Happy Birthday Rob!

Happy 29th Birthday Rob...I wish I could be there with you to celebrate but I am in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean! Have fun, love you!

Beautiful Brazil

My time in Brazil was filled with many adventures and memories that I will never forget. From canoeing down the Imbassi River, swimming along pristine beaches, rainforest hiking (and having to cross scary rivers), hanging out with locals, and dancing in the streets during Carnaval, it is hard not to reflect on all the good times. However, there were many things which could not escape my attention, many of them disturbing. As a third world country, I knew not to expect much. There are areas though that are very rich in terms of wealth, like Praia do Forte and most of Rio de Janeiro. Most, though, are not so fortunate. Millions of Brazilians live with very little. Having electricity and running water is considered a luxury…but it is interesting to note that over 80% of homes have a television set. I guess for me I was shocked to see the level of inequality, something that I have never really seen. From my travels to Belize and Mexico, as well as other areas, I felt like I had seen disturbing sights, but those are unmatched to those in Salvador. Don’t get me wrong, it is a very beautiful city with gorgeous architecture and churches. It is when I looked deeper, into the eyes of the street children, that I saw the hurt of this country. Having money for food let alone anything else is their daily struggle…where as I think back on my “struggles” which put everything into perspective. And I guess that is what the Brazilians have to do. They wake up each morning and go into the street, and fight to survive. Personally, I feel that these people who do not have much material wise, have many things that the rich don’t. They have perseverance, faith, and hope that maybe they will live another day. Talk about living for the moment! Of course it is hard to not want to celebrate life when Carnaval is going on. This is a week long celebration before Lent begins to get all the chaos and disorder out of their systems and everyone can be seen dancing and enjoying each other’s company. Participating in this festival, the largest attended festival in the world was remarkable. There is nothing to compare it to because it was so unique. Again, the majority of Brazilians do not have much but they have each other and their culture is alive and well. Thank you to all the beautiful people in Brazil for an amazing and unforgettable time!

Brazil is amazing...very different than ANY place that I have been. There is the scenic beauty and the ocean of course. The buildings and churches are very old and have an European feel to them. The streets are filled with people celebrating Carnaval...another interesting experience. It is wall to wall people and dancing and drinking. It is a little chaotic but we are keeping safe. The end of the festival is tonight...should be a real good time. However it is hard to get passed all of the poverty that is so apparent in Brazil. The level of inequality between rich and poor is shocking. There are also a lot of street children that have no where to go and have no family. It all really makes me feel thankful and fortunate to not only have the many blessings that I do but to be able to experience life for so many others.

Another day at sea...

Hello there...not too much to report today. I missed breakfast again this morning because we slept through it. But we did make it to Global Studies. It was an interesting session. We learned about the different types of peace and how influential each can be to progress and/or destruction. Definitely makes one think about all that is going on in the world. Another interesting fact is that there is enough food in the world for every single being but there are still millions of people starving. The main theme too was that the amount of debt that we (United States) are in is actually money that was taken or borrowed from the money that is supposed to aid the third world countries...interesting how the rich keeps stealing from the poor... Other than that, life on the Explorer is going smoothly. We had our first pub night, aka the only time alcohol is served on board. It was an interesting experience because it is only served on the 7th deck but in an area just by the bar and it is roped off so no one can get to the railing...so they are thinking like you too, Mom. It was fun to chat with people and Kate and I even got to take a picture with the Captain…he was enjoying a cocktail as well…I wonder who was driving??? The social aspect of the ship is pretty good. Lots of people but there are 2/3 girls…but I am used to it with USD. There are a couple nice guys that are fun to talk to. There are so many fun girls though and I think we are all planning on visiting the wine lands together in South Africa. It should be fun. I don’t know what else to report other than I am doing well at working out and am trying to keep on task with homework. It was a hard adjustment since I had a two month vacation! We are actually sailing by the north of Brazil and it is a little rockier with the Atlantic…but hey I am loving it! I love you all and please know that I think of you and am so THANKFUL everyday for this opportunity!

Puerto Rico!

What an amazing start! Puerto Rico is so great and I have had a wonderful time exploring it so far. We arrived in San Juan at 0800 hours on Wednesday, February 7th. Kate and I woke up at 0600 to catch the sunrise and it was absolutely beautiful. The colors and the feel of the morning were breathtaking. We took a city tour of Old and New San Juan. There is a lot of history here…all very interesting. The forts and lighthouses are all very old and I believe that the lighthouses in San Juan are the oldest in the Caribbean. We had a special tour of the Capitol building and got to see the inside of the Chambers. I learned something new…that Puerto Ricans are considered US citizens however are unable to vote for the President. Interesting. The city is very lovely, very quaint. The scenery is gorgeous and the beaches amazing. Another interesting fact about Puerto Rico is that it is the main manufacturing of medicine and other pills such as Advil and even Viagra in the world. Always fun to learn random facts. Wednesday we were also able to go on an excursion in Bioluminescent Bay…and by FAR this is the most incredible experience. At 2000 hours (8pm) we left the ship on a bus to go towards the area. It took almost 2 hours to get there but was well worth the drive. It was absolutely pitch black and we went by kayaks. The water and air were warm and we started in a lagoon. We paddled through mangrove trees, spotted iguanas and bats, and even saw fish jump out of the water right next to us! Once we got through the lagoon we were in a bay…the sky was crystal clear and EVERY star could be seen. However the most fantastic sight was the Bioluminescence from the water. When I put my hand in the water as we paddled, it instantly started to glow a blue or perhaps a turquoise color. It was magnificent. We got to the center of the bay and tied the kayaks together. The guide told us that the glow came from single cell organisms that have pressure put on them emit lights as a defense. There are two enzymes that cause this and once they emit light they are unable to glow for 30 minutes. So there had to have been trillions of them. As soon as I got into the warm sea water, I began glowing all over my body. It was absolutely spectacular. I would extend my arms and legs to move and I felt like a bright light was shining on me. This really isn’t the best way to describe this experience for it is something to incredible to put into words. This has made Puerto Rico all the more better. And to top it off, we paddled back around 10:30 and the moon was just rising…it was huge and was the most vibrant yellow-orange color. All I can say is that there is more beauty in nature that I have ever imagined. I just can’t wait to see more!
Today, Thursday, we took an early morning hike to El Yunque Rainforest. It was a 2.5 hour hike in the most lush and lively environment. Lots of different kinds of trees, flowers, and plant life. The moment I saw the 85 foot waterfall though was the best of the whole hike. The water was very cold and clear. The pictures again do not do the sights justice as seeing it in person. It was a pretty challenging hike with lots of climbing and it was very warm and humid.
The rest of the afternoon and evening, Kate and I are going into San Juan to explore and enjoy a nice Puerto Rican meal. A lot of SAS students will meet at one of the clubs so we might find ourselves there as well! One more full day in Puerto Rico and we are all planning on going to one of the beautiful beaches and enjoying it before we have class again…but all in all, the semester has begun in fantastic style!

Desmond Tutu!

I finally met Desmond Tutu! He is so funny and I am so excited to hear him speak!

Pics of sailing and the ship!

1st day at Sea!

“The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: decide what you want.” –Ben Stein

What I want out of this life is to live in such a way where I can find adventure in the every day. This trip will largely be the catalyst for changing everything about who I am and the way I live. I am so fortunate to be able to have a strong support system—to all of you, THANK YOU! My amazing family and friends have made this experience all the more important and meaningful. My goal is to be able to be your eyes, ears, and hearts in all the places I go. Believe me, there is already so much to tell!

The next 99 days, as it is my FIRST day at sea, will be challenging, exciting, and strengthening. One of the main themes of this voyage is to suspend judgment and assumptions for many reasons. We live in one world, but all are unique. This is what I aim to understand. And this will hopefully be accomplished by participating and making the world we are all a part of more tangible. The Dean of SAS said, “I hear, I forget. I see, I remember. I do, I understand.” I have the opportunity now to DO. My heart and soul are open and eager. I am ready to discover, to learn, and to do.

As for an update on what has occurred since the last post…where do I start? The Bahamas was fantastic as I already mentioned. On Sunday morning, Kate and I went to the ship. It was a little chaotic with 702 students and family members trying to get everyone and their luggage on board. It went relatively quick. We went through screening and had to do some paperwork. Always more paperwork. Then I went to my room…and surprisingly it isn’t so bad. There is quite a bit of room, at least more than anticipated. I settled in and began exploring the ship. The MV Explorer is 3 years old and is super nice. There are so many things I could write about this ship, it has everything we need. There are 4 places to eat, a gym, spa (not a bad price either), and rec places. The pool area is great and I have been enjoying that area! For the most of Sunday we (Kate and I) explored and met people. I have really met some great people so far, people from all over and even people from USD that I have never met.

At 1700 hours (5pm) we set sail…I cannot describe the feelings I had. It was quite remarkable to feel the ship move under my feet and see land disappear. This trip has been planned for a long time and it is so surreal to have finally embarked on this voyage. We watched the sunset…a very beautiful one. The rest of the night was filled with a safety drill, dinner, and meetings. The captain of the ship is British and quite funny. The main thing the crew stressed is that safety is the number one priority. Then the Dean spoke about what this semester is and how to make the most of it. He said, “Don’t sweat the small stuff. Stay grounded and remain humble. If at dinner they don’t serve a certain kind of lettuce just remember…we are going around the world…and at 20 miles an hour!” How true. This isn’t about the cold shower I had to take this morning. It is about discovering and learning and meeting new people. Kate and I took a moment to pray while watching the sunset and we committed ourselves to doing just that. This is an experience that will forever be life changing. And I am only on the first day!

Today was filled with meeting after meeting about classes, trips, safety, faculty and staff. There are some amazing professors here. I am actually very excited to start class even though it is at 8 am tomorrow. AHHH!! I just remembered! I met Archbishop Desmond Tutu already! During the lifeboat drill he was in the boat next to me. My first sight of him was in an orange life jacket and him dancing in it! He is really funny and seems to be excited about the trip too! After the drill I was able to get a quick picture with him. It is just so amazing to have met such an influential and amazing person like him.

On Wednesday we arrive in San Juan, Puerto Rico and I will be going on a rainforest hike, taking a city tour, and taking kayaks in the Biolumenscent Bay. I will post more about those when I go on them…but for now I am going to go to the last meeting of the day and prepare for class.

Last day before we board!!!

Ahhh! Last night in the Bahamas! I LOVE this island...it is so beautiful and there is so much to do! Pretty much have basked in the sun and relaxed. Kate and I did manage to play a little ping pong! I have met so many people already going on SAS...but there are still tons more! We have all been going out to Senor Frog's and other local clubs. Lots of fun dancing and enjoying the local beer--Kalik. Everything is a little spendy but we are staying at a really nice place. Today SAS people floated down the "Lazy River" with tubes. It is so fun to get to know more people! We are going out again tonight but we board super early in the morning...last night before "school" starts! This is the most amazing thing...everyone is feeding off the excitement and energy! Lots more adventures and stories to come!

Bahamas!

I'm here! The flights went well and it was a long day. However the Atlantis resort is amazing and made it all worth it. It is so great to see Kate, she ran out and met me at the lobby. We walked around and had dinner. This resort is huge and there is so much to do. Kate and I went to a little bar and got Mojitos to celebrate the moment and the semester...I can not believe it is about to begin!!! Today we got up, and were greeted by the sunrise and shark...right outside the room. All the pools have some sort of sea life: turtles, rays, sharks, etc. The weather is fantastic and we got some good sun. There are so many slides, but we are going to go on them tomorrow. We relaxed and took in the scenery. In the afternoon we took a taxi to see the MV Explorer, our new home. We didn't get to close but were able to see it! We then walked to a little fish market and had a tasty dinner...VERY fresh fish! Then we headed back to the hotel and are now going to meet up with some SAS people! Ahhh, this is all so exciting!