Thank You For Giving Me The WORLD!

Thank You For Giving Me The WORLD!

Okay here we go, I have 24 hours left on the ship….
My parents are already down in Miami waiting for me, my Grandparents are arriving today, and I am finding it hard to believe that this journey is over. For those of you who have read my blogs along the way, I thank you very much. Hearing how they have been spread around different families is remarkable.
Let me do a little recap of my incredible 3 ½ months-

     Between breathtaking moments in Rio on top of the mountain where the “Christ the Redeemer Statue stands, to walking the Namib desert, spotting lions on my safari, to playing with orphans in India, the beauty of Kuala Lumpur, spending time in Vietnam with my parents, to climbing up the great wall, Buddhist temples in Japan, Thanksgiving in Hawaii, to zip-lining in Costa Rica.
Of course this is all in a nutshell of my 108-day voyage around the world, but gives you a sense of what I have seen.  
              My pictures of everything will definitely be up on a website that I will e-mail to you once I settle back home.
I am really anxious to get home, but at the same time I have to leave this sort of family that I have created on the ship. We have all discussed and shared our past, how we think we have changed on this voyage, and what we want to do with our future. I have become so extremely close with some people, in which I often rely and ask advice on practically anything.
     Not just silly questions such as does this shirt go with these pants, but more important ones. Questions such as how measures ought to be changed to help India with their inequalities of rich and poor.  Questions like will China take over the United States as a new superpower in the next decade? I have learned a lot by traveling to these countries, but also discussing important matters with friends and professors.
These are the essential questions that I think Americans don’t talk about often enough. We are without doubt in a bubble, and in my opinion shut out the rest of the world. If everyone were able to experience and live in another culture or “someone else’s shoes,” life would be drastically different.
        I know that I have changed while on this journey, but it has yet to be determined to what extent. It has obvious changed how I see the world and relate to it.
I wish everyone would have the chance to live outside his or her comfort zone and boundaries.  I think that it is a part of a growing process to do this. Also, it is not an easy concept to grasp or understand. I have done my best to write down my thoughts on everything I have seen and heard.
        I have enjoyed every moment of writing these blog because not only does it give you an idea of what I am up to, but also I am able to sort out my feelings and thoughts.
I want to say a final thanks to everyone who has supported me on this trip. Special thanks to Pa for enabling me to travel the world, and most importantly my parents who have always been there for me. I love you!
Thank you everyone! See you soon!!!

Love Always,

 Kristen

Pura Vida!

Costa Rica style! This phrase means “pure life.” This is how you would respond to anyone asking you how anything was. How was…..? Pura Vida! Apparently it is just the phrase the Costa Ricans or better known as “Ticos” use.  Oh man Costa Rica was a blast!! I think that everyone had an extra good time because school and the work load is now over with =)
        The first day we were in Costa Rica two of my friends and I went to a beach called “Jaco” beach. The beach was not very nice, but we did a little shopping and eating instead. We went to this hotel/ restaurant and had chips, salsa, fajitas, and margaritas! Muy delicioso! It was really fun that they spoke Spanish. I was able to remember a few phrases and kind of carry on a conversation with a few people. I am pretty sure that my Italian was mixed in a bit though. That is because it was the last language I learned. Hehe.
        The next day we were up early for our San Jose Overnight! It was a two and a half hour bus ride there. I went with my three friends Ginny, Amanda, and Teddy. When we arrived we went to tour an Opera House and a Gold Museum. The history was good to learn because I never knew much about Costa Rica. The biodiversity on the drive down to San Jose was magnificent. Sorry if I bore you with talking about biodiversity, but I just finished writing a paper on conservation for my Global Environmental Policy class.  It was probably my hardest class, however was the most interesting. 
        That night my friends and I found a wannabe Starbucks with some great coffee! If you didn’t know Coffee is one of the most important exports in Costa Rica. I Love Coffee =) We also found an internet café where I was able to go on facebook and tell people I will be home in less then a week! Yes!!

We were up early for a drive up one of the mountains for zip lining! We all got in our harnessed and zip-lined down the cables for an amazing view of the greenery and waterfalls! Some of the lines were faster then others and you had to break yourself when you got to the end. It was a great adrenaline rush!
        Next was lunch and then to a coffee plantation! I cannot remember what the name of this particular plantation was called, but I do know that they sell their coffee to Starbucks. It made the tour a lot more interesting. At the end we were able to buy some bags, so that I did. We did a few more things around town before heading back to the ship.

        Now we are down to our last four days. Tonight I have the Ambassador’s Ball!! Everyone gets dressed up and then we have two sittings for dinner. Followed by desserts, entertainment, and dancing! Tomorrow we go through the Panama Canal!! There is a full day planned with Panama Canal activities. After that I believe everyone will be filling out the customs forms and getting everything packed.
         It is hard for me to even fathom I have been on this boat for 104 days. Honestly where did time go? A few of my friends and I were talking last night about visiting each other and then this summer maybe going to Mexico! Who knows if it will happen, but I really really want to stay in touch with everyone. I can’t even tell you how surreal this whole experience has been. I have been thinking a lot about what I will feel like when I get home. I guess I will have to wait and see. But I know that I have been blessed and probably the luckiest girl in the world to have been able to do this.
There will be a final post to wrap up all of my thoughts. This will be good because when I get home I plan on doing some sort of scrapbook. I have kept all of my tickets, papers, and such through the whole trip.
Ah I do not want to pack! I have too much stuff! I wish it could all magically be in my bags. We have to pack all of our stuff two days before Miami because they keep it in a certain room and haul it off with big cranes. Therefore when we get off the ship we won’t have as much to carry. It is a good idea.
Speaking of packing, I should get on that. First there is a song that just came on my computer with some great lyrics!

Wind is blowing through the trees
Rivers flowing to the seas
Yeah they are all heading home just like you and me
Life is for living child can’t you see that
These are the days we will remember
These are the times that won’t come again
The highest of flames becomes an ember
And you gotta live it while you can!

Can’t wait to see everyone!!!

Love,

Kristen

No more school, No more books!

Oh my gosh! I am done with Semester At Sea academics! My tests were a little tricky but I studied really hard for them! I can’t believe that I don’t have to read any more Buddhism, Environmental Policies, Global Studies, and Philosophy! Academics here were extremely rigorous in my point of view, therefore I am happy I am done! I am not equally as happy that I will be ending this voyage though, it has meant everything and more to me.

        Throughout the voyage we have had a “camera guy” by the name of Greg who has been taking footage of the entire semester. When they finish editing and making everything awesome on the DVD, they are sending copies out to whoever bought them. My wonderful and thoughtful Mother bought one for me with an interview at the end!
I get really nervous on camera! (Not sure if you knew that, but now you do) Anyways, I strung three of my friends along with me to be in the video as well! It was a little nerve-racking to talk about this three and a half month experience. We shall see when it comes home in March. I am also pretty sure that my brother would have absolutely loved the job of the “camera guy” for Semester At Sea. You should get on that Matt!!

Today is the last day of finals for the whole ship. Tomorrow we arrive in Costa Rica =) We will be there for three days. I already said what I was doing in my last few blogs, so I don’t bore you with that again.
        We have been encouraged to get all of our belongings arranged and together because we leave in 8 days! I have to go through and see what I bought in each country for the United States Customs when I arrive in Miami. I cannot remember what I bought in each country. Hm yes I might have to go and make that list ASAP! The last day is supposed to be the most hectic day out of the whole 108-day journey. I on the other hand do not care because I’ll be going home to see my family! Be looking out for a Costa Rica blog, and finally a coming home one. I will tell you right now that blog post will not be easy to write =(

Peace and Love,

Kristen

One Down, Three to Go!

Yes! I have completed one final! I am super happy that this final was a lot easier than the midterm! I think it is because I have studied about China, India, and Japan before, and I really like and understand these countries.

For the rest of the day I will probably be studying for the next two exams that I have the day after tomorrow.

 

Remember when I told you all about the auction that we had? At least I think I did? Well we had an auction a couple of weeks ago, and students bid on "pieing the Academic Deans." Therefore, today we are all witnessing some pie action!! Should be hillarious! Yesterday was the day where we picked to see in what order each "sea" is getting off the boat in Miami. Unfortunately my sea, the Bering Sea, came in second to last :( It is okay though because then I will be able to say bye to my friends without rushing off.

The water is crystal clear and the skies have been blue for a few days now. It is warm with a breeze on the upper decks on the ship. Sun-tanning gets a little chilly =)

I should get going on some studying of Zen Buddhism and Philosophy.

Updates after these exams!!

 

Love,

 

Kristen

X0X0

On my way to the end....

I never was able to say Aloha in my last blog, so here it is!!! ALOHA! We are definitely way passed Hawaii as our boat is going very fast now! We are probably at around 23 or 24 knots. I last saw our route on the TV going from Honolulu to Port Caldera? If you know where that is let me know! Most likely we are stopping there to fuel the boat before we arrive in Costa Rica.
        I now only have two class days left! We are just reviewing and filling out course evaluations though. This means all I have is four finals! I have one on December 2, two on December 4, and one on December 6. Currently I am trying to get all my notes and materials ready to study for the next couple of days. Sleep is also a needed thing on this boat because of our constant time changes. After tonight, only four more.
        This is such a bittersweet part in my voyage! Of course I want to get home, but the more I think about myself being at home with these new experiences it freaks me out. I apologize because this is not making much sense. Let me talk about something else.

        Today I donated money to the alumni fund, which enables the Institute of Shipboard Education to give money to future students for scholarships. Also, it gives money to this new foundation in memory of Kurt Leswing. I could pick a number of different foundations where I wanted the money to go, but since Kurt was on my voyage and I knew him, I felt it appropriate to give to that foundation. I not only gave Semester At Sea money, I also wrote my name down on the list of people that will be contacted to recruit at home universities. I thought this was a neat idea and any college student should have this incredible opportunity like I did.

What else what else! All my friends are great and are working just as hard as I am for final exams and papers. It is quite funny to hear people’s conversations of how they are getting certain items that they bought home. My roommate bought this crazy Brazilian instrument that is absolutely huge. No idea how she is getting it home, but it is definitely not staying in the corner of our room! I don’t think it would even fit in the overhead compartment on the plane =)
You will be happy to know that our room is decorated with all Christmas decorations and there are even candy canes hanging from the ceiling! We are very festive in room 4038.
Yeah Christmas Time! Let the shopping begin!!

Love,

Kristen X0X0

Thanksgiving in Hawaii!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!! It is no longer Thanksgiving for you, but I still have 2 hours =)
Today was absolutely fabulous. I am not going to lie, I missed being with my family, but it was definitely a Thanksgiving I will never forget.
The boat pulled into Hawaii at about 7:00 A.M and I was super excited because my phone was no longer roaming! It had been roaming since August! I called my family, Pa and Maureen, Grandma Loie and Grandpa Bob, and finally my friend Alex from John Carroll. I had not talked to her on the phone since August, so I was able to get the chance to call her!!
        It would have been a lot harder to contact people if I was not in the United States. I walked off the gangway of the boat at 10:00 A.M. and met my friend Ginny’s Mom! Ginny is from Madison, Alabama and is a junior at Birmingham either college or university, I can’t remember. Her grandparents live in Hawaii and her Mom wanted to see them for Thanksgiving as well as see Ginny! Apparently Ginny and her family go to Hawaii a few times a year.
        All right so here are my adventures in a ten-hour time period-
When Ginny saw her mom she immediately ran to her and hugged her so hard! It made me remember how much I loved every second of my parents being in Vietnam and seeing them for the first time in awhile. Her mom gave us all Hawaiian “Leigh?” I have no idea how to spell it and the people around me don’t know either! Anyways, it was really cute! I wish we were able to take them on the boat, but of course they confiscated them! Something to do with bringing foreign flowers and agricultural products on the boat.
Oh yes, and my two other friends were also with us, Ben and Amanda. I have traveling through most countries with them as you may have noted in my other blog posts.
        Okay we then headed to this place called Leonard’s. It was a local pastry shop with THE BEST donut like, sugar pastry. They had a certain name, but honestly I didn’t care what they were called. They were AMAZING. After eating too many of these pastries, we headed to the nursery home to visit Ginny’s Grandma.  Her Grandma has been living in this nursery home ever since she had a stroke ten years ago, but it is great that Ginny gets to see her a few times a year. We were able to talk to her a bit and Ginny’s grandpa who is eighty-eight and still doing everything with lots of energy. The nursery home had an incredible view of Diamond Head from up top the hill. Hawaii is fantastic and I would have loved to spend at least another few days there. The ocean, beaches, and hills reminded me a little of Rio.
        After that, we went to lunch at a place called “Zippys.” I asked Ginny’s Mom if they had any in the “mainland,” and she said that maybe in San Francisco but really just a Hawaiian restaurant. They had things ranging from Japanese to regular American food!! There were a few authentic Hawaii meals, but I decided to opt out on those. (I didn’t eat the Poi Maureen!) Besides the massive amounts of food we all inhaled, I had to get a Starbucks when my friends went and got Jamba Juice.
        Ginny had a few favorite beaches in Honolulu, but decided on one of her favorites where there were not a lot of tourists. We played in the ocean and attempted to tan, except it was a little late in the day.
        Finally we went to Ginny’s Grandpa’s house and got ready for dinner! We went to a country club that her Grandpa belongs to. The buffet was ridiculous!!! They had everything you could ever imagine for a Thanksgiving dinner. It was like the buffet at the Atlantis on steroids! Ginny said it usually is not that crazy, but they really do things up on Thanksgiving. I ate sososososososo much, but it was all so gooood!!!
        It was a very successful day in Hawaii! I can’t wait to come back and spend more time. I want to go back to every country I have been!! I am just so overjoyed that I was able to talk and text people because I am in the USA! Hahah not for long though. My next stop is Costa Rica!!! I am doing an overnight in San Jose where a few of us are zip-lining and drinking coffee in the rainforest =) Coffee Coffee Coffee! Nevertheless, we do have finals in about 5 days. I have four finals but will be done with them when we arrive in Costa Rica. I can’t wait because the after that we have our Ambassador’s Ball!!

There are a lot of activities and academics that are coming up, so if I don’t blog on everything I am doing, I apologize now! I love getting the e-mails and phone calls on people enjoying my blogs. I have honestly really enjoyed putting all my thoughts down in writing. It will be neat to read these down the road ☺

Hope all of your Thanksgiving’s were magnificent!

Love Forever,

Kristen

Time Warp!

Hello! I am still sailing on the open seas =) we are getting so close to Hawaii that I can see the islands on my TV screen! I actually think that we are really close; therefore the boat is only going about 10 knots. It usually goes around 20.
The weather is very nice here- probably about low to mid 80’s. I know that it is absolutely freezing at home, so I won’t rub it in! If it makes anyone feel better, I am excited for the snow and cold! I feel as if I am having like a 7-month summer because all I wear are flip-flops around the boat.
        Nothing too new on the boat, everyone is writing papers still and getting ready for finals after Hawaii. We had a day off 3 days ago, because we went through the international dateline. I can’t say that I have ever had two of the same day, but I did! November 22 was a great day!! I have had two time changes since we crossed the international dateline. Now we are 6 hours behind EST. Tomorrow we will be 5.

        Last night we had an “open mic night” where any one can get on stage and either sing, or play an instrument like piano and guitar. This is popular at actual colleges ☺ My friend Katie who is a religion major at a small school in California got on stage and performed a song she wrote and then a popular song called “Imagine.”
        Listening to her sing and play the guitar was incredible. She has the most amazing voice. The song that she wrote was about Semester at Sea, and all of the hope in the world. I had a tear in my eye listening to this because I think it in a sense made it all real to us. We have all journeyed together on this voyage, but each of our experiences are different and we have to take what we get from this semester.
       
        Yeah! Okay let me tell you what I am doing for Thanksgiving in Hawaii! My friend Ginny has grandparents that live in Honolulu. Her Mom will be in Hawaii also because she wanted to visit Ginny’s grandparents and see Ginny. My friend Amanda and Ben, and I were invited to come hang out with all of them on Thanksgiving! We will be visiting Ginny’s Grandma in the nursing home, then hitting a beach, and finally Thanksgiving dinner! I am excited that I will have something fun to do and somewhere to go with my friends! And of course I will be thinking of Pa, Maureen, Mom, Dad, Matt, Uncle Billy, Aunt Patti, Danny, and Nicole. This will be my first Thanksgiving without them all!! I will also miss Grandpa Loie and Grandpa Bob, as I will always remember those great Thanksgivings at their house.

Love to you all- and see you in less then three weeks!!!

Kristen