THE SHIP!

This is sooooooo crazy! I am currently about 1,100 miles from our first port, Galway, Ireland. I have to keep pinching myself to ensure this is actually real.

The ship is extremely nice. It was originally built to be a Greek cruise liner. It’s decorated really nicely and has just about everything you would expect on a cruise ship, just on a smaller scale. My room is a glorified closet and not having a window is rough, but I’m getting used to it. I’m only ever in there to sleep anyhow. My roommate is very nice. She’s from Virginia but attends Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.

Seasickness has not been a problem for me so far. I do take ginger pills everyday so that may be preventing it. Who knows. It’s definitely a lot rockier than I had anticipated. It’s almost impossible to walk a straight line at times. We all look drunk. It’s rather entertaining.

My courses (infectious disease, beginning drawing, and business communication) all seem like they’re going to be wonderful. The faculty members on the ship are insanely impressive individuals, and they may or may not be the nicest, most approachable people I’ve ever been in contact with. Everyone is genuinely ecstatic to be here, and it shows. They’re all winning to help you with anything and everything.

Work-study is going well. It’s really neat to get to interact with the deans on a regular basis, and my supervisor, Holly (an SAS alum) is super nice and laid back. I do pretty meaningless tasks, like staple papers together for professors and hang up documents on bulletin boards, but whatever. It’s worth it.

Currently on-board with us is Crocs inventor, Scott Siemens, and astronaut, Kathryn Thorton. We’ve heard both of them speak of their life and experiences, and they’re just amazing, accomplished people. Scott is a Semester at Sea alum, and Kathryn is going serve as dean on the ship in spring 2013. I feel so lucky to just be in their presence. 

I literally cannot wait to get to Ireland. I’m so so excited to begin my travels. A few friends and I are just going to wing it, and I think it’ll be great. The only thing we’re sure we’re going to do is sea kayak to see some glow-in-the-dark plankton. I’m pumped!