The Last One

           Well it’s been four months since I first boarded a plan in Boston to take me to the ship that would change my life. I have experienced the most fulfilling and thrilling times of my life, and I have been stricken with the worst news a person can received. But through it all I had friends both near and afar to keep my going. Now as I am just a few hours away from landing in the greatest state and city in the United States (Boston, for those who need help on this no brainer) I am reflecting not only on the past few weeks but the entire voyage that has shaped the person I have become today. So before I give you my final thoughts here is a look at the last days on the voyage between Hawaii and San Diego and then brief stay in San Diego.

The MV wasted no time jumping on finals, right after getting on the ship from Hilo the ship turned into full study mode. Luckily the next day would also be a study day, but unfortunately for me three out of four of my finals were back to back on the exact same day. I have never studied so much in such a short amount of time and such opposite topics, Emerging Markets, Consumer Psych, and Global Music it was somewhat overwhelming, but by the afternoon of my finals I was relieved to be done. The only other final to take was Global Studies, I would like to say I passed my classes with solid grades for a semester where classes were held once every ten days at times (FUN FACT: this is not as cool as it sounds, try having to remember back to a class in October when that class was only two classes prior to the class you are taking in December, kind of hard to remember the topics).

Anyways the “school” aspect was over, now us students got to be rewarded with the Alumni Ball, which welcomed us the Fall 2010 Voyagers into the Semester at Sea Alumni group (you Nichols people think a mix between the Wine and Cheese Event and the One Day Social… For everyone else think, Prom meets Senior Banquet). I was surprised to see how cleaned up everyone got for the event. The dinner was formal, but people went extremely formal we had anything from tuxes and ball gowns, to my friends’ shirts and ties and cocktail dresses for the ladies. The dinner was very similar to prom where you pick your tables and then we got served a five course meal complete with a Champagne toast from the Executive Dean toasting us to a fantastic semester. After the dinner and a million pictures, we headed up to Deck Seven for the dance. The dance reminded me again of high school, but ended up being a good time and we partied until about 1 am when the ship started to die down.

The next day was our second to last day on the MV this meant time to start packing up we had to have our bags ready to by the next day at noon to be moved into the loading areas. After a few hours of packing it was nice enough to lounge outside for a little bit and knowing that Boston is frigid at this time, mine as well take advantage of the nice weather. Then the photo sharing, map signing, and address swapping commenced for basically two days. It was weird to think that this could be the last time I see a majority of these people. The photo department put out a end of voyage video that did a great job capturing the morale of the ship and the entire voyage. The last night on the ship ended with our last Cultural and Logistical Pre-Port that consisted of students mocking certain staff and faculty and their roles preparing us for each port. It was a great way to end the trip because the ship was all together for the last time and laughing and not thinking of the inevitable we are leaving in less than 12 hours.

6:30 AM, Monday, December 13, 2010 the PA system is blaring “We’re Coming to America” I don’t know if it was the thought that I was getting off the ship or that I did not get enough ship but I contemplated killing whosever idea it was to wake us all up with that song. Nevertheless going back to sleep when barely being able to fall asleep was just not gonna happen. So while tom angrily fell back asleep I met my friend Molly for breakfast, where she and her roommate, Erin were dancing to our musical alarm clock selection. Around 7:30 AM the decks were packed with students as we sailed up past Mexico and into California and prepared to dock in the port of San Diego. The closer and closer we got to the harbor the more real this was become, finally around 8:30 AM the pilot boats met up with the ship, with Parents who paid money to ride in with the MV. Now a lot of these parents (not mine, Pops was flying in to San Diego still while this was going on, lucky for both of us the airport and the ship were a hop, skip, and a jump away from each other) came with anything from poster boards, balloons, to banners of welcome home signs, which were immediately met with student’s poster boards from the ship saying Hi back to mom, dad, dog, and grandma.

Now we were docked and the fun part, waiting to disembark. I was second to last for disembarkation, which meant that I was not getting off the MV until about 1 PM. Well that was before the delays due to lack of porters. The first person off the ship happened at 10:30 AM, then the next sea was delayed to about 11;30 AM, finally the ship was calling off those who didn’t need the porters and one by one my friends all got off the ship. Finally after the Yellow Sea, the biggest group of my friends, were disembarking I grabbed my bags on the ship, threw on the shades and left the ship. I knew by then it was time to go and any longer would be too much to bare as by then the ship was bare. So by 1 PM, Dave Matthews shirt and all (the same way I boarded the ship) I said my final good bye to my home away from home, conveniently right as dad was landing in San Diego.

So now adrenaline rushing I was in the city of San Diego (my first time ever to CA or the West Coast), dad and I headed to the hotel to relax before dinner. We headed to the Gaslamp district for some Italian Food (I had been craving) then dad had to work in the morning and went to the hotel while I went to my friend Liz’s beach house for a farewell after dinner party. It was good to be able to spend some time with her, Rhae, Margaret, and Joe (missing Barto and Steph) before we all went our separate ways. I had become really close with all of them along with my other friends most spread out through the city or home already. The next day Rhae and I explored San Diego, which in my opinion is not what I pictured San Diego to be like. More of city than I pictured, I was thinking it was more beaches less buildings, but hey it was still somewhat warm so no need to complain. Finally we said goodbye and I headed back to the hotel to meet dad for dinner and to prepare to head back to my favorite place in the world, Boston.

So now that brings us full circle to where I am now. This trip has been unreal I am fortunate that I was given such an amazing opportunity by my school and my family. I have learned a lot about the world, and myself. One thing I learned was places I was excited to visit such as Hawaii, ended up not being my favorite place and not what I expected, place like South Africa that I knew little to nothing about, I can’t imagine not visiting again. I got to see first hand how much we the fortunate middle class take for granted, these people are living on little to nothing and most are still completely happy. It amazes me that these people can live on under two US dollars a day in many of these countries and I can barely do that on twenty US Dollars.

I learned I love service projects like Habitat for Humanity, the people who are going to live in these houses made on limestone and dirt mixtures with not running water or electricity and dirt for grounds are just grateful for the roof you are putting over their head. I am looking more into things such as Peace Corps or AmeriCorps to help out others, plus just being able to attribute those successes to one is fulfilling to say. I have visited so many amazing places that I want to travel back to such as China, Vietnam, Morocco, and Ghana. However more I have a desire to see more of this great world of ours.

My next big travels spots to see are Egypt, Croatia, Turkey, Greece, Amsterdam, Kenya, Cambodia, UAE, Qatar, Argentina, Australia, Chile, and Antarctica. I say it’s all doable, plus I want to see more of my own nation I am setting three goals to do before I die. One is to visit all 50 states of the United States. Two is to visit every continent in the world (I need South American, Australia, and Antarctica). Three is to visit and swim in every major ocean in the world. And of course I need some high risk activities since I have now jumped off a cliff, skydived, and bungee jumped I will need to find some new extreme things to do, all I got so far is shark cage diving and going skiing out of an airplane, plus I am going to continue hiking because I actually enjoy it. Now don’t all you adults worry I have plans for the future too that include work related topics too, I’m going to get that MBA, the faster the better, plus I have been thinking more and more about a Real Estate License, so who knows. If this trip has taught me anything it’s that I can do anything I want with my life so dream big and go for it. On the short term I’m looking forward to visiting my SAS friends and them visiting me, including a reunion trip already setup for next winter in Utah with Tom, Gail, and Marcus and to hopefully becoming a Global ambassador for SAS and help promote it to the Nichols Community, which in my opinion needs to have more students go abroad and see the world.

Well I want to thank you all for following me as I circumnavigate the world. It has been fun sharing my stories with you all and giving myself an outlet to write and remember the amazing times I have had on this trip. If anyone ever has questions about my experience feel free to ask, anyone considering going on Semester at Sea (student or adult, they have life long learners) feel free to ask I would be happy to answer any questions. It’s been real for the last time…

Later,

Ed

Aloha from Hawaii

ALOHA!!!

           Well friends we have reached the last port of this journey, and I have to say it feels good to be back in the United States!!! Hawaii was beautiful and the warm weather is a great change from cold China and Japan, We spent the first night in Honolulu, which meant I had a lot to get done before sailing’ to the BIG ISLAND where we docked in Hilo. Honolulu is not what I expected it to be, it’s very much a city and not the tropical Hawaii I was picturing. However it still was unbelievable to be here FUN FACT: this is the farthest west I have ever visited in the United States; now to you all reading that must seem like a “no really” situation as it’s the farthest west in the US you can get especially from Boston. But I have never visited as far west as Florida in our own country, I know kind of embarrassing to say especially after I have just seen the far ends of this world, but its true I have stayed on my beloved East coast minus a layover in Chicago in my twenty one years. Anyways, the SAS kids who don’t have international plans were going Hog Wild when they realized that Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and all other American providers were working so they were all texting away bright and early at 6:30 AM when we had to be up for immigration. 

Around 8:30 AM we were off the MV and into the city, a bunch of my friends headed for Sky Diving on the North Shore, while Gail, Marcus, Carly, and I headed to Pearl Harbor to pay our respects. FUN FACT II: My grandfather has a journal on the Battleship Missouri, from when he was in World War II including the signing of the end of World War II, which took place on the Missouri, so that was a good enough reason for me to visit the historic landmark. Pearl Harbor while very interesting to see and something I am glad I had the opportunity to see was sort of a disappointment to me. Just the national park was not at all what I thought it was going to be. First for those who have not been its right off the Hawaiian Highway, which irked me a little I was expecting more of a grand entrance to such a historic landmark, and then it just was a park on a base that had some artifacts and a ferry that took you to the Arizona and a shuttle that took you to the Missouri. It just seemed like there was more that they could have. I felt rushed as if you get on the ship to see the Arizona and then you can pay to go see the Missouri or you’re done. What I did like was that they had real Veterans there from the Pearl Harbor Attacks to give you first hand stories from that day.

Now don’t go thinking I’m telling none of you to go to Pearl Harbor because I still believe it’s one site everyone should see in their life, but just go in with the understanding that it is a tourist trap. Plus now I can say I have seen where World War II began with Pearl Harbor and ended with the A-BOMB dropped on Hiroshima. 

So after Pearl Harbor, Gail, Marcus, and Carly headed to the North Shore and I went to meet up with my friends, Liz, Steph, Rhae, Margaret, Barto and Joe to spend the afternoon/night down on Waikiki Beach. Before heading over there I explore the center of Honolulu, which was right next to the ship, I saw Aloha Tower, and a lot of public buildings. On the bus a woman told me that the Governor-elect was hosting a function where he invited voters to meet with him and discuss what they hope to see in the next four years. That was cool I thought that a politician would look for feedback before even in office. So after a walking tour I ended up at Waikiki where I met my friends for some beach and then spent time there before heading back to our hotel for dinner and some evening activities. 

The next day we woke up around 9:30 AM and headed off for another day at the beach. Today we decided to get away from Waikiki as it is also a tourist trap and head to a more what I call “Real Hawaii” spot. We ended up at a beach known for its snorkeling, about 30 minutes outside the city. It was cool you got to actually swing with the fish in the coral reefs. We saw a variety of fish and the water was nice and warm that we had no problem staying in for hours. The beach had a nice mix of locals, tourists, and SAS students and was big enough that we all were spread out doing our own thing unlike other beaches that put all us SAS students together. Finally it was time to leave and head to the ship so we could transfer to Hilo for the rest of our Hawaiian adventure. 

The next day we had made it to Hilo, much different from Honolulu. For starters Hilo is no tourist trap in fact the city is not know for its tourism. This day everyone did their own thing in the morning. My friend Mandi and I decided on breakfast and the beach. We headed to this local spot with national recognition called Ken’s Pancake House. Mandi got a breakfast burrito and pancakes, while I settled on Crab Cakes Benedict. The Plates were ENORMOUS, and the prices were decent for what you got, both plates came with a side of home fries and I chose toast over pancakes. Food comas were the result of that breakfast, and then we headed off to the beach. We met up on a small black sand beach with basically everyone from the MV at Richardson’s Beach. It was nothing like the beaches I was used to and if anytime resembled a lake beach with the large amounts of grass and trees covering the area, the other half was covered by rocks and get this Sea Turtles and not just little turtles Gigantic sized ones and a good number of them too. It was crazy to see, after a while it started to get cold and started to rain, so it being Sunday with a great line up of Football games on had us and a few of our friends head to the city’s only sports bar, Cronies’, for lunch and to see the Cowboys beat the Colts. Afterwards we headed over to my roommates hotel room at one of the islands only hotels for the Steelers and Ravens, where my roommate, Tom, a Steelers fan celebrated as we watched the Raven’s blow the game to his beloved Steelers. (Unfortunately I missed the Patriots game the next day where they bulldozed the Jets, but New England Fan’s on the ship were celebrating here on the MV). 

The next day was a bittersweet day; it was our last day in a port and also it made me realize that the next time I would be stepping off the MV would be forever in San Diego. Plus Finals were this week and I don’t know who loves finals cause it certainly is not this kid. So the goal was to make the most of my last day in Hawaii. The morning started back at the SAS filled Richardson’s Beach (the next closest beach was over and hour away) and an afternoon at the Waterfalls. That was cool I jumped off a cliff into the water (so there you go Alicia, Jumped off a Cliff, Skydived, and Bungee Jumped) although due to our location cameras would have been impossible to bring so I need to repeat this for a picture opportunity. It was really cool, I have done a lot of fear based activities this trip and loved them all, only had a freak out on two of the three (one’s on camera). 

Now it’s back to life on the MV, just took three of my finals and glad to be done with them, now it’s packing up Cabin 2034, my last final, Ambassadors Ball, and its time to get on with my life. Oh we had a Shipboard Auction to benefit the Scholarship Foundation for SAS and me, along with Tom and Gail bought a Ski Trip to Utah!!!! So we got a reunion coming up, but now all this kid wants to do is get to Boston, see the family, my friends, and prepare for one hell of a Semester in Dudley at Good Old NC. One more post to come probably once I am in San Diego, maybe Boston to wrap this up. So far all I can say is I lived the dream! Until I’m Stateside, enjoy the pictures that are in the post below this.

Later,

Ed

Heres Some Pics for You

USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor

BUNGEE HONG KONG

SUNSET ON THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA

Waddup KYOTO

Peking Family on the Great Wall of China

USS Missouri Museum

Center of Shibuya Toyko

Ash and I in Japan

Carly and I at Pearl Harbor

The Entire Peking Family in Tienanmen Square, Beijing