Life on a Ship

Friday, September 4, 2009.

Hello from the Atlantic Ocean! :)

At the present moment, I am taking a break from studying on the deck.  The ocean is so beautiful.  As I look over my right shoulder, I can see dark blue water with  alighter blue and some white foam swirling about.  I have been here for exactly a week and I have adjusted nicely since then.  I could write pages and pages of what has been keeping me busy for the past seven days, and I must apologize for not writing in so long.  At the end of the day, I reply to e-mails from friends and family and do not feel like staying up any longer to write even more.  I will try to be more consistent in the weeks ahead, I promise.

I love the view out here.  It is amazing and God really is creative.  The rhythmic beat of the waves, up and down, breaking, up and down, is so soothing.  I only had a slight case of seasickness the first two days, with just a headache and exhaustion.  I never realized how much energy your body uses to balance.  No wonder babies and little children sleep so often; they are only learning how to balance and stand on two feet, and learning how to do the same when your foundation is rocking leaves one more tired than usual.  I have been told of "land sickness," as well.  I will let you know how that goes, maybe get a video of myself walking onto the dock in Spain tomorrow.

Speaking of Spain, we arrive tomorrow morning and have a mandatory diplomatic briefing at 0800, which I think is about 0300 or 0400 a.m. Eastern time.  Later in the evening tomorrow, I am taking a city orientation around Cadiz, as well as a walking photo tour with the photographer on the ship.  I am definitely looking forward to it.  Then, on Sunday, I will be hiking at Grazalema Natural Park with my Zoology professor.  I plan to take a lot of pictures, and if I can find an internet cafe I will try to load some of them on Facebook!  I have nothing else planned for the rest of my time in Spain - we are there until Tuesday - so I will do some things with friends in Cadiz, more than likely.  I need to pick up a bathing suit because I left mine at home on accident, as well as find a place to wash my clothes because laundry costs $6 on the ship and I did not have enough clothes to wash on Tuesday to warrant paying that much.  I wish we could wash our own clothes, but oh well.  Don't worry, Dad, I won't go anywhere alone.  :)

I have been really busy with course work and all of the activities I am involved with.  I am the leader for the Alcohol-Free Voyagers club, helping out with the Voyage Book, which is a photo book that we will make of our semester, attending "Time Out: For GOD," working in a group for my service learning class, and working with the other WKU students on ship.  I have to contact Dr. Ransdell about getting together a nice package for the auction we will be having near the end of the voyage.  As you see, I am involved with a ton of things, like normal!  Oh, and I forgot about the star gazing club, yet to be started, and Wonderfully Made, a group for Christian girls.  :)

I am loving life at Semester at Sea!  Thanks for reading and check back soon for my next update.  :)

Jen