Hello from Salvador Brasil!! We arrived this morning at around 7 and got off the ship around 10. Today is the last day of Carnival which is a HUGE festival in Brazil. They says its like new years in time square times 10!! Should be interesting!
Over the past few days on the ship I have really gotten into life on the ship... for example: they have an èxtended family program where students are matched up with faculty, staff, and lifelong learners and we become like family. My ´mom and dad´ are super sweet and my 2 brothers and 3 sisters seem really cool too! When they first met us they gave us a big hug and shared about themselves. It is really awesome to conect with not only students but also more mature people :) I love it!
I am running low on minutes so I should probably end this soon, but i just wanted to send a quick update. Let me know if there is anything that you would like to specifically know about my trip I would be happy to answer!!
Sorry about the shortness, I will try to post pics soon!
love love love
Cherie
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Friday, February 1, 2008
Update From somewhere in the Atlantic...
Friday February 1, 2008
We are still on our way to Brazil!
Being that it only took us 2.5 days to get to Puerto Rico this is our longest time at sea since beginning this voyage. It has been interesting to say the least. Classes are… going. I’m not going to lie, it is extremely hard for me to get into the school work mentality while on the ship. There are so many distractions and very few places to escape to get anything done. Needless to say, I am constantly fighting with myself to read / write/ or just think about school in general. However, I am enjoying my classes for the most part. I am taking a history course (focusing on American history in a global context), a finance course, a global economy course, and finally a global studies course which is required for all SAS students. Classes are 7 days a week when we are at sea only, and of those days we are split up between “A” days and “B”days. I don’t think we go to class more than 4 days in a row and I am not complaining. Today was our fourth consecutive day and tomorrow (Saturday) we do not have classes because we are scheduled to cross the equator!! Since we are constantly moving we have now lost 2 hours since leaving the Bahamas, and let me tell you, 23 hour days suck. Once we leave Brazil and head toward Cape Town we will loose an hour almost every day while at sea – Not cool! Also, some time in April we have one day twice… that will be strange to experience.
Life on the ship is great! I have found some great people to hang out with and we always have the best time together. Meals together are a tad interesting since the ship is always rocking… its quite entertaining to watch people eat.
Yesterday everyone received their final confirmations of trips while in port. I was really fortunate and got mostly everything I wanted. I am super excited because I got my top choice for Beijing and well as Taj Mahal. I will also be going to Robben Island (in South Africa), Snorkeling (in Mauritius), Carnival (in Brazil) and about 10 other trips in Brazil, South Africa, Mauritius, India, Malaysia, China, and Japan – perhaps even skydiving (shh don’t tell my mom). I am super excited to get some of my bigger trips going! They are going to be amazing!
So, if you can’t tell I’m having the time of my life! I would upload more pictures but the whole time issue is a problem but I will try to upload some in Brazil!
That’s all for now!!
love love love
Cherie
We are still on our way to Brazil!
Being that it only took us 2.5 days to get to Puerto Rico this is our longest time at sea since beginning this voyage. It has been interesting to say the least. Classes are… going. I’m not going to lie, it is extremely hard for me to get into the school work mentality while on the ship. There are so many distractions and very few places to escape to get anything done. Needless to say, I am constantly fighting with myself to read / write/ or just think about school in general. However, I am enjoying my classes for the most part. I am taking a history course (focusing on American history in a global context), a finance course, a global economy course, and finally a global studies course which is required for all SAS students. Classes are 7 days a week when we are at sea only, and of those days we are split up between “A” days and “B”days. I don’t think we go to class more than 4 days in a row and I am not complaining. Today was our fourth consecutive day and tomorrow (Saturday) we do not have classes because we are scheduled to cross the equator!! Since we are constantly moving we have now lost 2 hours since leaving the Bahamas, and let me tell you, 23 hour days suck. Once we leave Brazil and head toward Cape Town we will loose an hour almost every day while at sea – Not cool! Also, some time in April we have one day twice… that will be strange to experience.
Life on the ship is great! I have found some great people to hang out with and we always have the best time together. Meals together are a tad interesting since the ship is always rocking… its quite entertaining to watch people eat.
Yesterday everyone received their final confirmations of trips while in port. I was really fortunate and got mostly everything I wanted. I am super excited because I got my top choice for Beijing and well as Taj Mahal. I will also be going to Robben Island (in South Africa), Snorkeling (in Mauritius), Carnival (in Brazil) and about 10 other trips in Brazil, South Africa, Mauritius, India, Malaysia, China, and Japan – perhaps even skydiving (shh don’t tell my mom). I am super excited to get some of my bigger trips going! They are going to be amazing!
So, if you can’t tell I’m having the time of my life! I would upload more pictures but the whole time issue is a problem but I will try to upload some in Brazil!
That’s all for now!!
love love love
Cherie
Monday, January 28, 2008
A tad late... I wrote this before we left...
As I sit here in the LAX airport MANY emotions are running through this thing I call my brain. I am overwhelmed with the fact that in a few hours I will be bombarded with 700 other college age students who are themselves going crazy with excitement of the upcoming departure on a trip around the world. As for myself, I am not quite sure what to think. I am: 1, completely in awe over the fact that I get to even do this 2, nervous about the numerous unknowns 3, excited to meet SO many new people from around the world and finally in a daze over the fact that I am on my way around the world.
Now I’m in Miami… and it still isn’t real.
I am meeting up with a fellow SASer tonight once I arrive in Nassau. I am really excited about that. It is a real blessing that we were introduced (over facebook) by a mutual friend. I look forward to getting to know her more over these next few months.
So, if any of you are wondering how the whole packing situation worked… Here’s the story: I had one gigantic bag (I decided to see if I could zip myself up in it and it worked!!). I didn’t want to take 2 because that would just be a drag. However, when airlines (not mentioning any names – RED, WHITE, and BLUE) are in the mix, travelling is bound to be a drag in some way. I was able to fit everything I needed into one bag BUT, it was clearly over 50 lbs, I’m thinking closer to 80… HA! So, I had to split everything up between 2 bags, which isn’t really that bad, I will just combine them all before I get on the ship tomorrow (AH! TOMORROW!).
Other than that I don’t think anything else is on my mind to share.
I hope this post finds you all well! When most of you read this I will more than likely be on the open seas!!! Crazyness!!
love love love
Cherie
Now I’m in Miami… and it still isn’t real.
I am meeting up with a fellow SASer tonight once I arrive in Nassau. I am really excited about that. It is a real blessing that we were introduced (over facebook) by a mutual friend. I look forward to getting to know her more over these next few months.
So, if any of you are wondering how the whole packing situation worked… Here’s the story: I had one gigantic bag (I decided to see if I could zip myself up in it and it worked!!). I didn’t want to take 2 because that would just be a drag. However, when airlines (not mentioning any names – RED, WHITE, and BLUE) are in the mix, travelling is bound to be a drag in some way. I was able to fit everything I needed into one bag BUT, it was clearly over 50 lbs, I’m thinking closer to 80… HA! So, I had to split everything up between 2 bags, which isn’t really that bad, I will just combine them all before I get on the ship tomorrow (AH! TOMORROW!).
Other than that I don’t think anything else is on my mind to share.
I hope this post finds you all well! When most of you read this I will more than likely be on the open seas!!! Crazyness!!
love love love
Cherie
More Pictures
Out to dinner with (from right to left) Chelsea, Charlie, Tyler, Caleb, Libby, Katrina, Amanda, and me.
In El Capitol (the Senate)
Senate building
Old San Juan
The Beach...
Me in Old San Juan at the beach!Pictures - days 1-6
The group in front of El Capitol...
No comment....
El Moro... with huge cannon balls...
Me and Katrina at the rainforest.
Welcome recetion at a local university!
This is only a portion of the luggage... its not all mine either :)
Leaving Nassau
The Atlantis.... so pretty
The rentals... HA!
Pulling into Puerto Rico... beautiful sun rise!!Sunday, January 27, 2008
Im off!!!
WOW! Today is now the 5th day of my voyage and it has been amazing so far! First of all I want to apologize for not being prompt in updating this and not adding pictures. I am currently at in internet cafe in San Juan, Puerto Rico and am not able to upload my personal pictures. But, never fear, I have taken around 200 so far so you will see them in due time.
Now, onto my voyage so far - We left Nassau, Bahamas on Wednesday around 5pm (actually its 1700 hours because we have to go by military time now... meh). Ship life is not too bad. My roommate is great and we get along very well. I felt sea sick the first night but ever since I have been fine... I have pretty much gotten used to the constant rocking and humming of the engine - I get rocked to sleep every night :) I had my first day of classes on Friday and we pulled into port (Puerto Rico) on Saturday morning. We got up early (6am) to see the sunrise and watch us pull into port - It was B-E-A-utiful! Yesterday a group of us walked around Old San Juan and toured the fort "El Moro" - it was amazing! Then me and another friend had a SAS trip to El Yunke rainforest for a hike there. We, as you may have guessed, walked through the rainforest and then went swimming by a huge waterfall.... AH, it was great! After we got back from that I had to quickly get ready for a welcome reception that a local university put on for us. It was a nice time to see and talk to local students. Today, we went around San Juan again and then laid at the beach for a while.
Overall, I have had an amazing time! I can't even begin to discribe this amazing journey. I am so glad that I can share this with you and I hope you enjoy it as well!
I will (hopefully) be uploading some pictures tomorrow but for now I will have to go. My time at the cafe is running down!
Brazil, here I come!!! :)
Now, onto my voyage so far - We left Nassau, Bahamas on Wednesday around 5pm (actually its 1700 hours because we have to go by military time now... meh). Ship life is not too bad. My roommate is great and we get along very well. I felt sea sick the first night but ever since I have been fine... I have pretty much gotten used to the constant rocking and humming of the engine - I get rocked to sleep every night :) I had my first day of classes on Friday and we pulled into port (Puerto Rico) on Saturday morning. We got up early (6am) to see the sunrise and watch us pull into port - It was B-E-A-utiful! Yesterday a group of us walked around Old San Juan and toured the fort "El Moro" - it was amazing! Then me and another friend had a SAS trip to El Yunke rainforest for a hike there. We, as you may have guessed, walked through the rainforest and then went swimming by a huge waterfall.... AH, it was great! After we got back from that I had to quickly get ready for a welcome reception that a local university put on for us. It was a nice time to see and talk to local students. Today, we went around San Juan again and then laid at the beach for a while.
Overall, I have had an amazing time! I can't even begin to discribe this amazing journey. I am so glad that I can share this with you and I hope you enjoy it as well!
I will (hopefully) be uploading some pictures tomorrow but for now I will have to go. My time at the cafe is running down!
Brazil, here I come!!! :)
Saturday, January 19, 2008
3 days to go...
The time to leave is coming quicker than expected considering that I still have to get some things and fit EVERYTHING in one (yep, you heard right, one bag for 3.5 months) That's like a girls worst nightmare! But nonetheless it will happen even if its 2 minutes before we leave the house. (If you can't tell, I tend to be a tad late minute.)
Everything is pretty much in order... I received my passport with the Chinese, Indian, and Brazilian visas, got poked for the 4th time for meningitis, and am in the process of actually putting clothes into my bag.
My journey will begin on Monday. My mom, my dad, my brother, and myself will drive down to LAX and stay the night at a hotel down there in order to catch our EARLY flight to Miami and then on to Nassau. We should arrive by mid afternoon on Tuesday so I will be able to meet up with other SASers that evening. I have to check in on the ship at 8:30am on Wednesday and then set sail for Puerto Rico at 5:00pm. From there... Bring on the world! :)
Here is what the rest of the voyage will look like:
January 23rd, 2008 - May 9th, 2008
Nassau, Bahamas
Depart: Wednesday, 23 January, 1700 (times are listed in military time)
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Arrive: Saturday, 26 January, 0800
Depart: Monday, 28 January, 2300
Salvador, Brazil
Arrive: Tuesday, 05 February, 0700
Depart: Saturday, 09 February, 2300
Cape Town, South Africa
Arrive: Tuesday, 19 February, 0800
Depart: Sunday, 24 February, 2300
Port Louis, Mauritius
Arrive: Saturday, 01 March, 0800
Depart: Tuesday, 04 March, 2300
Chennai, India
Arrive: Tuesday, 11 March, 0800
Depart: Saturday, 15 March, 2300
Penang, Malaysia
Arrive: Wednesday, 19 March, 0800
Depart: Sunday, 23 March, 2300
(Stop in Singapore for Bunker)
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Arrive: Thursday, 27 March, 0800
Depart: Tuesday, 01 April, 0600
(On-Ship Time is Monday, 31 March at 2300)
Hong Kong
Arrive: Thursday, 03 April, 0800
Depart: Friday, 04 April, 2200
Shanghai, China
Arrive: Monday, 07 April, 0800
Depart: Tuesday, 08 April, 2300
Kobe, Japan
Arrive: Friday, 11 April, 0800
Depart: Monday, 14 April, 2300
(Cross International dateline, add one day)
Honolulu, Hawaii
Arrive: Tuesday, 22 April, 0600
Depart: Tuesday, 22 April, 2400
Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Arrive: Saturday, 03 May, 0800
Depart: Sunday, 04 May, 2300
Transit Panama Canal
Arrive/Depart: Tuesday 06, May
Miami, Florida
Arrive: Friday, 09 May, 0800
1 ship
700 students
110 days
4 continents
13 countries
Around the world.
Everything is pretty much in order... I received my passport with the Chinese, Indian, and Brazilian visas, got poked for the 4th time for meningitis, and am in the process of actually putting clothes into my bag.
My journey will begin on Monday. My mom, my dad, my brother, and myself will drive down to LAX and stay the night at a hotel down there in order to catch our EARLY flight to Miami and then on to Nassau. We should arrive by mid afternoon on Tuesday so I will be able to meet up with other SASers that evening. I have to check in on the ship at 8:30am on Wednesday and then set sail for Puerto Rico at 5:00pm. From there... Bring on the world! :)
Here is what the rest of the voyage will look like:
January 23rd, 2008 - May 9th, 2008
Nassau, Bahamas
Depart: Wednesday, 23 January, 1700 (times are listed in military time)
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Arrive: Saturday, 26 January, 0800
Depart: Monday, 28 January, 2300
Salvador, Brazil
Arrive: Tuesday, 05 February, 0700
Depart: Saturday, 09 February, 2300
Cape Town, South Africa
Arrive: Tuesday, 19 February, 0800
Depart: Sunday, 24 February, 2300
Port Louis, Mauritius
Arrive: Saturday, 01 March, 0800
Depart: Tuesday, 04 March, 2300
Chennai, India
Arrive: Tuesday, 11 March, 0800
Depart: Saturday, 15 March, 2300
Penang, Malaysia
Arrive: Wednesday, 19 March, 0800
Depart: Sunday, 23 March, 2300
(Stop in Singapore for Bunker)
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Arrive: Thursday, 27 March, 0800
Depart: Tuesday, 01 April, 0600
(On-Ship Time is Monday, 31 March at 2300)
Hong Kong
Arrive: Thursday, 03 April, 0800
Depart: Friday, 04 April, 2200
Shanghai, China
Arrive: Monday, 07 April, 0800
Depart: Tuesday, 08 April, 2300
Kobe, Japan
Arrive: Friday, 11 April, 0800
Depart: Monday, 14 April, 2300
(Cross International dateline, add one day)
Honolulu, Hawaii
Arrive: Tuesday, 22 April, 0600
Depart: Tuesday, 22 April, 2400
Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Arrive: Saturday, 03 May, 0800
Depart: Sunday, 04 May, 2300
Transit Panama Canal
Arrive/Depart: Tuesday 06, May
Miami, Florida
Arrive: Friday, 09 May, 0800
1 ship
700 students
110 days
4 continents
13 countries
Around the world.
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