i moved out of the apartment at school on saturday, which is bittersweet. i am so so very excited about my upcoming adventure, but i am going to miss 305b. it is crazy to think that i will not be living there anymore and that i will not be back until late august! that is a long time from now! i became close with all of my roommates this year, and they have helped me through my good days and my bad days. i'll miss them very much-- we are joking that i'm just going on a big long sleepover and i just so happen to be taking my room with me. i'll see them all tomorrow when i go back for my final, but after that i'm not sure when i'll see all of them again. boo.
as a result of my moving out the apartment, i now have a room at home full of boxes and containers and a big ol' mess. i'm hesitant to truly unpack everything, as i am going to have to begin packing relatively soon. i have gotten great tips from other blogs, the semester at sea facebook group and my friends & family on little tricks and creative ideas for packing my life into two suitcases.. i am thinking there will be a lot of packing, unpacking, re-folding, etc. going on before my departure day.
i am having trouble staying focused, as i keep thinking of things to do.. my mind is always going, which i suppose i can be thankful for because i am not freaking out yet. i just need a notepad by me at all times.
i am trying to put off the major cleaning and organizing until after i complete my finals and am done with the semester. it tough, though, i feel bad for bec who has to deal with the gigantic mess and sharing her room again. when i get all of my work done i plan on making a big list to hang on my wall, so i can see what i need to accomplish.
i ordered a total of 5 books for my classes on the ship, and 4 have arrived thus far. i decided to get my books through amazon instead of the university of virginia bookstore because i was able to save myself a significant amount of money. the only downside is that i have to carry the books with me to the ship in january. with a 50 pound limit on my bags, i think i may have to put them in my carry-on to save space in my suitcases. maybe i'll read them on the plane? haha, i doubt it. i did have to order 1 book through UVA, as it is not a real text book, rather something specific to our itinerary that discusses each port. that book will be waiting on my bed when i get to the ship! i spent a long time looking through the UVA bookstore's website, contemplating all of the packages they offer for students-- a school supply backpack, a travel bag, t-shirt/sweatshirt/hat combos. i decided against them because they are so pricey! i am thinking i'll buy a semester at sea nalgene when i get to the ship, or maybe i'll order one and have it waiting in my room.. its so tempting because i just want to have things that say semester at sea!
i think that i am most excited for this trip because i will be getting to know myself. i am pushing myself to step out of the box, to try new things and to be on my own. when i applied for the trip back in late march, i never knew that i would actually be where i am today. it has been a long journey to get to this point and i have already changed. i am hopeful that this semester will be life changing. my eyes will be opened to the world around and i am so incredibly blessed to have this opportunity. so many people are cheering me on, offering advice and words of encouragement. i am taking a trip around the world! only 1% of the world's population can say that they have circumnavigated the globe. this trip very well could change the course of my life. new doors will be opened, others closed. i will come home a different person. still laura, although different. and that is exactly what i need. i need to know myself, and this is one hell of a way to learn. i will make new friends and see how much i have taken for granted in my life at home. my hope is to come away with a newfound appreciation for the life i have been afforded thus far.
in reading semester at sea blogs, i have been able to live vicariously through students currently on the ship. the fall 2008 trip has just returned home, and i am curious to read what they post. one student who has kept up with her entries, posted a speech she wrote for the convocation on the ship.. parts of the speech are specific to their journey, but there are a few parts that have been inspirational to me as i prepare for my own trip--
"Although each and every one of us had a unique experience on Semester at Sea, we all have a lot in common. We’ve all circumnavigated the globe, survived a countless number of time changes, experienced life at sea, gained a greater appreciation for the world and all its inhabitants, realized that we have privileges and advantages that many people only dream of, and that we need to stop taking the littlest things in life for granted because we are not guaranteed another day here on Earth..."
"Whether you came on Semester at Sea to live life to the fullest, to escape a broken heart back home, to travel the world, or to simply prove to yourself that you can survive being away from home for three and a half months, you will now be going home a different person than you were that very first day.."
amanda's blog has been the most helpful in my preparation for this trip, she certainly has a way with words. if anyone wants to read more of what she says, check out her blog -- http://sastravels.blogspot.com/ --
i'm going to give studying a try for a little while longer..
32 days until nassau, 34 until the ship leaves!
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