So here it is… my last day on board the Explorer and my journey on SAS has come to an end. In less than 24 hours, I will arrive in Miami, Florida. In some ways, the time has passed quickly, and in others, I felt like this day would never come. I am ready to go home. I am looking forward more than anything to being re-united with Andrew, my family, friends and to face my next challenges in life. I am eager to find out what those challenges are and to see how it all fits together.

This may or may not be my last blog entry for those who are keeping track. As with all things, just because I'll have returned home, the journey does not end.

I've been thinking a lot in the past few days about the experiences I've had the past 108 days: the good, the bad, the beautiful and the painful. Almost 10 years ago, in August of 1998, I wrote on the first page of purple journal something someone told be before I set out on my very first extended study abroad experience. "It will be nothing that you expected, but more than you ever dreamed of." I'm not sure if that is completely fitting for my experiences on Semester at Sea, but it does make me think. As I have said many times, doing Semester at Sea had been a dream of mine and I am very proud of my accomplishment. I am truly one of the luckiest people in the world to have circumnavigated the world on a ship, visiting places most will only dream of. My time with SAS has been interesting. It was not what I had expected…and I am sad to say, that it did not surpass my dreams, but I have learned so many things, both personally and professionally. Too many to list out right now…actually, I've been writing this journal entry in my head for the past week, and now that I'm sitting down to do it, I'm a little blank. Maybe it's all of the craziness going on around me. I'm (almost) all packed up, people running around signing maps, saying their good-byes, and hopefully taking a moment to take it all in.

Today was full of packing, chaos, enjoying a last sunny day at sea, and the Captain even kicked the Explorer up to just about full power, over 30 knots. The Explorer is one of the fastest cruising ships in the world. It was cool to stand out on the aft decks and see our wake at that speed! We've just finished handing out Passports for the last time and our Closing Convocation Ceremony is going to start in just a few minutes. Now…for the next few hours, I'll be doing the same, saying my good-byes, feeling the warm breeze of the open seas that have been my home, our last sunset at sea, and just taking it all in.

I want to say Hi to Leigh Ellen, Amanda, Noah and Mario…and to continuing the journey, a lifetime ahead to us to keep in touch. LE: I could never have done this without you! Fair Winds and Following Seas...