). We made port in Mexico two days after departure. This area was beautiful with palm trees, coral reefs, and sandy beaches that seemed like a smooth cloth that extended from the water. First was snorkeling near the reef.

Everything in the reef appeared alive and thriving with colour and abstract shapes. I had been in the water for about ten minutes, hovering on the surface. This was not enough. I swam back to shore and took off my life jacket and snorkel tube, leaving me with only my goggles and flippers. "Bennett, what happened?" inquired my mum, confused by my action. "I can't take it anymore!" I shouted back with a smile and dove head first into the clear, fresh water.

The reef was about 15 feet below the surface and teaming with life! I swam right up to it, hoping to find some rare, beautiful fish hiding in one of the holes. What I found was more than I bargained for. As I rounded a corner, a large barracuda shot out from some hidden corner next to me. It slammed into my face, jaws wide open, scratching my goggles. Water filled my goggles as I lost the remaining air in my lungs from the shock. I blindly clawed at the water until my face broke the surface. Upon arrival at the shore, my parents asked me what happened and why I was out of breath. I told them it was nothing and that I was still fine. I went over to my siblings and gestured at them to follow. We swam back to the reef, and I turned to them and said "Now, don't freak out, but I just want you to see this." We went under and, lucky for us, the barracuda was still circling the area where I has been attacked. “Bennett, no! What the hell!” shouted my sister almost as soon as she resurfaced. She swam back to shore as fast as her arms and feet could take her. My brother and I stayed and watched the fish until it was time to put our life jackets back on and swim with the dolphins.

The playful dolphins we swam with were named Luke and Leia after the star wars movie characters. We still have photos of my kiss with Leia.

The next day on the boat was another party all on its own. More feasts, magic shows, relaxing on deck, and laughing at each others jokes and enjoying each others company. James and I enjoyed a few rounds of sparring to match my extensive martial arts against his military training. The first couple of rounds resulted in a draw, but my agility eventually won out against his rooted mass.

The newest James Bond movie, Skyfall, was playing in the theatre, and I must say that is where my James Bond infatuation came from. James and I criticized the fight scenes and tried to decide if the amazing feats could really be done. It took about a day to arrive in Honduras. We got in a sketchy looking 12 seat van which took us to the highest point of the island for the zipline. One by one, we were strapped into a harness and hooked onto a line that extended through the dark green foliage and canopy. When it was my turn, I pushed off and wondered if the ride would get any better than the measly ten feet off the ground I was currently at. The first stop on the line came out into a clearing. As I was hooked onto the next line, I looked out to the clearing and realized I was standing on the edge of a cliff that dropped straight down about 300 feet. The continuation of my zipline adventure was a mixture of thrilled yelling and adrenaline rushes the entire way. We were driven back down to a small beach with diving structures and a bar after we were unhooked. I met up with Clara and we spent the rest of the day swimming and tanning in the tropical sun. Once again back on the ship, I was still having difficulty convincing myself that this entire vacation was really happening.

On the last day, my five friends and I were on the bow of the ship with port in sight. "You guys have to promise me that none of us will ever forget this week." Clara suddenly exclaimed. “How could we?” asked James and I, almost simultaneously. We all hugged and went down to the mess hall to share one last bowl of ice cream. My week of adventure was at an end, but I came away from it all knowing what real, blissful freedom felt like.