Anddd before we knew it, we were on our last day. I could not believe how quick today came, but also could not believe how much we had done and seen to get to this point. We started our day with our last amazing breakfast, and headed to our last site visit of the trip, Bernard Schulte ship management training center.
This was easily my second favorite visit, only to be beat by CSM. At this facility they had several classes, simulations and models of different aspects of the ship. One of the classes we saw was dealing with emergencies on a boat ride, specifically what to do if there were to be an unsafe level of oxygen present in the ship, and how to do damage control in these situations in order to avoid emergencies. In regards to the models, they had model living quarters of those on the ship. They were like a smaller version of the Towers dorm room. Even being that small however, they had a large closet for the room and a large shower and bathroom, even bigger than the one that was I my Bruce dorm.
The coolest aspect of the facility however, was the boating simulations. In each of these rooms, they had a simulation control board you would see in an actual trip, and everyone got an actual role that you would being on a real crew. It was fascinating to see all these controls in action and how these people would work together to achieve a successful trip. Each simulation would also provide a different scenario that the crew would have to solve, allowing for trainees to have experience in a variety of different situations. It was unique to see this aspect of the process of training the crew members of these ships, because since we had the perspective of all the other shipping companies, it allowed all the pieces of the process to be put together, from the actual training of the crew, to the planning of the logistics of the shipping, to actually getting the ships and personnel to carry these processes out.
After this visit, we had a beautiful drive up the mountains to the Omodos village, where we had another Meze style lunch planned. I love these smaller villages, such as Lefarka and this, which show insight into the more cultural aspects of the smaller villages, as opposed to the cultures of bigger areas such as Nicosia and Limassol. This meze meal was by far the best one we had. With standout dishes like an amazing risotto and chicken kebobs and pork that fell right off the bone, we all left lunch feeling stuffed and happy.
After lunch we visited a monastery in the area, which showed a vast collection of religious artifacts and ancient history, and after we were able to have some free time around the village. After doing some shopping, some friends and I sat at a local cafe and sat together drinking coffee and laughing over the memories of the trip. It was moments like this that made me extremely grateful to have the opportunity to come on such an amazing trip, and made my heart so full I was able to make such meaningful connections with people I had only met two weeks prior.
After our free time in the village, we went back to the hotel, and proceeded to get ready for our final dinner. After same sunset rooftop pictures, we were off. The dinner place was a super nice place that had a really awesome outdoor area with a super relaxed vibe. At dinner, there were several Pitt alumni. I chatted with a guy who had graduated with a masters of Business in 1993 and it was so cool to me to be able to make a connection with an alumni, not just anywhere, but in Cyprus. It really just goes to show you can make connections anywhere, and the world is your oyster if you are willing to talk to people.
After dinner, we headed back to pack, and I had some final moments with my friends, before we headed to the airport, and got ready for the long travel day ahead.