The Secret of 2008

The most exciting development from room 2008.

A Semester at Sea tradition is for participants to leave hidden messages for incoming students in their rooms. Normally, this is left on the back of a picture frame that can be easily, or sometimes, not easily, be popped off the wall. Hidden messages have included USBs full of photos and videos, tips for places to go in ports, or even ways to sneak alcohol on the ship.

Having done my research and aware of this tradition, I was slightly heartbroken when I saw that our room lacked a picture frame. Abby and I discussed this, shrugged, and moved on.

Until tonight.

I had heard that rooms without pictures had found clues/notes/messages but hadn't given it much thought. I don't know why tonight I decided to start looking, both Abby and I being exhausted from China (more to come on my adventures in the Middle Kingdom, I promise).

But soon, I was on my knees, checking every spot I had heard about. The vent under the drawers (just a lot of dust), in a secret panel behind the desk (need a screwdriver although I did try with a pair of scissors and a chopstick), behind our mattresses. Abby would pass me tools- flashlight, mirror, whatever. We were just about to give up when I stood on my bed, pulled the porthole curtain aside, and looked up.

There, folded precisely and held with a magnet, was this riddle:

I am small but can hold a lot
I am hidden in a secret spot
Take seven steps look up and see
Beyond the light which the secret will be (advice for you from Fall 2013)

We screamed.

Seven steps from the bedside table Abby was standing under the light close to the bathroom. A couple twists and a yank later, the light popped off in my hands. This adventure has been the closest I have ever been to committing vandalism. Don't worry, it pops back on as easily as off.

There was a distinct, disappointing lack of a secret.

We think the reward (I suspect a USB- what else is small but can hold a lot?) was removed when cleaning staff were changing the light bulb. We do, however, have a name. Her name and the date December 14th 2013 was on the back. We were going to attempt to email her using the formula for all SAS emails before realizing it's probably been discontinued by this point. However, there's always Facebook next time we're in port.

We want our reward.