While sailing somewhere in between Ensenada and Hawaii, two important things have happened:
1) I fell over in the bookstore. Literally. One moment I was looking at sweatshirts, the next I was falling on them.
2) I talked to Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Before anyone freaks out, it was nothing major. Emily and I were in the bookstore the same time that Desmond Tutu was, and he was going around the store saying "Hello? Hello?" in his totally cute old man voice. Nobody was in the store, but I found a note on the desk saying that all purchases can be made next door. I tried to explain it to him, but I got a bit tongue tied, so I ended up just holding out the sign for him to read. He ended up just laughing and saying "Thank you" (again in his cute old man voice), and walked out. Emily and I just stared at each other for a couple seconds before bursting out laughing.
It's crazy! We're in the middle of the ocean, we're in a bookstore in the middle of the ocean, and Desmond Tutu was there! He was wearing black knee high socks and black shorts, and I don't know if "cute" is the politically correct word to be using in terms of Desmond Tutu, but that seems to fit the best.
I also met someone who went to PLU for a year before transferring and she said she knew who Aaron Steelquist was! CRAZY! So if anyone else is reading this that is talking to Aaron, let him know that I met somebody else named Kaitlynn (spelling unknown, so I will use my own) that apparently knows him.
In school related news, I have officially had each of my classes once. Water for the World seems like it'll be a great class, but also a lot of work (hello team project and individual paper/presentation in front of 90 people). Globalization and Social Responsibility seems great as well, but also a lot of work. In lieu of the 12 page research paper, we can go on two Semester at Sea field programs (which are service visits that I'm already signed up for), but we still have to do the presentation. I'm not sure if this is a good deal or not. I mean I still have to do the research and the presentation, so I don't know if actually writing out the paper would be that much more work.
Social Psychology seems like it will be the most relaxing class so far, if psychology can ever be relaxing. The professor is going to tailor our class schedule and reading around ports. He didn't exactly come out and say this, but he's basically putting ports first and class second, which I appreciate. He was a student on SAS awhile back, so I think he's approaching this class with both a student perspective and professor perspective. He's part of the Von Hippel clan. Both him and his brother are professors on board, and they each brought their families. Even the grandma is here. So basically half the ship has the last name Von Hippel.
Women Writers Around the Globe seems like it'll be kind of challenging, but great. I really like the professor so far, she seems really approachable and easy going. We have a couple papers, but no prompts, which is going to be difficult. She talked a lot about Jane Austen the first class, so I think I'll enjoy it.
In way more exciting news, Hawaii in two days! I will kiss the land. I may even refuse to get back on the ship. Not really. But it's a nice thought. We've all been on the ship for a couple days now, and everybody is getting really restless. The 10 day stretch in between Hawaii and Japan is going to be a fun one, especially since we're supposed to hit storm after storm after storm. Roller Coasters won't seem so daunting after this. Cage diving with sharks in South Africa may not even seem as scary anymore.
Well, time to do more reading. Emily and I are going to go over our planned trips over lunch and see if we both have a free day where we can sign up for a day trip or service visits or something. A lot of people we've talked to don't have anything planned for Japan, so a lot of people are talking independent travel. Dong independent travel first seems a bit daunting, but it's really the only place I can do it. However, a lot of people don't plan on being back on the ship and are doing overland travel in-between Yokohama and Kobe, and I want to be on the ship. We'll see what happens.
STILL in the middle of the ocean, but not for long!
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Friday, January 11, 2013
Top 10
A Countdown of the Top 10 Hardest Things To Do On a Rolling Ship That are Easiest To Do on Land:
10) Sleep
Being "rocked" to sleep doesn't have the same appeal now as it did when I was a kid. Plus, we're rocking the wrong way. Instead of going back and forth, our beds are positioned so the rocking is up and down. It's like being on a surgical table, except we're not knocked out on anesthetics and we're not strapped in.
9) Writing
My handwriting has gotten worse. It looks like chicken scratch. Sometimes a big wave will come around and my handwriting with get big, then normal, then I'll try to compensate for the waves and it ends up looking really small.
8) Walking
Walking is not easy. That is all.
7) Opening Closet doors
Sometimes the waves are against you and it takes way more energy than necessary to open, and sometimes the waves are "with" you which makes the closet door swing open and announce to the world that it is in fact open.
6) Carrying stuff
Not possible when you have to rely on both your hands to brace yourself so you can get to your cabin or class in one piece. It's quite hilarious to see people try to keep their balance. Everybody is walking at an angle, which sounds like a great idea until the angle is no longer working with the way the ship is rocking. That's when crashing into people happens. Lucky guys don't need any pickup lines. They are literally running into girls.
5) Eating
Today, my plum rolled off the table and the juice from my fruit did not leave any area on my plate untouched.
4) Eating Nutella
The container MUST be on a hard surface. I have yet to take the Nutella out of my room, and tonight is the first night that I've broken it open. It tastes even better than I remember. I'm thinking about bringing it to breakfast and eating it on some toast, but I don't want to be bombarded. I'd like to make it to at least Hawaii in one piece.
3) "Tossing Cookies"
No matter how well your aim is.
2) Filling up your water bottle
Aside from the fact that the sensor on the water dispenser is demonic, filling up your water bottle when your hand is constantly moving side to side is quite the feat. It should be an olympic sport. I wouldn't be surprised to find that sometimes it'll take me 5 minutes to fill up my water bottle.
And for number 1...
1) Walking DOWN the stairs
I had absolutely no idea that it could be a bigger workout going DOWN the stairs than going UP the stairs. Thank goodness for handrails--that is all.
These may all seem like negative things, but they're quite entertaining if you really think about it. Also, this is happening on the MV Explorer aka the ship that is taking me around the world while I take classes. There's nothing to feel sorry about. Even puking, which I consider to be my biggest fear, doesn't seem as bad here as it does back home. Yesterday I said one and done, but I broke that rule today, so now I'm saying two and done. No more!
Sending love from the middle of the ocean.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Pacific Crossing
It's hard to believe that it's only been a little over 24 hours since I've stepped foot onto the MV Explorer. It feels like it's been so much longer and so much shorter at the same time. Every minute has been booked and planned so far. So let's start at the beginning…
I was on the 9:15 bus from San Diego to Ensenada, which turned out to be more of a 10:15 bus by the time we actually got on. It was about a two hour bus ride from SD to Mexico, and I wish I had something interesting to say but it was pretty uneventful, aside from the fact that it was the bus that was taking us to the MV Explorer. I sat next to a girl who is going to be on my Women Writers Around the Globe class, and there were two guys from Washington sitting in front of me who actually knew where Bellingham was! WOOT WOOT!
Once we got off the bus, we had to go through security lines (it was like being at the airport all over again), and then we had to turn in our passports and yellow fever cards. AND THEN WE FINALLY GOT ONTO THE SHIP.
BUT THERE WERE MORE LINES.
Like 2 hours worth of lines. We had to make our way to the Union (which is the biggest room on the ship where we all congregate for meetings and pre ports, which is incidentally the worst part of the ship to be in for sea sickness, but we'll get to that later), and go through different stations such as Student Accounts, Field Programs, and such. To my parents, who I know are wondering, I haven't had to write a check yet. The student accounts station just made me sign a paper saying that I acknowledged that I had an outstanding balance and I would turn it in. So, when I'm supposed to pay, I'm not exactly sure.
After that we were able to go to our rooms, and I was able to meet my roommate! Her name is Gabby and she's from Long Island. She's pretty cool, seems like we'll get a long just fine. Her luggage was waiting for her when she got to our room, but I'm pretty sure mine was the last to be delivered. We had a life boat drill (which was really intense by the way), and we just basically had to stand in life jackets out on the deck while they shouted our the names of the people who were supposed to be in our group. Captain Jeremy (with his super regal accent) announced that in theory, we had all been safely evacuated and all was well. Just imagine the most captainy person who can imagine, then add a British accent on top of that. He's legit. Trust me.
Up until last night, sea sickness didn't really bother me. It was sort of just like being permanently disoriented and dizzy. Everyone is walking around slightly bent to one side, and at times we'll run into each other or make a diagonal beeline for the wall. It's weird, but this already seems normal. Apparently these waves are normal though, and this is what we're supposed to get used to. What's NOT normal is the fact that we're expecting 18 foot waves sometime in the near future. No. Not excited. Definitely not excited about this.
We sat in the Union last night for some orientation stuff, introduction of the faculty, and basically just the whole "get ready for your life to be changed in the greatest way possible" speeches from all the different Deans. There are too many Deans to keep track of. Oh, and we've been instructed to call Archbishop Desmond Tutu Arch. No big deal.
Finally after line upon line upon line, we were able to go back to our cabins. Gabby and I decided that we were way to tired to unpack so we just shoved everything into a corner and went to bed. The bed's are actually surprisingly comfortable, and the pillow that I vacuum sealed has actually come 90% back to life. It wasn't the greatest nights sleep I've every gotten, but it wasn't the worst either.
So like I said, seasickness didn't bother me last night. This morning I got up and was feeling good! I went to breakfast, turned around for a second, and realized that the Arch was literally sitting right behind me. I was eating french toast and Desmond Tutu was eating french toast right behind me. Crazy, crazy, crazy.
After breakfast, they (as in the Deans and such) had every minute packed with more orientation. I think we had more safety and community orientation for three hours, then lunch, then more. However, this morning in the Union, I wasn't feel so swell. The waves were a rolling and so was my stomach. I left the Union, went down to my room, and unfortunately my french toast did not stay in my stomach. I hope Desmond Tutu's did, because french toast coming up definitely does not taste as good as it was going down. Don't worry parentals, I'm feeling much better now, and that will teach me to take the free seasickness meds every morning for awhile. And definitely the night before each time we leave port.
As I'm writing this, I'm realizing that I'm forgetting to mention little things that have happened. I still have journaled, but honestly we have not had a free minute to do anything besides necessary unpacking or orientation since I got on the ship.
Well, Emily and I are headed to the Union to learn more about clubs and groups! Goodbye from the middle of the Pacific Ocean, somewhere in-between Ensenada and Hawaii.
I was on the 9:15 bus from San Diego to Ensenada, which turned out to be more of a 10:15 bus by the time we actually got on. It was about a two hour bus ride from SD to Mexico, and I wish I had something interesting to say but it was pretty uneventful, aside from the fact that it was the bus that was taking us to the MV Explorer. I sat next to a girl who is going to be on my Women Writers Around the Globe class, and there were two guys from Washington sitting in front of me who actually knew where Bellingham was! WOOT WOOT!
Once we got off the bus, we had to go through security lines (it was like being at the airport all over again), and then we had to turn in our passports and yellow fever cards. AND THEN WE FINALLY GOT ONTO THE SHIP.
BUT THERE WERE MORE LINES.
Like 2 hours worth of lines. We had to make our way to the Union (which is the biggest room on the ship where we all congregate for meetings and pre ports, which is incidentally the worst part of the ship to be in for sea sickness, but we'll get to that later), and go through different stations such as Student Accounts, Field Programs, and such. To my parents, who I know are wondering, I haven't had to write a check yet. The student accounts station just made me sign a paper saying that I acknowledged that I had an outstanding balance and I would turn it in. So, when I'm supposed to pay, I'm not exactly sure.
After that we were able to go to our rooms, and I was able to meet my roommate! Her name is Gabby and she's from Long Island. She's pretty cool, seems like we'll get a long just fine. Her luggage was waiting for her when she got to our room, but I'm pretty sure mine was the last to be delivered. We had a life boat drill (which was really intense by the way), and we just basically had to stand in life jackets out on the deck while they shouted our the names of the people who were supposed to be in our group. Captain Jeremy (with his super regal accent) announced that in theory, we had all been safely evacuated and all was well. Just imagine the most captainy person who can imagine, then add a British accent on top of that. He's legit. Trust me.
Up until last night, sea sickness didn't really bother me. It was sort of just like being permanently disoriented and dizzy. Everyone is walking around slightly bent to one side, and at times we'll run into each other or make a diagonal beeline for the wall. It's weird, but this already seems normal. Apparently these waves are normal though, and this is what we're supposed to get used to. What's NOT normal is the fact that we're expecting 18 foot waves sometime in the near future. No. Not excited. Definitely not excited about this.
We sat in the Union last night for some orientation stuff, introduction of the faculty, and basically just the whole "get ready for your life to be changed in the greatest way possible" speeches from all the different Deans. There are too many Deans to keep track of. Oh, and we've been instructed to call Archbishop Desmond Tutu Arch. No big deal.
Finally after line upon line upon line, we were able to go back to our cabins. Gabby and I decided that we were way to tired to unpack so we just shoved everything into a corner and went to bed. The bed's are actually surprisingly comfortable, and the pillow that I vacuum sealed has actually come 90% back to life. It wasn't the greatest nights sleep I've every gotten, but it wasn't the worst either.
So like I said, seasickness didn't bother me last night. This morning I got up and was feeling good! I went to breakfast, turned around for a second, and realized that the Arch was literally sitting right behind me. I was eating french toast and Desmond Tutu was eating french toast right behind me. Crazy, crazy, crazy.
After breakfast, they (as in the Deans and such) had every minute packed with more orientation. I think we had more safety and community orientation for three hours, then lunch, then more. However, this morning in the Union, I wasn't feel so swell. The waves were a rolling and so was my stomach. I left the Union, went down to my room, and unfortunately my french toast did not stay in my stomach. I hope Desmond Tutu's did, because french toast coming up definitely does not taste as good as it was going down. Don't worry parentals, I'm feeling much better now, and that will teach me to take the free seasickness meds every morning for awhile. And definitely the night before each time we leave port.
As I'm writing this, I'm realizing that I'm forgetting to mention little things that have happened. I still have journaled, but honestly we have not had a free minute to do anything besides necessary unpacking or orientation since I got on the ship.
Well, Emily and I are headed to the Union to learn more about clubs and groups! Goodbye from the middle of the Pacific Ocean, somewhere in-between Ensenada and Hawaii.
Testing, testing!
So this is a tester to see if this is actually being sent to my blog from my email. I am now on the ship! I don't want to write much in case this ISN'T working. So someone who is reading this PLEASE email me and let me know that it is!
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
San Diego today, Ensenada tomorrow!
Everything is shoved into two duffle bags. That in itself was an adventure...I've removed more than half the clothes I thought I'd bring, but managed to keep two jars of Nutella with me.
It's my last night in San Diego, and tomorrow morning, I'll be setting sail! For some weird reason that is too complicated to understand, the ship will be leaving from Ensenada instead of San Diego, so I'll be taking a Semester at Sea shuttle to Mexico! I'm on the 9:15am bus.
Today I found out I'll be in room number 3037, which seems like a solid number to me. Even though I'm in San Diego and I've received my room number (still have yet to figure out who my roommate is...), this is still the most surreal thing in the world. Five/six years after first finding out about SAS, and two years after seriously trying to make it happen, I will be boarding the ship tomorrow as a student! And I might pass Archbishop Desmond Tutu on my way to dinner or something, just saying.
Tomorrow night I'll be sleeping in my bed, on deck three (inside), in room 3037...probably somewhere in the middle of the ocean on our way to Hawaii. And when I get up I'll be surrounded by water...living on the water...and about a week from then I'll be waking up early to see us pull into port.
That's it for now! The next time I updated will be when I'm officially on the M.V Explorer. WHOA!
It's my last night in San Diego, and tomorrow morning, I'll be setting sail! For some weird reason that is too complicated to understand, the ship will be leaving from Ensenada instead of San Diego, so I'll be taking a Semester at Sea shuttle to Mexico! I'm on the 9:15am bus.
Today I found out I'll be in room number 3037, which seems like a solid number to me. Even though I'm in San Diego and I've received my room number (still have yet to figure out who my roommate is...), this is still the most surreal thing in the world. Five/six years after first finding out about SAS, and two years after seriously trying to make it happen, I will be boarding the ship tomorrow as a student! And I might pass Archbishop Desmond Tutu on my way to dinner or something, just saying.
Tomorrow night I'll be sleeping in my bed, on deck three (inside), in room 3037...probably somewhere in the middle of the ocean on our way to Hawaii. And when I get up I'll be surrounded by water...living on the water...and about a week from then I'll be waking up early to see us pull into port.
That's it for now! The next time I updated will be when I'm officially on the M.V Explorer. WHOA!
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Charity Ball World Tour
There's a guy who will be on the S13 voyage who is bringing a little something special with him on board...
500 soccer balls!
He's working with a company called Charity Ball that is going to donate 500 soccer balls to Semester at Sea, at which point us students will donate them to kids that we meet around the world. It seems like quite the special adventure, and I'm excited to get involved once on the MV Explorer!
He's going to be updating a blog while we're gone, so if anyone is interested, here's the link:
http://charityballworldtour.blogspot.com/
5 days until San Diego, 8 days until boarding the MV Explorer and traveling around the world.
Happy 2013!!! It's gonna be a GREAT year.
500 soccer balls!
He's working with a company called Charity Ball that is going to donate 500 soccer balls to Semester at Sea, at which point us students will donate them to kids that we meet around the world. It seems like quite the special adventure, and I'm excited to get involved once on the MV Explorer!
He's going to be updating a blog while we're gone, so if anyone is interested, here's the link:
http://charityballworldtour.blogspot.com/
5 days until San Diego, 8 days until boarding the MV Explorer and traveling around the world.
Happy 2013!!! It's gonna be a GREAT year.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
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