January 20, 2008

Day two on the boat was great!!Have you ever been on a large boat that accommodates 1000 people and have it be empty with only 100 people?It is pretty cool to have the entire ship to ourselves.Training today was so much fun.Number one, when can you tell others that you had student life training in Nassau, Bahamas?Probably never… but I guess I can tell everyone that now.We reviewed a lot of ship safety procedures, reviewed our living and learning community expectations, saw the bridge of the boat and had some great food for all of our meals.The one thing I can say that I am proud of is the concept of a real living and learning program… you know in our field so many schools talk about these programs, but when you really think about it, a shipboard community really embraces all concepts of this academic and social setting so well.The faculty is proud to be living among the students and the students are excited to be with all of us as well.

Today, I received notification of some of our trips.I am excited to say that I am going to be trip leader for three trips already for the program, which means I go for free to two of them and get 50% off the other one.For each trip that we sponsor and lead, we get so much money off depending on the original price.I am going to be the trip leader for the Welcome Reception in San Juan, visiting their university and partying with their students.I am going to be the trip leader for our visit to Brazil and Carnival!!Then back in San Juan, I am going to be bus leader for a visit to El Yunque Rain Forest Hike and Beach visit.As far as our other trips, we have not signed up yet,but I have my eye and interest on 25 other trips for the other countries as well as applied for trip leader work to be with the students and receive the discount!

Meeting all of these new people in my life has been amazing as well.As some of you may know, I am a bit shy and quiet at times, but I already feel so adjusted to everyone that I have been meeting and hanging out with.The other 9 RD's are GREAT.We all get along so well already, and feel so close to each other.Many of us have left our jobs and will be searching, which is great to have that nice group helping each of us out.At this point, I no longer see my resignation as a disturbance, but as advancement in my own personal and professional experiences that I am going to be in tune with for the rest of my life.

Today, I also received my first shock of not being connected to society a bit.A few of us watched the up to date play by plays of the Giants game on the internet!!It is going to be intriguing not to be in tune with US updates, news and information, so I am counting on all of you to keep me posted.I am excited to see the giants in the super bowl, but sad to say I will not see the game.I do hope the Giants can beat the patriots, so we shall see.

Well, after some long social hours tonight in the faculty and staff lounge, I am beat and going to head to bed.We have another long day of training up for us.

After reflecting on some things that I learned today that I want to continue to reflect on and embrace more in my work as I have become more energized and focused are:

1)Learn to understand situations and information and not agree!!If I understand others more and where they are coming from, I don't have to agree and still be great friends and colleagues with others.

2)We are as strong as are weakest link.. we are a team and we work together, we are one team!!

3)Be the tourists not the hare.We need to spread out our energy and excitement for the entire voyage… not just for the beginning and get through May.

Hey… Keep in touch if you reading this.Send me some emails or even better yet, some REAL mail, that would be nice to get!!

Sorry for all my thoughts.. but things are going so well already that I am so excited a bout everything…. And we have not even left port, besides the captain moving the ship from the back of the port to the front for check-in.

Hope you are enjoying your life as much as I am.This is remarkable and I cannot even explain it to you… and we have not even left with our students.!!

Later