Hello Everyone!
I am pleased to announce that I have completed all the necessary paperwork for the three visas I needed. There was quite a mix up about a week ago. Originally we were informed that we could get our visas up until July 1st without rush processing. However, on the Facebook group it was mentioned that many individuals were having to pay an extra 2-300 more dollars just to get their visas and their passports back by August 20th. Luckily I contacted SAS and Travisa and will be getting all of my visas and passports around August 13th or 14th. It will be cutting it close but I am confident everything will work out. After completing my visas I felt some of the stress wash away. They took me around 3-4 hours to complete just because they were so detailed and picky. Luckily, Travisa will take care of the rest :)
I am also happy to report that I have completed all of my medical requirements. Four shots later and I am ready to travel to the remote areas of the jungle! I don't usually mind getting vaccinations but when I got the yellow fever one it burned and my arm swelled up for about a week. haha. I also have three prescriptions to take on the voyage including anti-malarial pills. I will be taking Malarone because the side effects seem less severe as compared to other forms of the pills. Even though nobody really loves vaccinations, at least it is better than contracting any sort of illness on the voyage. That would not be fun, especially with all the adventures I have planned.
In other news, the field programs for Brazil were released about a week ago. I am pretty excited for Rio. I signed up for two field programs so far in Rio but I am not positive about what I will be doing, if anything, in Salvador. I am worried about signing up for too many things just in case some groups want to go explore on their own. The problem is that the field programs do sound really fantastic and it is nice to sign up with SAS and not worry about planning anything as they are the experts. Choosing so many field programs has not saved me money but I am beyond excited for the opportunities it will provide me with. I have not scheduled on every day so I hope to have some time to bond with shipmates :) Cuba's field programs will not be released until July but I am eager to see what is offered, even if I only participate in one program.
Here is my plan for Rio:
Day one- field lab- samba dancing and afterwards maybe finding a group that wants to explore the city/ take pictures of the famous statue
Day two- Trip to Prainha beach + snorkeling at Perigoso Beach- Prainha beach is a sustainable beach and we have the opportunity to help clean up any trash or debris as well as relax on the beach. Perigoso beach is a wild beach and is only a moderate hike away from Prainha. I am super excited for this day! I will be able to learn and relax at the same time!
Day Three- Trip to the AMAZON!!! This will be by far the most daring adventure I will be going on. I will be staying at this secluded lodge that has been incorporated into the jungle called Juma Jungle Lodge. The first night we will be canoeing to view wildlife such as alligators and birds. The second day we will have a sunrise jungle excursion and then a jungle hike. We will also be in paddle canoes and will fish for piranhas!! That is kind of scary :P Then we will eat dinner and have a lecture about the jungle most likely or about the culture. Not sure which at this point. The third day we will be canoeing, having a picnic in the jungle, meeting the locals and having dinner. Finally on the last day we will travel to Manaus and then back to Salvador to meet up with the ship. I have also added on a special night trip where I will be sleeping in the jungle in a hammock! I am kind of nervous for that but I am sure it will be a unique experience that probably won't be duplicated. As my mom puts it- this is the least expensive trip I will ever have but one that will be rich in lessons and will stay with me for a lifetime.
Like I mentioned I am not really sure what I will be doing in Salvador. I may be pretty exhausted from my trip to the Amazon but I am not really sure. I may wait to sign up for a program until I am closer to arriving in Salvador. There are some cultural experiences such as folklore or overnight trips/ day trips to see things like a cacao farm or the Marine Turtle Research and Preservation Project. We will see what I end up deciding.
I guess that is all the updates I have for now about Semester at Sea. I am getting more and more excited by the day. Even though many joys lie ahead, I know that with every smile is a frown. It will be difficult to say goodbye to my family, sisters, and close friends and to be away from them for so long. I think that will be one of my greatest challenges. I do have hopes of making some new fantastic friends on this voyage, and I am beyond excited for that. My next hurdle will be tackling the dreaded packing of suitcases! I need to create a finalized list and make sure that I have everything I need for four months. It will be a big challenge. I am also going to be buying my textbooks soon.
One month left in Colorado and one month until I head home to California! I cannot wait to escape the heat here but I can wait to say goodbye to those I love and care about. 53 more days until I leave for London and 57 more days until I depart on Semester at Sea!! :) I will update this blog again once Cuba's field programs are released!
Friday, June 28, 2013
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Preparing for the Journey of a Lifetime
Hello Everyone!
I decided recently that having a blog will be very beneficial in the upcoming months as I study abroad on Semester at Sea. Only 63 more days (so excited!!)! This blog will allow me to update my friends and family on my adventures throughout but will also provide me with a means to document personal growth throughout the experience. Hopefully I will become a more global and mature individual upon conclusion of this adventure.
Some of you may be unfamiliar with Semester at Sea and how it works. Me and about 700 other students will be traveling aboard a large ship called the MV Explorer. It will be departing from Southampton, England on August 24th. In order to get the most out of the experience I plan to travel to London a few days early to meet other students and explore this exciting city. While in London I will be going on a tour called "The Making of Harry Potter" at Warner Brother's Studio. It will be really exciting to see the sets from all of the movies and learn about how the films were created. I will also hopefully spend some time sightseeing.
On August 24th the MV Explorer departs and heads towards St. Petersburg, Russia. While I am at sea I will be taking four classes in a block schedule fashion. On the "A" days I will be taking Anthropology of Food and Cross Cultural Psychology. On the "B"days I will be taking Introduction to Anthropology and Stress:Work, Technology and Life. My classes are scheduled so that I will have time to enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. I am really excited to take these classes because I believe each one of them will teach me things I could not learn in a regular classroom. It will allow me to learn more about the world and about the nations we will be visiting. I also have some interesting class assignments. For example, in my Intro to Anthropology class I will have to visit 3 McDonald's on three different continents and comment on the similarities and differences between those locations and the ones in the USA. Each class also requires a field lab. Here are the field labs I will be participating in:
Stress: Work, Technology, and Life- A visit to the World Health Organization in Belgium to learn about stress and how it affects health around the world
Introduction to Anthropology- Visiting an education center in South Africa
Cross Cultural Psychology- Samba dancing in Brazil- Rio
Anthropology of Food- Market visit in Ghana
While the ship is docked in port, we have the opportunity to explore on our own or participate in field programs planned and carried out by Semester at Sea. We do not have class while in port, which is awesome! :) So far, most of the field programs have been released but I am still waiting on programs from Brazil and Cuba. Recently our itinerary changed and we will be traveling to Salvador in Brazil instead of Manaus and now we will be stopping in Cuba for the first time since 2004. I am excited to go to Cuba because it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Here is the itinerary for the voyage:
Embark: Southampton, London
Saint Petersburg, Russia
Hamburg, Germany
Antwerp, Belgium
Le Havre, France
Dublin, Ireland
Lisbon, Portugal
Cadiz, Spain
Casablanca, Morocco
Takadori, Ghana
Tema (Accra), Ghana
Cape Town, South Africa
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Salvador, Brazil
Havana, Cuba
Debark: Fort Lauderdale, FL
There are 7 decks on the MV Explorer. I will be living on Deck 3 in an outside cabin with a small portal window. I will have a roommate. You can see a virtual tour of the room I will be living in here:
http://www.semesteratsea.org/our-ship/deck-plans/
That webpage will also give you a good look at what my living situation will be for about four months :)
I will close this really lengthy blog entry by listing the field programs I plan to participate in. I will update it as changes are made and will obviously write an entry for each experience. If you have any more questions about this trip I would love to answer them :)
Russia:
1) Walking tour of St. Petersburg and the Hermitage Museum
2) Visit to Moscow to see the Kremlin, the Cathedral and the Moscow Ballet
Germany
Spending time with my German Exchange Partner from high school!!! :)
Belgium
1) Field Lab
2) Trip to Paris
France
1) Return from Paris
2) Cliffs of Etretat
Ireland
Spending time with my cousin!!
Portugal
1) Fado and Folklore
2) Cooking Class
3) Visit to Sintra & Pena National Park
Spain
1) Monument tour in Seville
2) Flamenco Dance Lessons
Morocco
1) Tour of Casablanca and the Hassan II Mosque
- See more at: http://www.semesteratsea.org/voyages/fall-2013/#sthash.g2pn1Paj.dpuf
2) Marrakech Medina & Majorelle Gardens
3) Casablanca Market and Interactive Cooking Class
4) Dinner and evening with a Moroccan family
Ghana
1) Field Lab
2) Nzulezu, Kakum, & Cape Coast
South Africa
1) Field Lab
2) Safari!!
Argentina
1) Dinner and Tango show
2) The Cafes of Buenos Aires
3) Mosaic workshop
4) Service project at the community center
That is all I am registered for at this point. I still have plenty of time while in each port to explore and go on adventures with other students. I am so excited and I know that it will be worth every single little penny! :) I will post another entry once I have updates! Also, please comment with questions if you so desire! Thanks for reading!
- See more at: http://www.semesteratsea.org/voyages/fall-2013/#sthash.g2pn1Paj.dpuf
I decided recently that having a blog will be very beneficial in the upcoming months as I study abroad on Semester at Sea. Only 63 more days (so excited!!)! This blog will allow me to update my friends and family on my adventures throughout but will also provide me with a means to document personal growth throughout the experience. Hopefully I will become a more global and mature individual upon conclusion of this adventure.
Some of you may be unfamiliar with Semester at Sea and how it works. Me and about 700 other students will be traveling aboard a large ship called the MV Explorer. It will be departing from Southampton, England on August 24th. In order to get the most out of the experience I plan to travel to London a few days early to meet other students and explore this exciting city. While in London I will be going on a tour called "The Making of Harry Potter" at Warner Brother's Studio. It will be really exciting to see the sets from all of the movies and learn about how the films were created. I will also hopefully spend some time sightseeing.
On August 24th the MV Explorer departs and heads towards St. Petersburg, Russia. While I am at sea I will be taking four classes in a block schedule fashion. On the "A" days I will be taking Anthropology of Food and Cross Cultural Psychology. On the "B"days I will be taking Introduction to Anthropology and Stress:Work, Technology and Life. My classes are scheduled so that I will have time to enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. I am really excited to take these classes because I believe each one of them will teach me things I could not learn in a regular classroom. It will allow me to learn more about the world and about the nations we will be visiting. I also have some interesting class assignments. For example, in my Intro to Anthropology class I will have to visit 3 McDonald's on three different continents and comment on the similarities and differences between those locations and the ones in the USA. Each class also requires a field lab. Here are the field labs I will be participating in:
Stress: Work, Technology, and Life- A visit to the World Health Organization in Belgium to learn about stress and how it affects health around the world
Introduction to Anthropology- Visiting an education center in South Africa
Cross Cultural Psychology- Samba dancing in Brazil- Rio
Anthropology of Food- Market visit in Ghana
While the ship is docked in port, we have the opportunity to explore on our own or participate in field programs planned and carried out by Semester at Sea. We do not have class while in port, which is awesome! :) So far, most of the field programs have been released but I am still waiting on programs from Brazil and Cuba. Recently our itinerary changed and we will be traveling to Salvador in Brazil instead of Manaus and now we will be stopping in Cuba for the first time since 2004. I am excited to go to Cuba because it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Here is the itinerary for the voyage:
Embark: Southampton, London
Saint Petersburg, Russia
Hamburg, Germany
Antwerp, Belgium
Le Havre, France
Dublin, Ireland
Lisbon, Portugal
Cadiz, Spain
Casablanca, Morocco
Takadori, Ghana
Tema (Accra), Ghana
Cape Town, South Africa
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Salvador, Brazil
Havana, Cuba
Debark: Fort Lauderdale, FL
There are 7 decks on the MV Explorer. I will be living on Deck 3 in an outside cabin with a small portal window. I will have a roommate. You can see a virtual tour of the room I will be living in here:
http://www.semesteratsea.org/our-ship/deck-plans/
That webpage will also give you a good look at what my living situation will be for about four months :)
I will close this really lengthy blog entry by listing the field programs I plan to participate in. I will update it as changes are made and will obviously write an entry for each experience. If you have any more questions about this trip I would love to answer them :)
Russia:
1) Walking tour of St. Petersburg and the Hermitage Museum
2) Visit to Moscow to see the Kremlin, the Cathedral and the Moscow Ballet
Germany
Spending time with my German Exchange Partner from high school!!! :)
Belgium
1) Field Lab
2) Trip to Paris
France
1) Return from Paris
2) Cliffs of Etretat
Ireland
Spending time with my cousin!!
Portugal
1) Fado and Folklore
2) Cooking Class
3) Visit to Sintra & Pena National Park
Spain
1) Monument tour in Seville
2) Flamenco Dance Lessons
Morocco
1) Tour of Casablanca and the Hassan II Mosque
- Embark: Southampton (London), England
- Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Hamburg, Germany
- Antwerp, Belgium *
- Le Havre, France *
- Dublin, Ireland
- Lisbon, Portugal *
- Cadiz, Spain *
- Casablanca, Morocco
- Takoradi, Ghana *
- Tema (Accra), Ghana *
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil *
- Salvador, Brazil *
- Havana, Cuba
- Debark: Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
3) Casablanca Market and Interactive Cooking Class
4) Dinner and evening with a Moroccan family
Ghana
1) Field Lab
2) Nzulezu, Kakum, & Cape Coast
South Africa
1) Field Lab
2) Safari!!
Argentina
1) Dinner and Tango show
2) The Cafes of Buenos Aires
3) Mosaic workshop
4) Service project at the community center
That is all I am registered for at this point. I still have plenty of time while in each port to explore and go on adventures with other students. I am so excited and I know that it will be worth every single little penny! :) I will post another entry once I have updates! Also, please comment with questions if you so desire! Thanks for reading!
- Embark: Southampton (London), England
- Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Hamburg, Germany
- Antwerp, Belgium *
- Le Havre, France *
- Dublin, Ireland
- Lisbon, Portugal *
- Cadiz, Spain *
- Casablanca, Morocco
- Takoradi, Ghana *
- Tema (Accra), Ghana *
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil *
- Salvador, Brazil *
- Havana, Cuba
- Debark: Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
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