Aboard the Explorer!

I am officially aboard the MV Explorer. Classes have officially started.

It didn't really hit me that the semester had started until a girl I was sitting outside with said "we are on our way to Ireland right now."  Then I was like HOLY CRAP.  I assume I will be having many of those moments over the course of the next three months.  It is incredible being able to stand at any window or on any dock and see nothing but water.  It’s almost as if we are the only thing in the world.  It’s beautiful.  It’s also a bit hilarious trying to get my sea legs.  A larger wave will come and everyone will go staggering sideways into a wall. 

 

I have a travel tip for you, courtesy of our Global Studies Professor Don Gogniat: “Never let your age exceed the number of countries you’ve visited.”

Well I am a little far behind, but by the end of this trip I will be significantly closer.  Personally, I think this is one of the most amazing ideas ever.  Your age should never stop you from exploring the world.  I have seriously caught the travel bug and I am incredibly excited for the adventures to come.

 

xo,

Zoe

On My Way

Today...well yesterday, my mother and sisters set off on our long car ride to Nova Scotia.  I am so excited! Which is probably why I am unable to sleep. Well, that and I slept for two hours in the car.  It was a good ride though, it went by quickly.  We stopped for dinner at the cutest cafe/restaurant.  The building was purple and it was so colorfully decorated. And the pizza was fantastic.
Day two of our journey starts in the morning.  I think we may be trying to get all the way to Halifax instead of stopping somewhere else and getting there Wednesday.  It would be nice to have some time to chill up there but that would mean we would need to drive like 10 hours in one day.  We'll see what happens.

xo

Semester at Sea Email Blogging Test

Do you work?

One Week

Well, I'm all packed. With the exception of a few last minute items.  It was a work out.  I was sweating like crazy by the end of it.  I've gone through everything I am packing multiple times but I still feel like I have too much stuff. Not entirely sure what I can cut out though.  Part of the problem is that I don't know if I'll be able to carry all of that on to the ship by myself.  I'll have to go through again and see if I can find any more items to eliminate.

A large duffle, a small duffle, a camelback, a large tote/beach bag, and then I'll have a purse. And yes, that is a pillow pet.  He is an elephant and his name is Horton.  My favorite childhood stuffed animal is also coming with me.  His name is Puffalump and he is pretty much a rag now because I loved him too much.  Yes, I am a child.

Despite packing troubles however, I am wicked excited for this trip.  I still can't believe that in a week I'll be boarding the ship.  Its crazy.  I don't think it will hit me until I'm actually standing at the port trying to drag all my luggage along with me.

<3

Test

I just attempted to set up the posting via email feature. This is me testing it to see if it works.  Did it work?

yes it did!

It's Almost Time

It's insane and I'm still having trouble believing it.  In less than two weeks I will be boarding the MV Explorer, and embarking on the craziest, most amazing trip of a life time.  Tuition covered, babysitting and birthday money saved up, in-country trips are either planned, paid for, speculated about, or purposely left to wing, and I still can't believe that I actually have this opportunity.  It's unreal.

The next step? Packing.  And in order to pack I must clean my room so I can find the items I want to pack.  My room at home as the unfortunate habit of consistently looking like it was ravaged by a tornado, or something similar, so this is a feat that is taking some time and an certain amount of dedication to cleaning that I just don't think I possess.  For some odd reason I can stay neat at school but am completely unable to keep my clothes off the floor at home.

Another packing trial I am attempting to hurdle is my complete lack of packing skills.  You know those people who open up their suitcases and they have the right shoes and the perfect amount of clothes and they seem to be able to make a never ending supply of good outfits?  I know those people, and I am not one of those people.

I SUCK at packing.  I over pack like its my job.  I went away with my family to Florida for one weekend and I stuffed an entire suitcase full of clothes.  How the heck am I going to be able to manage packing for a 107 day trip on a ship through 14 countries?  My usual go-to packing method is if I think there is even a slight chance that I might wear it, it comes.  Hey, even if I don't think I will ever wear it, it comes. Just in case.  Anything and everything comes with me.  Clearly, that is not going to work for this trip. So far I have managed to pack the gifts I bought to give out to the children I meet while visiting the schools and orphanages in Morocco, Ghana, South Africa, and Argentina.  Priorities.  I can't get myself to start packing clothes; what if I end up needing it? See? Problems.  So I am writing and rewriting packing lists and writing and rewriting to-do lists, hopefully restraining myself from throwing random stuff into my suitcase at the last minute, and attempting to contain my overwhelming excitement for my upcoming adventure.

The Future of This Blog

Woo, first post. How exciting.  I have never blogged before so who knows how this is going to turn out.  This blog is intended to be a blog about my upcoming semester abroad but I am sure it will eventually morph into a place where I attempt to work out what I will be doing with the rest of my life.  I would like to eventually be a preschool teacher but maybe I'll end up teaching older children, or maybe I'll teach in another country. Nanny? Be so broke I have to live in my parents' house for the rest of my life? Let's hope not.

But right now I want to focus on my upcoming trip abroad.  Where am I going? EVERYWHERE.  I will be attending Semester at Sea next semester and I don't think I could be more excited.  On this Atlantic Exploration we will be traveling to 14 different countries where I intend on doing and seeing as much as I can, and having experiences that I may never get to have again.  I want to explore the countries, meet people, go on service projects, ride an elephant, and basically have the time of my life.

And yes, this trip is pretty much requiring me to empty out my bank account.  Hence the being so broke I may have to live in my parents' house.