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So I apologize I have been updating. Well, I thought that I was updating, but I had my address to e-mail my blog wrong so I guess I have just been sending my updates into cyberspace. So here are the updates from the past few days.
Check in day did not get off to a good start. I didn’t really sleep the night before. The whole bed at the hotel was down (which I am allergic to). So needless to say I didn’t get much sleep. I woke up about 6 (after not going to bed until around 1) and I couldn’t breathe and my throat and back hurt. It was pretty much awful. Dad was awake too so we just slowly got moving and then eventually got my bags packed and headed to port. We were one of the first people there since we were about 30 minutes early. I guess that is what happens when you can’t sleep. The ship did not dock until about 7 that morning so we had a little bit of a delay waiting for it to clear customs. It was coming from Norfolk, which is where they picked up the faculty. I kept looking for Charis and she finally showed up about 9:15 or so, Turns out that their flight on Delta was delayed and then canceled so they had to jump on an Air Canada flight and didn’t get in until about 4am. Their bags haven’t made it yet.
Once check in got started, I found out that I got bumped from Deck 2 to Deck 4! Score! That is a slightly bigger and more expensive room, but I still only paid like I was on Deck 2. I think they moved a lot of people out of Deck 2 because there are only 521 students rather then the 700 they were expecting. The only hiccup in security was that they took my duct tape L Apparently it is not allowed on the ship, but I still haven’t figured out why.
Once I got onboard, I found my room and put my backpack, camera bag and computer in the room. SAS took my big bags and they were brought back to my cabin later.
I was able to find Charis on the ship and we just wondered around and met a few more people. We eventually had to go to our Orientation meeting. All the deans introduced themselves, as well as the other staff we will be working with. I got my assignment. I will be working in the career services office, which is basically coming up with seminars (nightly meetings that SAS does an different things). I am working with a guy named Mario, who is my supervisor, and we are the only ones in the office, but we will work with a lot of different offices. The neat thing is that this is the first voyage where this office has been established. So Mario and I basically get to make it our own and pass it on. A little about Mario – he is working on his Masters and is employed at Florida International University and lives in Miami, but originally from California.
After we were done with orientation, I went back to my cabin and unpacked everything. I have a lot more room then I thought I was going to. The sweater organizer thing that I got at Bed Bath and Beyond that hangs in the closet was the best decision ever. I got everything up packed and still had room for my roommate who I am assuming checks in tomorrow. I think her name is Rosario Rico or at least that is the name that was on the box that was in the room.
Dad picked me up and we went and explored Halifax. We walked down to the pier and walked around a bit. We got ice cream at Cows, which apparently is the best ice cream in Canada and in the top 10 in the World. It was pretty tasty. We also saw a bagpipe/drummer pair which I thought was weird but it sounded good.
I am now back in hotel taking advantage of the free internet while I have the chance. Dad and I are about to head back to the ship for the parent’s reception. I have to help check all 350 parents in and then I am free to go. I don’t know how long we are staying or even what this reception is about, but I guess I will find out.
I can’t believe we set sail tomorrow! The ship is beautiful, but it looks so tiny compared to the HUGE Carnival ship that is docked next to it. The Union, where we have Global Studies, isn’t as big as I thought it was and I don’t know how everyone is going to fit in there. I also got to eat lunch on the ship and everyone said ship food was gross, but I didn’t think it was that bad. But that is all I have right now. Update again when I get the chance!
This morning went a lot smoother then I thought it would. Mom woke me up around 7 and we started getting everything together. Most everything was down in front of the front door so I ran up the stairs many times making sure that I had this or that. I almost forgot Puca! That would have been horrible! Haha. Warren, Tracy, Mom and I all loaded up the car and headed to the airport. I managed to get all my stuff into by two bags (at final weigh in at the airport they were 48.5 and 49 pounds). Dad and I checked in for our Air Canada flight and Bobbi-Lee was with us. After everything was situated we headed to security. I said goodbye to Mom, and Warren and Tracy. Then it was just Pam, Dad and I. We took some pictures and then said goodbye to Pam. Everything this morning went really smoothly. I was expecting everything I could imagine to go wrong. I didn’t forget my passport. We made it to the airport on time. So really it was great.
The flight from Nashville to Toronto was pretty good despite the fact that we were on a little plane. Once we landed in Toronto, we had our customs cards filled out and went through customs. Apparently some SAS people had already been through because the guy already knew what I was talking about. W had to get the bags that we checked. We somehow managed to get all of mine and Bobbi-Lee’s luggage and walk it to the place to drop them off. Then we had to go through security again. I forgot to take off my belt and I had to walk through the stupid thing about 5 times before I figured out what it was.
We got to our gate and dropped our stuff. Dad and I grabbed a bite to eat and then just hung out for the next flight. When we boarded our flight to Halifax I kept looking around to see if any more SAS kids were on board, but I didn’t see any. We were on an airbus so they had TV screens in the headrests with movies to watch and music to listen to, but stupid me put my headphones in checked luggage. I forgot to charge my iPod so I figured I wouldn’t need them. Bad move. The only way to get headphones was to now pay $3. No thanks. It was slightly sad because they had 17 Again as a movie to watch and I wanted to get my Zefron fill. Oh well. The rest of the flight went well.
We got off the plane and headed to baggage claim. After grabbing our bags we went to get the rental car. While we were waiting there a girl asked us if we were on Semester At Sea. Her name was Caitlin I think and she went to school at SMU, but went to high school at Harpeth Hall. Small world! We some how managed to squeeze all of our bags into the impala.
Nova Scotia (at least around Halifax) is very wooded and absolutely beautiful. It seems like how Seattle would be. I was so pretty! Once we got into Halifax, which was about 30 minutes from the airport, it was just this quaint little town. According to Rob (The bellhop at the Marriott), Halifax has the most pubs per capita then anywhere else in Canada. It is an absolutely beautiful city and I wish I had more time to explore.
After dropping Bobbui-Lee off at her hotel, we made out WalMart run. We got there pretty easily and got what I needed. After spending entirely way too much money there, we tried to get back to our hotel to check in. Logic says that you can just follow the MapQuest directions backwards…yeah. Well needless to say it didn’t work out that well. We eventually did get back to hotel, but not without a good tour of the city. We tried to drive down to the port to get a glimpse of the MV Explorer, but it was blocked and we couldn’t see it.
The hotel is interesting. I was sitting in the car waiting on Dad get checked when this man in a kilt comes up and knocks on the window. Why on earth is someone dressed in a kilt in Canada and knocking on my window? Well come to find out, it was Rob the bellhop. So with his help we got the car unloaded and found a place for dinner.
Bobbi-Lee, Dad and I ate at the Five Fisherman. It was delicious. They had a free muscle bar. I had never really had muscles before, but I really liked them. Dinner was good, but just as we were about to leave, a woman came up to our table and asked if we were a part of SAS. Her daughter, Madelyn, was going. So we chatted for a bit. Madelyn is on my deck so we might end up being roommates. That would be interesting.
I check in tomorrow! It’s pretty crazy! I can’t believe everything starts tomorrow. I have so much stuff and I really don’t want to haul it all to the ship tomorrow. All of it has to be searched and what not for prohibited items. We are then spending the rest of the day training or something. I really have no idea.
Dad made up a neat song about Bobbi-Lee and I. I have no idea what tune it is in so make up your own but here it goes
This is the story of Lauren Gray and Bobbi-Lee
Setting out for Semester at Sea
Bobbi-Lee didn’t bring her parents
But Lauren had her Dad in tow oh oh oh
That’s it or something pretty close to that. Haha
the US South as a global south or an Atlantic world South that has been shaped and continues to be
influenced by Caribbean, Latin American, Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, Middle Eastern, and North
African, as well as European and American Indian peoples and cultures. We will explore traditions
reflected in the art and architecture, language and literature, folklore, film and theater, music, and
religion, as we visit the countries that have contributed to the complex creole that is the American South
and that continues to evolve as a consequence of globalization.
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MV-Explorer - Fall 2009 Voyage
ATTN: Name of Recipient
Port Agent Address (from list below)
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| When sending mail please mark "MV Explorer - Fall 2009 Voyage" on the first line and "Attn: Participant's Name" on the second line. The Port Agent's Address (from the list below) should be written on the subsequent lines. |
| PORT | ADDRESS OF PORT AGENT | SUGGESTED AIRMAIL DATE |
|---|---|---|
| Cadiz, SPAIN Phone: 34 956 276 112 Fax: 34 956 276 766 | Perez Y CIA S.L. | August 21 |
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| HONG KONG Phone: 852 2786 1155 Fax: 852 2744 3240 | INCHAPE SHIPPING SERVICES (HK) Ltd. Units 1802-1805, 18th Floor Nº 3 Lockhart Road Wanchai, Hong Kong - CHINA | October 28 |
| Shanghai, CHINA Phone: 86 21 6323 1350 Fax: 86 21 6329 1519 | PENAVICO SHANGHAI 3/F 13 Zhong Shan Road (E 1) Shanghai 200002, P.R. CHINA | November 1 |
| Yokohama, JAPAN Phone: 81 45 201 6991 Fax: 81 45 212 1614 | INCHAPE SHIPPING SERVICES 2F Asahi Seimei Yokohama Honcho Bldg 36, 4-Chome Honcho, Naka-ku Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa-ken 231-005, JAPAN | November 6 |
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| Honolulu, HAWAII Phone: 1 808 599 8604 Fax: 1 808 599 1950 | INCHAPE SHIPPING SERVICES 521 Ala Moana Blvd Suite 256 Honolulu, HI 96813 | November 20 |
| Hilo, HAWAII Phone: 1 808 599 8604 Fax: 1 808 599 1950 | INCHAPE SHIPPING SERVICES 521 Ala Moana Blvd Suite 256 Honolulu, HI 96813 | November 23 |
So here is the map of where I am going on Semester At Sea this fall. And here is the list....
I am so excited and I can't believe it is just under a month to go until I actually leave!! When I find out what trips I got from the pre-sale (assuming that I might get bumped from a trip in the lottery) I will post what I have planed for each country.
