Sailing away to Spain...

January 25, 2009 (A3) I think that's right? Sunday right? I really have lost track of what day it is...I just know if its "A" day or "B" day... So I haven’t updated in a few days so I thought I would post some thoughts. So far this trip has been amazing. I’m so lucky to be a part of this trip and join the 1 percentage of people around the world who have circumnavigated the globe! So much has happened it seems and it hasn’t even been a week since I’ve been on the ship. I’ve met so many people and am making some good friends that I hope will last for a long time if we can stay in touch. The ship has slowed down a bit from an average speed of 21 knots to 15 knots or so. I guess we were a little ahead of schedule and we can’t get there early because the ship only paid for so much dock time and space. I for one, as well as many others love the fact we have slowed down. It definitely makes me happy because I’m not sea-sick anymore. I never did get real “sick” like you think, but I didn’t find the hurting stomach comfortable. It was also really windy at the beginning of the week, which made the seas a little rough with white caps, and us sailing so fast through it made for a bumpy ride. I’ve gotten used to it now I think and trying to walk and stand still, is still a challenge at times but makes for good entertainment anyways. I’ve been in classes for a few days now. Global Studies is more interesting now that we’ve moved onto topics in the countries that were going to and learning more about the places. Although I did enjoy learning about the ocean current patters and temperatures, wind direction, climate characteristics and how it all comes together and affects each area of the globe. I found it quite interesting. I really like my art class so far mainly because of the professor I think. The professors here I’ve noticed, most of them anyway are so passionate about what they are teaching which is something I don’t know if I’ve experienced all around to this level. Its such an amazing thing to be able to go to the places they talk about and see what they are sharing. Every one of them is so passionate about this program and feels so strongly about it and it shows in their lectures to us and activities. It’s really exciting to be somewhere, like on this ship in the middle of the Atlantic right now where everyone is from all over the world and so different yet we all have the same strong passion for this program and what it offers. There are students are here that have had siblings go before them and even parents. There are families of faculty members here with their kids who have been sailing and going to school on this ship for years. The high school students get high school credit as well as college credit when they attend the college courses. Not only that, but they get to tour around the world to so many different countries multiple times. There is so much to learn from everyone here about the world, traveling and life in general. Another thing I wanted to share with you all is about the crew. Every one of them is from another country and most of them have been working on the ship for a long time. They are so nice and do so much for us. Not just by cooking and working in the gril and bar and things but they do soooo much for this ship 24/7 to keep it running well, safe and CLEAN! It’s so clean here, they are constantly cleaning the ship. As passengers on the ship we get our rooms cleaned every morning just as if it was a hotel. We get our beds made and new sheets and towels daily which is really nice. Sometimes if you leave clothes out, like I will leave a sweatshirt on the bed sometimes. Every morning its folded perfectly on my newly made bed. They really do their best here to keep things in top shape. Even at meals they clear our plates and tables for us. We feel bad but they never complain. Everyone seems to love it here and lots of them like to sing while they are working. They are very nice. In our cabin and everyone’s cabin there hangs a picture in which the captain will tell you not to take down. However, apparently it is tradition for past SAS-ers to leave the future SAS-ers messages. These include nice notes and tips to do or not on Semester at Sea. Some even left money. We had a converter on the back of ours picture and a red feather that my roommate and I are supposed to display with pride in our cabin. Apparently, its lived in the Cabin for a long time. I’m not sure where it’s from. One of the “Things to do on SAS” that someone left and which a lot of past SAS-ers recommend is getting to know the crew because they are amazing and you can learn so much from them. I’ve only been here a week but it is so true! It’s been a lot of fun hanging out on the ship so far. Basically my day at Sea consists of classes from 9:20-Noon or 1:30 depending weather its an “A” or “B” day

“A”: Global Studies 9:20- 10:35
Classical Islam 10:45 – 12:00
Psychology: Learning and Cognition 12:15- 1:30

“B”: Global Studies 9:20- 10:35
Intro to Art/Art History 10:45 – 12:00

Once I’m done with class if I have time I get lunch and then change to come out on the deck and layout in the sun all afternoon studying, reading and doing homework. Sometimes I doze off occasionally. At about 4 to 5 or so I go back to my cabin and get ready for dinner which is offered at 5:30. After that I do homework and just hang out with friends doing various activities. Every night there are different things to do. Many clubs have formed, some of which I have joined such as “Extended Family” which is groups of people that are put together as sort of a “family” while on the ship. I also spoke with the Theater professor here and I’m going to be a stage manager for the play they are putting on here called The Persians. It should be fun since I’ve always wanted to stage-manage and it will be a great way to meet more people and hang out. The other night was open mic night. That was VERY enjoyable! There are so many talented people on the ship, mainly guys got up and played their guitar or piano and sang. Some performed their own work. It was really nice, I can’t wait for the next one. Maybe I’ll do something. I hung out with my roommate the other night and got to know her better, she’s cool and we get along great.

Yesterday I went to class in the morning and layed out on deck all afternoon until dinner. I hung out with Courtney and Holly last night and got dinner with them on deck. We had updates to share from our last conversation. It was enjoyable and I like hanging out with them and our other friends a lot. They are just the first two I met here. We all met the night before sailing outside of the parent meeting and have been hanging out since and met a lot of others and been hanging out with them and even planning some trips in port. I’m so glad I was able to make good friends so fast. It’s amazing how close you get with people while on the ship. I think cause we all have one big thing in common that means so much and we are all so passionate about and also we are in close quarters and love being here and want to meet people and make good friends. I was worried at first because I didn’t know anyone coming here, but now I’m glad that was the case because I’ve met so many people and they are just like me ☺

Last night was pub night again which is insane on this ship! It’s packed with people every time. Courtney and I and others went up to get smoothies and hang out. It’s a bad thing I’ve discovered smoothies here because they are AMAZING! Soo Good! A good thing to have when you’re hungry which I always am…especially here now. If I were to recommend something to the future SAS-ers, that is to bring snacks!!! The food is fine, but it’s the same food every meal, every night! I brought crackers and fruit snacks and things to carry with me while in port but I find that I’m eating them now because the lunch or dinner wasn’t filling.

Basically it consists of:
Salad Tomatoes Celery Carrots Rice salad mixture dish Pasta salad mixture dish (which is usually the vegetarian option)
A Meat (beef, chicken)
Fish on occasion
Rolls
Vegetable Mix
A fruit (apple, pear, orange, banana depending on the day)
1 dessert (brownie, cake, cream puff)

Students sneak out rolls and fruit for something to eat later when they are hungry or have to miss a meal every other day like me for class. We’re not supposed to be its kind of necessary. There is a grill open during the day and night when the dining hall isn’t. But to buy those items it comes from your shipboard account, so its extra if you don’t have money credited to your account. The food is good, its just getting old really fast.

Today we got our final field excursions for the “Pre-Sale” and “Sale 1” confirmed. I am doing SAS trips and independent ones. So far the ones that I know of are…

SPAIN: CAD04 Cadiz City Orientation
CAD06 Andalucian Flamenco Night and Bullfight
CAD11 White Town Route (Arcos & Ronda) --- After the SAS tours for the first two days, I’m taking a train to Seville with some friends I met here and we are staying in a hostel there for a couple days.

MOROCCO: CAS11 Marrakech Tour and Camel Riding in Palm Groves/Sahara Desert for three nights

NAMIBIA: 4x4’s and African Animal Safari/Camping in the desert for 3 night/4 days (Indy Trip)

SOUTH AFRICA: CAP04 Robben Island Tour
CAP41 Township Music (and traditional dance) ---
Hiking Table Mountain/Rappelling Down Table Mountain (Indy Trip)

MAURITIUS: MAU11 Blue Safari: Undersea World & Marine Conservation (Submarine dive to coral reef, exotic fish, and old shipwrecks)
MAU-- Service Trip – Children Homes/Orphanages

INDIA: CHE21 Taj Mahal and Varanasi 4 day tour – Group B

THAILAND: BKK04 Sri Racha Tiger Zoo/Visit to Mini Siam (holdf,feed baby Tigers)
BKK09 Bangkok Overnight tour BKK18 Pattaya Elephant Village (tour, show, ride elephants) BKK20 Nong Nooch Cultural Village

VIETNAM: --- Tour of Vietnam (Lots of stuff, more to come later)

CHINA: Biejing/Shanghai: Peking University Overnight/Tours (Great Wall/Forbidden City/Temple of Heaven/Gardens/Acrobatic Show and other stuff)

JAPAN: --- Nothing planned yet, Daytrips to be planned later

HAWAII --- Nothing planned yet, Daytrips to be planned later

GUATEMALA: GUA05 Tikal: Skyscrapers in the Jungle --- Day trips to be planned later


I’ve had such a blast on this ship and this program so far and I haven’t even gotten to the first country yet! Everyone is so excited and is preparing for Spain! We have two more days of sailing until we get there! We’re going to sleep our on the deck one of these night soon, its starting to get colder because we’re closer to Spain. After that though we will, there’s soo many stars it’s beautiful! Well it’s about dinner time right now and I should get back inside and get ready. Hope everything at home is well!! E-mail me! I will update again soon! ☺ ~Em

Yeah...I go to school on a ship... :)

January 21, 2009


I'm aboard the M.V. Explorer and sailing in the middle of the Atlantic right now!!

My Dad and I left our hotel at 9:30am to get to the wharf where the Explorer was at and be at "check-in" on time for the "N's". Turns out there was still a very long line from 8am. We stood in line in the sun for an hour and a half until we finally made it to the first check-in booth where the workers tagged my checked bags with my room number and brought them into the building for security to search. I picked up my name tag with my student I.D. and my room number on it. I went into the building with everyone in line all cramped with luggage and a bunch of ship security officers took all out bags and ran them through search machines just like in the airport. The students had to walk through a metal detector and then watch as our bags were searched in front of us. If everything looked good we were allowed through. I was stopped because of my new curling iron and straightener I bought. I had to show them where on the package it said auto shutoff. I did and they let me go. I said bye to Dad for a little bit because they wouldn't let the parents through. After that I walked in to another gate and I could see the ship outside! I handed my passport and immigration forms to some other people at a table and walked to the gangway and waited in line to board the ship. I met some more people while waiting in line and took some pictures of the ship. I still can’t believe I’m doing this. I looked up at the ship and thought “wow...this is really happening” “This thing that I’ve been wanting to do for so long is happening” It’s a surreal feeling and so exciting. I walked up the gangway and was greeting once aboard by more security and another metal detector to walk through, I swiped my I.D. card and they checked my purse and I was free to get on. We have to go through security on the ship like that whenever we board again, just the one on the ship. I was then greeted by crew at every corner who directed me to the main stairwell it looked like, but because it was in the middle of the ship and the stairs stretched across the hall as one rather than two smaller staircases, I of course call it the grand staircase like in the Titanic! ☺

Once all the way up the six decks I walked into what is called “The Union”. It’s the main meeting point in the ship for presentations and lectures and serves as a ballroom of sorts also. Once up there we were handed some paperwork to verify such as our student account information, we had to check in with the doctors and sign another honor code form. I also stopped and the field station to sign up for another open field trips and ask about canceling a previous one I signed up for. After that it was off to my cabin! I found it rather quickly. I am located in an inside double (which means it has no window = cheaper, however now I wish I had gotten a window. It sucks to never have sunlight shine in your room especially in the morning The past two mornings I have woken up late, I am used to relying on light to help get me up but since I live in a depressing dark cave at night, its difficult. I’m not in my room a whole lot, but I really miss a window for sure! I’m staying in cabin 4069, my roommate’s name is Valeria and she is from Boulder, where about 80 students here are from. She is nice though and so far things are going fine with us.

After I said hello and dropped my bags off I left the ship and went back out through all the gates where all the parents were left behind and met my Dad. I told him all about the ship and my room and the process I went through. We chatted as we walked to the Hard Rock Café for lunch. I had an hour and a half before it was required that all passengers be back on board for a lifeboat drill. We had a very nice lunch and we walked back to the dock where I ran into my friend Courtney and her family again. We all had met and chatted on Sunday night . It was then that it was time to say goodbye and I hugged Dad and said bye and went on to the boat. I wondered around the decks for awhile trying to get a feel for the ship. That’s what all the other students were doing also. I ran into a girl I met on Sunday also, Holly. We were both going to Courtney’s door to say hello. She had written our cabin numbers in her notebook so she would be able to find us. It was nice to find my friends again, I wasn’t so sure I would in the midst of 700 others.

The whole ship did the lifeboat drill, which took forever, and it was so hot out. When we finished the drill and were dismissed from muster, the parents were on the dock watching us and all of the students ran up to the various decks to wave goodbye. I didn’t think I wouldn’t get sentimental but I did. I was so excited to be leaving but it was also sad to see all of the parents waving bye to their kids. Some made signs saying “bon voyage” and “we love you” etc…. I was so happy to see my Dad down there watching me. At first he wasn’t going to come, no one was to wave me goodbye and wish me a bon voyage. I would have been really sad that I would have no one to look at and wave bye too. But my Dad was there and I was really happy. We all watched as the ropes were cut and the gap between the dock and the ship got wider and wider and wider till we slowly drifted away from the dock. As the ship sailed slowly away the parents despite security trying to block them followed the ship as much as they could along the dock to the very end where the sidewalk ended. Its hard to explain but it was sad to see that, and bittersweet at the same time. I watched my Dad walk to the end of the road of the dock waving both hands. I didn’t take my eyes off of the dock for a long time, noone did really. We all just stared in awe and disbelief that this thing was really happening, that we were really, finally all leaving on this great adventure together. With a common feeling of sadness, excitement, happiness, nerves among many different feelings, friendships began to be born. I’m excited to be living with so many people that share the same passion as appreciation and me for the world, traveling, and what’s been given to them. We just all stared back at the dock and what we were leaving behind and then turned and saw the sun setting in front of us on nothing but ocean and thought “I can get used to this” ☺

I ate dinner that night with Holly and some other girls I had met on the deck, Brandy and Shara (sp). We all talked about the trip and how excited we were and how we were still in amazement that we were actually going and even though we had already left it had not really hit us yet that we were doing this, and what we were doing. We talked for awhile and played cards the rest of the night and had a lot of fun with each other. I came back to my room late and unpacked my bags into our small closet and drawers and talked to my roommate. I only unpacked one of my bags because there isn’t a whole lot of room and it would be cleaner to just leave my toiletries and meds and soaps and randoms in my small suitcase at the foot of my bed. Also, the ship had begun to rock and I was feeling a little dizzy so I decided to finish and go to bed.


Tuesday January 20th, 2009

Inauguration and Orientation day! Blah. Holly came and knocked on our cabin door to walk up to the Union together. She lives two doors down across the hall in a junior suite with a window. Its hard to know what time it is when there is no sunlight that comes in your room. We walked up to the union and went to different workshops all day. We first had one where we met the captain and the crew of the ship, the faculty and staff, learned about safety on the ship, academics, living and learning, field programs, counseling services and health services, sea-sickness, tips about the ship from the captain and the rules of the ship. The captain is very nice and friendly and is easy to listen to because he has a very calm speech and is British so the accent is nice. Actually about all of the crew and officers on the ship are foreign.

At 11:30 watched the inauguration on Satellite this morning. We had to turn off all electrical devices and computers in order for it to come through because we need all the bandwidth. It was really cool and neat experience to have on the M.V. Explorer. Everyone in the world is watching and celebrating this, and we are in the middle of the ocean celebrating too along with everyone else. Everyone stood and cheered with the crowd on the T.V. and sat in silence during prayer and the speeches, it was a really neat experience to have with everyone. I thought of my fellow Music Clarkies when the musicians played the piece by John Williams! Wasn’t that BEAUTIFUL!!??!! The ship is holding a celebration later with cake and champagne!! Can’t wait!!

I spent the day hanging out with Holly basically and on our breaks we would walk up to the front or back deck and just lay-out and chat. By dinnertime we found Courtney. I keep wanting to call her Hannah or Spina. Cause she reminds me of my friend from back home in so many ways lol. We ate dinner on the back deck again and had a nice long chat about various topics, one main one was boys and relationships, Holly wanted some advice from me about her situation. Your basic girl talk, but it was a lot of fun. Us three walked around the ship and discovered more passages and decks to layout on. At one point we ended up scaring ourselves and ran down a hallway. I recommend not doing that while the ship is rocking on waves, once the ship was rolling over the top of a swell we felt so light as if we were flying down the hallway and the gravity would push us down as the ship came down off the wave and it was hard to move. People say running on a treadmill and elliptical are VERY difficult. I don’t think I’m up for trying it right now, I’m having enough trouble walking around the ship still without being queezy. I haven’t gotten sick or anything, but it’s definitely not a comfortable feeling when the ship is rocking really bad.

Last night was the party. The crew made two huge cakes and lots of various treats and brownies and we all toasted with champagne at our celebration. We met some other girls on deck during the inauguration party and hung out with them afterwards on deck and chatted under the stars until it started to sprinkle. That night we were sailing through some kind of storm and the ship was rocking really bad back and forth. Holly was scared so I visited her in her room for awhile and we chatted. She helped me get my email to work. We heard a really loud noise that sounded like the ship was crashing into something and then later it happened again so we decided to go visit Courtney and her roommate in their room. It’s cute. There is a large artwork on everyone’s cabin wall that we discovered past SAS-ers write on and leave messages and tips for the future ones!! Ours had lots of messages. There was also a converted attached to the back of our picture and it looked like though in the past some SAS-ers small amounts of money for the future ones to enjoy a drink or something special. It was really neat to see! I’m not sure what me and my roomie are going to write yet, we have awhile. But that’s another thing, the past SAS-ers said this voyage is going to fly by waaay to fast. I really am going to try to get the most and best of it that I can. So far everything is a blast!!! I have met a bunch of people and have made some friends that I am hanging out with more and more. I was talking with some friends about how we are going to be able to tell people back home about this experience and we concluded that we couldn’t. There really isn’t a good way to some everything up because so much is happening. And a lot of people back home just wouldn’t understand all that we have been through. When someone asks us, (which they will…) “How was your trip?” We have NO IDEA what to say because we can’t. You can’t sum it up just as “good” or “great”. It just doesn’t justify it at all. At the end of the trip there is a whole other workshop day to help counsel us into coming back home and how to deal with going back and leaving here, how to talk to others or not and deal with separation from here. It’s going to be tough, I can already tell.

Today was the first day of classes. I’m not really sure what to think of them. They will be challenging just as any class is. I think what is going to be the most challenging of all though is dealing with the rocking of the ship. Its become normal already to be in the middle of a conversation in the lunch or dinner line and fall against a wall. Or when you're walking down a hallway to bump into the wall or someone. Walking up and down the stairs is the most challenging thing because of gravity. Especially now because the seas are so rough we have to hang on to things so they don't slide away. This morning I was brushing my teeth and watching my glass of water slowly slide away from me on the counter like it was no big deal, it will just slide right back to me again. Today was pretty hard to walk around. It looks like everyone is drunk the way we try and walk around on the ship when there are rough seas. You could be in the lunch line getting food and the ship will hit a wave sending everyone one direction whether sideways, backwards or whatnot. There are railings and wallposts built in for that purpose to catch yourself. It’s becoming pretty normal. During class everyone moves to the rhythm of the boat and the ocean. It is difficult to pay attention in class when the waves are huge and you’re trying to keep your cool and not feel motion sickness. I don’t know how the professors get up there and teach, some of them this is their first voyage also. Another problem on occasion is that it seems like the rocking at times and put people to sleep, which isn’t good for class. But sometimes it does make you feel sleepy.

Today the school shop opened and lots of people were in there buying SAS stuff including me of course getting gifts! ☺ This afternoon while my friends were in class I spent my time in the computer lab getting help configuring my computer to the system so I could access all public folders and academic ones from my computer which is sooo nice!! They also hooked up my computer to the printers here so I can print from my laptop wherever I am on the ship and pick it up in the library. The I.T. people fixed my email so my Clarke email would get forwarded to my new temporary address. I figured out how to access online to publish blogs also. I accidently got signed on AIM to and Brink messaged me so I chatted with her for a bit but had to sign off so my internet minutes wouldn’t get all used up. I hate not being able to communicate sometimes. It’s good to be away from all that but I wish we could get online and atleast instant message people within the ship or something. Holly and I met Brandy, Shara, Laura, Katie, Courtney and her roommate for dinner up on deck as well as two others. It was spaghetti night! I was so excited because I was starving, I missed lunch cause I had class and because of that hadn’t been feeling well all day. But I’m much better now that I ate dinner and a fabulous brownie…or two! ☺ After dinner we all walked to the Union where we signed up for clubs and extra-curricular activities. I have an audition tomorrow night for the play! It doesn’t matter if I get in or not. It would be great to become close to more people, but I wouldn’t mind my free time also. We’ll see, either way things should be fun! ☺ I hung out with Courtney after dinner, we looked into the binder SAS made for suggested things to do in port if you don’t have anything planned. We’re gonna go and do something together in Cadiz for a couple days after our SAS trops are finished the first two days. Were there for a week or so and there’s a lot we could do. Right now I’m just hanging out in my room with my roommate. The ship is broadcasting movies on our TV’s. Right now we are watching “The Dark Knight”. Holly just called my on my cabin phone and wants to go get drinks at the pub upstairs because its pub night. So I’m gonna go do that and call it a night and get this blog up online. Hope everything is going well and everyone is good at home!!! Miss and love you!!! I’ll be back tomorrow or so. Night!! Loves!!

P.S. E-mail me!!!! ----→ EKNelson@semesteratsea.net

The Bahamas!!

I'm in the Bahamas!! And I'm happy not only to be here but because ALL my bags are finally here!!

Mom and me went to the airport together and it was crazy checking in because we were running late and check in was going pretty slow. Also my bags were overweight by 6 pounds so I had to hurry and take things out and put some things in another which I did and then things were fine then I passed through security and everything. Not much time unfortunately, I wish we got there earlier and I had more time to say goodbye but we hugged and then I had to run to my gate. I got there just in time thank God. Very stressed I was. The flight was pretty short, and a bit uncomfortable, it was a small plane. I was still stressed and felt rushed from before. I got into Chicago at about 5:30. I had been to that airport plenty of times and knew my way, or atleast I pretended to. You can't go wondering around looking like your lost in a place like that, people might take advantage of that.

I found out where my gate was for my next flight and walked to the terminal for it. I stopped and got a fish for dinner and found a secluded spot against a wall and sat with my bags and ate there and people watched. After that I went to my gate and waited. I had about a four-hour layover. I called home and talked to Mom and Brink for awhile and chatted with some people who were sitting around. Turns out my flight changed gates right before boarding so I found the new gate and boarded. This flight was longer but the flight attendants were entertaining. I tried to sleep a little on this flight as much as I could cause I knew I would need it. I had to stay up all night in the Philadelphia airport and wasn't looking forward to it. We got to Philly at midnight and I walked to a spot where I would remain for the night. In the food court, in a little French cafe looking place I layed down on the bench under the umbrella.The little café had a sort of fence around it so I was hidden for the most part. The only people that were there were maintenance. They stay up all night cleaning. They waxed the floors five times in three hours I swear! They’re dedicated. Security was around also, and a couple passengers staying up to catch an early flight like me. Nevertheless I strapped my book bags to my body and kept my money folder in my shirt. I rested my phone on my chest so I could hear it when it rang cause I needed to wake up on occasion to make sure everything was okay. I got some sleep I didn’t want to sleep all night just so no one would take advantage of that. Mom, Brent and Brink called and texted me so that occupied me off and on throughout the late night and early morning.

I got up and stayed up when 4:30 came. Some more people were in the airport and I thought I should remain awake, it was loud anyway. I thought about getting breakfast but I decided I didn’t want to spend 7 dollars on a bagel haha so I went to my gate. Turns out I ended up sitting by Matt, a guy I met who is also doing Semester at Sea. He was very nice and also didn’t know anyone going. So we both met our very first friend on SAS, each other J. I was so excited to be in the Bahamas! I started out my week shoveling over a foot of snow in my driveway and leaving -40 degree weather and was instantly in 75 degrees. It felt great, and smelt just like Easter outside! I was happy. Short-lived though unfortunately because I found out the airline damaged one of my bags and lost my other bag, the one with all my clothes in it! I was sad and very worried. Of all the trips I’ve gone on this trip had to be the one where my bag gets lost. The one where I’m packing for four months! I filed for it and gave them all my information. The representative from the airline was very helpful and sounded JUST like Morgan Freeman! He said that it would likely come on a later flight and they would contact me. I got a taxi (a van) to the hotel where my Dad was staying.

The Bahamas isn’t all fancy like its advertised. In some locations its Beautiful but others are not so much and more poverish. I wasn’t expecting that here specifically. I’m going to run into it a lot though. Everyone is very friendly here and helpful. The vegetation is beautiful though and very diverse. There’s geckos here that run around and at night in some areas of town, rats. I was excited to see my favorite birds from Florida though! Sandpipers, I was sad I didn’t have any bread to give them haha.

Once I got to the hotel me and Dad walked downtown to Prince George Warf, about 40 min walk away. I wore flip-flops because it was nice out. I learned very quickly that I won’t do that again. My feet were so sore and black when we got home. We visited the harbor and saw the big ships. The explorer wasn’t docked yet though. We went to visit the Atlantis resort, and that is something else! The most expensive, biggest, most extravagant place I’ve been to. That building is insane! The architecture and gardens are absolutely beautiful! It’s huge too, I swear it took 20 min just to walk to the pool. They have multiple pools and gardens and pools of exotic sea creatures surround them all. They also have a giant aquarium that makes up the walls of the main entrance room. That was really neat to see!! We took a ferry tour around the island and that was really neat! I learned that Oprah, Tiger Woods, Nicholas Cage all have houses on the island. The Bahamas gets 90 percent of their food imported from the U.S. It didn’t seem like I was really out of the country because in many cases it seemed just like the U.S. I definitely am a minority though, being white. It was great J There are many tourists around which is where they make a lot of there money. We went to a local restaurant for dinner, Senor Frogs. It’s located right on the the harbor and is a big hotspot in town. Its where some SAS’ers are meeting on Sunday night to meet and greet people.

Today Dad and I got up and walked to a local market to find some breakfast. We bought some juice and a few oranges and muffins and then walked back to our Inn to eat outside at a picnic table in the courtyard. We checked with the airline about my bag again but they said the flight of the day hadn’t come it yet and to call later. We walked down to Fort Montague. It was built in 1741 to protect Nassau from enemies coming from the sea. I walked along the surf. The water was cold and the sand was really rough and gritty. Not like Destin, Florida at all. It was much more coarse. After we walked back to the Inn we took a nap and called the airport again to see if they found my bag. And they did!!! Thank God!!! I was so happy and thankful!!! About an hour later a taxi dropped it off. I’m so thankful I have it back. I was really worrying, thinking everything I lost, and all I’d have to buy and need. Ohh, I’m so thankful for having it back J

After my bag situation was solved we took a taxi to the harbor again and went to see my ship! The M.V. Explorer docked in the harbor. We could only see it behind gates because of the security that was there. It was so exciting to see! Finally!!! J During the parent reception I stayed outside on the wall cause students weren’t allowed in. I met some students because of it too! Quite a few! They all seem really nice and we all talked for a good while while our parents were touring the ship. I’m glad to have made some friends and find people I’m in classes with or going on field excursions with! We all walked together when the reception was over and we saw our parents leaving the ship. They were all so excited and couldn’t wait to tell us all about it. My dad took a lot of notes of course! We chatted with the family of a girl that I had made friends with, Courtney. She is 1 of 5 Courtneys that I met in those 2 hours who are going on the ship. I have a hunch that that will be the most popular name. I never met a Courtney until now from what I remember and now I know a lot! Dad and I walked a bit to a restaurant but decided that we eventually made our way to a bad part of town and it was at night and dangerous, plus the rats were out so we took a taxi to a restaurant close by to our hotel. He told me all about the orientation and his tour.

Meeting new friends, seeing the ship and hearing about it from my Dad made me more excited! And now that I have my bag back, I feel like I’m ready to go! J Tomorrow I have to report to the ship at 10am. That’s when the N’s are checking in. It’s gonna be a crazy day! I’ll be sad when I say bye to my Dad, I’m soo glad he came down here with me to help me and see me off. We board tomorrow and go through many checkpoints. Then once we pass through everything and security we are allowed on and once our bags are thoroughly searched they are delivered to our cabins and we unpack. I can come and go until about 2:00 when I have to say goodbye because I have to be on the ship at 2:30. Then we depart at 5 o’clock and I wave goodbye to Dad and say hello to the world!!

I’m excited and nervous and scared and happy and just can’t believe I’m really doing this and this is really happening. But it is and I can’t wait, I hope it’s a blast! Well I should probs go and get to bed, from what I hear I won’t be sleeping much for the next four months. I got a big day tomorrow. Just wanted to let you know whoever is reading this, that I will update as much as I can and I hope you enjoy hearing about my travels. Love you and miss you bunches!! I will blog to you later! Night!J

Less than 1 week and counting...

So, it is one week from now that I will be in the Bahamas meeting new friends from SAS and enjoying much nicer weather hopefully!!  

           I'm am feeling a mixture of emotions about everything right now.  First off, I'm so so excited about going on this trip, it is certainly a dream come true for me since I've always wanted to go on SAS, travel abroad, sail on a Titanic ship, experience new cultures etc.  I'm so lucky to be going on this and so grateful to my parents for sending me.  It's the greatest experience someone can have and I'm so excited to share it with everyone when I get back.

        I'm also a little nervous.  Mainly  because I don't know a single person going.  I mean I do know of some people going on the trip and talked to them about stuff, but all through facebook so I don't know if that counts, haha.   It is comforting to think that I already do have some friends, I just haven't met them in person yet.  I've been chatting with quite a few people and have planned a few independent trips in some countries with some of them as well.  I just worry too much I guess.  No need to though, everyone is in the same boat as me  :)    I know I'm gonna meet lots of awesome people that share my passion for travel and I hope to make some great friendships to last for a lifetime.  I tend to worry too much about things but I just want everything to work out great with no worries, make lots of new friends, memories that last a lifetime, and have such a great time and learn and grow on this trip.  I just want it to be a blast!  I've been looking forward to it for so long, and don't want to be let down.  But how could I with all that's been planned and just being on the ship itself with everyone.  I really hope its a great time :)

        I have been on many trips and tours where I did and didn't know anyone, but then again I was also in sort of a supervised setting whereas this, is not so much.  Its on your own basically.  Which is a good experience.  I just wish I knew someone hehe.

        I am kinda sad about leaving home.  I have been away from home many many times for extended periods of time, but still there is a little bit of sadness that comes with leaving again. I love my house, yard, family, home more than anything and am happiest there.  Also, I will not only leaving behind my family and home but my three kitties that I adopted from the humane society this past year.  Zoey and the two little babies Lilly and Leo (formerly Vader).  The poor things will think I'm abandoning them.  I can't wait to get back to see them.  And hopefully my parents will keep them indoors at all times so I know they will be there when I get back.  I'll miss my kitties, especially at night when I have noone to cuddle with lol.

         I will also miss my friends very much, hanging out and talking.  But I know I'll make friends while on this trip that hopefully last much longer.  I can't wait to share my life with people and share everything when I get back and see my friends again, Miss you!!! :)

          It's a comfort to know also, that people will be reading my blog.  It's as if you are right here with me sharing my experiences along with me as well and I find that very exciting and am very appreciative.  I hope that you continue to read it and enjoy it.  I put alot of work into it so bookmark me!  I really am going to update as much as I am able.  Hopefully I can try and ration my internet minutes.  I also hope to figure out how to upload pictures on here as well.

           I'm kind of in a daze right now.  I haven't even started packing yet and I leave in four days for 4 months (look at that variation, lol!).  My Dad and I have been working together to try and get all my paperwork in, make copies of all the documents, signing up for field trips, faxing and emailing forms in and making sure everything is going smoothly.  My mom and I went to Verizon yesterday and my phone is scheduled to be shut off January 21st until May 5th.  I will have it with me to use on my trip down and on the way back.  And if I'm lucky I'll be able to use it as an alarm clock or to take pictures or video still.  We went to Target today to buy various items needed for my trip abroad such as toiletry items, medicines, blank CD's, snacks, things to pass time and other random things.

          Hopefully the snowstorms stay away for this weekend, I don't really have time for a flight to be delayed or cancelled.  I'm not looking forward to flying out, particularly because I will be spending the night in the airport.  I fly out of Cedar Rapids to Chicago Friday afternoon, have a layover in Chicago until about 9 at night and then catch a plane to Philadelphia and then I get to stay up all night as much as I can in some random unpopulated corner of the airport until I check in and board my flight to the Bahamas early that next morning.  Ugh, I'm going to be very tired that day.  I'm not flying to the Bahamas just so I can sleep the day away in the hotel.  I'll have my phone with me, so feel free to call/text me to keep me awake, make sure I wasn't kidnapped, or make sure I'm up to catch my flight.  

           I'm doing a program with a grade school in Connecticut in which they send me letters at each port and then I mail them a postcard/letter/little gifts back to their classroom so that they can learn about the different countries that I am traveling to, a sort of vicarious voyage!  It's exciting and I'm excited to be a part of it.  I already sent them my first letter and look forward to receiving a letter in my first port Spain.

          If anyone is interested in sending me letters/postcards or gifts I would love to have them.  It's so nice to feel close to home when you're so far away and out of your box.  On the right hand toolbar of my blog there is a list of website links...one of them is for communication with me and lists the addresses of each port and at which time is appropriate to mail out in order for it to arrive to the country and port on time so that I may receive it.  I will also be sending out postcards in as many ports as I can to those who requested one, gave me addresses or those I remember.

       Please be sure to check out those websites, all are SAS links...the main page, the academics, about the program, the itinerary, how to apply and even a short promotional video about the program.  The longer video SAS sends upon request is much better and more informational obviously, but its still good!  Check them out!! :)  I put alot of work into this site so enjoy!

          It's always a difficult thing to do, to jump out of your comfort zone, immerse yourself in a brand new culture, not knowing anyone and travel with only the clothes on your back.  But its so exciting!!! I love the Mark Twain quote that SAS uses for their voyages and find alot of truth in it.  You never know until you try.  You only got one life, so make the best of it.  And just go for it.  You might be nervous or scared but you'll regret it more if you never pursued the adventure.

Well this is turning out to be a long post and I want to get back to watching the Golden Globes, so I will bring it to an end.  I will be back later to regale more details about the preparations and excitement for my trip and expect to hear alot more adventures once it actually begins!! So excited and I can't wait!!!!

 

later loves, 

Em