Aloha from Hawaii!

Aloha family and friends!
I am currently in Starbucks using free-wifi to write this blog (don't worry, I bought a drink). If there's one thing I've learned, getting internet on the ship is very expensive!
This past week classes started and we reached our first two ports of call: Hilo, Hawaii, and Honolulu, Hawaii. I am currently enrolled in four classes: Global Studies, Identity Development, Gender and International Development, and Sociology of Race. All of the classes are very interesting; I'm especially excited about Sociology of Race. We have several projects throughout the semester that will allow me to experience the cultures of each country in a more in-depth way.

On Monday and Tuesday, January 25th and 26th respectively, we reached Hilo, Hawaii. On Monday I attended a session at the University of Hawaii- Hilo to discuss education and indigenous peoples in Hawaii. I met two different students who offered their perspectives on education for native Hawaiians and the identity difficulties while in school. This was an enlightening experience that allowed me to see the darker side of Hawaiian culture. I also went to the black sand beach- which was very rocky but gorgeous! Some pictures are below. On Tuesday, I headed to the eden-like Hawaiian Tropical Botanical Gardens. This experience was almost spiritual for me, as I was surrounded by absolutely gorgeous gardens, waterfalls, and views of the beach. Our world is stunning. Here are some pictures of the gardens, including a worker who was trimming a tree!


Today is my second day in Honolulu. Yesterday I spent the day at Waikiki Beach with a few of my close friends that I have made on the program: Ashley, my roommate from UVA, Dana, from Rutgers, and Caitlin, from University of Pittsburgh. Waikiki is a lively place filled with locals and tourists from all nationalities. Hearing all of the languages spoken was fascinating. It was wonderful to spend a day with friends in such gorgeous surroundings. Today I met up with our family friend and my mom's former student, Annie Billups. Annie teaches Spanish at Punahou School, where Obama attended! :) (I promise not to make a political statement...) It was great to meet up with her and see her classroom, as well as the school. What was interesting to me was that many students can attend class, eat in the cafeteria, and play outside barefoot! It is apparently part of Hawaiian culture. My time in Honolulu has been really fantastic and it's been eye-opening to compare it to the small, industrial town of Hilo.


Some of you know that I spent much of this past week very ill from seasickness and contacted me to tell me I was in your thoughts and prayers. I just wanted y'all to know I am feeling much better and wanted to thank you for your kindness. If you could please keep thinking of me as we leave for Japan tomorrow, I would very much appreciate it. I hope all of you are doing well and I will write to you from Japan!

Greetings from the Pacific!

Hello all from somewhere in the Pacific Ocean!

I hope you all are doing well; I just finished a very long day of orientation, so I thought I’d orientate y’all to the ship and my experience so far! After a beautiful drive from San Diego to Ensenada, Mexico, all participants went through security screening and boarded the ship. Unfortunately, I was unable to get a good view of the ship for a picture, but I promise more in the future.





The first day, I must admit, was very rough; at this point you will undergo some education in ship life. At 4:00 yesterday all participants had a lifeboat drill, which required putting on our lifejackets and walking in silence to our assigned boat. This actually took longer than expected; the staff had to account for all of roughly 1000 people on the ship. Hopefully in an emergency, it will take shorter than 45 minutes! Because the ship fits 1000 people, I was naive and did not expect to feel the boat move…well, I quickly learned I was incorrect! Last night I became very sea sick and actually had to excuse myself from meetings because I was preoccupied. To be honest, I felt horrible and unfortunately made the cleaning crew’s job more difficult! However, so many staff members stopped to help me and take care of me. Once again, I am dumbfounded by the kindness of people. These individuals made sure I was okay, gave me water and medicine, and fed me saltine crackers. Without their help, I would have felt the effects of my physical health in other ways. It is reassuring to know that I am in good hands with individuals who are so giving of their time.


Enough about acclimation to ship life through physical means, though. I met my roommate Ashley Gainsa yesterday and we have quickly become friends. Although our room is slightly small, it really is quite fine. We have enough room for everything and know this experience is not about our room!

Tonight was the activities fair and I signed up to be an academic peer advisor and tutor students on the program in writing and for our required Global Studies course. I also signed up to be a part of an extended family with faculty and students and to help tutor children of faculty and staff on the program! Along with these activities, I signed up for a yoga class. I know I will keep busy with classes and these activities and am excited for the opportunities that these programs offer! Classes begin tomorrow so I will be back to the grind. I hope for my friends at Kenyon and other universities that classes today went well! I promise a more exciting blog entry after our first port stay in Hawai’i. I hope you all are doing well and know that I think of you often!

Packing!

The countdown has begun...less than two days until I depart for San Diego! Yesterday I began the packing process, which was tackled with multiple steps. As you can see, there are a lot of shoes in this picture. I must admit, I am a bit high maintenance, as I have running shoes, hiking boots, and two pairs of sandals!I was a bit anxious that I wouldn't be able to fit all of my clothes and various toiletries and medications in the bags.

Because the majority of the countries I will be visiting are developing nations, Semester at Sea recommended that we bring our own toiletries and medications if we happen to get sick.

One thing I have learned from travel, however, is that Ziploc bags make all of the difference! Luckily, I fit all of my items in my suitcases and still have plenty of room for souvenirs... though I'm not sure that's a good thing! Below you can see the the difference after!

My flight leaves at 10:00 am Saturday morning from Dallas, and then I arrive in San Diego. Hopefully my mom and I will enjoy some time at the beach! I leave San Diego at 9:00 am on Sunday morning for Ensenda, Mexico, via shuttle with other SAS students. I will board the boat in Mexico, and then we leave for Hawai'i!! I will post after we depart and show some pictures from the boat; until then, I hope each of you take care.