t-minus 22hrs

Today is it. This is the last full day in New York until August 23^rd. How about that?

There's something that I've noticed about those going on Semester at Sea. We tend to analyze everything, plan most things, and yet be spontaneous at the same time. There's planning and then not planning and replanning and overplanning and underplanning and everything that comes with it. It's crazy really about what's about to happen. 8 countries (with Halifax included) and 9 ports in 70 days, and then a daytrip to Richmond to cap it all off. 700 people who all coordinated their lives to take the same trip at the same time are, on Tuesday, going to go on that trip.

So before I go to Halifax, which I leave for tomorrow, I'll tell you all about the journey of how I got here.

All of this loosely began in 2008 after graduation. I went to my Home School, St. Francis College, b/c they gave me a full scholarship. I always heard of this program, but never looked too much into it. I did know that I wanted to do something abroad during university.

Fast Forward to spring of 2009. Tried to find out about study abroad programs and possibly doing one sor the summer of 2009, but was told that the school's policy was to wait until the end of sophomore year in order to do anything. So I waited and relaxed and hanged out that summer.

Fall 2009 began the first real meetings about study abroad with the SFC Study Abroad director, Dr. Greene. I had a sense that I wanted to do SAS, but the price did seem to be a bit expensive. So, we looked at a few programs from ISA (institute for study abroad) along with SAS in order to see what would fit. And, for good measure, I applied to get some information mailed from SAS and other places.

Then, the SAS stuff came. And in that batch of stuff was an 18 minute DVD. And I was hooked. No other programs seemed to be as good anymore, and as such, it was now time to set up the application for SAS. Forms began to be filled out, finances were going to be figured out (worse of a process than the forms), and logistics and all that fun stuff.

The application was sent in sometime in the Middle of October, after Dr. Greene's approval. Then, the waiting process began… and went on and on and on.

The day before Halloween, I get the email. I'm accepted. And then, the journey became real. In however many months came between then and tomorrow, I would go on SAS

What followed in that time was the planning of craziness: months of paperwork, forms, finances, more forms, reading, researching, packing, buying, selling, form filling, and not to mention the fact that there was still the fact that I had to not fail at college… and show up for work and stuff… and all of that stuff.

But by May, it was mostly done. Classes were passed and forms were finally being mailed out and everything seemed to be working.

Then, the goodbyes hit. 3 weeks of them to be exact, with the last ones tonight. No need to go thru them since most of the people reading this were either a part of one or know what it's like to have 3 weeks to say "see ya later" to just about everyone they know before SAS

 

And now, we're here. I leave tomorrow, and say goodbye today. And then tomorrow, the fun begins. For those who don't know, I'm seeing 7 countries and 8 ports while away. Barcelona, Rome, Naples, Dubrovnik, Athens, Istanbul, Alexandria, and Casablanca. There will be some other stops along the way and lots of pictures when I come back.

Until then, see u all on the flip side. Yes, I said flip side.