Out to Sea

Wow.

I'm been on my trip for about a week now and I've discovered that it is truly impossible to put this overwhelming experience into words. Classes are in full swing and while I expected that to put a damper on things, I am instead excited to be studying subjects and events and are very pertinent to my upcoming travels in the Mediterranean.

To give you a taste of life on the ship, I will try to walk through a day on the MV Explorer.

900 hours: Wake up. Having missed the ridiculously early breakfast time of 730-830, I stumble towards the 24 hour coffee machine and rush into my Global Studies classroom.

920-1035 hours: Global Studies. Try to stay awake as I learn about Mediterranean history, culture, military conquests, religion, landscape, language, geography, and current events. Interesting stuff, truly.

1035-1130 hours: Nap, read for class, tan, or all of the above before I make my way to the dinning room for lunch.

1130-1230 hours: Take a leisurely lunch on the ship’s deck while trying to imagine the food I will soon be eating in the countries I am to visit. Ignore the fact that the food I am currently eating is well below par, because I am, in fact, floating on a glorious ship in the middle of the ocean and have little, if anything to complain about.

1230-1455 hours: Think about maybe getting ready for class. Complete readings and/or assignments. If there are none, hang out with friends, make tentative travel plans, meet new friends, and/or watch dolphins from the top deck.

1455-1610 hours: Literature of the Mediterranean World. This class has close to 8 books assigned as required reading, two of which we will have covered by the end of today. My professor is actually a highly esteemed dean at UVA, so the pressure is on to make a good impression. Too bad the last time I thought about literature was in high school.

1615-1730 hours: Creativity in Entrepreneurship. I got this one approved by Neeley on an oversight. Thank goodness, because I really love this class!!! The fact that it goes towards my major is icing.

1730-2130 hours: Dinner, social time, watch the sunset, possible attendance at a seminar, relax.

2130 hours: Bar on top deck opens. By bar, I mean American beer and red or white wine served in plastic cups that are usually used as kiddie juice cups in 24 hour dinners. You know the kind. They also serve ramen noodle at this bar. I think they know their audience.

2330 hours: Bar closes.

Since we lose an hour each night on the way across the ocean, a night might typically stop here. It may also continue into the wee hours with conversation and board games. Or homework—we do actually have that here.

As you can see, I’m living the life. I don’t think I will ever want to leave.

Today is also Father’s day, so if there is anything I am sad about, it is that I cannot be with my dad today. I love you dad, Happy Father’s Day!!!

Sincerely,

Bonnie