USA

I think I'm ready to go back to the ship and go around the world again with the people I fell in love with, the crew, the ship and the life. I miss everyone so much.

It's Saturday afternoon around 3:40pm. The time different is down to three hours from the East Coast, 6 hours from the West. I'm surprised at how slow the days are passing by. I've been on the ship now since Monday night. I feel like time is crawling! It probably feels that way since the ship has been rocking more than ever before. It's horrible. The sea swells and waves are ridiculous out here in the Atlantic. We had all heard rumours of the rough waters but none of us believed them. After all, it's been so calm for so long now. Most of the time, we can't even feel this ship moving. Well, the past three nights have been really bad. I've had to take dramamine each night just to calm my stomach. I hate taking dramamine because it knocks me out for hours. This rocking couldn't have come at a worse time: right in the middle of finals. It's already close to impossible to study on the ship, but throw the waves and rocking into it and it's just about hopeless. I have a big window and most of the time I have to keep the curtains shut because if I look at the swells I get even more sick. Anyways, enough complaining. The only thing left to say is that in 5 days from now, I won't have to feel the rocking and I'm definitely looking forward to that!

The Ambassadors Ball was a lot of fun and the food was amazing! We had a 5 course meal and I finally got to eat steak. I wore one of the dresses I had made in Vietnam. I'm saving my favorite for when I go to Steve's dance in January!

Last night was the ship talent show. It was really fun and some people on this ship are really talented. Watching the talent show made me realize just how much I'm going to miss the people on this ship. I've met some really great people. It's going to be really different going home and adjusting to life without 550 students always around me.

This brings me to my next thought: I serioualy can't believe in just a few days I'll be home. Everyone is nostalgic now -- it's strange. I mean, we all love the people we've met and the voyage and everything we've done, but by now we're all exhausted from a demanding academic semester, exhausted from all we've been through and encountered and I really think most of us just want to get home. I know I am pretty much counting the hours until I can fly back to California.

This is the longest I've been away from home. It's been over three months!

The hardest part about this trip, no doubt, is the lack of communication. It's so hard not to have internet when I want/need it and it's even harder not to have a phone. I feel so out of touch with the world, my family, my friends, Steve. It's been really tough adjusting. I still can't believe the ship charges so much for internet and phone calls... 40 cents per minute for the internet and $20 for 13 minutes on the phone. Ridiculous, yes? I've spent way too much money on internet and phone but my only alternative would be to just be completely homesick. At least checking emails and every once in a while making phone calls helps the homesickness.

I'd say I haven't really been homesick until the last two to three weeks. On one hand, I know it's going to be so hard to say goodbye to my friends and to the ship and on the other hand, I just can't wait to get home! I'm sure that is how everyone feels.

Anyways, today is a study day. Yesterday was the last day of classes. I've been studying a lot and when I'm not studying, I'm reading the Days of Our Lives daily episode summaries that I downloaded a few days ago. I was so bored (There really is nothing to do anymore except study) that I downloaded the summaries from August 27th to November 20th. That way when I get home I'll be all caught up Call it ridiculous, but I call it being bored and not knowing what else to do! There is only so much studying I can do!

Hawaii was amazing! It was my first time so of course I was very excited to see as much as possible in our 10 hours on land. We ended up going snorkeling in Haunamana Bay, shopping around Waikiki and then went to Benihanas for dinner. We made a Wal*mart trip which was definitely needed. I had cell phone service for most of the day so that was nice, as well.

We left Hawaii Saturday night and since Sunday morning we've had classes every day and classes don't stop until we arrive in Japan on the 12th. It's somewhat difficult not getting a break and classes are becoming more challenging but I'm loving every minute of this trip -- break in classes or no break. We all have our first Global Studies test on Saturday and Sunday is my first Abnormal Psych test.

Moving on...

The girls I have met will no doubt be lifelong friends -- It's amazing how close you become to people when you are forced into an unusual situation. Usually I'm not around so many people all of the time -- at Umass the campus is so huge that you don't see your friends very often. I'm spending hours upon hours with these girls and we've all become so close already.

Last week everyone had the opportunity to pick out SAS sponsored trips for the up and coming countries. Basically, you fill out a form and mark all of your first choices. If there are enough spots available, you'll get the trip. If there are too many people who want the same trip, it becomes a random lottery pick to see who gets which trip -- today we got our confirmed trips and I got everything I wanted minus two trips -- one was a service trip to an orphanage that Mother Theresa founded and the second was a 3000' hike and public bath in Japan. The ones I did get?

Japanese Home Visit in Kobe, Japan
Buddhist Monastery trip/Lantau Island Visit in Hong Kong
Cu Chi Tunnels and Cao Dai Temple in Vietnam
Meditation and Feeding Ceremony (of the Monks) in Myanmar
Local Life in Yangon Tour in Myanmar
Rural Villiage and Farm Visit in India
Welcome Reception (Interact w/ locals) in India
Kancheepuram & Mamallapuram in India
Dalit Villiage Overnight (I'll update more on this later, I'm SO excited about this trip) in Idia
Cairo Extended 3 days/2 nights in Egypt

Most of these trips were really cheap or reasonably priced and are all sponsered by SAS meaning no indy travel is required. Less stress, thankfully.

We have finalized are plans for our indy Japan travel. The 6 of us purchased the Japan Rail Pass which is good for unlimited travel on the bullet trains to/from anywhere in Japan. Our itinerary:

Tuesday: Kyoto
Wednesday: Hiroshima
Thursday: Tokyo
Friday: Tokyo
Saturday: Kobe

In Tokyo we plan on attending a Sumo Wrestling match, in Hiroshima we will visit the war memorial and in Kyoto, the famous gardens.

I really am so excited for everything the next few months hold. As of today, we have 90 days left. It's amazing how much I have already witnessed/encountered -- the beautiful sunsets, the rewarding experience of being able to live on a ship in the middle of the ocean, having the opportunity to interact with people from all over the US whether it be locals (Hawaiians-- they were so friendly and helpful), students, faculty or staff.

I can only imagine what the next 90 days will bring.

Aloha!

We are on our way to Hawaii! I have not felt sea sick again since the first night but from time to time I do get “sea” headaches. The view out of my room window is beautiful! It is beyond amazing to look out your window every day and see the wide open ocean. The water has been calm, the sky has been cloudy and gray and we have yet to see a sunrise or sunset but the captain says that soon enough we will be in better weather and will really get to enjoy being out on the ocean.

The ship is big and I have a decent sized room! I actually have a “special” room with a bigger window and bigger living area. The room is still smaller than my dorm at Umass but is much bigger than the majority of student rooms on the ship! My roommate goes to Loyola Marymount New Orleans and is from Virginia. We are loving our bigger room! We live in the “Caspian Sea” section of the ship. When we have the Sea Olympics on October 22nd we will compete against the other Seas on the ship in various activities and sports. I believe the winner of the Olympics gets to be the first off of the ship in Florida.

I was really surprised at how much you can actually feel the ship rock back and forth. At first it was hard to adjust to but now that we have been out on the ocean for a few days I feel as if I’m getting used to the motions.

We will be in Hawaii on Saturday. A bunch of students have made arrangements for a group sky diving trip. Kat, Sam and Jessica are planning on going but I am hesitant. I am terrified of flying and the thought of jumping out of a plane while thousands of feet in the air scares me to death. Kat has been pressuring me and everything seems safe and of course so much fun so we will see if I give in and sign up. Because the students used the group rate it is cheaper than normal -- $120 a person (Supposedly it usually ranges from $200-325 a person). You do get to jump tandem with an instructor so that makes me feel much better. I guess we shall see what happens!

I bought another SAS trip when I arrived onto the ship. It is a 3 day excursion to Inle Lake in Myanmar. I will be flying out of Yangon into the Inle Lake area where we will enjoy the Myanmar festival (not sure of the name, but it is the most famous festival of the year), canoe around villages, visit the jumping cat facility, visit the villages and visit the Buddhist Monastery. I am so excited already!

I started classes today. I am taking Abnormal Psychology (my early 8am class every other day), Global Studies (Which is at 9:20 daily), Psychology of Personality and I am waiting to switch out of my Christian Missionaries class and into the Psychology of Death and Dying. I also plan on adding Comparative Religions. Add/Drop is not until Thursday so I will not know my final schedule until then.

That’s all for now. I’ll update again when I can!

Current Ship Information:
Location: Latitude: 28 degrees, 10.9 N Longitude: 131 Degrees, 24.8W Speed: 17.5 knots Course: 255 degrees Time: 16:17 Date: Tuesday 29 August

It's a ship, not a boat. It's a voyage, not a cruise. I've been told those are the words we're all supposed to remember. I'm getting excited. Nervous, but excited. My Japan Rail Pass came in the mail a few days ago along with foreign currency from 5 of the countries I will be visiting. I have so much left to do -- pack, appointments, pick up malaria pills, pack some more. This summer is almost over. It's hard to believe that 3 months ago I was on my way back from Massachusetts (driving across country with my Dad) and now here I am getting ready to leave again. Sunday I'll be off on my own again until December! Only five more days..

Soon I will be leaving to travel the world! I will update this blog as often as possible so be sure to check back frequently to view pictures & read updates! Also, please keep in contact via email Momentofbeauty@hotmail.com

Depart: Ensenada, Mexico
Sunday 27 August, 1700

Arrive: Honolulu, Hawaii
Saturday 02 September, 0700

Depart: Honolulu, Hawaii
Saturday 02 September, 2300

Arrive: Kobe, Japan
Tuesday September 12, 0800

Depart: Kobe, Japan
Saturday 16 September, 2200

Arrive: Qindao, China
Tuesday 19 September, 0800

Depart: Qindao, China
Wednesday 20, September, 2300

Arrive: Hong Kong
Saturday 23 September, 0800

Depart: Hong Kong
Sunday 24 September, 2300

Arrive: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Wednesday 27 September, 1100

Depart: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Monday 02 October 0600

Arrive: Yangon, Myanmar
Saturday 07 October, 1615

Depart: Yangon, Myanmar
Thursday 12 October 1600

Arrive: Chennai, India
Sunday 15 October, 0800

Depart: Chennai, India
Thursday 19 October, 2300

Arrive: Port Suez (Adabiya), Egypt
Sunday October 29, 2030

Depart: Port Suez (Adabiya)
Wednesday 01 November, 2200

TRANSIT: Suez Canal, 02 November

Arrive: Alexandria, Egypt
Friday 03 November, 0800

Depart: Alexandria, Egypt
Saturday 04 November, 2300

Arrive: Istanbul, Turkey
Tuesday 07 November, 0800

Depart: Istanbul, Turkey
Saturday 11 November, 2300
2300

Arrive: Dubrovnik, Croatia
Tuesday 14 November 0800
Depart: Dubrovnik, Croatia
Saturday 18 November, 2300

Arrive: Cadiz, Spain
Thursday 23 November 0800
Depart: Cadiz, Spain
Monday 27 November, 2300

Arrive: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Thursday 07 December 0800