And we're off!

I've been on the ship for 2 weeks now and it has been nonstop since the moment I step onboard.  In that two weeks I have seen friends I only get to see about once a year, welcomed 700 alumni onboard, spent the day in Cabo San Lucas, said goodbye the friends and alumni and have started the spring 2010 voyage.  Saying things have been busy is quite the understatement.

For faculty and staff the voyage officially began on January 13th when they boarded in San Diego.  Before headint to Ensenada for a couple days worth of training, the day in San Diego was spent getting all the last minute items for a 3.5 month journey around the world, and of course, a stop at In n' Out burger.

The few days that followed were spent in orientation meetings and training.  For my department, all of us have sailed before or have worked in the office so it meant less training and more of getting right to work.  On the 17th, the students boarded and took over the quiet oasis that was for those few days of training "our" ship.  To be honest, though, it hardly feels like they are here.  The ship is great at absorbing people and I have yet to feel like it is over crowded.  We have just about 600 students onboard.  It has been fun to watch them all get their sea legs and adapt to shipboard life.  It has been quite rocky the last couple of days; some of the worse I've experienced.  It is not terrible, but is annoying.  My office chair is on wheels which makes it even that much more entertaining.

We are four days from Hawaii.  So far I have no set plans for our port stay, and I kind of like it that way.  Last time I sailed, I had booked most of my time with field programs.   This time I want to just go with the flow.  I am attending a Luau Reception on our day of arrival which will be hosted by the University of Hawaii-Hilo.  After Hawaii, we set sail for Japan and return, for just a brief stint, to some winter like weather.

The voyage is starting to feel real to me finally.  For the last week or so, it wasn't quite real.  I am very used to being on the ship, getting it ready for the voyage and waving goodbye as it pulls away from the dock.  This time I was the one on the ship be waved at.  Once we hit Japan I think reality will finally set in for me.  On a side note, the staff and faculty seem to be a great group.  We have all commented that we all haven't met yet.  I'm looking forward to getting to know more of them once we all fall into our routines a little better.  I'm also lucky to know several people already, so it is great to have awesome friends here already.

Time to report to work (yes, to all those who think this job is all about sitting on a deck chair all day, I do work!).  More to come after Hawaii.

Starting off 2010 right

Next week I leave for the spring 2010 Semester at Sea voyage.  This has been 18 months in the making for me, from when I first thought about applying to the S10 voyage to getting hired to eventually waiting and waiting for January to come.  Before I leave for San Diego on Thursday, I have many things to knock off my to-do list.  This list continues to grow, but now that I have finished my Master's thesis, I have 6 days to cross them all off.  Wish me luck. 

This blog will serve as a way for me to keep you all updated on my experiences as I circle the globe.  I cannot promise that it will be updated often, but I will try my best.  You can also follow the progress of the voyage on the Semester at Sea website.  In turn, keep me updated on things that are going on in your lives.  A great way to do so would be by sending me actual mail!  A link to this information will always be on the right-hand side of this blog, but here is a list of the ports I will be visiting and instructions for sending me mail:  

Important Reminder: Mail to those aboard ship should be addressed as follows:
MV Explorer - Spring 2010 Voyage
ATTN: Name of Recipient
Port Agent Address (from list below)

Mail: ISE strongly recommends sending important mail via private courier, such as UPS and FedEx and advises against sending mail via U.S. Postal Service, as it can take 2 weeks or more and service in various countries may be poor. Please send items Airmail only. Please do not send any mail to the Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE) or to the University of Virginia to be forwarded.

ISE does not recommend sending packages to the ship - Excessive duty is charged in some countries. In many instances, packages are held in customs or at local post offices and are not processed in time to be delivered to the ship. If you send packages, you do so at your own risk. We strongly discourage sending currency and other valuable items. In many countries, it is illegal to send medication or food.

PORT	ADDRESS OF PORT AGENT	SUGGESTED AIRMAIL DATE
Hilo, HAWAII Phone: 1 808 599 8604 Fax: 1 808 599 1950	Inchcape Shipping Services 521 Ala Moana Blvd. Suite 256 Honolulu, HI 96813	January 11
Honolulu, HAWAII   Phone: 1 808 599 8604 Fax: 1 808 599 1950	Inchcape Shipping Services 521 Ala Moana Blvd. Suite 256 Honolulu, HI 96813	January 13
Yokohama, JAPAN Phone: 81 45.201 6991 Fax: 81 45.212 1614	INCHCAPE SHIPPING  SERVICES F Asahi Seimei Yokohama Honcho Bldg 36, 4-Chome Honcho, Naka-ku Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa-ken 231-0005, JAPAN	January 26
Kobe, JAPAN                  Phone: 81 78 391 3046 Fax: 81 78 391 3105	Inchcape Shipping Services (Japan) Ltd. Kenryu Bld, Room 502 6, Kaigan-dori, Chuo-ku Kobe-shi, Hygo-ken 650-0024, JAPAN	January 29
Shanghai, CHINA Phone: 86 21 6323 1350 Fax: 86 21 6329 1519	Penavico Shanghai 3/F 13 Zhong Shan Road (E 1) Shanghai 200002, P.R. CHINA	February 2
HONG KONG, CHINA  Phone: 852 2786 1155 Fax: 852 2744 3240	Inchcape Shipping Services (HK) Ltd. Units 1802-1805, 18th Floor N° 3 Lockhart Road   Wanchai, HONG KONG - CHINA	February 5
Ho Chi Minh City, VIET NAM Phone: 84 8 626 19602 Fax: 84 8 626 19603	CONTINENTAL CO LTD 55 Le Quoc Street Ward 12 D. 4, Ho Chi Minh City, VIETNAM	February 12
Chennai, INDIA             Phone: 91 44 252 12032 Fax: 91 44 252 43813	J. M. Baxi & Co. 3rd Floor, Clive Battery Complex 4 & 4A, Rajaji Salai Chennai 600 001, INDIA	February 25
Cochin, INDIA               Phone: 84 8 825 7996 Fax: 852 2744 3240	J.M. BAXI & CO N°26/1566 Subramaniam Road Willingdon Island KOCHI 682003, INDIA	March 1
Port Louis, MAURITIUS Phone: 230 202 70 40 Fax: 230 208 5814	Ireland Blyth Limited                       Shipping Operations Department No 6 Dr Ferriere Street Port Louis, MAURITIUS	March 9
Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA Phone: 27 21 419 8660 Fax: 27 21 413 0290	JOHN T. RENNIE & SONS 19th FLOOR No.1  Thibault Square 8001 Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA	March 18
Tema (Accra), GHANA                       Phone: 233 22 300 894 / 5 Fax: 233 22 202 989	HULL BLYTH Seatec House / PO Box CO 214 Akosombo Road Tema, GHANA	March 29
Salvador, BRAZIL Phone: 55 71 3241 4990 Fax: 55 71 3243 5633	OCEANUS AGENCIA MARITIMA Av. Estados Unidos, 555 7th Floor / room 712 40015-010 Salvador, BRAZIL	April 2