My Travels Abroad

Ghana: Hannah Montana, random wildlife, one love, true hospitality, and an overall general curiosity of these strange SAS people!!! Well, I made it through without and sort of malaria or dengue fever! Dr. Mort here on the ship keeps us all in check and makes sure we all take our Pepto regularly and use tons of hand sanitizer. Needless to say Ghana is a pretty incredible place. I was able to see much of this lush country and have some great interactions with the local people. Everyone here was very keen on knowing your name and where you came from. They love Obama here as well so us Americans were definitely well accepted. It was definitely entertaining to see all the double takes as we drove the streets from all of the people. This general curiosity followed us everywhere and myself and other SASers were definitely just as curious as well. Overall it was a great experience in this country with many wonderful moments that I will take with me forever. I learned a lot in this country, not only about the people and society here but about myself as well. Day 1: Accra, Ghana -Our ship is docked in Tema which is approximately at 0 degrees latitude aka the equator and 0 degrees longitude aka the prime meridian, pretty cool…actually pretty hot!!! -Lo, Annie, Kelsey, and I started out our day with a tour of Accra -Our first stop was the WEB Dubois memorial, also the place he is buried -It was very interesting but mostly it was starting to get very hot so I could only keep my focus for so long -Next we went to the University of Ghana, which was a palatial campus -There were many dorms buildings and very nice lecture halls for what I expected -After this we went on a mad hunt for ATMs since no one in our tour had any money -We eventually found some and then headed to lunch at a hotel -Lunch was delicious and we were all fueled and ready to go again -We went to the capital monument next and say the place where they declared their independence -Next we were dropped of at an arts and crafts market, which was great fun, and I definitely did some damage shopping -We journey to the main street next and had some great pizza for dinner and then headed back to the ship Smells of this day were: rice balls, smokiness, and pizza Things I learned from this day: -Some person while I was shopping called me Hannah Montana; apparently I look somewhat like her? -Everyone wants to know your name, but then they will make you tons of things like bracelets to sell to you with your name on it -Chickens are everywhere, very interesting -It is very hot here and you will be sweaty no matter what -Dress warm for the chilly buses and then be prepared to strip down for the weather outside Day 2: Habitat for Humanity -I was very excited for this day, I feel like Ghana is a great place to do lots of service work - We all loaded on the bus for our three-hour bus ride to the town of Kidi for our site -When we arrived they put us right to work -I went with one group to work on a house for this older lady Grace -Her daughter Sandra was there as well -I had a great time shoveling tons of dirt and getting to know Sandra and Grace -By the end of the day I was so dirty, sweaty, had tons of blisters on my hands and felt so good about the help that we gave these people -We all got back onto the bus and it was so smelly and gross so it was a long 3-hour bus ride back -I though I had gotten a sock tan while I was working but as soon as I stepped into the shower I realized it was just dirt Smells of this day were: dirt, wet bus, and really smelly sweaty people Things I learned from this day: -Bring lots of water; you will sweat like you have never sweat before -Get to know the people; everyone has a story to tell -Bring candy for kids, they will love it -Bring and ipod for long bus rides or find someone to entertain you for a while -Take it all in, the towns that you drive by are fascinating Day 3: Wli Waterfall and Mona Monkeys -Another early morning with a 4-hour bus ride this time -Lo, Annie, Kelsey, Connor, Will and I journeyed to Wli Waterfall first -Along the way there was many strange wildlife creatures such as crocodiles, tortoises, monkeys, guinea pigs and even turkeys! -There were also what appeared to be a cross between goats and sheep, we decided to call them “shoats” or “geets” -We finally made it to the waterfall and it was incredible -Definitely a highlight of my trip here in Ghana -It was so cool to be able to stand underneath this waterfall and to feel the power of the water crashing down on your head and back -It was a truly enlightening experience and a great way to relax and let yourself get away -After this we went to go find the monkeys -We found them and fed them bananas which was highly entertaining -It then started to rain very hard and we were all completely soaked by the time we reached the bus -Once the rain stopped (about 5 min. later) we went on a tour of the nearby town, which was very humbling -These people have so little but are so welcoming and happy to have us visiting - We then drove 4 hours back to the ship, along but excellent day Smells of this day were: waterfall, plantain chips, and bananas Things I learned from this day: -Wear a swimsuit you will be surprised at how many times you will get wet throughout the day -Bring an ipod or something those bus rides are very long -Wear shoes, rainbows are not very good for hiking up to a waterfall -Trying to carry a bucket on your head like to locals will result in much amusement for them -Plantain chips are so delicious, definitely a new favorite Day 4: Accra Psychiatric Hospital -This day I was on a trip for my psychology class to a psychiatric hospital -I was not quite sure what to expect but I was prepared for the worst -When we first arrived at the hospital it was mostly all outside and pretty rural -It turned out to be such a great experience -We were able to interact with patients who had bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other mental illnesses - It was a hard situation to be in but one I will definitely be able to apply to my studies and help me in the long run -It was very exciting to be able to learn in a hands on experience and be able to ask people about their diseases and learn from this first hand experience - Was exhausted after this trip and very hot so I headed back to the ship to relax and take a nap Smells of this day were: hospital, dirt, and sweat Things I learned from this day: -Postcards pretty much do not exist in Ghana, sorry everyone -Neither do stamps, or post offices for that matter -I have never sweat so much standing still -There are far too many people and not enough doctors in Ghana, only 4 psychiatrists total in the entire country -Every year most everyone in Ghana gets malaria at least once My time in Ghana was definitely one I will not forget. I definitely would love to come back someday and do some sort of service work and help out the amazing people there. I feel that this country is definitely making huge strides and is on the up and up in the world today. I am very much looking forward to arriving in Brazil in one day. Myself and four other friends have planned out an epic expedition all over the country including Iguaçu Falls and to see the big Jesus in Rio. I am ready to go but I have a feeling its going to be quite an adventure. There are only 16 more days left in my voyage, which is so hard to believe. It has gone by ridiculously fast but I am looking forward to a few things: -Being able to drive my car and actually know where I am going -Being able to buy something and not having to make any sort of currency conversions -Familiar foods that I know will not make me sick -Friends and family -Swimming in a pool Some things I will miss from SAS: -Being able to be in one country one week and be on a completely different continent the next week -The wonderful atmosphere of this shipboard community -My tiny shoebox of a cabin, so many memories -Living with my professors and learning new things all the time -The rocking of the ship that puts me to sleep every night Overall I am still very much so enjoying myself here but I am also looking forward to seeing all of you! Take care and I will see most of you in about three weeks!!!

South Africa: Lots of rocks, nice elephants, not so nice elephants, graceful giraffes and stunning scenery!!! Day 1: Cape Town, South Africa -Got everyone together to go shopping for some needed items and then head to hike Table Mountain -Our shopping experience took a bit longer than anticipated but soon we were off to hike Table Mountain -A group of us went to the Mountain by a double-decker tourist bus, which was a ton of fun -It was so great to be able to see the whole city and see some of the major points of town since we had very little time there -We finally made it to the bottom of Table Mountain and though it looked fairly daunting we proceeded to our trail -The trail was pretty hard with tons of loose rocks and a steep climb the entire way -Will and I finished in 1hr 20min and everyone else finished in about 2hrs -It was so incredible at the top with all of the clouds blowing by us and the amazing views -It was also very very cold, we had gotten all sweaty hiking up the mountain and soon we were quite chilled -We had lunch at the top and then headed back down in the rotating cable car which was way cool even though Annie and Kelsey were scared -Once at the bottom we jumped on our tourist bus again and we were driven during sunset along the beach/peninsula area of Cape Town, which was truly spectacular -After that we had dinner at a brewery and then went to the supermarket to get some snacks for on board the ship -Overall a very tiring and exhausting day Smells of this day were: burger, rocks, Thai Chili Chips Things I learned from this day: -If the trail says strenuous hike then it will be quite hard -There are giant hamsters on the trail, beware -Sometimes people named Yellow Man can make your day -Prepare for all sorts of weather, you can honestly never over pack -Frustration is common in big groups, its best to stick with 4-5 people Day 2: Cape Town to Johannesburg to Kruger -Woke up very early at 3am to catch a flight to Kruger -We managed to board our first flight to Johannesburg and get there without a problem -Once we were there we ran into a bunch of SAS kids who were on a SAS trip -They happened to be on our flight as well, but our flight was delayed about 3 hours -Needless to say we were very happy to get to Kruger and pretty tired from traveling all day -When we finally arrived at our reserve, Kwa Madwala, we discovered that we would be staying in rocks! -Yes the lodging was huge fake rocks that looked exactly like all the bigger rocks around them -Jenica and I were pleasantly surprised to find out that they were very nice rocks with huge beds and a shower outside in the jungle -We then wandered around the grounds and went to dinner which was absolutely delicious -Later I took a shower outside in a lightening storm, which was such an incredible experience, you could see and feel the lightening and thunder strike across the hills -It soon started to rain pretty hard so we were off to bed Smells of this day were: jerky, lemonade, and jungle Things I learned from this day: -Flights in other countries are not always reliable so always bring extra snacks -Apparently south Africa is know for its jerky, they sell it everywhere -There is a weight limit for carryon baggage for flights here so pack lightly -Nothing in the airport is open until 5 am except for subway -I enjoyed being able to keep my shoes on through security Day 3: Kwa Madwala -Unfortunately our cool rock was not very waterproof -This resulted in a few random puddles around our room and a wet wake up call -Regardless we were up at 0500 and ready to find some animals -It was still raining when we got up so not many animals were out -We still were able to see: impala, kudu, wildebeest, two giraffes, many turtles, some sort of falcon, and a leopard tortoise -We then headed back for breakfast and hung out until lunch -Next we went on an elephant safari, which was quite an experience -We were able to first play with the elephants and touch them; they are very rough and surprisingly very hairy -Next we rode the elephants through the bush and didn’t see much wild life besides a wart hog but were amused by how they just plowed through bushes and trees the entire time just munching away -Afterwards we were picked up to go on our afternoon safari to Kruger Park -This time we saw: a huge male bull elephant, tons of impala, zebras, kudu, wildebeest, and hippos, also one water buffalo and a herd of elephants -This was a great safari and the hippos were very entertaining to watch, just hanging out in the water Smells of this day were: elephant poop, wet earth, aloe vera bushes/trees Things I learned from this day: -Elephants are huge but very gentle and curious and eat all the time -The views are stunning in South Africa and it is so green everywhere -Pseudo rocks may look cool but they might leak -Outside showers are the best invention ever -Safari rides are definitely an off-road experience, like Indiana Jones x100 Day 4: Kwa Madwala to Cape Town -Jenica and I were up early again for our last safari - We saw all the usual suspects like kudu and impala and zebras -Then we came across about 7 giraffes that were so close to us -It was so funny just to see them standing there chopping away on the trees -They were quite intrigued by us and kept poking their heads over the trees to get a closer look -Next we were tracking a herd of elephants and soon we stumbled upon them, here is the story that followed: Yes I was sort of attacked by an elephant. So my friend Jenica and I were on our last safari of our trip early in the morning. We had just seen a herd of giraffes and tons of other zebras and impala. Our guide/driver was tracking the elephants and before we knew it we had found them. They were just off the path and very close to our truck. They seemed just as surprised as we did when we found the entire herd of them. I think there was about 10 or so of them and some babies too. One of the female elephants was not very happy to see us and decided to charge at our car. Luckily with some revving of the engine she backed away. They proceeded to play in the path right in front of us, I mean no further than 15m away. It was pretty incredible then the female charged again at us but luckily did not flip our car. Another elephant a male this time also charged but decided it was not worth his time and walked away. After a 45-minute standoff they finally cleared the path so we could make our getaway. As soon as we passed them the female came chasing after us. She trumpeted very loudly in typical elephant style. I was sure we were done for she came very close again but we stopped the truck and revved and reversed it to hold our ground. She chased us one more time and then finally left us alone. Needless to say it was a pretty incredible interaction of which I was very happy to come out alive. I still love elephants but they are definitely wild and fearless animals, except when it comes to mice or wart hogs! -So after that exciting experience we headed back to the lodge for some breakfast before our massage -We then had lunch and headed out to the airport to fly back to Cape Town -A very long and very exciting day Smells of this day were: elephants smelling us, jasmine, airports Things I learned from this day: -Elephants are very scary when they are charging towards you -Never separate a group of elephants from one another -Elephants have to ability to flip over a safari truck -Empty airplanes are the best -Sometimes it just feels so nice to be back at the ship Day 5: Cape Town -On this Easter Sunday Jenica and I decided that we would spend it shopping for friends and family and going to the aquarium -We had planned to go to Cape Point but transportation was not really running and cage diving with the sharks was also canceled because of the huge swells -Off to the aquarium we went, the penguins were very cute and very silly -We also saw huge sharks and sea turtles -The aquarium was like a mini Monterey Bay Aquarium -We then shopped a bit and had some lunch with some great “chips” or French fries -We finished up our shopping and got some last minute snacks at the grocery store to help us make it through this last stretch -I also had some great berry frozen yogurt, mmmm so good -We headed back to the ship and I wrote 15 post cards in less than an hour, which was quite a task Smells of this day were: seals, frozen yogurt, “chips” or French fries Things I learned from this day: - Penguins molt and shed their feathers and are essentially depressed for a few months -Seals are very fun to watch swim and play around -This port area was so great, definitely one of my favorites -I am definitely excited for Cherry on Top when I get back home -I miss grocery shopping for my own food Overall I had a great time in this port. There was so much to do and see. I definitely want to come back and go to Cape Point, go cage diving with the great white sharks, hang out by the beaches, and climb Table Mountain again. I absolutely loved the weather and overall atmosphere of this country and the people were very nice. I hope everyone is doing well at home, special thanks to Gigi and Papa for sending me pictures; they are up on my wall right now. I will send a blog update on my time in Ghana soon. Things here on the ship are winding down. We only have about three or four more days of classes and then we go to Brazil and then we have finals and then home. I can’t believe how quickly it has gone but I am excited to see you all and share some more crazy stories with you! I love and miss you all stay tuned for Ghana (a very unique country)!!!

Mauritius: An island in the sun, beautiful beaches and clear ocean water, and tropical jungles that result in 350 bug bites! Well, needless to say I had a spectacular time in Mauritius. This island is full of beautiful surroundings and wonderful people. It was so neat to be on such a diverse island where no one really looked at you as if you didn’t fit in. There were many nationalities present on this island from Indian to French European. It was such a cool experience to see how all of these cultures intermingled, everyone on the island celebrates all holidays no matter what their religion is. I wish I would have spent more time on this island getting o know the people better and immersing myself in the culture more. Mauritius is very similar to a rural Hawaii but with less tourism and still a great exotic feeling. Overall I loved this little island and I will definitely be returning regardless of the mosquitoes! Day 1: -Started off the day with a SAS trip to the adventure park on the southern part of the island -We took a small bus that twisted its way up into the jungle -Harnesses were put on very snuggly and we headed across 7 cable bridges -It was a good thing we were clipped in because they were very rocky -Along the way the bugs/mosquitoes were voracious and found every part of exposed skin (don’t worry mom I put on 100% DEET and they still bit me) -We had such a great time and were completely covered with mud; I will have to show you all the videos when I get back -After this we all went to the beach in Fliq en Flaq -It was so nice to just lie in the water and get all of the mud off of me -Then our bus driver took everyone back to the ship but then also drove me and my friends up to Grand Baie where we had a villa for the night -Finally made it and had a great evening hanging out with friends Smells of this day were: 100% DEET, pizza, and Phoenix beer Things I learned from this day: -DEET is very important but apparently the mosquitoes in Mauritius are immune to it -Don’t wear your good running shoes to the adventure park, it is really muddy -If anyone even mentions the word jungle wear long pants and a long sleeve shirt -All you need in Mauritius is a swimsuit, a pair of short, a t-shirt, a towel, sunscreen and a toothbrush to survive a few days -Mauritian rupees are not the same as Indian rupees Day 2: -I did not sleep at all during the night since all of those mosquito bites had begun to itch very badly -My friend Genna and I got the worst of it so we headed to the beach to put our legs in the salt water -A few people went off snorkeling, myself and a bunch of friends decided to just hang out on the beach and play football -We had such a great time and manage to even break open a coconut as well -After some great beach time we headed back to the ship at Port Louis -We walked around a bit in Port Louis and then took the water taxi back to the ship -I went to go see the ship doctor and received a bunch of hydrocortisone cream -It was such a relief to finally be less itchy -Later that night my roommate and a friend counted all my bites on my legs and arms and came out to about 350 bites! -I took two Benadryl and luckily slept a bit more but man those darn bites are itchy! Smells of this day were: ocean, menthol, and hydrocortisone cream Things I learned from this day: -Hydrocortisone cream and Benadryl are wonderful inventions -Connor Berry will get sunburned no matter what -Palm trees make great end zone markers -Chips, cookies, crackers, and coca cola are now definitely considered breakfast foods -Coconuts are very hard to open but fun to watch people opening them Anyways, I had such a great time in Mauritius. I am really looking forward to South Africa as well. So far I have planned on the first day to hike Table Mountain, enjoy a picnic at the top and then repel down the mountain. On the middle three days my friend Jenica and I are traveling to Krueger to go on a safari and play with elephants. On the last day a few friends and myself are going cage shark diving! I am way excited especially to see some Great White Sharks up close. I miss you all and I hope all is well back at home, school, and work. Thank you all so much again for the great letters, it was too difficult to send postcards from Mauritius but expect some coming from South Africa! Take care!

India-A place of wondrous colors, fragrant spices, and the incredible sight of the Taj Mahal. I came to realize the other day that I had just made it half way around the world in about a few months. What a crazy thing to have accomplished and yet so wonderful at the same time. At this point in my voyage I have had time to really reflect on this experience and what has happened to me thus far. I have realized how privileged I really am and how I can impact the world. I was deeply moved by India. They are such a growing country in terms of development and size. However, the amount and degree of poverty did attribute to some of my culture shock. I had to take a step back at times and realize that I can’t stop to help everyone but that the best I can do is to educate myself and to give back in the future. I also realized in this country the power of love. I was fortunate enough to visit two orphanages while in India. I first visited a disabled children’s orphanage in Chennai. These children had all been abandoned and were desperate for love. I was able to comfort many of them but I felt so blessed to have so may supportive friends and family members that are always there for me and will always love me. India I feel has changed me for the better, I am more apt to now slow down to stop and smell the roses and get to know people. Everyone has a story and some of my most memorable moments come from others telling me their story. India was such a great place that I urge everyone to visit. Here is a brief summary of my adventures there: Day 1: -Left for an orphanage visit to a disabled children’s home -We had such a great time with them sharing stickers, coloring books, play dough and bubbles -I also had a bunch of post-it notes with me, which was a huge hit -These children were so awesome to hang out with and it was hard to leave them at the end of the day -I then went to a welcome reception with a bunch of SAS students -It was so cool to meet other students at universities in India -I also was able to get some incredible henna done on my hand/arm The Smells of this day were: play dough, sulfur, and curry Things I learned from this day: -South India is to rice as north India is to wheat -Apparently people in southern India think northern India is cold -December is monsoon season in southern India and the streets flood so they have to take boats to certain places -The orphans called us aunty and uncle like people do in Hawaii Day 2: -Woke up very early at 0300 to go to New Delhi, India with the SAS trip to the Taj Mahal -Finally arrived in New Delhi and went to see Victory Tower -Then we went and had lunch and then to check into our hotel, Shangri-La in New Delhi -Next we drove through Old Delhi and New Delhi which was fascinating to see the dramatic change between these neighboring towns -We then saw Gandhi’s memorial, and the place where he was cremated -Next we saw Humayun’s Tomb, which is like a mini Taj Mahal -We then headed back to the hotel for dinner, which was amazing, so much naan! The Smells of this day were: naan, bathroom, and buddy system Things I learned from this day: -Elaborate tombs and places of cremation are a big deal in India -Gandhi was a pretty awesome man who helped a lot of people -The back of the bus is way colder than the front of the bus -The buddy system works really well unless both of the buddies are missing Day 3: -Another early morning staring at 0400 -Had a light breakfast and then boarded the 2.5-hour train ride to Agra, India -Went to our hotel and had a huge delicious breakfast -Next we left for the abandoned city, which was about a 1hr bus ride -The city was way cool; apparently the downfall of the city was lack of water but also women, music and wine -Went back to the hotel for lunch and then went out shopping on our free time -During free time I also swam some laps in the pool at the hotel, it was so nice to really swim again -After we all went to the Mother Theresa Orphanage -We played with all ages of children and had a ton of fun, needless to say I was covered in stickers and wanted to take all of them home with me -We then went to a store that showed us how the Taj Mahal was created -Back to the hotel for dinner, Taj Mahal the next day!!! The Smells of this day were: banana, chlorine, and train Things I learned from this day: -Stickers are fun and you always end up with them in the most random places -Everyone loves stickers, even older ladies and men -Cows really do just lay in the middle of the road and people just go around or if you are in a big bus you wait until they move -There are tons of water buffalo as well, who would have thought?! -I could live off naan and yogurt forever, mmmmm Day 4: -Again we were woken up at 0500 to get to the Taj Mahal before sunrise -Unfortunately we were delayed and missed the sunrise but it was still beautiful and it was nice and cool in the morning -The Taj Mahal was incredible, it is really hard to find words to describe it but it was amazingly stunning, so beautiful and powerful -We then headed back to the hotel for breakfast and then more free time -Of course I headed right back to the pool and had a great time swimming again -Later I went shopping again with two friends which was really fun -We then had lunch and went to Agra Fort, by this time it was very hot but the architecture of this place was pretty amazing, they love symmetry -Next we headed back to the Taj Mahal for another viewing -It was way more crowded this time but it was great to see it at different times of the day -We went back to the hotel, grabbed dinner and headed off to catch the train back to New Delhi -After a very long train ride with a long delay we made it back to our hotel The Smells of this day were: pineapple, sewage, and horses Things I learned from this day: -The pools in India are absolutely freezing but it does feel nice compared to the hot weather -Do not get separated from the group, you will get lost (we lost two people in our group in Agra but luckily they found another SAS group and we reunited with them in New Delhi!) -You can never take too many pictures of the Taj Mahal -Carry water with you everywhere even if you think you won’t need it Day 5: -I had some free time in the morning before we left for the airport so naturally I went swimming -The pool Shangri-La was amazing, 25m and pristine -The fitness center and locker rooms were also quite impressive; better then Pacific Athletic Club (I know mom hard to believe but it’s true!) -We all made it on the plane to Cochin, I proceeded to write many postcards in the 4 hours and read a new book I bought in the airport: The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch-very good I highly recommend it! -When we landed in Cochin it was so humid it felt like you could swim through it, we tried but it didn’t work so well ? We had to wait a long time to get through immigration but then we went out to a hotel to get Internet and dinner -Dinner was great, the Internet was not -We had to take turns plugging in to the Internet but we managed to book a villa in Mauritius -Headed back to the ship and it felt so good to take a shower The Smells of this day were: chlorine, humidity, and spring rolls Things I learned from this day: -Auto rickshaws are reliable, but only if your driver knows where they are going -Legroom on airplanes is much less for some reason on Indian airlines but they do have cool names like SpiceJet -I will never complain about being hot ever again Day 6: -Our last day in Cochin, India -Decided that on our priority list was stamps and shopping -We found a post office and had the stamps issue resolved -Then we took a 2-rupee ferry to another island to do some shopping (2ruppe is like 4cents!) -We were already completely drenched in sweat by this point, apparently that day it was 100 degrees Fahrenheit and 100% humidity, about as hot as it gets -Well our shopping was almost to the point of miserable but it was one of the best times I have had this entire trip -We met some new Indian friends, saw dolphins and bought some great items -We decided to head back to the ship early since we were out of water and our clothes were all wet, we looked like we had gotten in a water balloon fight! The Smells of this day were: sweat, incense, and bay water Things I learned from this day: -If someone says something is free sometimes it is but make sure you double check -There are dolphins in the rivers in India -The traditional clothes that the Indian people wear are much more suitable for the weather than our western clothes -Look all around you and make sure to take in everything, you will find amazing things India was such a tremendous country, it was so vibrant, lively, and full of incredible people. They are a country on the rise, even though there are still many huge problems to solve. I believe that once they can achieve better public education and potable water that I available to all they will be well on their way to becoming a huge superpower in the world. I really enjoyed my time in this country and I wish I could have spent more time learning about all the different areas and the people that love there. I really do plan on visiting again and especially going back to the orphanages that I visited. I am very excited to be in Mauritius tomorrow and the have a sort of mini spring break. After Mauritius I only have four countries left on my voyage! I am eager to see what the rest of the world has in store for me. We also recently had Neptune Day on the ship, which is a sort of initiation thing for when we cross the equator. Don’t worry I didn’t shave my head though quite a few of my friends did. It was a great time and a fun way to celebrate our halfway point. I miss and love you all, I am trying my best to respond to all of your emails and I really do enjoy receiving them. Good luck on midterms everyone and see you in less than 2 months!!!

Vietnam-A mysteriously humid country full of motorcycles, water parks, and two sunrises. I know I was in Vietnam a long time ago but I have finally found some time to briefly blog about my time there. It was an amazing country with so much to see and do. I really enjoyed the food, especially pho, so delicious! This was the first country that was actually really hot and humid. And I mean really pretty darn hot, about 90-100 degrees during the day with 80-90 % humidity. Needless to say I was very sweaty but soon became accustomed to it. The people here were amazing and so nice and funny. They had a great sense of humor and laughter seemed to always be a common language. I really enjoyed this country and definitely want to come back and visit again some day. Here is a brief summary of what I did in Vietnam: Day 1: -Crossed a very daunting and dangerous street, thankfully successfully -Shopped a bunch at Saigon Square and Bin Thanh Market -Had delicious frozen yogurt that reminded me of exactly how cherry on top is back at Chapman -Went back to the ship to drop off all of our shopping items -Had dinner at Temple House which was so great -Went to the top of the Rex Hotel to check out the view, so awesome The Smells of this day were: stuffy markets, fish, and pho Things I learned from this day: -If someone is selling you something you don’t want then don’t make eye contact or it is all over -It is hot in Vietnam, water is necessary! -You definitely stick out as a tourist no matter what Day 2: -Woke up at 5am to go for a sunrise run with my two friends Will and Connor -Such an amazing morning to literally watch the city wake up and to be able to say “Good Morning Vietnam!” -Went to the Cu Chi Tunnels, very interesting to see how these people lived in these very small tunnels, crawled through them and shot and AK-47 -Later went to the Vietnam War Museum which was very graphic but interesting -That night we all went and had dinner and drinks at the Rex Hotel with live music, which was so fun and really tasty The Smells of this day were: dirt, gunpowder, and pineapple spring rolls Things I learned from this day: -The Vietnamese are very proud of their war and the construction of the tunnels -Tunnels are very small and dark, bring a flashlight -Spring rolls are always a good choice Day 3: -Went to see a cathedral which was cool since it was Sunday and they were having mass -Then we went to Dam Sen Water Park -Such a huge water park with many dangerous slides that would not be allowed in the US but so much fun -The best was the zip line that dropped you into the water and the “lazy” river -We later went out to Thai food for dinner, which was not too bad, but nothing compared to Bangkok Bay The Smells of this day were: chlorine, coffee, and pad thai Things I learned from this day: -Sundays are busy days for water parks -Roadblocks are popular in the lazy river -Thai food is hard to find in Vietnam Day 4: -Journeyed to the Mekong Delta today on a SAS trip with my friend Annie and others -We saw a giant happy Buddha -Sampled all sorts of interesting fruits like jackfruit and mini bananas -We also had coconut candy, oh man so tasty! -We boarded our pony carriages, which took us to the smaller boats to paddle through the delta -Our boat was especially slow so we helped to paddle -When we got back to the ship we went out and had dinner at Vietnam House, I had pineapple-fried rice that actually came in a pineapple, yummy! The Smells of this day were: delta, coconut, and elephant ear fish Things I learned from this day: -Boats break down; it is always good to have another one on back up -If something doesn’t smell good most likely it will not taste good -I really love coconut in all forms Day 5: -Last day in Vietnam Annie and I decided to start our day off with $15 massages -Felt so great and was ready to start the day -We did some hardcore last minute shopping and procured all of our items -It was very hot again so we went back to Tutti Fruitti to get more frozen yogurt -We did some last minute walking around and taking in all the sights -Headed back to the ship to write postcards and go on the Internet before on ship time The Smells of this day were: aromatherapy, frozen yogurt, market Things I learned from this day: -British couples getting massages are hilarious -Frozen yogurt may be the best invention ever -It is always hot, even in the shade Well my time in Vietnam was surely memorable and India was just as great but in a different way. I really had so much fun just getting to know people and observing them in their daily lives, Vietnam is such a great place that embraces American tourists and visitors and should definitely be on everyone’s list to come visit. Everything else is going quite well on the ship. Classes are in full swing and although it is challenging to get all the work done while planning for the countries I love it so much. We just crossed the equator today and tomorrow is Neptune Day. I will do my best to update you on what happens tomorrow, something about going from Pollywogs to Shellbacks? I’m not exactly sure what this entails. My blog about India is already in the works so stay tuned, I will have it up hopefully before I reach Mauritius in 3 days! I love and miss you all, thank you so much to those of you who have been sending me letters, postcards and emails it is so nice to hear about news from the other side of the world!!!

China/Hong Kong: Chinese New Year, fireworks, and that huge thing they call the Great Wall I know you have all waited quite some time for this post so I am very sorry that it is so delayed. I had such a great time in China; it is truly such a different place than Japan. I had many interesting interactions with the people that live there. It was very interesting to be in a Communist country and to be in the most populous country on earth. I was fortunate enough to see and hike along one of the greatest wonders in the world, the Great Wall of China, which surprisingly has great cell phone reception! Here is a brief summary of what I encountered on my adventures in China and Hong Kong: Day 1: Shanghai, China -A large group of my friends and I wandered out into the city in search of tickets to see an acrobatics show later the evening -We ended up being directed to a random place for lunch whereby our waiter attempted to get us to buy a very large and very much alive snake to have it cooked for lunch! -Needless to say we were all pretty shocked and did not have any snake for lunch -We finally found the Ritz Carlton where we bought tickets to an acrobatic show -We then just walked around town taking in all of the sights and trying not to freeze, it was about 32 degrees Fahrenheit, which is pretty cold for this California girl -We realized that we had to hurry to get back to the Ritz Carlton for our show so we got back on the subway -Apparently it was rush hour at this time and trying to get off was quite a feat, Jenica and I almost got stuck in the train but luckily I found out that if you put your arm in the door you can push it back open and squeeze out -It was pretty funny and luckily we all made it out and to the show on time -The show was so fun, the acrobatics were amazing! -Afterwards no one had eaten so we went to the equivalent of a Denny’s -They had so many options and we had some really great rice and pork buns (Fish’s favorite!) -We then headed back to the ship for the evening The Smells of this day were: trash, burnt tofu street food, Chinese Denny’s buns Things I learned from this day: -I definitely miss the subway system in Japan; it was hard to find the places you needed to get to at first in China -The food is much different here, usually quite an experience as well -Trains are very crowded and you can’t be afraid to push your way through the crowd -Chinese people are quite short Day 2: another day in Shanghai, China -Got up and was ready to get my bargaining on -We first had a great lunch at this ramen place; I had awesome fried rice and dumplings, mmmmm so good! -We then headed to a black market and got some pirated DVD’s and other sweet knock-offs, it was so fun to barter -We then went to a science museum, which was pretty cool, kind of like the Exploratorium at home -Afterwards we went to the technology area of Shanghai, it was so weird to see a Best Buy in another country -After this we headed back to People’s Square and continued to shop around a bit more -We then headed back to the ship to get ready for our overnight excursions the next day The Smells of this day were: vinegar, taxis, and alleys Things I learned from this day: -Always bargain hard, don’t settle for their price, you can always get the price you want -Try all the food you come across, most likely it will be good -Dress for all types of weather, it may be hot one moment but freezing the next Day 3: Shanghai, China to Miyun County in Beijing, China -Woke up very early to get to the airport for my Semester at Sea trip of hiking the Great Wall -We had a huge group of 63 people total and a great group leader named Nate - We then took our flight to Beijing; I have discovered that the secret to success on this voyage is to sleep on every leg of transportation, i.e. buses and airplanes mainly -We arrived in Beijing and went to have some lunch, which was great -We then headed to our hotel and luckily for me I was the only one who had a single room -Later that night we had dinner, shopped around and then headed to bed for an adventurous day of hiking the great wall in the morning The Smells of this day were: airport, HiChew candy, and Tiger beer Things I learned from this day: -The air is very dry in Beijing so nosebleeds happen a lot -Fireworks are insane in China; they literally set them off everywhere and at all times -Beer is common to be served at pretty much all meals, I’m sure you could get it at breakfast if you wanted Day 4: Beijing, China-The Great Wall -Woke up for our first day of hiking the Great Wall -I had such great experience hiking, so much fun with new friends and truly enjoying the great weather and awesome sights -We had lunch on the wall, which was such a fun experience -We then headed back to our hotel and out to a restaurant for dinner -Had such a great day and I can’t wait for more time on the wall The Smells of this day were: Mongolia, cheap food, fried food Things I learned from this day: -Everything here is fried, which is delicious but it’s honestly everything -The wall is definitely up and down, I can’t ever remember being on a flat part -If it is sunny outside and you are going to be hiking you will be hot -We were all dressed as if it was going to blizzard and most people were very hot Day 5: Beijing, China-The Great Wall part 2 -This day we woke up and went to a much more rural part of the wall -We were able to hike through a village, which was neat -We hiked along side the wall for a while; it was interesting to see the wall from this different perspective -There were some pretty tough spots on the wall where you literally had to climb up the steps and slide down the other side -We were greeted for lunch by one of our tour guides Allan and the local Hello people who had brought up McDonald’s to the wall -It was a pretty unique experience to have it delivered to us on the wall, pretty comical too -We then hiked down the wall down a pretty steep hill; lots of people fell but no injuries -We had a duck dinner in Beijing, which was so great -We also hooked up with a bunch of other SAS people on trips which was so fun since we hadn’t seen them in a couple of days -Headed off to bed to reflect on the awesome experiences I had and to get ready for the next day The Smells of this day were: duck, sake, and more HiChew candy Things I learned from this day: -Nature is truly amazing and so are the Chinese for constructing such a huge wall -Don’t throw rocks people will get hit with them -Frozen rivers are fun to play on but be careful not to get dock time -The military is very serious in China, don’t break their rules Day 6: Beijing, China-Tiananmen Square/Forbidden City to Hong Kong -Got up early once again and headed out to Tiananmen Square which was quite interesting -We were not allowed to talk about what had happened there previously and we were quite a spectacle of white tourists -We then walked through the Forbidden City, which is literally right next door to Tiananmen Square -It was very interesting and very crowded and our group was very tired -We then went to a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, which was equally as cool as it was delicious -Off to the airport next to arrive in our next port of Hong Kong -We had a fairly long flight, most of which I slept on -I was so glad to finally be somewhere warm and not as dry as China -It was a nice change and transition into more tropical weather -We also found out that our ship here was docked literally inside a mall, which was awesome, free wi-fi! The Smells of this day were: tea, plane food, and warm air Things I learned from this day: -Plane food is pretty interesting in China, not very tasty -T-shirt and shorts is definitely my favorite type of clothing -The Chinese have an interesting sense of humor Day 7: Hong Kong-Kowloon and Hong Kong Island -Started off my day which a great run through the rainy and humid city on Kowloon Island -It was fun to see everyone traveling to work, even though I kept running into people -I then went to a great dim sum place for lunch with two of my friends, it was so good -Next we headed out to the Ladies Market for shopping -I got some great items but had to work hard for the good deals -We then went to the Goldfish Market, which is a whole street full of pet shops and aquarium shops, which was cool; you can buy sharks there! -Next we met up with a bigger group at the restaurant called Modern Toilet -They serve great food out of mini toilet bowls and bathtubs and such -We had such a fun time -Later I went out with a bunch of SAS people to Hong Kong Island to check out the nightlife, which was so fun The Smells of this day were: curry, goldfish, and fake handbags Things I learned from this day: -The subway system keeps on getting easier and easier -Purse puppies are very common here as well as the US -It is always good to have an iPhone or Blackberry in the group so you don’t get lost Day 8: Victoria Peak, Hong Kong -Woke up and took the ferry over to Hong Kong Island to go up to the highest point called Victoria Peak -It was fun to take a cable car up to the top -The views were absolutely amazing we were so lucky to have been there on a clear day -We hung out awhile at the top and had some funny interactions with local people selling things, if you really want to know I will tell you it is a long story -We were all so tired so we hiked down the peak back to the ferry and were able to see the longest systems of outside escalators which was way cool -I was able to skype for a while with the rest of at the SAS kids and write all my postcards before shipping off The Smells of this day were: McDonald’s, trees, strawberry smoothie Things I learned from this day: -After eight long days of constant adventure and travel you are very tired, the world becomes your napping place (benches, cable cars, buses, ferries, restaurants, steps) -Hong Kong is definitely an up and coming place in terms of business -Maybe somewhere in the future an internship here or even a job would be cool Overall my experiences in China and Hong Kong were out of this world. I learned so much and had so many irreplaceable experiences. I truly felt immersed in the culture and had amazing interactions with the people that live there. From enjoying one of the greatest man-made wonders of the world to seeing the hustle and bustle of the modern city in Hong Kong I had an incredible time. I am very sorry again this is so late and I am going to try my best to get my blog about Vietnam out soon before I get to India in two days. We also had the Sea Olympics yesterday, which were so fun. I was apart of the Yellow Sea, which unfortunately came close to last but we had tons of fun. Our team mascot was the Bananas, our cheering was epic. I was apart of the synchronized swimming routine, which I choreographed along with my roommate and fellow Chapman-er Annie. We danced to Spice Girls Wannabe, which was quite well received. Even though we did not place we had many compliments. I am really looking forward to India and I can’t wait to fill you all in. Love and miss you all!!!

Hello all, here is the much awaited and anticipated blog post from Japan. Thank you so much for being patient it has been crazy with coming back having two days of class and then we are in China tomorrow! I honestly can’t believe how quickly it is going but I am loving every moment of it. I will try to cover the main points of my days and feel free to email me if you really want to know more. Ok here it goes: Day 1: Yokohama and Tokyo -It was so exciting to finally be in port since we had been on the ship for about ten days -It took a very long time for everyone to get off; by the time our whole group was cleared it was about 1300, 1330 -We al walked to the train station so that we could go to the Yokohama main station to get our Japan Rail Passes for the week -This was also another time consuming event by the time we were all done we split up into three groups and all headed to Tokyo -This was the last time I saw most of our group until a few days later in Nara -My group consisted of Annie and Lo and myself -Though we had the smallest group we were able to get some great traveling in -We first jumped on the train to Tokyo and ended up at the Imperial Palace, which was huge, unfortunately it was closing but we were able to walk around it and get a few pictures -Next we went to Ginza, which has great shopping and tons of people -We ended up at this giant Sony store and we were able to watch 3D TV! -It was insanely cool, you had to wear these glasses, which made the video games out of this world, and it should be hitting the US pretty soon -We then wandered around the city for a while and ended up in another random city -Then we jumped on the train to Shibuya, which is infamous for the mass amounts of people crossing the streets -As soon as we got off the train we were able to witness the crossing from above the street which was thoroughly incredible, it was fun to watch people run across the street as time to cross was running out -This is when it really hit me how many people actually live in Japan -Next we hiked around for awhile and accidentally wandered into a men’s only hotel which was very nice, we quickly found our way out of there -Then we went to a cool reggae store, you can honestly find anything and everything in Japan -For dinner we went to a shabu-shabu place, we took the elevator up to it and we took off our shoes and went to our own little private room -It was so fun and the food was delicious -Shabu-shabu is where you get a pot and a little stove and in the pot is the broth veggies and all this seafood, you then get to cook it yourself at eat it -We then journeyed to meet up with Grant and my roommate Kelsey at Tokyo Tower -It took us a while to find them but them we decided to go out to Roppoingi to have some drinks and hang out -As soon as we got to the bar a few of us had a drink and then realized how tired we were so we all decided to head back to the ship for the night -Also it is important to note that this day it was unseasonably warm, like 60’s, this comes into play in the days following The Smells of this day were: cigarette smoke, soy sauce, and beer Things I learned from this day: -Trains are confusing so ask for help -Backpacks that seem light at the beginning of the day are always three times as heavy at the end of the day -Japanese style toilets are quite and experience, literally a urinal in the ground -The food is soooooo good -I definitely stick out, a lot Day 2: Yokohama and Tokyo -Headed out to Tokyo again from the ship, we first went to Asakusa -This was probably one of my most favorite places I went to in Japan -There was a giant temple but even better there was a huge row of street vendors, shops, and all sorts of foods to sample -The first thing we tried was sweet hot sake, which was so delicious especially since it was freezing outside -So unlike day one, which was in the 60’s, the weather quickly changed the following day and it was in the low 40’s to upper 30’s needless to say I was very cold -While I was back at the ship I had left all of my warm clothes behind to lighten my load, which was a huge mistake -This day I ended up buying scarf and a micro-fleece jacket to layer under my ski jacket, which proved to be a great investment -While I was walking down the rows of shopping I was able to eat fried apricot manju, hot soy sauce rice crackers, other mochi items and much more all so delicious -We then burned incense and washed out hands and went into the Sensoji temple which was incredibly beautiful -After the temple we went and had lunch at a tempura restaurant which was incredible, this was probably one of my favorite meals the entire trip -I had shrimp, prawns, and some fish, I have no idea what it was but it was so great -We then journeyed back to Shinjuku and shopped around some more -We went to a place called Tokyu Hands, which is like a Wal-Mart, Target, Costco, Ikea, Office Depot, and Home Depot all in one -We then went to Takabashi or something like that to try to find a traditional Japanese place to stay -That did not work out as planned so we headed back to Shinjuku and ended up in a really reasonable hotel for four people with free Internet -We went to the local convenience store for dinner and tried all sorts of sushi, breads, beers, and desserts which were all great -Grant joined us that night to since he was traveling with us the next day -Overall awesome day The smells of the day were: prayer, incense, and tempura Things I learned from this day: -7-eleven is so great in Japan and such a good place to get food -Traveling is way exhausting -Always prepare for all sorts of weather even if it means carrying more clothes -Trains really do leave on time -When other Japanese people are running in the train station run with them or you will miss your train -Walk on the left side of the road and side of the sidewalk to avoid collisions -Bowing is completely necessary -Try all food that is offered to you most likely it will be delicious -Telling hotel people that only one person is staying in a room then cramming in three more people makes it much cheaper Day 3: Shinjuku, Nara, and Kyoto -Headed to the station very early the next morning to go to Kyoto and Nara -Took the Shinkansen which is the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto -Had a great conversation with a local lady about living in Japan and she helped answer some questions for our projects for classes -We laughed with her about massaging the Kobe beef and she thought we were just crazy silly Americans -I learned a lot from her and it was fun to really have one on one time with people that live there -Next we got on the subway to go to Nara first which is the ancient capital of Japan -We switched trains mid-way and saw a huge portion of the group that we had left in Tokyo, which was fun -We went to Nara with them and then met up with them again in Kyoto later that day -First we went to lunch in Nara and had a sort of omelet thing with bacon and shrimp and cabbage, so delicious -Then we went up to the temple area and fed the deer that are all over -You buy rice crackers and then the deer bow to you and then you feed them the cracker -By this point it was raining pretty hard and was still quite cold but feeding the deer was very entertaining -They were just overwhelming some people and at one point there were tons of them and one in particular must have been angry and bit me on the leg! -It didn’t hurt that bad but definitely surprised me -We then saw the biggest Buddha in Japan, which was huge and awesome -After this we traveled back to Kyoto to our hotel to dry off since we were freezing and soaking wet -After drying off for a while we went to conveyor belt sushi so amazingly fun and yummy - I ate some pretty strange types of sushi including one with a raw quail egg on it -It was all very good and I ate 10 plates of sushi, so full -We went back to the hotel and went to sleep to get ready for Hiroshima in the morning The smells of the day were: deer poop, rain, and sushi! Things I learned from this day: -It is cold in Japan, I mean really cold -Ironing board type things are great for drying clothes -Heated toilet seats are also equally great - Sushi is so much better here than in California -Green tea is so nice when it is cold outside -There is a reason all Japanese people carry umbrellas with them everywhere Day 4: Kyoto, Hiroshima, Miyajima, and Kobe -Woke up early again and caught the Shinkansen to Hiroshima -I was pretty tired so I slept pretty much the entire way there -We found some other SASers wandering around Hiroshima and helped a couple of them out -Went to the main area of Hiroshima and went to the museum -It was a very powerful and moving experience that was a good thing to go see -It is one of those things that you only do once but I am very glad I did it -We then got food at an incredible prepared food mart in the Hiroshima station and then got on the train to Miyajima -We took the ferry to Miyajima and saw the giant orange arch out in the middle of the water -Luckily the tide was out so we were able to walk out to it and touch it -We then hiked up to a temple, which was totally empty so we had the place to ourselves -At this point we were pretty tired and decided to go back to Kobe and stay on the ship -We made it back and had some ramen at a restaurant and then made it back on the ship -It was so nice to see it again after being away for three days The smells of the day were: ocean, manju, and ramen! Things I learned from this day: -Try not to accidentally walk through people’s yards they usually become angry -Be respectful of Japanese culture and they will show gratitude towards you -Try not to fall asleep on the bus or train and miss your stop -The MV Explorer is truly my home away from home and it always feels good to come back to it Day 5: Kyoto, Nijo, and Kobe -Woke up and decided to go to Nijo to see the Nijo Castle -We were running late for the Shinkansen but with some solid running and hustling we just made it -Went to see the Nijo castle, which was very cool -The castle was equipped with nightingale floors that creaked when you walked on them to alert the inhabitants of intruders -It was fun to stop walking and then continue on to see how much noise you made or if it was possible to walk without making noise (it was impossible!) -We then figured out the bus system to go back to Kyoto to see the Golden Palace -It was quite a sight to be seen and very beautiful -I received a fortune of very good from the palace and then we went to lunch nearby -We were very tired so we headed back to Kobe -All three of us fell asleep either on the bus or train back to Kobe -It was so nice to be back on the ship and exciting to know that we would be in China in 2 days The smells of the day were: chocolate mochi, the bus, and the Shinkansen! Things I learned from this day: -Traveling while tired is even more difficult -Japan is a wonderful place full of amazing people willing to help you at all costs -Seeing everything in Japan is impossible so savor the parts that you do get to experience Overall I had such a great time in Japan, and even though we had a rough plan of what we wanted to do it was fun making our own decisions and planning as we went. I cannot wait to travel back to Japan and be able to spend more time in this amazing place. The food, people, and overall atmosphere were incredible. I am very much looking forward to Japan tomorrow and I will let you know how I survive hiking the Great Wall. I will be on the wall for about 4 days hiking across portions of it. Tomorrow should be filled with shopping and maybe a chance to go to the zoo. I love and miss you all and stay tuned for the China update in about a week or so!!!

This morning we received the great news that we would be able to watch the Super Bowl live at 0830. I am sure all of the boys on the ship were in the union watching the game with not so many girls. I was excited to get to see some great commercials and have a good tv break. It was a most excellent game and I decided that I would root for the Saints which turned out in my favor. I had a great time seeing all the commercials and laughed pretty hard at some of the doritos commercials. I also enjoyed seeing the previews for the tv show The Amazing Race. It then reminded me that I am participating on my own sort of Amazing Race. We are being dropped off in random countries and have a race against time to fit in as much as possible and still make it back to the ship on time. I am beyond excited to start my race tomorrow in Japan but I will make sure to take time to observe and immerse myself in a truly unique culture. Myself and quite a few others are attempting quite a rigorous schedule of cities which should be challenging but rewarding. I am ready to embark on my whirlwind of travels around Asia with Mt. Fuji and Hiroshima so close I know that I will be learning a lot. I miss you all and please feel free to update me on anything really. I realized how out of touch I am after watching all of the random commercials about things I had never heard of. Love and miss you all!!!

So today an amazing thing happened. First let me give you some background. Everyday, for every meal we have the usual pasta, potatoes, rice, salad and of course pb and j. But today, they served french fries for lunch!!! Everyone was completely ecstatic and so stoked on these fries. There was the longest line I had ever seen for these delectable items. I felt like I was in a wild animal park or vying for a better position in some political battle. People were cutting in line but were soon called out and sent to the back. Other people were combining forces with one another to get the most fries possible. Certain individuals were trying to use their suaveness and good looks to get by as well. I was not going to budge though. I mean come on, and anyways swimmers don’t share! I successfully received my delicious french fries and ate a whole plate of them. It has been the most delicious meal so far, if only I had an In-n-out burger to go with it! Oh well, other than that it was a rainy chillier day which means we are getting closer to Japan. Only two more days! Stay tuned for more exciting news, miss and love you all!!!