Hello everyone! I'm alive and well! And still sane (barely) after 8 days at sea. These 8 days have been the longest, most surreal and best days of my life. Living on this ship is whooole new experience for me and I'm loving it! I think I spent the first two days in shock of what was happening. It's a very strange feeling looking out my window and seeing waves crash into it every 3 seconds with no land in sight. But it's obviously super cool. I am currently sitting in my Global Studies class, which is pretty much the most boring class ever but whatever, I'm trying to be studious. I'm in the room called the union, which is the WORST place to be in the entire ship. For some reason it picks up the most rocking so I basically die during this class and we have it EVERYDAY. The first couple of days the waves were super calm, and I thought to myself, "wow this whole living on sea thing is going to be so easy, I don't know why I was ever worried about it" but man, was I dumb. As we venture farther into the Atlantic, we are encountering many storms and chilly weather (around 55 degrees. Brrrrrrr) . We've had to change our track a couple of times to weave through the middle of two storms. From what I've heard, the captain is trying to stay in the eye of the storm, so it could be a lot worse. I've recently learned that this boat has made it through a hurricane and that's probably the most comforting news I've heard in awhile. We've been trudging through 16 foot waves for the past couple days now and from what I hear, it's getting worse tonight. The first couple days I was queasy even through the sea band and the bonine, but still haven't vommed!!! I consider that a huuuge accomplishment. And now I think I have grown my sea legs!! Yay!! (unless I'm sitting in the union). Sleeping last night was pretty much impossible. Drawers were opening and slamming shut, I basically got air off of my bed with every rock, my bed would squeak every time my body would come back down to the bed aaaaand you would hear random bangings from things falling in other peoples rooms. All of this happened on around a 45 second rotation. All I could do was laugh because before signing up for semester at sea, I never really thought I was going to experience this. So as much as it sucks, I'm loving it because I probably wont ever experience this again after this semester. It's pretty hilarious watching people attempt to walk in the hallways because it's next to impossible to walk in a straight line. We're basically walking in uncontrollable zig zag lines at all times. You never really know where you are going to end up when you start walking. Sometimes you start running without even trying, and sometimes it feels like your climbing a mountain as you walk…I die of laughter every time. and I've run into about 34823 walls which adds to the funnieness. I just wrote SO much detail about the rockiness, but I find it so hilarious- so naturally, I can't stop talking about it. Besides the rockiness, life on the ship is pretty relaxed. We basically eat, sleep, go to class and talk about nothing with people or play cards. It's sooo funny to watch 500 kids without phones or internet or alcohol. We all actually have to talk to each other and pay attention in conversations and form sober relationships- which let me tell you, most of us have not had to do since high school. Sounds terrible but it's true hahah..what a strange concept huh??? I actually love being completely disconnected. It's a nice change to not have to constantly be checking something and not being interrupted by texts and phone calls. But I love email! Also everyone seems to be exercising at all times because we have nothing to do. We joke and call it "exercise at sea". I have a feeling that is going to change drastically once the weather gets nice again. Around 20 kids and I have started doing this workout video called insanity (which is basically a cardio video using no weights) every night at 530 on the 7th deck. It's almost like a double workout doing it up there because you have to do the workout while keeping your balance as the waves rock you. It's pretty funny to do and watch. Balancing on one foot is next to impossible. And let me tell you, I am SORE because lets be real, i haven't worked out in like forever. But i'm hoping to keep the streak going because i've heard you eat A LOT in port and i'm not trying to gain 10 pounds on this trip. yoga has just recently started up, and I also signed up for an intramural volleyball team which will start later in the voyage. I have met a ton of cool people on the ship-lots of Minnesotans and Coloradoans. I feel like I have some random connection with almost every one of them. It's SUCH a small world. My roommate, Emma, is so much fun and we have a friend group in the making so that's exciting. We all can't WAIT to get to Ireland. We have some fun things planned but for most of the time we're just going to figure it out as we go. The first day we get to Dublin the Notre Dame vs. Navy football game is going on so there is supposed to be around 36,000 Americans there. Luckily Benner and I thought ahead and got Laura to book us a hotel in Dublin right away, so we have a few rooms for kids to stay with us, but most kids are screwed. It's going to be amazing! Can't wait! Hope all is well in good old usa! And for those who are wondering, Benner and I are doing great! We are having so much fun and are sooooo incredibly lucky and happy to be experiencing this together. For the next month I am only on the ship for a total of 9 days (which means I only have 9 days of class muahahaha) , so if you email me and it takes me awhile to respond, don't worry! I will have plenty of time in October to respond back! Love you all! -Mon