Hello from the middle of the Pacific Ocean!

I suppose I should start off this blog by apologizing for not posting sooner. It has been a crazy, wonderful first couple of weeks on the MV Explorer, and such an overwhemling amount of things have happened, I'm going to have some trouble sorting it all out. All I can say is that I've never felt so out of my comfort zone, yet so excited and exhilerated about the things I'm doing. This really is turning out to be an experience of a lifetime, and it has only just begun.

I'll give you just a quick overview of the boring details so I can catch you up on the much more interesting things I've been up to. I flew to San Diego from Islip, which took 9 and a half hours, ugh. Spent the night at the Sheroden, and hopped on a coach bus with a bunch of other students to make our way down to the Port of Ensenada, Mexico. The first time I saw the ship in the distance, I nearly jumped out of my seat. I couldn't wait to get off that bus and get this trip started.

The first couple of days on the ship were jampacked with things that all of the students were required to do. Orientation...worst day ever. basically we sit in the Union (big circular room with a bunch of chairs and a stage thing where my Global Studies classes are held) and listen to person after person go over safety rules and each person repeats what the last speaker just said. I was so happy when classes began the next day.

I'm actually glad that I'm only taking 4 classes this semester, because they've been pretty rigorous so far. My global studies class especially has been very eye-opening in the way we are informed about the economic and environmental states of each country we are visiting. The hunger and poverty rates, infant mortality rates, the number of people without access to clean water, the list goes on. I'm not even going to touch on all of the environmental issues that humans are responsible for. After every class, I ask myself "what can I possibly do to help us turn it all around?" I won't go into all the details, but I will say that if things don't change soon, we will be in some serious trouble within the next few years.

Aside from global, I'm really enjoying my drawing class. I'm finding that I'm not completely horrible at sketching, and I actually find it very fun and relaxing. Whenever I want to avoid doing the reading for my english or oceanography classes, I will just draw a picture instead! It's real work, I swear!

Except for the classes and the food, the ship does not resemble college life at all. I spend most of my time just getting to know people, sitting around on the decks, soaking up the sun, doing yoga, reading, sketching, and doing a LOT of planning for the countries we will be going to. In Hawai'i, my friends and I all invested in walkie-talkies, which is probably the best idea we've ever had. Once we left Honolulu, our cellphones became completely useless, so now the walkie-talkies will be our main mode of communication. We're already having a little too much fun with them on the ship; we all have code names based on random, funny things that we've said. Not going to tell you my name, as it's a tad inappropriate.

On a side note, I LOVE all of the people I've been meeting so far. One of the coolest things about this program is that there are students from not only all over the United States, but from many other countries as well. I have a couple of friends from Canada, a friend from Puerto Rico, a friend from London, etc. Once this trip is over, I'm going to have friends from all over the world, which is a pretty amazing concept.

I often find myself wondering what kind of person I will be when this voyage is over. One of my biggest concerns is that I don't leave after this program as ignorant about the world as I was when I came here. I hope that this trip will not just become a conversation enhancer, but that I will actually take something meaningful away from this experience and become a more aware, knowledgeable and compassionate person. The world is in serious need of more people like this, because in many ways, I feel like we are all obsessed with our own comfort, our own individual lives. We have become jaded, apathetic to worldly issues, even though they indirectly affect us all. My point is, I don't want to be ingorant anymore. I'm going into this experience with an open mind and an open heart.

We left Hawai'i a few days ago, and we are now slowly making our way toward Japan. I will not be on US soil for over three months, which is a strange/scary/exciting feeling. This voyage is definitely going to be a test of my independence. I've already surprised myself with how much I've been able to handle. For example, I've come on this trip with just 2 suitcases, a minimal amount of clothes, jewlelry, makeup, etc. I thought this major downsizing was going to be very difficult for me, but I'm surprised at how little I'm missing these material comforts. The other day, I washed my clothes in the sink because the laundry service is so expensive. HAHA. It's so strange, I really don't mind this at all.

Well, that's the general overview of my life here on the ship. I will post soon about my experiences in Hilo and Honolulu. MAHALO!