The Future Is Limitless!

I know I haven't posted in a few days, but I've gotten pretty busy
between work, classes, and honestly just being tired. (I've never seen
as many college students take naps before as I do here, since the boat
literally rocks you to sleep!) A few things that have happened since my
last post:

A couple nights ago we had another cultural pre-port of London, but
right after that, we had a showing of The Hunger Games! The Union has
only been that packed once before-the first day of Global Studies haha.
Last night the cultural pre-port was about Belgium, and it was pretty
interesting! I plan on having some Belgian chocolate while there, and
of course, a waffle! :)

During our class Global Studies (everyone has to take this class) we
have one major group project in which we have to connect a topic across
all 4 continents that we are going to. My group is doing food and plan
to find the connections between different countries and how they view
mealtimes, what is the most important meal, etc. (This should be very
helpful for you, Mr. Eppley! :] )

Then there's work. Our work study office will have the first 10 minutes
or so of every logistical pre-port to promote some of the projects we're
working on (such as the ship board auction, the ship board drive, and
the Alumni Ball!) We are doing trivia questions about SAS history, and
then going into what we're doing. Later, I'll be posting a link to
where everyone can donate for us-we're asking a $12 donation (or
multiples of 12) in honor of the Fall 2012 voyage!

Yesterday we had a fascinating talk from Dr. Kathy Thorton. For those
of you who don't know, Dr. Thorton teaches at UVa, but she is also a
retired astronaut! She has been on the shuttle Discovery, Columbia, and
a few others! She has rotated around the Earth over 250 times!! I wish
I could post a picture of everything, but that will wait until port
(sorry everyone!) She showed us a picture of a lit birthday candle in
space, and it doesn't have a stretched out shape like it does on Earth,
it literally is in a perfect sphere shape! At the end of her talk, she
played a slide show of pictures to tunes that were parodies of famous
songs (ie: Get Around by the Beach Boys, Fun Fun Fun by the Beach Boys,
etc. They weren't all Beach Boys songs, but those were the ones I knew
the best because I really like that band haha).

Dr. Thorton had so many of us captivated for over an hour and a half
(it's hard to get anyone to stay seated for more than an hour during
class without falling asleep...constant rocking does that to you!) but
she also said the words, "The future is limitless." To which I
completely agree with, wholeheartedly. I never knew that I would really
be able to go on this voyage, writing my blog via e-mails to myself,
since it seemed such a daunting task to raise the money, but with hard
work and determination, the future really is limitless. I want to
encourage everyone to follow their dreams, because where there is a
will, there will be a way to get there. I was able to go for mine, and
after I get back from this voyage, I know that nothing is impossible,
and to say again, the future is limitless for those who have the
creativity and the heart to follow their dreams.

All for now!
SH Me and my friend Ainsley with Dr. Kathy Thorton

How's the Form? And Where's the Good Craic?!

Today I had a lot of meetings to go to, but it wasn't too
terrible...except for we have had peak waves of 16 ft! (And let me tell
you, we feel it a lot!) I can't tell you the amount of times people
have run into complete strangers from being tossed around the ship, but
at least it's a good way to meet people! Haha!

We had our first inter-port session today, and honestly, most of it was
pretty boring. (I hate to say that, but even some of the professors were
falling asleep!) The end was pretty great though, we listened to some
Irish music and learned a few Irish phrases! "How's the form?" means
"How you doin'?" and "Where's the craic?" (yes, pronounced like crack
haha) means "Where's the good time?"

I also had an Alumni Reception today for work, and it was awesome
getting to spend an hour with everyone who has sailed before and are
back for more! It was required for our work study, and it was also my
boss' birthday today! She didn't tell anyone this, so Dean Tymitz
started singing Happy Birthday. I faked sea sickness to run down to my
cabin to grab a birthday card (good thing I brought a lot!) And managed
to get the whole team to sign it without her noticing! :) I wish I
could upload pictures, but again, that will have to wait until
Friday-when we get into port! :)

I love being here on the ship, despite the sea sickness and the
ridiculous waves (we aren't allowed to go outside right now due to waves
and wind) but I'm going to have a game night with my Sea (GO RED
SEA!!) So I'll update more later!

SH

Kate and her work study crew :)

Dolphins Before Dinner and the First Day of Classes! :)

Hey everyone :)

Yesterday, I felt a little sea sick-but I haven't felt sick since then
thank goodness!

But also yesterday, the most spectacular site! As Danielle, Colleen,
Jon, Meg, Mike and I were watching the waves, we saw a huge pod of
dolphins!! There had to be at least twenty swimming far out and
eventually along side the ship! Afterwards, we watched the sun set...it
was a glorious evening :)

Today classes began, and I have had three of the four classes. I have
the same professor for 3 of the 4 classes haha. I don't think the
classes are going to be bad, as long as I can get a schedule of A vs. B
days and when we go into port!

I'm about to go to a work study meeting, so maybe more tonight :)

SH

We're moving! :)

So just about an hour ago, we left the Port of Halifax and are
officially on our way to Galway, Ireland! We're cruising much faster
than I expected too, but it's not bad! (I haven't felt sea sick yet,
knock on wood!)

Everyone waved to the parents as we set sail, and we passed by a cruise
ship that honked at us as we sailed by too! It was pretty awesome :)

Tonight we have a meeting, and the day off tomorrow, but classes start
on Saturday! I can't believe I said that haha. Who goes to school on
Saturdays??

Tonight a bunch of us are sleeping on the upper deck to check out the
stars. I love Semester at Sea already! :)

SH

First night!

So yesterday was a pretty interesting day! While I was in the Toronto
airport, I met this guy named John and his father who were also
traveling to Halifax because John is doing SAS too! :) Since I was
traveling alone, they offered for me to just hang out with them-much
appreciated because of what happened later! And they rented a car, so I
didn't have to try to figure out the shuttle to get to the hotel!

While at the hotel, trying to check in, my hotel room mates forgot to
change the reservation because I decided to room with them after they
made it. Well, the hotel won't let me check in, nor give me the room
number, so I was stuck for a while. John and his dad allowed me to put
my stuff down in their room, and then go to eat with them while I waited
for Colleen or Danielle to fix this issue.

Then John, his dad, Colleen, her mom, and I all went down and walked the
Harbor and took some awesome pictures-it was such a great night, both
weather and in general! Now we're off to look at the ship which just
got into port!

This is a test!

This is just a test to see if I can e-mail my blog to it's address! so
if you are reading this, it worked! :)

I forgot to mention!!!

Yesterday-how could I forget?! I went to visit the classes that I am keeping in touch with via a program called Vicarious Voyagers! Each class was just as great as the first, and I'll admit I was surprised, but impressed with some of the questions that were asked! I can't wait to answer questions and let others travel through my eyes. I'm really glad I have the opportunity to share my experiences with students and hope that I am able to impact them just as much as I will be!

All three classes I'll be in contact with, as well as Mr. Eppley!

Almost there!

Sitting here at the Toronto airport waiting for my connecting flight to Halifax! I can't believe that in just a few hours I'll be at the hotel with everyone I have been talking to for at least 6 months! I already miss my family and friends, but this has been a great learning experience so far, since this is the first time I've traveled by myself. I suppose I don't have much to say now, because words probably can't explain how excited I feel-but I definitely will have more to say after I get to the hotel and *finally* meet everyone!! :)

This is it!!! :D

I can't believe I'm sitting in the airport now waiting for my flight to Halifax! We're about to start boarding, so I'll post more when I get to Halifax!!! :D

8 Days!!!

This is completely crazy! I can't believe that 8 days from today I will be living out my dreams to study abroad, travel, and finally meet everyone I've been talking to the past year!!! I'll admit that yeah, I'm pretty nervous because I've never been away from home for this long, and I know for a fact I'm going to miss home...I just got back from 3 weeks of traveling, even with my family, and I couldn't have felt better getting to sleep in my own bed and hang out with everyone again. My room mate and I have finally started discussing what we're going to pack, which makes this even more real! I hope I hear from everyone while I'm away, even though I'm sure it'll make me homesick! Hopefully I'll actually have more to write once I'm on the ship :)