side note

visas are pretty stickers. haha!

can't wait to add more stamps, etc. into my passport!
at least it's interesting now, and not full of blank pages!

more about the silly classes. and my OCD..

after all the hoopla, i re-registered and got all the same classes!
for real, this time. haha.

i made some packets for my mom & dad, myself & my emergency contact today.
in it, are:
-copy of my passport
-copies of my visas (china, india)
-copy of my UNH ID
-copy of my ISIC (international student identification card)
-copy of my license
-itinerary (as of now, its always changing)
-copy of my health card (front & back) & doctor's contact information
-copy of my SAS medical form
-consulate information for each country
i read i should do this on journeywoman's blog. she's a single woman who travels and compiles tips for female travelers, especially those who go solo. turns out, she went on semester at sea! this past spring. and so of course, i read her whole SAS blog and then have been reading through her tips sections. she has women send in tips for each country, so i've also found some good advice on what to pack for the more conservative countries like egypt. but anyways, she suggests to have all the information from each country so that in case of an emergency you have numbers to call and/or a place to go. travel.state.gov has great bios of each country along with embassy and consular services. i'm SURE that SAS will prepare us and give us this information, but i like to do these sorts of things myself.

to be added to my packets are:
-flight information -- home
-hotel information
-mailing address (for each port)
-contact information from SAS
-SAS email information
-important UNH numbers/contact people
-credit card & banking information

i basically want to have AS much information in these folders so that mom & dad know whats going on, so that my emergency contacts know where i am/who to call if something were to (god forbid) happen and so that i have lots of information on hand! my obsessive-compulsive tendencies are coming in handy..


off to spend the day with mom---

87 days + 6 hours + 9 minutes until embarkation.. yikes!

VISAS

i forgot to mention..

word on the street (aka my sister told me..) that my passport and visas have arrived safely at home! YAY. unfortunately, the silly things over-drafted my account but i think all has been resolved. so now i can get myself to into china and india.

AND, the best part, my passport is home safe and sound and i won't be worrying in early january whether it would be home in time.




88 days + 10 hours to go.

classes. take two.

so, even if we recieved confirmation emails, everyone is RE-registering friday. at 11.

lets hope the site does not crash, and that the classes i wanted are still available!!


silly computers.

nearly two hours later..

I GOT INTO MY CLASSES! yay!

after about 45 minutes of refreshing the page & getting nothing, i called SAS who told me that they turned off registration until they could get the site back up. i suppose over 350 students (at least..) trying to register at the same time was a little too much for the system. i was about to give up and head to the library when i saw a girl's post on the SAS facebook group saying she got her classes. so i tried once more and i got them! AH, i'm so relieved!

now lets hope and pray that i get approved for my nutrition class and that i won't have to change classes! i emailed the center for international education (CIE) here at UNH and they said to check my mailbox. so hopefully i get approval soon.

however, as of this moment, i'll be having classes as follows:

A days:
english as a global language 0800-0915
global studies 0920-1035
languages of the world 1045-1200

B days:
global studies 0920-1035
nutrition around the world 1455-1610

classes meet everyday at sea. so in the 10 days between turkey and india, there are 10 days of classes. even on saturdays and sundays! makes sense though, as we need to cram a semester of credit in there!

i do have the option of adding one more course and/or a one credit seminar. not sure if i will yet, i have time though, because i can't add anything else until sailing.


off to the library, FINALLY. haha.

89 days + 5 hours til sailing!

registering for classes

today is the day when registration opens for spring 09..

too bad the website crashed and only a handful of people successfully registered!

i am not one of those people. i'm sitting here refreshing the page and hoping the registration button pops up sometime soon so i can get on with my day!


if and when i get to register, i'm hoping to get:
-nutrition around the world
-languages of the world
-english as a global language
-global studies

my back-ups are:
-US foreign policy
-world religions


cross your fingers for me! seriously, or else my computer may be out the window.

vaccinations

i got my first of two hepatitis A vaccinations yesterday.

ouch.

it feels like i got punched in the arm! ugh.

and i got a flu shot.

now all i need (from health services up here..) are:
1. tetanus booster
2. typhoid
3. polio
4. anti-malarial meds

wish me luck & hope that i don't go broke paying for them!

ta-ta-for-now!

90 days to go!

weekend update :)

i am home this weekend for len's engagement party and to get lots of things done. i am working on my packets of information (one for me, mom & dad, and for my emergency contacts.) with copies of all my information, itinerary, consulate information, etc.

i talked to a lot of family this weekend about my trip, everyone has been so incredibly supportive. and everyone has great suggestions for what to bring and how to stay organized, which i absolutely appreciate. 2 bags for 100 days is going to feel limiting come packing time, for sure.

i have successfully sent in my visa applications! hopefully they take the money out soon, though, because i don't want to overdraft!

most of my SAS forms are completed and have been marked "recieved" on myVoyage page (an online account through SAS for updates, paperwork, class registration, etc.

i am going to get a physical tomorrow as well as my hepatitis A vaccination! i hate needles but i'm going to have to get used to them quickly. i have lots of shots to get.

every last UNH study abroad form is officially completed! the only thing left to do is provide them with the updated itinerary (it changes here and there.. docking times, etc.) and my contact information, which has not yet been made available.

hopefully i'll recieve word from the registrar that my courses have been approved. i just need them to say that i can take a science and have it count as my general education requirement for sciences. i gave them several options, so hopefully one will count!

regardless of whether i get a science approval in the next week or so, i can register for classes starting wednesday! its so crazy. the reality of this trip is coming at me at lightening speed. if i do need to change a course, the registration is open until december 22, so i'll have a little wiggle room.

if all goes well, i'll be taking global studies (required to all students), languages policy & reform, english as a global language, and nutrition around the world (for my gen-ed requirement). i can potentially add one more course, but i have not decided yet whether i want to or not. i am so excited to take these courses, all of them are of interest to me, so it is nice to have complete freedom in choosing classes without having to worry about which requirement to fulfill.

i've got to go, but i would like to add a little thank-you on here to all the family & friends that sent me great cards for my birthday! they are all over my bulletin board at school! xo

time for coffee. and shopping!
til next time, laura


92 days to go!