So close

Finally!!....After 8 long days at sea I’m sure you can imagine how excited I am to see land! And it’s not just any land, it’s Hawaii! :) I’ve never been there but I feel like so many people on the ship have. We also had an “in-port lecturer” travel with us from Mexico to Hawaii and he’s a native Hawaiian so he’s taught us a lot of neat things about the culture. They definitely prepare you well for port here… all we’ve talked about in my classes is Hawaii and there’s been so many lectures about different topics and even our dinner tonight was Hawaiian. I just can’t wait to get off the boat, have some real food, and lay on the beach :)

So I think finally everyone’s starting to settle in and get adjusted on the ship… but that doesn’t mean it’s any less crazy and hectic! I love everyone here and I think we all realize how lucky we are to be doing this so there’s just never ending energy and excitement…. we all want to live it up! Even though we’ve been on this ship for so long I feel like there hasn’t been any time to be bored, there’s so much going on non-stop plus of course fitting in time to lay out on the deck :)  Today was gorgeous out, I could definitely feel the Hawaiian air. The pool deck was packed with people laying out all day- and still none of us can believe this is where we’re going to school!

We arrive in Hilo on the big island tomorrow at 6am. A bunch of us are sleeping on the deck tonight so we can wake up to a sunrise coming into port! It’ll be strange to see life outside the boat…. We actually saw another ship on the horizon today for the first time which was pretty exciting. Everyone’s planning to go shopping in Hawaii to stock up on stuff- and chocolate of course is top on our list. That’s the only thing I feel way too deprived of. Thennnn I think Allyn and I want to go hiking in Volcanoes National Park, hang out at the beach, snorkel? and the second night everyone has to get back on the ship to sail to Oahu. We’re taking surfing lessons with some people in Honolulu and hopefully going to the Volcom surf competition on the north shore to see some huge waves. But who knows what’ll happen, we really just want to be on land and enjoy the island. And try not to fry.

Well this has definitely been an adventure so far and we haven’t even gotten anywhere yet…. so I can only imagine what is to come. I’ll update this asap once I get back from Hawaii…. wish us good weather!!
-Michele

8 Days Without Land

So I’m here! Right the middle of the ocean, a little more than halfway to Hawaii. It’s really strange to think how far away we are from land, and it takes us 8 days to get to Hawaii, and then about 11 after that to Japan!!

Lots of time on the boat, but it’s been so busy and everything is new so it’s going by quickly. Nothing is normal here…. I don’t even know how to write about it. I still can’t get myself to believe this is where we’re living all semester…. It just feels like summer camp or a week-long cruise. I’ve never met so many people in such a short time and it’s impossible to remember names.. but everyone is so friendly and just as excited as Allyn and I are. It’s funny that the typical conversations we have are like “what do you have planned for Japan?” or “are you going skydiving in Hawaii?”  The only thing I don’t think we were all expecting is the constant, and I mean literally non-stop extreme rocking of the boat since we left Ensenada. Sometimes it feels like the ship is tipping all the way sideways. Everyone was so sea sick the first couple days but I guess we’re getting used to it now. Now it’s just annoying! Everyone looks drunk walking around, everything slides around on the tables, and I don’t think I’ve ever had so much trouble running on the treadmill. Allyn and I woke up twice the other night to our dresser flying off the wall and crashing face down on the floor. And the drawers just open and close non-stop. Luckily my professors say it’s only the Pacific that is rough like this, and it’s temporary. Plus we had to change our route to go around some huge storm so the waves are probably left over from that.

But the weather has been amazing! It’s getting warmer and warmer and everyone’s starting to lay out by the pool now. I got so burnt the other day just sitting outside for a few minutes waiting for class. The water is soo blue and beautiful and we get amazing sunrises and sunsets every day. I finally saw a bird flying by for the first time today… which is kinda weird because I have no idea where it would come from… we’re about 1100 miles from land!

Anywho, everyone is just anxious to get to Hawaii right now.  A lot of people are talking about skydiving, which I’m getting more convinced would be really awesome. We don’t have many other plans though except to go surfing and enjoy the beach... and definitely stock up on food because I don’t know how long I can live off of pb&j.

I really wish I could explain what it’s like on the ship but I just don’t know what to say. Everything is just so crazy and not real! All the professors are really eclectic and energetic and they bring their families with them so little kids are on here too.

Well I’m about to go do some yoga with a group on the top deck…. And then I guess try to get my reading done which is impossible to do because we’re in the middle of the ocean and it’s beautiful outside! I don’t know how I’ll ever get work done. Oh well! It’s been amazing so far and I can’t believe this is my life for the whole semester! I love it =)

-Michele

west coast!

sunshine = happy michele and allyn

arrived in Orange County yesterday evening and it is lovely here. we're staying at allyn's "aunt's" amazingly gorgeous house.... we walked about 20 minutes to Newport Beach this morning and we're about to go get lunch and head to Laguna. so it'll be a relaxing couple days til we ride down to San Diego and then to Ensenada on Sunday!! Basically we're just excited to FINALLY be in the warmth =)

my money!

less than a week....

Hey everyone!
I'm making this blog so you all can follow me on my adventures around the world. If you didn't know, I'm taking this spring semester to live on a boat and literally circle the globe, stopping at 15 port cities in ten different countries, through the program called Semester At Sea. I've been looking forward to this for a year now and my flight to San Diego leaves in 5 days and I am SO EXCITED. It seems so unreal!
Anyway, I'll do my best to keep you updated and post pictures when I can. I've never made a blog before so we'll see how this goes......

here's a map of our path (click to make it bigger):

-michele