Location: Still the Middle of the Atlantic Ocean

Classes have begun!

Hmm…I think I forgot about the whole academic aspect of this program…classes? Homework? Reading? It’s true, folks, it seems as though I will, in fact, be taking classes out here in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Did I mention Northwestern doesn’t accept credit from Semester at Sea? Seems as though I will, in fact, be taking classes out here in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean for zero recognition back home in Evanston. Well here’s the good news—my schedule is far from rigorous. We are required to take 4 classes (12 academic credits) on the MV Explorer- one of which is required for all students. This is Global Studies- a kind of historical/political look at the world, globalization, and each of the individual countries we will be visiting. As the professor puts it, the class is like “waterskiing,” just barely skimming the surface of each topic and nation we address. Very cool and useful in theory but waking up in time for the 9:20 lecture is slightly harder than previously imagined (Have I told you guys about the time changes yet? We lose an hour almost every night we are at sea. COOL.) Directly after that I have Global Music- pretty self-explanatory, I think. Today we studied Flamenco music in preparation for our first port of Cadiz, Spain which was really amazing. Hopefully my trip to Sevilla will include some sort of Flamenco performance! After Global Music, a short 4 hour beak until my next class of World Short Stories. In this class we will be reading short stories from each of the places we are travelling to and discussing them in our small class of only 14 students. The professor is super friendly and engaging so that is a class I’m really looking forward to going to every week. So that is my A-day (today is A2, the second day of A classes). Here at sea, there are no days of the week. No weekdays, no weekends just A and B days. Aka we take classes for a week straight and then get off at port for a 5 day vacation. So my other ½ of days at sea consist of a single class- Introduction to Theatre. It happens to start my day off at 4pm, giving me ample time to wake up at 11:30, eat lunch, watch an obscene amount of Friday Night Lights, lay out, do homework (in theory), answer e-mails, and write blog posts in the sunshine. Can you tell this rigorous academic life is getting to me? So that is basically a day at sea. A lot of down time + a little class time = one very happy Tracey at Sea.

Speaking of being happy, one thing that makes me EXTRA happy is getting e-mails from all my friends and family stateside! So e-mail me at tscook@semesteratsea.net and I promise you a prompt reply while at sea!

Love,
Tracey

Countdown to Espana: 4 days!

Location: Middle of the Atlantic Ocean

First Full Day on the Ship! Orientation and lots of it, meetings started at 9am to discuss all of the dos and don’ts of living on the MV Explorer. It introduced us (the voyagers by numbers)- 603 students, 27 international students, 12 countries, 15 port cities, and 50+ faculty and staff make up our on-ship community. BY THE WAY, I’M NOT ALLOWED TO CALL IT A BOAT. IT IS A SHIP. SORRY IM NOT SORRY. So the SHIP is really cool but quite confusing with it’s forward and aft, portside and starboardside, and not exactly clear map and sign system but I’m trying my best to find my way around. Being here is nerve-wracking and exciting and surreal. I really cannot believe that I will be living on this ship for 4 whole months. The constant rocking (which got especially bad last night—oh hey did I mention there are two hurricanes that we are trying to go BETWEEN) makes me sleepy as I am supposed to be paying attention to on-board safety procedures. I can’t believe I’m actually here and that SAS is finally happening. I especially can’t believe that I will be in ESPANA in a week!!
I already feel a little changed being here and it’s becoming more and more obvious how truly special this program is. I already know I could never explain this boat to someone- what it feels like to have the Atlantic Ocean as your backyard, to look out the window and see nothing but endless waves (BIG WAVES), to have the ocean rock you to sleep every night. Life is different here- you say hi to everyone you pass in the halls, you sit at a random table at lunch and in class, introducing yourself to whoever’s around, you continually repeat your hometown, college, and major just like freshman year Welcome Week. But it’s not the same as meeting people that you know you will go to school with. Because these people on the ship…these people are the ones you are going to go to school with, and live with, and eat with, and see the freaking world with and it’s definitely a whole world of possibilities with each new person you meet.
So then you sit a lot and listen a lot about safety and drinking and field programs and community. And you are bored and sleepy from the waves that you aren’t quite sure you’ll ever get used to. And right when you are about to fall asleep in your chair Archbishop Desmond Tutu strides up to the podium. (Did I mention we’ll be travelling with an archbishop for 4 months? And that he walks around and wears t-shirts and jeans like the rest of us?). And then Desmond Tutu- the man who changed the face of Africa and the world through his fight against apartheid- tells you that YOU inspire HIM! That young people leave him in awe. He tells you that you CAN change the world. That your belief that we can end world hunger and poverty ARE attainable. He tells you not to ever believe that you can’t do whatever it is you set your mind to. And so it is a good day.
I hope the feeling I had after he spoke stays with me in each new country I visit and with each new experience that this voyage brings me because I always want to feel that way. Full of hope and promise and trust that I am exactly where I am supposed to be.

Location: Tampa, Florida

So this is it. My last night in the U.S. until December (OKAY FINE I GET TO HAWAII IN NOVEMBER BUT THAT DOESN'T EVEN COUNT). I think I am actually relatively prepared for what awaits me in Halifax on Friday. That being a large boat, with a lot of people I have never met (including an archbishop), ready to take off around the world for three and half months. I have filled 3 large suitcases, downloaded approximately 8 new seasons of television onto my computer, and said goodbye to my beloved friends and family who I am leaving on land. So I guess I am essentially physically prepared to board the MV Explorer. What I am not is mentally prepared. Because I know no matter how much I think about it and hear about it and get advice from SAS alumni (what up kelley cook) I really have no semblance of an idea what my life is going to be like for the next 3+ months. And I think this is the first time in my entire life I have ever experienced quite so much haze when thinking about my future. Going into high school you know you will study and learn to drive and go to dances. And going into college you know you will live in a dorm room and have a roommate and drink beer in frats. And even if high school or college isn't exactly like what you thought, you probably got the general gist. But right now I'm sitting on my bed trying to imagine what it will be like to live on a boat and go around the world and visit 11 incredible places I have never been before. And while a good portion of me is terrified by this lack of foresight, another part of me really really likes not knowing for a change. And so here we go, next stop Halifax, Nova Scotia to start the next 109 days of my life.

1 boat, 109 days, 11 countries, 16 port cities and one big adventure to go.

"Above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't belive in magic will never find it."

Roald Dahl

More information about the Semester at Sea Fall Voyage can be found here!

http://www.semesteratsea.org/current-voyage/overview/