The Beginning...

It’s been only 5 days since we left Halifax to set sail for Spain, and it already feels as if I have been here forever. I never thought that I’d get used to living on a ship, but I think I could perhaps do this for a very long time. I feel like I am on a permanent vacation. Every day after class hordes of students are outside tanning, lounging, and studying by the pool on Deck 7. The first few days at sea I was a little worried I wasn’t going to get to meet all 520 students, but as the days go on, and the more activities and classes we have the more people I meet. It’s really fascinating how quickly you get to know people when you’re living in a space that is so confined. I also never thought I’d be swimming and tanning with my professors. It’s a weird way to go to school, and so far I don’t even feel like I am at school. I forget that the main purpose of this voyage is to learn and get credit. I’m taking four classes: Global studies, Geology, Learning and Memory (psych), and controversial issues in psychology. I really love my two psych classes, my professor is great. Geology and Global studies I could do without.

As we get closer and closer to Spain the weather keeps getting warmer and warmer (it was cold in Halifax!) We arrive in Cadiz in 3 days and I can’t even describe to you how excited I am. Besides the fact that the food on the ship is horrible, I think everyone is more than ready to touch land. They warned us that instead of being sea sick we might get land sick. Our bodies will be so used to the movement of the ship, that I bet it probably will feel weird to be on stable ground. For a few days we had some rough seas and even though I’ve been on cruises I’ve never felt rocking like this. You could just be walking down the hall or up and down the stairs and you would literally see everyone just fall into each other. It’s a great way to meet people very fast. Working out is also one of the hardest/funniest things to do on a rough day. You have to hold on to the bars while running on the treadmill or else you WILL fall, which I of course did the first time I tried.

Most nights when we’re at sea we have what they call pub night. They allow us to have 2 drinks of either beer or wine at dinner and 3 later on in the night until about 11:00. For most of the guys that sucks, but fortunately for me I can get a little tipsy off 3 glasses of wine. Last night we had a BBQ and dance party for celebrating our voyage being the 100^th voyage. It was so much fun. We all had to dress up in mismatched clothes. I don’t think any of us has had that much fun sober in a long long time (sad, but true). It was another great way to meet people that we haven’t already met. I’ve met some really awesome people so far from all over the country. My roommate, her name is Alex, is awesome. I got so lucky. She is from Baltimore but goes to University of Miami. She’s super funny and really laid back. We have had so much fun together already. The other girls we’ve met are all extremely nice, and fun as well. After the Dance last night we went to one of my friend Vanessa’s room and had a dance party in there. There were probably 15 of is in this small little cabin, but it was a blast. Soon enough of course we got yelled at to be quiet and to leave. There are a bunch of little kids on the boat (their parents or grandparents are faculty) so we have to “respect quiet hours.”

Tonight at 9:00 I have a meeting with the ship’s photographer. We were able to sign up for different things to be involved in on board the ship, and one of the things I signed up for was to be a part of the semester at sea yearbook that we all receive at the end of the voyage. Over 100 people applied and only about 20 of us got picked which is really exciting. I looked at the previous yearbooks and they look absolutely amazing, so I am excited to be a part of that. There really isn’t much more to update you all on, but as soon as I get back on board after my adventures in Spain I promise to update again! Miss and love you all!