Good Morning Vietnam

Sorry this blog has taken so long. I know that it has been over a month, but better late than never. I have finished all my school work and now only have to worry about finals after Hawaii. We will be in Hawaii on Friday, and I am going to work on China and Japan's blogs over the next couple of days. Can't wait to see you all and hope all is well:

On the morning of November 3rd I greeted the sun as we sailed up the Saigon River. The beauty of the sunrise hitting the junk boats was the signal that told me this week was going to be a great week. We ate breakfast, picked up our passports, and set foot off the ship. On this day I ran around with 2 other girls, it was a relief to not be in such a huge group and wonder around without any plans. We made our way to the market and quickly became fascinated. We were able to get so many items for so very cheap. The Vietnamese actually preferred American dollars. We made our way to lunch and had the famous Vietnamese dish called Pho. It is a broth-based dish with rice noodles. You place sauces and lime in the dish and it was delicious. I ate it several times while in Vietnam. We came back to the ship and took showers and got ready for the night. We had planned to go to a water puppet show, but were unable to make it there on time. So instead, we wondered the streets and found a little local bar. We stopped in because they had a great happy hour special, but it ended up being so much more! As we were listening to the band, the supervisor came up and started to talk to us. She was a petite woman with very good English. Her name was Ly and she was the supervisor of the restaurant. As we were talking she told us how she loved to get to know visitors to her beloved land. She asked us what we were doing the next day and we stated that we had a flight to catch the next afternoon, but our morning was free. She said she would take us out for massages and pedicures. We could not be more excited to spend time with a local but even better while being pampered. After happy hour we made our way to the night market and did a little more shopping before heading home for the night.
        We woke up early the next morning to meet Ly. She had made appointments for us at the salon. While I knew this pampering would be cheap, I didn’t realize how inexpensive it would be. Ly was able to take out of the tourist-y areas and into “real” Vietnam. Often as SAS students we get trapped in the areas of town that are created for tourist because we are afraid to venture to far out of our comfort zones, but here we were standing in a Vietnamese salon in the middle of the housing projects. At one point Karli looks at me and says “Where the hell are we.” While we had our doubts, what could go wrong with a massage? Massages around the world are a communal event. When walking in the doors we were told to all get naked and head into the sauna. We were in a room with many other women and while I felt uncomfortable at 1st, the anxiety slowly wore off. After we finished in the sauna we headed upstairs for our massages. Now this massage was not a one-on-one, it was four women to a room, where they talked the entire time. I could not understand a word they said, but we could tell they were laughing at us. We received an amazing hour and half massage. I felt like a new women. We got the bill and busted out in hysteria. The sauna—2 bucks, the massage—2 bucks. We received 2 hours of pampering for 5 bucks—including tip. Can’t beat that. Soon afterwards, we headed back to the ship to gather our stuff for our flight to Hanoi.
        With our bags packed the 1st group of 9 people headed to the airport. I had planned a trip for 16 of my friends to stay on a junk boat for the night. We were to fly to Hanoi and stay the night in a hostel before heading to Ha Long Bay. Once we got to the airport, we learned that our flight had been delayed. Oh well, we hung out in the airport and tried some crazy food and did a little shopping. After a minor delay and a beer later, we were off. It was a smooth 2-hour flight to Hanoi, where we were greeted by the hostel. It was so nice that they had arranged transportation for us, one less thing for me to worry about. The 45-minute van ride to the hostel was rather cranky. Everyone was hungry and about to hit a breaking point. It was rather funny, the group all of a sudden decided we needed burgers and we needed them fast. So after dropping our stuff off at the hostel, we motioned to the receptionist for burgers and he sent us around the corner. The signs lit up Al Fresco’s: Pizza, Pasta, Ribs, and Steak. You could see the joy on my friends face as we walked in. They had everything, even ranch dressing. We ate a ton of food and celebrated the start of an amazing trip. After that we headed back to the hostel. Let me tell you about the best deal of the trip. Central Backpackers Hostel: $5 for the night, included free beer at night, free breakfast, and free internet. It does not get any better than this. We waited for the others to arrive on their later flight and then hit the streets of Hanoi. Being that it was a Sunday night, there was not much going on, so we wondered and wondered and ended up finding a small hole-in-the-wall bar. We had a great time chatting and listening to music. Before we knew it, the sun was about to rise and we needed to get back to the hostel. With little sleep, we woke up early to meet the tour company. I was greeted by a man named Hero, our tour director, and we I knew we were in for a treat. As we drove out of Hanoi, Hero gave us a great history lesson about Vietnam and also taught us about their language. All over Asia, the languages use tones. Vietnam has 6, so the word  “ma” can have six different meanings depending on what accent is placed on the “a”.
We finally arrived in Ha Long Bay, what I had been longing for. After making a pit stop to purchase the ole’ so famous Vietnam hats, we hopped on a tandem boat to take us to where we would be staying for the night. Upon arrival I was amazed at where we would be staying that evening, it was gorgeous. A beautiful boat with 8 luxurious cabins, an amazing dining hall that would turn into a dance floor later that evening, and an awesome tanning deck. We were greeted by a 12 course meal. The amazing thing was that they brought out these small plates for 4 people to share and the food was so fresh. We ate whole crabs and the freshest squid ever as we sailed along the most beautiful landscape I have ever seen. I now realize why it is a new natural wonder of the world. We sailed for several hours and arrived at a floating fishing village.  These people live in such poverty as they attempt to make a living by rowing their boats up to commercial boats and selling goods such as snacks and beer. I could not say no to these children, and we bought many things from them to just give them some money. We then were able to get out and go visit this cave. This cave put the Mammoth Cave to shame. It was so large and had so many stalagmites and stalactites. I was amazed at the formations of the rocks. After this we hopped in kayaks and spent several hours hanging out on the bay.  It was pure bliss. The pictures from this are some of my favorites. We splashed, we tumped, and most importantly laughed. As we wrapped up, the sun was setting and we headed back to the boat for a night time swim. We were able to jump off the top deck, about 35 feet high. There was nothing like that rush of hitting the water, we could not get enough.
After all the fun we headed back in and shower while waiting for dinner to be served. We had another fantastic meal but it did have some questionable dishes. We are pretty sure we ate dog at one point. They told us it was catfish, but it was way to rubbery to be catfish. Soon after dinner, we pushed back the tables and started to karaoke.  This was a sight in its self. We sang for quite sometime until the crew turned the dance floor into a techno club. It was so much fun being just the 16 of us. We did not have to worry about being to loud or bothering anyone. We carried on to late into the morning singing every song you could ever imagine.
The next morning was an early wake up call as the beautiful sun peaked through our window. We got up for another large breakfast. Soon after, four of us had jumped in and were floating in the water with life jackets on as diapers.  We floated for quite sometime and I can tell you, that I was on cloud nine!! We later boarded the boat and headed to the top deck for a nap in the sun. As we sailed back, I could not believe my time on the Bay was over. I was not ready to head back and I vowed that I will be back.
We boarded the bus and headed back to Hanoi. We had a little extra time to kill, so we decided to head back to the hostel and see if they would be willing to take us to the airport so we would have a couple more hours to explore the city. Of course our friends at Central Backpackers came through and were going to take us back. So we split up into smaller groups and went exploring for a little while. We ate dinner and did a little more shopping. Soon we arrived back at the airport and hung out while we waited for our delayed flight. While waiting on our plane, we received some tough news. We had lost a member of our shipboard community that day. When arriving back to the ship, it was not the same happy place I had always known it as. It was a rather difficult night, but the ship did everything in their power to make the transition as smooth as possible.
        The next morning Karli and I got up headed to the Cu Chi Tunnels, remnants of the Vietnam War. We were able to get a real grasp on the tactics that were used to defeat the Americans. I have a much better understanding what it was like to fight during this time and the role America played in the development of Vietnam. I left there feeling amazed, stunned, and a sense of guilt. I was shocked how friendly the people of Vietnam after all that we have put them through. They have been so forgiving, and I believe that they are able to put aside their feelings towards America when meeting Americans. After getting back we were hungry and could not decide where to go, and then I had just the idea, we went back and visited Ly. She was so happy to see us. We took pictures with her and exchanged contact information. I was so happy that we were able to say bye to her. Afterwards, we jumped on the back of motorcycles and headed back to the ship. As I waved bye to Vietnam, I said see you later, because I know I will be back!

So Sorry....but HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Okay so you will have to forgive me. I know that my blogs for Asia are missing. That is because there is just not enough time. After travelling for a month with only 6 days off, I can barely catch my breath and now we have moved on to the thickest part of the semester. School has actually started. We have 10 full days of classes with no breaks, a bunch of papers and test and trying to prepare ourselves for the end.
Today does not seem like much of a Thanksgiving, because I am not with my family and am in class, but there is so much I am thankful for. I am thankful for all of the support I have received from each of you over the past months. I am grateful for this opportunity that has drastically shaped my outlook on life, and has with out a doubt made me a more global citizen. As I reflect on all of these things, I look to the future. Just a few weeks down the road, when I will be able to sit around the table and share stories and photos. I can’t wait to be able to see you all and celebrate the holiday season.
So I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving. I hope that all of your tables will be filled with laughter, your stomachs with wonderful food, and your hearts with the love of those who surround you. I am thinking of you all and can’t wait to see you!
Miss you tons!
Jordan

Singapore--A Fine City

        Well we did it! Another country. I can already Asia is going to go so FAST. We were in Singapore for a little less than 36 hours. We jammed packed this day and a half with many adventures. Singapore is a very small island that is very densely populated. It takes less than an hour to get from one side of the island to the other. One thing it is quite famous for is the ridiculous amounts of fines they give. If you throw out your gum and it does not land in the trashcan-- $250 fine. The list goes on and on. Semester at Sea was quite worried that some students were going to get in trouble, but there is no trouble to report.
        When the ship was cleared a group of 5 of us got off the ship and headed through immigrations. Right through customs is a huge mall, much bigger than anything I have ever seen.  We made our way to the metro station within the mall and picked a random place on the map. There public transportation system was the most efficient I have seen in the world. It was also VERY clean because there is no eating or drinking on the train. We got off in Bugis and headed outside. This area of the city was home to the outdoor market.  I bought a few souvenirs and we mainly just walked around and soaked up the culture. We ate an amazing meal at Fatty’s where we had sweet and sour chicken, BBQ pork, volcanic chicken and chili crab. It was all delicious! We sat there for over 2 hours just eating and talking. After that we headed to our hotel for the night. Here we met up with a larger group of friends and we started to get ready for the night. In the hotel I was able to Skype and catch up with my family, it was so nice! We went out that night to celebrate Halloween. Not many people in Singapore celebrate this holiday, but we were able to find plenty of things to do! We made a late night McDonalds run before catching a cab back to the hotel.
        After we all got up and showered, we split ways again. 2 friends and I headed to the botanical gardens. They were so amazing. They had orchards like I have never seen. We spent a great deal of the day there just walking around and taking pictures. After that we grabbed some lunch at a Thai restaurant and began making our way back to the ship. We stopped and bought postcards and stamps and then had to run back through security. This was the closest I have ever cut it to on-ship time. For every 15 minutes late you are getting back on the ship, you have to get off the ship 3 hours later in the next port. Our group got in line at 4:25, but it took 30 minutes to get through bag check. We made it though!!
        Singapore has much of the same feeling as Chicago. It is very westernized, you see all the same restaurants and shops as you would back in the states. This port was very short, but also very exciting. Tomorrow morning we will be in Vietnam!! This is one of the ports I ma most excited for. I will update again soon! Love always!

IncredibleIndia?

        I have put off the writing about India, because I am unsure of where to go with this blog. Prior to arrival a professor talked about the frustrations of India he had experienced while serving in the Peace Corps. He stated that this is a country of true complexity-where no generalizations can be made. It is also the land of constant sensory stimulation and culture shock. One statement, that held very true was there is no escaping India, you can’t go hide in a resort and not take part in the culture. It is everywhere and in everything. I then knew that India would pose both insight and questions.
When stepping off the boat in Chennai, I quickly became overwhelmed with the sense of humidity and heat. We were also greeted with many interesting, but not so kind smells. Walking down the gang way I knew that these next six days were going to be an experience.
Once getting through immigrations we were greeted by a plethora of rickshaw drivers. Attempting to negotiate a price was a game we were forced to learn as the week went on. We set off as a group to see a Hindu Temple. The intricate artwork and traditional practices were very intriguing to just stop and observe. There are many rules to be observed within the temple, such as you must walk in the clockwise direction around the grounds. As I set and took in the sights, I realized that the Hindu religion is so much more than a religion, it is a way of life. People’s lives revolve around the traditions and practices. After that we headed to a market/ mall. It reminds me of the J-town Mall but you can bargain in it. After getting a feeling of what India had to offer, we decided to get lunch. My friends and I broke down and got Pizza Hut. You may be wondering why in the hell I would eat pizza while in India, but I have tried so many new foods over the past 2 months that I was craving a small piece of home. On the other hand though, we did get a Indian pizza. It had spicy chicken and all of these crazy spices. I don’t know if it was that pizza, or the taste of pizza in general, but it was out of this world. After an amazing lunch, we headed back to the ship to gather up our bags and head to the airport.
I had heard through various sources that an independent trip to the Taj Mahal might not be the best decision, but I did it anyways. A group of 10 friends loaded into a six-seater van and where on our way. Sitting on top of each other for an hour and a half in a non air-conditioned van gave us an idea of the next 3 days. Upon arrival to the airport I looked at my boarding pass and saw that in all the hustle and bustle I had booked the wrong flight home. Instead of booking it on the 25th with the rest of the group I was headed home on the 24th.  If you know anything about me, you would have known that a panic attack was in the near future. I am proud to announce that the exact opposite situation occurred. I approached the counter with the mindset that this will work out and there is nothing that I need to get bent out of shape over. After much back and forth with the attendant at the counter, she was able to get me on my friends supposedly booked flight for a great deal. I could not have been more relived. Also, our flight had been delayed so I was not pressed for time at all in the airport, it worked out rather beautifully. Finally after a 2-hour flight we arrive in Delhi. This chaotic travel is a great parallel to the country of India, you never know what to expect. After checking into the hotel, we got a few hours of sleep before we were up and on our way to Agra.
Bright and early we hoped in the van with our drivers for the next 3 days and were on our way to the Taj. As we drove down the road, the obvious signs of complete desuetude and poverty hit you in the face. There was absolutely no avoidance. Take a scene of Slumdog Millionaire and I was standing in the middle of it. While most Indians argue that they don’t enjoy that movie because of the way their country is portrayed, it is in many areas very accurate. I felt sick inside as I reflected back on my life at home and how comfortably I live. I had a great deal of time for reflection, the 4-hour van ride turned into 6.5 hours.  We made a few pit stops along the way and visited some of the sights right inside Agra. We then stopped for lunch and then finally arrived at the Taj. I have always read that this is to be one of the Wonders of the World, and believe me it was. I hope that I one day marry someone who will build a memorial this nice in my honor. We were able to go inside and see all of the beautiful hand cut stones and the amazing architecture that had been constructed over the 22 year time period. We then headed to Agra Fort and learned a great deal about the history of Northern India. This semester I have become much more engaged in the history of the entire world and past events such as trading and colonization. Being able to interact with these places has made all of these ideas much more tangible and in return much more intriguing. We then checked into our hotel for the night, had dinner and then all hung out and played cards. One thing I can tell you about staying in non-western hotels, is that they are very different from Hiltons or your hotel of choice. In India, no one uses shower curtains. The bathroom is tile floor and the water just lands wherever. You also have to ask for the hot water to be turned on upon check in. Electricity has the potential to go out whenever as well.  It is not at all what we are used to, but that is all part of the fun.
The next morning we jetted off to Japuir, the pink city. Most of the buildings in the city are built out of a stone that has a very pink tint. We stopped at a The Palace, this building is the longest building in the city and is comprised of 3,000 windows. We also were able to go to this amazing conservatory. This was home to the world’s largest sundial. Seeing how a single man was able to make all of these amazing calculations was so fascinating. We now are so reliant on computers and calculators that we would never sit and take the time to do all of these calculations.  We also went to Amber Fort where we rode elephants. This was a neat experience. These creatures are HUGE. We then did some shopping and headed to our next hotel.
The next morning we woke up before the sun rose and headed to a tiger reserve and did a morning safari. We did not get to see a tiger, but we saw a leopard, a ton of monkeys, antelope and peacocks. After that we made our way back to Delhi to catch our flight home. The flight home was much less eventful and went rather smoothly.
On the last day I experienced the perfect rainy Sunday. We had planned to go to the open air market but it was pouring. So a small group of us jumped in a rickshaw and headed back to the mall. We did our last minute shopping and saw a Bollywood film. The movie was hilarious. The greatest part of all was how they portrayed Americans. Every American was either a slut or a hick, there was no in between. We then headed back to the ship, I was exhausted. India had taken everything out of me.
That is enough about my itinerary. There are a few things that I will never forget about India. First and foremost the driving, it was absolutely bizarre. More often than not there is not even a middle lane in the road. People don’t pay the least bit of attention to road signs or signals. They pass as if there is no tomorrow and it is unlike anything I have ever witnessed. Also the food, the 1st three meals it was great, and then it started to all become the same, and by the end I was not even able to look at non. Non is almost like a tortilla and is served at every meal. You use it to soak up all different types of curries and sauces. One thing that you don’t find a lot of in the north is meat. We were vegetarian for those three days. I just am unsure of how the people eat non with every meal.
As I reflect back on India, I am still unsure of what I think. I might be one of the few on the ship that did not fall head-over-heels for this country. I often think that India made me a person that I did not like being. I was never very comfortable and I never received the same warm welcome as everywhere else. I often had to argue with rickshaw drivers and was even called a greedy white American. I feel as if there is such disparity between classes is so tangible that change is far from happening. I felt so much hope for Ghana, but lacked that sense here. The people seemed so downtrodden that it was painful. I often wonder if I felt a lack of comfort and welcome because the poverty level caused so much pain, or if there is another underlying reason. I am still very confused. As I talk to people on the ship they talk about how great of an experience they had as they stayed in their 5-star Semester at Sea hotels and I wonder what side of India they saw that I didn’t. As we drove past the slums and families sleeping on the ground and in bridges, I cried, I would consider it far from amazing. I can tell you one thing for sure, India reaffirmed one thing, I am one of the luckiest girls in the world. I have an amazing family, a wonderful education, a financial security blanket, and a comfortable place to live. My world was challenged by India. In Ghana I felt a call to action, but in India on the other hand, I had no idea where to turn. One portion of India is booming in the industrial world, but most is just being completely ignored.
On a lighter note, last night we had the crew talent show. Our crew is made up of the most amazing people in the world. They clean our rooms, feed us, do our laundry and always are looking out for us. This ship would go nowhere without them. Usually we are only able to see them in their work attire as they are not permitted to socialize with the voyagers. Last night they gave us a show. They preformed everything from Frank Sanatra to John Mayer to Achey Breaky Heart. It was fantastic. It was so much fun for us to be able to see them in a completely different light, having so much fun and being their true selves.
We are so close to Singapore, we will be there in the morning. We will be there for 2 days and then have a day until we get to Vietnam. Asia is going to be VERY quick. I hope that all is well back home and can’t wait to see you all.

Sea Olympics 2010!

Purple is the way to be, we are Aegean Sea. Today the ship took part in a ship-wide Olympic games, and they were a blast. Each hall is divided into a “sea” and is given a color. Deck 2 was coined the purple Aegean Sea.  We have been preparing for events all week, and truth be told, I did not think our sea had a chance in the world. Each sea has been competing in a sustainability war; to see who can use the least amount of bath towels. This was one of the major events along with the banner painting and a chant. These events were judged prior to the opening ceremonies this afternoon. Our sea painted our bodies purple and it was pure madness on the way to the Union. In the union every sea did their chant and then the games were commenced by Desmond Tutu, let me tell you he is a riot.
        After that we were off to take part in the afternoon activities. These games included orange pass, Horse, crab soccer, jeopardy, sustainable sculpture and many many more. The two biggest games of the day were synchronized swimming and lip synch. Both of our routines turned out fantastic. In the water we had a nautical routine and it placed 2nd overall. The highlight of the day though was the lip synch performance. Our team had a mix of pop songs and they were fantastic. They won the game and preformed for the entire ship to night at logistical preport.
        Going into the closing ceremonies we knew we were neck in neck with the Caribbean Sea. Knowing that we were so close was a shock to everyone and we were so nervous. No one in our sea believed that we would even stand a chance of being crowned the champions. If you win the games your sea is the 1st sea off in San Diego, which is a big deal because customs can be quite tedious. They announced that our banner had come in 1st and that our lip synch had also won, so we knew that it would come down to the wire. It ended up that the Caribbean Sea won, which was a huge disappointment. The Aegean Sea put up a great fight and I had a fantastic day. I am still upset that we lost, but overall it was one of the most fun days we have had on the ship. I am so proud of deck 2.
        Tomorrow morning we will be in India and I will be catching a flight that night to Delhi to see the Taj Mahal. I am very anxious for India, but believe that it will be an awesome experience. I can’t wait to write all about it when I get back on the ship in 6 days. Until then, I love you all and miss you tons!

Welcome to the MV Explorer

        I feel that I have not blogged lately, so I decided to write a little about what a day on the ship is like. The MV Explorer is a beautiful home. She is always shining and more importantly always welcoming us home after being away for several days.  On the ship there are 7 decks. The top deck, is one of my favorite, it is the pool deck. On beautiful days like today, we live out there in our swimsuits and try to soak up all those beautiful late-October rays. Today, we crossed back over the equator on our way to India and it is in the mid-80’s and gorgeous. While I love this very long extended summer, I am sort of missing fall football weather. There is no Friday night football, shorts and sweatshirt days, and crunching of leaves. On the bright side I am tanner than when I left the wonderful mid-west. So back to the ship, also on the 7th deck is the pool bar, a place for us to grab snacks outside of mealtime. More and more people are eating their meals up there, because one can only eat so much pasta and potatoes. Upstairs is also the gym. It is a small gym, but it will suffice. It is weird because you have to sign up for a time the day before, due to limited resources. Working out also poses it challenges, trying to run on a treadmill as the boat rocks, is a sight in its self. It has become much easier with time, but at the beginning there were a few instances where I feared my life.
        Down a flight of stairs on the 6th deck you will find one of the main dining halls. Here we are graced with pasta, potatoes, and PB&J for every meal. At first the food was very good, but now it has become rather monotonous. I have become a huge advocate for peanut butter banana and honey toast. In this dining hall we can eat outside and watch the sunrise and set. Also many students convene in here at night to play board games or cards.  As we venture down the hall you are surrounded by classrooms, there are 9 in total. I have really taking a liking to all of my classes. I could get used to taking only 12 hours per semester.  I have 2 classes a day, on A day I take disease and healing a class about Eastern medicine, parasites, and immunology. This class is very different than any other biology class I have ever taken, but very applicable to the places we are visiting. Also on A days I have an English class called World Short Stories. This is my favorite class, the professor is amazing and I love going to class everyday. We read a short story for class each day and pick a passage to discuss with the class, once in class he calls on someone and we begin the discussion that carries on for the entire period. It is so nice not to have a teacher lecture or write on the board, it is all discussion based. On the other days, B days, I take Global Studies, a class the entire ship takes. Here we cover issues in a global sense such as education, crime, and human rights. We also take time to look in depth at each country we will visit, to grasp a sense of where they stand globally. In the afternoon I attend a class entitled Service Leadership. This class was one that I was very excited for, but has ended up causing much confusion. We are required to all carry out a service project while in a port. This concept is a great one, but the teacher’s expectations are not very clear. The articles we read are so informative and I know that I will use them as references in the future. They discuss the skills needed to be an effective leader in the work place and various tactics to creating a strong working environment. Back to the ship, also on the 6th deck is the computer lab and library. Both of these places have many resources for students to use.  In the front of the ship, is the Union, the large meeting space. Here is where we have global studies, but also pre-ports and explorer seminars. These various meetings cover many different topics from service in the Peace Corps to Child Slavery in Ghana. There is one or two of these meetings a night. They are very informal, but also informative. I have gained a great deal of knowledge from my peers and teachers on this trip. One funny thing about the ship is you can never escape your teachers. You go to class with them, eat with them, run on the treadmill with them and even drink a beer with them. Overall, I have made relationships with my professors like I have never done before. It is almost like I consider them to be part of my family.
        Down below these 2 floors there is not much going on. On the 5th floor is the main dining hall. It is just a bigger version of the one upstairs. From the 5th floor down are where all the cabins are located. My room is located on the 2nd floor outside. I am fortunate enough to have a window. If you are not on the outside you have no sense of time in your room when the lights are off, it is literally a cave.  My roommates name is Karli, she is from outside of Chicago, but goes to school at DePaul in downtown Chicago. We get along great. We do not travel much together, but when we are on the ship we hang out quite a bit.  As far as friends go, I have made so many from all over the United States. I have become involved in so many aspects of the ship it has given me a great base for various groups of friends. I have not found one solid traveling group, I have traveled with different people in every country. I love it that way! On the ship though, I have a group that I hang out with most of the time. We all eat at the same time, work out together, lay out together and rarely are apart. One thing you don’t have on the ship is a lot of alone time. Wherever you go there are people. It is nice to always know a familiar face and have someone to talk to, but it is very difficult to find that “you time”.
        This blog could go on forever because there is so much to say about our little home. I am going to try and make this a more regular occurrence so you can see a glimpse of my daily life, cool things on the ship, and things that I miss while being on the ship. I will write soon. Love and miss you all!

A Little Taste of Paradise!

Spring Break 2010 complete. We just celebrated the finishing of mid-terms, the 1st round of papers and all of the stuff that has to happen halfway throughout the semester. We were off the ship for less than 36 hours and I can say we made every moment count. Yesterday morning we pulled into the beautiful island of Mauritius, a small island off the coast of Madagascar. As the sun rose so did the level of excitement on the ship. Once immigration signaled the okay, we were off. Several friends and I jumped off the boat and headed to our hotel for the night. Many SAS kids, booked rooms at a beach resort, the Intercontinental. We lived the life of luxury for the evening. I have never stayed in a hotel quite like this before. The view from our rooms was breathtaking. After trying to absorb it all, 3 friends and I decided that we wanted to dive that afternoon.  We were able to find a company that would take us out on our own private dive. It was so amazing to be able to dive again. The marine life was so beautiful, but more than anything the visibility was unreal. I felt as if I was swimming in an aquarium. We dove for over an hour and I was in pure amazement at the end.  After the dive we went back to the hotel and met up with our friends who had stayed back. At this point, most of Semester at Sea was at our hotel. After getting ready, we walked out to the jetty and watched the sunset. The past several days, I have been fortunate to see some of the most beautiful sunsets. We took pictures, pictures, and more pictures. It was a masterpiece, there are no other words to describe it. We then hung around the pool bar for the rest of the night. There were so many students there from SAS it was unreal. We danced, we laughed, we sung, and we made memories that I will never forget. The sun started playing peek-a-boo, as we were heading in. I slept for a very short while, before I had the opportunity to Skype my family. I am telling you, whoever invented Skype was a genius. It was so wonderful to be able to see my parents face and have a real conversation with them. We talked forever and I did not want to hang up. It is so hard to find a time to talk being 8 hours apart. As they were going to bed for the night, I was getting up for the day. I was also able to talk to my housemates and sister. It was an absolute blessing to hear everyone’s voices.
        Before too much longer the cab was there to pick our group up. We decided to head out on a catamaran for the day.  Today was something spectacular. We took an hour and half boat ride to an island, had lunch, snorkeled, and goofed off. The ride there and back was just spectacular. I have found my new favorite color, the blue of the Indian Ocean. IT was like nothing I have seen before. It was so opaque you could look down and see coral several meters down. This was an all day event and before we knew it we had to be back on the ship. We jam packed these two days, but it was well worth it. Mauritius is a place I will always remember, and hopefully one day will step back on to the island of paradise!
        We are now on our way to India! I have no idea what to expect, but I know I am in for a treat. We have 6 days on the ship, so I will be busy these next few days trying to catch up on school and sleep. As far as blogging goes, I am going to make it a goal to blog a little more than just after ports. This will allow me to better explain what living on a ship is like. Days on the boat seem a little repetitive to us, but there are definitely some stories worth sharing. Hope all is well! Love and miss you all!

Cape Town has stolen my heart!

Cape Town South Africa
        Recovery mode starts now! South Africa welcomed us from sun-up to sundown, or maybe more like sun-up to sun-up for 6 days straight. I left Cape Town feeling on top of the world. This city presented such an awesome experience that I KNOW I will return one day, maybe even for an extensive time period. It is hard to pick a favorite port, but I would say this is the front-runner for now.
        Upon arrival I was awoken to the most beautiful sunrise over Table Mountain. I knew it was going to be an amazing week. After the clearance of the ship, I took off. Several friends and I caught the tram up to the top because we were afraid if we did not get up there fast enough the “tablecloth” would leave only one option: hike up and down. We made it up just in time to get some awesome pictures and soak in all the beauty of the city. It was amazing to look around and see Robben Island, the World Cup Stadium, and the big blue ocean. We were then standing in the clouds, and it started to get pretty chilly. We asked a few people on the top how to get down and the directions were pretty vague, but we thought we would see others. Well we got a little turned around on a fairly big mountain. After a couple hours of hiking we ran into a group from S. Africa and we had missed a turn and we had traveled way out of the way. Welp, the only way to get down from there was to hike all the back to the top, so we did. Luckily this group was heading the same way and took great care of us. We ended up hiking further than if we would have hiked up and back, but we had an absolute blast. After heading back to the ship and grabbing a quick shower we were out for our 1st night in the city. We had a blast out, we went to a Cuban bar and danced all night.
 Early the next morning we arose and I had a meeting with Andre, the man from Youth for Christ who we would be working with for my service leadership class. We then headed out to Boulder Beach. Four of us headed to the train station to take an hour train ride down the coast. It was a beautiful ride full of picturesque views. We got off the train in Fish Hoek and transfer to a bus, but as we walked off the platform the bus pulled away. We then had a half-hour to explore the little village, and we found this amazing cupcake shop. We chatted with the owner and she does it all. She gave us these cookies with nuts, white chocolate, and dark chocolate chips. It was so delicious. We finally made it down to Boulder Beach and explored the little market, and swam with the African Penguins. Once we got home we went to dinner at the little café in the mall right next to port and headed to the pub to meet up with friends.
The next day I headed out with the members of my leadership team to the school that we would be serving at. We had planned to help serve food that day, but upon arrival we were told that the food had not arrived and they would not be serving food today. Andre said that this could be the only meal that the children get for the day, so we decided we were going to make sure they had food. While brainstorming a plan to get the children food, it arrived. We were so relieved, but the gas did not, and it would not for 2 more days. So Joe and I talked with Andre and we asked him to find out where the school gets the gas and put a rush order on one, and he did. At last, the kids had a meal. We played with the kids and talked with the teachers. One of the 4th grade teachers that we would be working with later in the week challenged us; he told us he wanted us to make the world bigger for the kids. All the kids know is the farm and school. The beach, which lies 10 minutes from the village, is a foreign concept, and only has 1 child out of 40 been to the library. While we already had a plan to do a lesson on dental hygiene, back to the drawing board it was. We were hoping to use the bus to take them to the library, but due to new regulations in S. Africa this was out of the question.  We decided to think about it and hope to come up with a plan. We then headed to the farm to see the village where the families working on the farm live. Here the farmer provides his workers and family housing, which is nearly nothing, but more than sleeping on the streets. We also got an interesting sighting. We saw the slaughtering of a cow with a pic ax. Seeing the internal organs made me rather queasy and uncomfortable. The farmer gives the villagers a cow each month for themselves and the slaughtering was a communal activity. Everyone was around watching as if it was a sporting event or art form. After returning back to the ship, a couple of us worked to prepare for the next couple of days. We headed out on the town for another night and met some awesome students studying in Cape Town from Australia. They were an absolute blast and I am know dying to get to Australia and see this awesome place.
Early, early the next morning my friends Megan and Dallas and I caught the ferry to Robben Island. It was a wonderful ferry ride with quite a few dolphin, whale, and penguin sightings. When we arrived to the island we boarded a bus and headed around the island with a tour guide. He was very informative about the rich history of South Africa and predominately the apartheid.  He had so much to share about the political activists that were housed here, but the highlight was definitely being able to hear from an ex-prisoner. Listening to his story made me very uncomfortable, but it was such a testament to the inhumanity that these people suffered from. We were able to see the jail cell that Nelson Mandela was confined to for 18 years, it was heart wrenching. After getting back from that amazing experience, we had arranged for a group of students to come with us to the SOS children’s’ village in Cape Town. We ran around and played with the children forever and had an absolute blast. We let them play with our cameras and played soccer until the sun went down. It was an awesome day but thoroughly exhausting. Also, on the way home our van broke down on the highway so we set on the hill and waited for it to be fixed while 4 police cars worked to help us. It was an adventure in its self.
The next day was our big day, we were headed to the school to give our presentation. Our morning got off to a little of a rough start as we had a few more transportation issues but we finally made it to the school right after the 1st class had started. We did our presentation on leadership for the kids, we aimed to establish hope and a sense of worth in these children. Our second class went off without a hitch. The children were much more receptive and we had a fantastic time. We then headed back to the port to pick up another group of students to head to the farm. At the farm, we played soccer with the kids and did arts and crafts. We also did a small presentation on dental hygiene and gave them toothbrushes and toothpaste we had collected on the ship. We then went to the water tap and did a group brushing and the kids LOVED it.  Overall, I think our project was a success. That night we went out for a celebration on the beach and saw the sun rise. It was so beautiful and I was with the best group I could ever ask for.
On our last day in port we took it easy. We ate some breakfast and did a little shopping. We then headed to lunch and found a Cape Town original called a Gatspy. Two of my guy friends decided to try the full-house torpedo, and it literally weighed 10 lbs. It was a heart attack waiting to happen. On this sandwich was steak, egg, lettuce, French fries and a special sauce. It was hilarious watching them attempt to finish half of it. I have never seen anything quite like it. We did a little shopping at a street market with local artisans and then headed back to the mall to Skype. This was so nice to hear my family’s voices. Not being able to talk to them for over a month was a challenge. E-mail is just not the same. I was so excited, I just did not want to hang up. We got back on the ship and bid a farewell to Cape Town. I went to bed so early that night in attempt to regain much of the lost sleep.
Cape Town is a place that I will never forget. I have found a group that is amazing and I love to travel with. While South Africa did not provide as much personal growth as Ghana or Morocco, I enjoyed myself so much. I believe that it was a nice break from always feeling so stretched out of my comfort zone, and that it was much needed. South Africa as a country has so much potential. The world cup was an evident booster and has provided much nicer city transportation and improved many infrastructures. With this said, the remainders of the apartheid are still evident. The colored people are still living in conditions less than that of the whites. So like in any country there is still work that needs to be done.
Hope all is well back in the states and thanks for all the kind words I have been getting. They are so nice to read and make it feel as if I am not so far away. Miss you all tons!!
All my love
Jordan

OH MY GHANA!

Each country has its own unique and identifying characteristics. They each possess something that makes me fall more and more in love with the world we live in. It has never been so evident that we are all individuals, with unique personalities, but we all are the same in essence. WE ARE ALL PEOPLE. From 700 college students on a ship, to the crewmembers from Jamaica, to the Ghanaian taxi driver, to the nomads of Morocco, we all have a very strong common thread. Ghana has engrained this in me and it is something that I will forever value but most importantly has allowed me to have a much needed paradigm shift.
        I started off my 1st two days with Semester at Sea sponsored trips. The 1st day I went on a trip called slave dungeons and castles. Here we were taken to two castles that were used before and during the Atlantic slave trade. We were exposed to the quarters that the men and women were held captive in and got a true sense of the pain that they endured. This gave a tangible feeling for what I had learned for so many years in history classes. The thing that surprised me the most was the grotesque smell that filled the air. Our guide asked us to imagine back to the day of when individuals were actually kept in the quarters and how it must have truly smelt. Due to the lack of movement in these areas and also being malnourished individuals urinated, defecated, and slept in the same spot. This caused a truly nauseating scent. After the 1st castle we headed to a hotel resort for lunch, this is where I began to have a slight issue with SAS trips. There they provided us with wonderful food, somewhat authentic and some staged entertainment. As I set there and watched this entertainment, I felt as if I was in a glass box. I had not at all interacted with the people of Ghana or really felt their culture. I also have a new appreciation for taxi rides, stopping to ask for directions, and street vendors, this is truly the most amazing way to interact within ones culture. Don’t get me wrong the slave dungeons were a great experience and I learned a wealth of knowledge and have had the issue of slavery reintroduce to me in many different light.
        Bright and early the next morning I loaded the bus for another SAS trip. I had signed up this summer for a trip to the “water village”. I really had no idea what this would entail, but I thought it sounded interesting….I load the bus with a few friends and we are off on a 3 hour bus ride. While it took this long in Ghana, the distance was only about 75 miles. In Ghana one of the many things that is inadequate is their highway infrastructure, it is non-existent. Upon arrival we were greeted by some locals from the water village, which is only reachable by canoe. We were dressed in ever so attractive fluorescent orange life jackets as we floated away in our manmade canoes with our guide. The hour boat ride was very luxurious, through canals, rainforest and big open lakes. Mother nature also threw in a treat of her own; a downpour. Upon arrival to the village it was surreal to see an entire civilization built on stilts. We were greeted by the village elder and discussed with us the history that encompasses the village. We walked through the village and examined the conditions in which they lived. While it is so different from ours, I had a weird feeling within the entire duration of the visit. I know that I would not like someone walking down my street and peering into my bedroom. Shortly after arrival, we hoped back in the canoes and paddled back to this small restaurant for lunch. While these two trips I took with SAS were not the highlights of my voyage, they have taught me how to better plan for other ports. That is the most difficult part is even before boarding the ship deciding what trips to take in the first several ports.
        So here is the highlight of my 4 days, but I am warning you these thoughts are raw, so bear with me as I attempt to cohesively attempt to depict what I experienced. So on the 3rd day I joined 30 students and a few life long learners (LLLs) to head to City of Refuge Orphanage in Tema, which is located anywhere from 4-6 hours away from Takoradi. I learned about this service visit from a Life Long Learner, Ken, in my leadership class. He was hoping to arrange a visit to an orphanage that his daughter had visited on a whim when she sailed on the Spring Voyage this year.   We started to prepare 3 days before arrival in Ghana, talk about “flying by the seat of your pants”. We collected money from some LLLs and Ken provided the transportation, but who knew what a transforming 23 hours this would be.
        The City of Refuge Orphanage is one of the most amazing NGO’s I have ever witnessed. Two people are attempting to create such a dramatic change, and they are doing it! John, a Nigerian native and Stacey, a U.S. citizen met while volunteering in Ghana and have now created this fantastic organization. They moved to the U.S. in 2002 and shortly after were married, and started a family of their own, always with the intention to move back to Ghana to work for change. In 2006 they started the City of Refuge from the United States, but just this January bought a piece of land and settled on the outskirts of Tema. There mission is huge, they aim to help enslaved children at Lake Volta, the worlds largest man made lake. Children begin to be sold into slavery as young as the age of 3 and are brutally worked and mistreated. Single mothers tend to sell their children into slavery because they have no other option and cannot care for them, or do not realize what their child is about to endure. John and Stacey have taken a holistic approach on this situation. It is about so much more than just freeing kids from the lake and finding them a home and helping them receive an education. Getting the kids off the lake is a tough process, but they approach the situation from many different angles. The first step is usually going to talk to the fisherman and trying to learn if they have any children enslaved. If the men admit to this crime, it is explained to them that the government is planning a massive raid on the lake and anyone with enslaved children will be arrested. Usually the fisherman will have the birth certificate or address of where the child came from and after much negotiation will relinquish that information. John and Stacey then will pay a visit to the mother of the child and discuss the situation of her child. If a mother is capable to take back that child then John and Stacey will rescue the child and return them to their home and provide the funds for the rest of their education. If the child has nowhere to go, that is where the orphanage will step in. They now have 14 children in their facilities, but have been able to rescue 42 within the last year! At their facility they provide an English based school for their children and provide them with a tremendous amount of love and support.  Also, they have started a pure water company, in which women of the village sell bags of water that discuss the issues of child slavery. Not only does this serve as an educational tool, but it also provides jobs for women of the village so that they can have a form of income so that they don’t have to sell their child into slavery. Within the next 6 months their fair trade jewelry company will also be available for women as a means of work. Another aspect they have started is called “the feed”, which we were able to partake in. As of right now it is a bi-monthly event, soon to be weekly. Here they go to Tema New Town, a village in which children are usually sold from, and provide a meal for the kids. They use this as an opportunity to talk to women about the issues that surround the area, but also to register children and look for patterns that might indicate that they have been sold. All of these aspects will hopefully one day end the cycle of child slavery. I could go on recounting all the horror stories told about the children dying at the lake and the pain and suffering they must endure. It is painful to see this type of inhumanity, slavery has not ended, rather the numbers are growing everyday. There must be a stop; children around the world are being stripped of all humanity. Here is how we all became so greatly impacted by this experience. 
         Our day started at 3 a.m! We met outside the ship and had a brisk walk to the front of the port to meet our bus. Everyone seemed so excited about this event that we knew so little about. I attempted to catch up on a lack of sleep as the bus driver bumped down the unpaved roads containing potholes the size of Texas. Several ipod playlists later we arrived at the orphanage. As we pulled up the most beautiful smiles greeted our bus. We met the 14 children that live at the house and John and Stacey. They welcomed us with breakfast and showed us around the facilities. Here we began to interact with the kids, we saw them break out of their shells and begin to cling on to the love we showered upon them. We played soccer, little sally walker, bubbles, and they got a hold of our cameras. I have some fantastic pictures of bushes, ground, and body parts ☺ The most important thing was we shared love, smiles and a sense of hope with these children. After several hours we split up into three groups, one to stay at the house to help prepare meals, another to take the children to the field for a soccer game, and I went with a group to the village to notify people that we would be there that evening for a feed. As we walked through the village I became aware of so many small details that tore at my heart. Stacey introduced me to a lady that they have been working with that is HIV positive and has a newborn baby. She is in desperate need for rent money. Her rent is 6 cedis or 4 US dollars a month, but she must pay for 3 years in advance making it difficult for her to come up with the money. Her rent for 3 years is only 144 US dollars, the amount that many Americans spend on a pair of jeans or gas for a month. While at the village, we also interacted with the children for a little while, but then headed back to the house to load up the food.
        Back at the house we played with the children while the rest of the meals were prepared and then created an assembly line. We passed down 1200 meals consisting of rice, fish and stew in a small container. We packed the van and the trunk of the car. Before you know it, our group and the children from the house loaded up on our big bus and headed to the village. It was quite a sight getting the bus through the village but that does not even hold a candle to the wind of what I was about to experience. As our bus pulled up to the lot it was swarmed by children filled with waves, smiles and cheers. It seemed as if we were almost celebrities. Getting off the bus I was greeted with so many hugs, high-fives, and latching children that the tears started to flow, it was a good thing it was raining. I have never felt so welcomed in a place. After gathering the children sang us songs and prayed through music, it was such a moving experience. At this point the sky was also singing its praises and we were soaked. As the food began to be distributed all organization was lost. I saw the happiness in the children’s eyes turn into fear of not receiving food. Little children were pushed and shoved and it began difficult to regulate who had already received food. After an hour the 1200 meals had been distributed. Some acted as if they had not received food, but I must believe that if they did not their siblings did and they were able to share. I know that some took more than one, but due to natural conditions it became very difficult to regulate. We loaded back on the bus and I was full of emotions. My mind was racing in so many directions I could not speak. I set in silence on the ride home attempting to process what I had witnessed.
        We had just provided 1200 meals to children that had virtually nothing. While I am well aware that a single meal will not fix any social injustice, it was the expression of the children that made every minute a memory that I will always remember.  More than anything in 23 hours this group of semi-strangers had become a family. Back at the house we ate dinner with the children and said our goodbyes as they headed off to bed. We were then fortunate enough to hear John and Stacy’s story and what motivates them to be the phenomenal people they are. As a group we than began to debrief for a great deal of time.  This was very powerful, because the act we had all witnessed resonated so strongly in the room. As I write this several days later, I still feel the call to action, and as a group we are still working towards making change happen.   
        Slavery has not ended and it is only growing. We must find a way to put a stop to this inhuman action. Child slavery is a growing and dire problem that few people are educated about. Before going to City of Refuge Orphanage I knew that child slavery existed, but no way in the capacity I do know. It is now my mission to educate others about the facts and problems of childhood slavery. I can’t just let this issue go, I have been educated and now it is the world’s turn to know that this problem is just one of many injustices that we as a global community must make a part of history rather that a never ending cycle.
        Ghana was a country of Hope, Despair, Vivaciousness, Awareness, and Love. I have hope for the future of Ghana. They are one of the most forward moving developing nations. I have hope that what I was a witness to will one day be eradicated and that I am part of that solution. I also saw despair, but never in the people. The despair was in their roads, houses, and educational system. While I saw desolation in these areas, I believe the people saw hope for a better Ghana. The peoples sense of pride and liveliness negates any negative image engrained previously in my mind. They are one; they take care not only of themselves, but also their society. I believe they instilled in me a new sense of attentiveness; to the needs of people, the culture and the simple aspects of life. These individuals are the most simplistic and elegant people I have ever come in contact with. They are truly diamonds in the rough. Overall, I am in LOVE with the people of Ghana. Their hospitality and true sense of happiness is second to none.  Ghana for me was in one simple word: a RENEWAL.

Neptune Day!

Today was a special day on the ship! It was supposed to be a reading day, which is a time for students to catch up on their work and not have classes. This sounds like the perfect day, but SAS went on and made it even better! We celebrated Neptune Day. This is a tradition of the sea, representing crossing the equator. While at sea, before you cross over the equator you are considered a pollywog, but after initiation you have been deemed a shellback. This years voyage earned even a more prestigious title! Thanks to our captain, we sailed over the golden X, the intersection of the Prime Meridian and the Equator. Being of a rare population to do this, we were knighted Emerald Shellbacks today. The day started early. The king and his court paraded down the halls blowing whistles and clashing symbols at 6 a.m. They kindly gave us time to eat breakfast before summoning all voyagers to the pool deck. Here we became initiated, but not so easily. We were soaked in “fish guts” (luckily the let us jump in the pool afterwards), then had to kiss a very large fish and the rings of the king and queen before being initiated. As tradition has it, you are also supposed to shave your head, and many participants did. I believe that 30 girls shaved their heads today and many guys are running around bald or with some beautiful mullets. We then had the rest of the day to study for our ship wide test. We all have a test in Global Studies this evening. I think it will be fine, we have had study groups all afternoon. This evening for dinner they spoiled us! We had a BBQ! They served hamburgers, mac and cheese, baked potatoes, corn on the cob, lemonade and ice cream sundaes. IT WAS SUCH A TREAT! I think it was the best brain food I could have asked for! I promise I will finish the Ghana blog soon, I just need some time to debrief and collect my thoughts. Hope all is well and miss you ton

I am at the center of the world!

So I looked up at the position report on the TV today in the Union and it showed that we have made it to the center of the world. We are at 0.0 longitude and 0.0 latitude. I don't think I will ever be able to say this again. We are back to classes and normal life today. I will have a blog up shortly from Ghana, but I have so much to say. 2 days from now I also have my 1st test, it is in Global Studies, the class in which everyone on the ship is required to take. So, I have a lot planned in the next week until we get to Capetown. I will keep you updated. Love you all.

Thank you very Marrakesh

Greetings from Africa!  I have just arrived back on the ship from what was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever been apart of. Do not get me wrong Spain was an amazing country, but Morocco has made such a greater impact on me. I am so grateful for every minute of this journey, whether it was a high or one of the very few minor glitches.
We were cleared for docking a day early so there was only 16 hours between Spain and Morocco. This transition was rather a little stressful; I felt as if I had very little time to process what I had seen and Spain and was attempting to prepare for the lack of familiarities of Morocco.  We have a ship wide meeting, a logistical pre-port, the night before we get to a country. Here they try to prepare us for some of the various issues we may run into while in that country, but I have come to realize that nothing can truly prepare you for what you will witness walking off the gangway of the ship in a port for the 1st time.
. We came into Morocco at a very interesting time. Our first day in port was the last day of Ramadan. During this month many activities shut down or close early so that individuals can spend time with family and focus on their religion. Also, the 2nd day in port was the feast acknowledging the end of Ramadan. The holiday is called Eid al-Fitr, it is the equivalent of the American Thanksgiving. On this day almost everything shuts down so that people can spend time with their families and celebrate the occasion. This day was also September 11th. It was very interesting being an American in an Islamic country on this day, especially due to the threats of Qurans being burnt in America. The ship sent out an exclusive warning for all students to be extremely careful while traveling and exploring. I am very happy to report that I did not feel great side effects of being American on this day.
So on the 1st day once the ship had been cleared and all passports stamped I went and wondered around Casablanca with a group of friend. We headed towards the medina, or city center. Located here are tons of individual shops and street vendors. In Morocco there is a lot of pottery, leather goods, and rugs for sale. Our experience turned out to be rather stressful and after 2 hours all of were ready to head back to the ship and get dinner in some place that we knew and were familiar with. While in the medina, many of the girls in our group felt rather uncomfortable. There was not a minute in which you could take your eyes off your possessions, making it difficult to look at all of the beautiful works of art. Also, a man tried to lead the group through very sketchy alleyways and when we became uncomfortable and tried to leave he demanded a ridiculous amount of money.  Also, it became very apparent the status of women in this country. When I would try to barter, they treated me as a second-class citizen. I always had to have my guy friends do it for me so I could get the best price. I became very frustrated but now am so much more grateful for my freedom to express myself as a woman. This day ended up to be rather short but was an eye-opening experience without a doubt.
I awoke with the sun the next morning to catch a train to Marrakesh for an independent camel trek with 11 other students.  I randomly was sitting at the pool one afternoon and started talking to the girl next to me and said that they needed more people for their trip and asked me if I wanted to join. That is the great part of SAS, you meet so many people and are able to make travel arrangements so easily. I knew a few of the people on my trip, but not very well so I was excited to be able to hang out with a new group and be able to expand my circle even further. We arrived at the station with only 10 minutes to spare, to learn that the train had been delayed for 45 minutes. When the train finally showed, the station became a mad house. The trains do not sale out, they pack as many people on it as they can. Our group had to split up to all make it on the train. We became crammed into a corner of the car. Comfort during travel outside the United States is a luxury not an expectation. We stood like sardines for the 1st hour and half of the train ride. Luckily my friend and I stood by a local that spoke a decent amount of English. We discussed many aspects of Morocco with him ranging from lifestyle and family to politics and religion. He was a great wealth of knowledge but also so hospitable. He even invited our whole group and tour guide over for couscous on Saturday morning. This is a dish that Moroccans only eat on Friday for dinner, but wanted to treat us. This train ride was one of the coolest things I have ever witnessed. It started as something I saw as miserable, a 3-hour ride while standing and no air conditioning, and ended up be something amazing, After getting off the train we made our way to the street and a police officer ended up helping us line up four taxis so that none of us got left behind or ripped off. This was another warm welcoming we received from the locals. We finally made it to the medina in Marrakesh and headed to our riad, an old palace that has been converted into a bed and breakfast. While the streets of Marrakesh did not look that attractive, what was behind closed doors was a completely different story.  We stayed at the Riad Lila and were greeted with warm glasses of mint tea. This tea was out of this world, and the locals use it as a time to welcome and catch up with their guest. After dropping our stuff off we were starving, so the man at the riad walked us to his favorite local restaurant. In Morocco they start every meal with green and black olives and bread. I really liked the green ones, they were pickled in some spice and tasted like nothing I have had in the states, the black ones on the other hand I am not a fan of at all! For our main course we split 3 large couscous dishes and they were out of this world. They had cooked veggies, chicken and meat. I am in love with Moroccan food and think I could eat it all the time, I found it much more appetizing than Spanish food. For desert the always serve grapes and melon! It was so fresh and delicious. After dinner our group decided to split and head into the medina and do some shopping. I was able to score some awesome deals, my favorite being a pair of pants that were perfect for the desert. Also, the medina has a ton of stands that sale fresh orange juice, and it is unlike any other orange juice I have ever had. It was so fresh and still had the seeds of the oranges in it! After our group met back up we headed back to the riad and hung out by the pool. No one realized we would have a pool so we didn’t bring suits. So while the guys got in the girls set with their feet in the water. The best part about it all, the guys took turns rotating and giving all the girls foot massages. It was fantastic and a great time just hanging out and relaxing in a beautiful city.
Early the next morning we woke up for breakfast from the riad. The local breakfast is orange juice and tea with these pastries that are like Swedish pancakes with jelly. They are so delicious and I could eat them every day. We then grabbed our stuffed and headed back into the medina to meet our driver.  It ended up to be quite hysterical because we were supposed to meet our driver at the Café de France and we were sitting at the Café de Fran and we did not even realize for the longest time that we were even at the wrong place. So after finally meeting up with our driver we were on our way to the Sahara. We knew that we had a long day ahead of us, but I would have never would have expected that it would have been a 12 hour drive. Although it seems like forever, it was one of the shortest drives I have ever been on. Around every bend in the Atlas Mountains there was something new to see. Berber villages were everywhere; they were built in the side of the mountain and all so different. On the side of the road there were so many locals selling various crafts and collectibles. The driving is absolutely ridiculous, a few times I feared my life. The roads are so windy and people pass without any care. There are also nomads walking on the side of the cliffs and goats roaming in the middle. After about 4 hours we stopped in a town for lunch and met our guides, Habib and Braham. There we had another local dish called tagine, I ordered citrus chicken. It is so cool how they make it in these clay pots over an open flame, it makes the meat so tender.  We continued on our way and made several stops along the way to take pictures of various areas of Morocco and also visited the studio cinema, where movies such as Gladiator and Babel were shot. I also spent a great deal of time talking with Braham about their culture and his life. We mainly discussed their medical practices and natural and holistic healing processes. I found this so intriguing and probably asked a million and one questions.  I was so impressed with him, he has never been to school a day in his life and can speak 6 different languages. He continually said that life is his school and he would have it no other way. He loves the slowness of the desert life and the simplicity of it. I really learned so much from Braham in those two short days, I don’t ever want to forget the lessons he taught me. The last 8 hours seemed to go by so quickly due to conversations, the gorgeous sunset and the pure beauty of the dunes. Our final destination was Mohammad, our guides’ village. Here they have created this resort for tourist, it was fantastic. Upon arrival the served us tea and showed us our options for the night. They have very nice rooms to stay in, but there is also the option to stay in tents or on the dunes. All of us choose to stay in the air-conditioned rooms that night. While they prepared dinner we all swam in the pool. We turned off all the outside lights and just gazed at the stars, I can honestly say I have never seen anything like it. In just a few hours I saw 7 shooting stars! Dinner was a feast, we had salad, couscous, meat skewers, french fries and soup. After that we were all exhausted and I went right to sleep.
The next morning we woke up and hoped up on camels. It was so much fun to ride the camels, but let me tell you I am paying for it today! We trekked through the desert for 2 hours to the Kasbah, or the villages were nomads go in the winter purchased some jewelry from the people of Mohammad.  Here we were really able to talk to Habib and Braham. For a friends class she has to do field interviews and ask locals if they had 3 wishes what they would be and Braham answered that he wants nothing he is so content and would not change a thing. I thought that this spoke volumes for the man he was and the lifestyle these people live. Habib said all he wants his for his workers to be happy and a personal camel. Neither one replied frivolous responses, and both caught me off guard and really made me think about the necessities of life in a new light. We then went back to the resort and had tagine for lunch and packed up the ATV’s and headed out to the dunes. One of the coolest parts of the trips was in the middle of the Sahara we stopped and had a dance party with no one around, but it was AMAZING!  It showed a common thread in us all. Upon arrival we climbed a 350-meter dune and sat and watched the sun set it was breathtaking. Once the sun set it got really dark really fast. We sat around a fire and listened to the guys play tribe music on their guitars and drums and had a wonderful dinner. We then decided that we all wanted to sleep together so we pulled the mattresses out of the huts and placed them in a huge square under the stars. There Braham told jokes and the history of the Sahara, we joked and laughed and laid in amazement of the stars. I cannot explain the magic in that day. It was so peaceful and calming, exactly what I needed as a reminder of all the glory in the smallest things on Earth.
The next morning we packed up as the sun came up and headed back for Casablanca. This leg of the trip was 14 hours. It was a long day but also a great day for reflection and spending time with those that I had the opportunity to share this experience with. I wish I had better words to describe these moments and feelings because I know that I am not doing them justice.
Today we hung out in Casablanca and went to visit the Hassan II mosque the world’s 3rd largest mosque. It was gorgeous and overlooked the Atlantic Ocean. One thing that I have noticed in all of these quaint and modest towns the mosque are always very ornate and beautiful. We also went and got a hamman, a Moroccan scrub and massage. It was a very interesting experience but also very cultural. Overall, Morocco has been a step outside of my comfort zone, but also put me back into perspective in so many ways.
Sorry for the long blog but there was so much to say and I had no way to summarize. Hope all is well back in the states. I love and miss you all very much and can’t tell you how much I appreciate all the kind words you have sent.
Love always,
Jordan

Espana

I have survived my first port! Spain was an absolute blast and I am still trying to process what I have just seen and experienced. Tonight we had to be back on the ship by 6 P.M. and we were off sailing again by 8. (Side note: Getting used to the boat rocking again is very weird.) I can't believe it, but we will be in Morocco tomorrow at noon, It is only 50 miles from Cadiz to Casablanca! Tonight, we had a debriefing session in our small groups about what our overall reactions to Spain were. Here is my recap of my 5 wonderful and amazing days exploring such a rich and vivid city.

We arrived into Cadiz on Saturday morning, and the sight of land was fantastic. It was truly wonderful to know that I was about to truly start on this journey of being enriched in so many aspects. I got off the boat with a group of 6 friends and without a map we began wondering. The city of Cadiz was just beginning to wake up so we sat at a small cafe and did a great deal of people watching. We made note of what they ordered, and were curious to try everything in sight. We made our way to the city square, which revolves around a Cathedral that was built in the late 1100's. It is so amazing to see a structure standing and functioning with so much age and history. As we wondered the narrow cobblestone streets we stopped at all the small shops, bought fruit at the local market, and found our way to the breathtaking beach. Throughout the day we stopped at many local bars and would try various tapas. Being a costal city, they have fabulous seafood that freshness is very noticeable. That night I sent all of my friends on various trains for independent trips. I then made my way back to the ship and ran into a friend who was headed out with a group that I did not know, but I tagged along. We ended up having dinner outdoors. The meal was fantastic and lasted 3 hours, that is something I love about Spain, their desire to truly spend face to face time with friends and family. It is considered rude for the waiter to ask you if you would like your check, once you have the table, it is considered yours for the night. After that we ended up at this little local bar and I had a blast brushing up on my broken Spanish and attempting to converse with the locals. In this night owl city, we ended up arriving back at the ship at 5 A.M.

The next morning I got up early to meet a group of friends, we actually went into the cathedral to see the mass. It was interesting to see how short their services were because there is no sung music. We then went to lunch and hit the beach for the afternoon. The beaches were very rocky and lacked sand, but it was very evident that this was the local weekend meeting spot. Families had made picnics and were camped out there for the day. That night we went to dinner and just sat outside. I attempted to catch up on sleep that night because I was headed to Seville early the next morning. 

Before coming on the ship, I planned a trip through Semester at Sea to Seville and Cordoba. We took a bus to Seville and were able to see this awesome government building, Plaza de Espana. We then made our way to the Alcazar, a historical fortress of the King. The construction of this palace started in the 10th century and is today still being completed. Here there was so many various and breathtaking types of architecture that span through all different periods of time. We then made our way to the local Cathedral, it is the 3rd largest in the world. Also, it is the burial sight of Christopher Columbus. We then ate lunch at a quaint local restaurant and made our way to Cordoba.

Once in Cordoba, we ate dinner and then were free to explore for the night. Early the next morning we got up and hit the city. Our first stop was the local Alcazar, it had the most breathtaking gardens I have ever seen. The flowers and fountains made for the most gorgeous views. After that we headed over to another cathedral. What makes this cathedral so unique is that it used to serve as a Mosque. The architecture is still of that of the Mosque, but the center has been converted into a Cathedral. It was quite interesting to hear about the transition period.

Today, we just hung around the city of Cadiz and did last minute things before boarding the ship. Tomorrow I head out in Morocco and will be on a camel trek till Sunday. I will be sleeping in a tent in the Sahara. This will be a very interesting experience.

Miss you all and hope all is well back in the States.

Love always

Bienvenido a Espana

Wow! What a week. At this time a week ago all the students had just boarded the ship and we were all strangers. These 7 days have been insanely crazy, but so exhilarating. Tomorrow morning we will be in Espana! I am so excited to finally get to a port. I have quite a bit planned, including an overnight trip to Seville and Cordoba. Every night this week we have had various speakers acquainting us with the culture, food, and history of Spain. There are so many activities on the ship it is unbelievable.

This week has been quite a challenge because we have lost an hour every night so we are literally living 23 hour days. It is finally starting to catch up with me. I have not had much sleep due to classes, work, clubs, meetings, and socializing. Today after class a bunch of us laid out for awhile and now I am a little red :( . Hopefully everyone has had a good week. I will update the day I get back from Spain. We only have 12 hours on the ship between Spain and Morocco, so no classes. We have an 11 day break! Love and miss you all!

1st day of classes!

Today we had the 1st day of classes! I think I am going to love my Disease and Healing class. It is really interesting. Even though I don’t like English classes, I also think I will enjoy this one. All the professors here are very down to earth. Most of them asked to be called by their first name. I am already seeing how this ship is turning into one large family. Tonight was also the first “pub night”. Here students can get 3 drinks for the evening but they are outrageously expensive. My friends and I set on the deck and played cards. This lifestyle is one that I could easily adapt to. I was able to go to class then layout and then go back to class get a workout and then relax with friends. It is so amazing to meet all of the students, staff and kids on board. Yesterday during orientation Desmond Tutu addressed all of the students. He is a very charming and hilarious man. I have shook his hand on a couple occasions and am hoping to have the opportunity to eat with him at some point. Tomorrow I have Global Studies, the course that prepares us for all of our ports and also have a leadership class. I have very high expectations for my leadership class and hope it is all that it has been talked up to be. I have been working a lot with our student from Spain that is working with students to help provide insight on the culture of Spain. He is so sweet but has broken English. I am working with him to prepare for his presentation on Thursday. This is the part of my job that I think I will enjoy the most. We have 6 more days till we see land! Hopefully its smooth sailing from here to Cadiz ☺

THE BIG DAY!

It is finally here! Today I will fly to Novia Scotia, Canada with my parents and meet my new home for the next 109 days! I feel as if I have been planning this trip forever and it seems unreal that it is finally here. I was shocked when I was able to fit all my luggage for a semester in one 50 lb bag, a carry-on, and a backpack. I never realized how difficult it is to pack for 4 months, especially when facing all different types of climates. Hopefully everything from here on out is "sooth sailing". Thanks again for all your love and support!

I have had a few questions on what I will be doing while abroad so I thought I would give a brief overview. While aboard the ship I will be taking 4 classes and also working. I will be taking a Global Studies class, in which all students are required to take, World Short Stories, Service Leadership, and a Disease and Healing Class. As far as my job I was fortunate enough to recieve a position with the student life office, where I will work 2 hours a day while at sea. As for when the ship docks at the various ports we are free to travel, with trips planned by Semester at Sea or independently.  Here are the ports I will be visiting:

• Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Cadiz, Spain
• Casablanca, Morocco
• Takoradi, Ghana
• Cape Town, South Africa
• Port Louis, Mauritius
• Chennai, India
• Singapore
• Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
• Hong Kong / Shanghai, China
• Yokohama / Kobe, Japan
• Honolulu / Hilo, Hawaii, USA
• San Diego, California, USA

Feel free to e-mail me at jtmattingly@semesteratsea.net, this is the only form of communication I will have. Love you all!!!

ONE WEEK!

So it is finally starting to hit home. I am about to embark on the journey of a lifetime in ONE short week! I have been talking and preparing for months, but it is really starting to set in. This semester started off as a far-fetched dream but now is reality! I can't even fathom all the wonderful experiences I will partake in this semester and am so grateful for every opportunity. While I am so excited I know that I will miss every single one of you SO VERY much. I would greatly appreciate e-mails so I have an opportunity to hear the exciting things that happens over the course of the next several months, and so I do not feel so distant. With all my love! 
Jordan