In exactly a month from today, I’ll be on my way to London to begin the most amazing semester of my life. I remember reading about Semester at Sea three years ago, but even now it’s hard to imagine that this is a reality. There are only 30 days until I leave and I'm so excited I can barely think about it!
I’ll be heading out for 115 days on the MV Explorer, to see 17 cities in 15 different countries. I don’t have the words to describe how excited I am for this voyage. Had you told my 16 year old self, that in four years I’d be heading out to travel the world on my own, I never would have believed you. But here I am, ready for the adventure of a lifetime.
So much has happened in the last few weeks, and it’s about to get even crazier before I can leave. On the preparation front, I’m still waiting to hear back from the visa office, so fingers crossed that nothing is wrong. I finally had my yellow fever vaccination and my typhoid fever pills, as well as ordered malaria pills, seasickness patches, and other drugs. I’ve started a pile in the corner of my room for all of the things I’ve collected that I’ll be bringing with me. With the combination of packing lists I’ve looked at, and mental lists I’ve been making, it’ll be interesting to see if I can put it all in my goal of 1 suitcase, 1 carry-on. The ship has a limit of 2 suitcases, but I don’t want to be that tourist trying to shuffle along in London with two huge bags trailing after me. So my first goal: 1 suitcase.
I haven’t thought much about what I want to do in the three days I have before boarding the ship. I have my Harry Potter studios ticket, so I have one afternoon covered, but the rest will be spent exploring with my future shipmates! It’s comforting to know that I’ll be meeting up with at least three other girls at the airport before we try and navigate downtown London together. The hostel I’m staying at, St Christopher’s, will be packed full of SAS kids, so it’ll be nice to be in good company.
Really I just can’t wait to actually start packing, even though it’s going to be a crazy few weeks with work and class before I can even start!
I did pick out my classes that I’ll be taking onboard and they are:
Astronomy
Geology
Medical Anthropology
Intro to World Religions
I’m especially excited for my Global Lens class, Intro to World Religions, because the class is tailored to the countries we’ll be visiting so we’ll get a firsthand look at the places we’re studying!
I’m so excited now that I know I’m not going to be able to stand still the morning of August 24th, when I’m waiting to board the MV Explorer!
I haven’t thought much about what I want to do in the three days I have before boarding the ship. I have my Harry Potter studios ticket, so I have one afternoon covered, but the rest will be spent exploring with my future shipmates! It’s comforting to know that I’ll be meeting up with at least three other girls at the airport before we try and navigate downtown London together. The hostel I’m staying at, St Christopher’s, will be packed full of SAS kids, so it’ll be nice to be in good company.
Really I just can’t wait to actually start packing, even though it’s going to be a crazy few weeks with work and class before I can even start!
I did pick out my classes that I’ll be taking onboard and they are:
Astronomy
Geology
Medical Anthropology
Intro to World Religions
I’m especially excited for my Global Lens class, Intro to World Religions, because the class is tailored to the countries we’ll be visiting so we’ll get a firsthand look at the places we’re studying!
I’m so excited now that I know I’m not going to be able to stand still the morning of August 24th, when I’m waiting to board the MV Explorer!
