Wow...So I'm finally here aboard the M/V Explorer; my home for the next 100 days. The past two days have been pretty intense so I'm not even sure where to begin.

(By the way...I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about "blogging" and keeping a website, but I'm really enjoying it so far and find it relaxing...I hope you are also all enjoying my random thoughts...I promise there will be cooler travel stories and fun pics as soon as we get underway)

So...we arrived here in Nassau and I met up with most of the other Semester at Sea RD's at the airport. We all piled in a huge van with a ridiculous amount of luggage and headed to Prince George Wharf, which is the cruise ship harbor. Once we cleared yet another set of customs/security checkpoints, it was nice to finally board the ship and check out new home. There are 8 RD's and a handful of other Student Life Team staff members, who all seem wonderful, both personally and professionally. I may have had a few minor freak-outs before all of this began but its been comforting to discover that many of the other RD's are going through the same thing. Also, If you know anything about my work at Maritime College, you know that it is going to be a real treat for me to work in such a progressive student affairs environment with other people who all share the same, or at least similar, vision and philosophies as I do. The past two days have been filled with alot of introductions and meetings on what Semester at Sea is all about....some of them more interesting than others. I can, however, say that I truly feel privledged and honored to have been selected from amongst hundreds to sail for SAS and be a part of this incredible program.

My room on the 4th Deck is very nice and I have plenty of space (totally enough space for a rig...LOL). I will also be spoiled since my cabin steward comes in to clean up after me each day. The only thing is that it is a inside cabin and because there is no porthole or window, there is no light so I have no sense of time/daylight when I'm in there which makes waking up in the morning quite interesting!

In other news, we also found out which Field Program Trips we were selected to go on and serve at trip leaders. Of the trips I had signed up for during the pre-sale period, I was selected to lead 2 of them; 1 of them is the Rainforest Hike in Puerto Rico and then the trip to Delhi-Agra in India. I'm super excited about that becuase I get to go for a discounted rate which leaves some extra $$ for some other travel. The only thing is I've heard travel in India can get pretty crazy and I'll be a female trip leader.

We have two more days of Orientation and then the students arrive on 23 Jan.

I miss all of you very much and you are always in my thoughts. Lots of Love.