people need to see that far from being an obstacle, the world's diversity of languages, religions and traditions is a great treasure, affording us precious opportunities to recognize ourselves in others.
-youssou n'dour, musician

[one of the quotes on the starbucks cups. ]



i have lots to do, lists racing through my head. i don't know where the time went because it feels like this trip is so far off. truth is, i'll be on the ship heading out to sea at this time just seven days from now. that is a lot to take in. i think saying goodbye, or see you later, to all of my friends and family is making this week daunting. i get nervous & anxious, though i simply can't let it get to me on the eve of this huge trip. i have to finish packing tomorrow, i want to be done with it and have everything squared away so that i can relax and spend time with my family before i leave. i've been wanting this break to hurry up since before it started and now i feel like its over too quickly. i'm going to miss everyone, very much. and the ineffeciency of communication will prove to be a challenge. i just want everyone to know that i will be thinking of them, that i still want to know whats going on in everyone's lives. email me stories from home, it'll mean so much to me. and i'll do my best to keep emailing and updating all of you with my whereabouts.

bedtime. packing in the morning, wish me luck--

FIVE days til nassau, SEVEN until embarkation. [ !!! ]

stream of consciousness--

here are just some goals i've set for myself, some silly and some serious; to accomplish before i leave for the bahamas. i think you could call this a glorified to-do list.. (i don't suppose that posting my goals (or, to-do list) on here will have any effect on the actual completion of said goals or tasks, though i think its a wonderful form of procrastination!) most of this has been written as i think of it, sort of catcher in the rye, if you will. essentially my thoughts as they have popped in my head.

- set up email forwarding. figure out how to post via email. finish contact list/address book. figure out how to post pictures.

-figure out how to make all my music live on my external harddrive so that i can free up valuable space on my computer for more important things, like the millions of pictures i plan on taking. (note to self, get more memory cards!)

-hide nearly all of the clothes that are not going on semester at sea so that bec doesn't wear them all (and look better in them..). similarly, pack up all the remaining school stuff for the fall & get it out of the room.

- let all the banks know that i will be in foreign countries, using foreign banks and to please, please, please not freeze my account.

- do all the laundry that is piled up on the floor, so that organizing-hiding-packing can be completed. while all the clothes i own are being washed, wear bec's. with permission.

-decide which shoes to bring. this is a tough one. i only have 2 bags. but i have a bunch of shoes. sneakers for lots of walking, sneakers for less walking/around the ship, black flip flops, brown flip flops, comfortable flats that are more dressy than flip flops but not quite party shoes, party shoes, slippers, dressy sandals, etc. clearly this many pairs of shoes are not an option. but coming from a girl who wears brown shoes with brown outfits, black with black and never a combination of the two; i have work to do. i need to be flexible. to wear black with brown; to simplify.

- fill prescriptions. take course of typhoid meds. get some dramamine. bring extra band-aids. find the band-aid blister stick, which i swear exists but bec doesn't. i googled it, and its out there. now word on how useful it truly is, but i figure it might not hurt to have it on hand.

-similar to the shoe predicament listed above, decide which bags to bring. my hideous computer backpack is coming along for the ride to house my laptop. my two wheeled duffels will be along as well. but then what? i'll need the biggest "purse" imaginable for my carry-on, so as to fit all my extra electronics (external harddrive, video camera, digital camera, cell phone, ipod, etc.). i'll also be packing my small messenger bag & my little backpack. and then a wristlet. and my wallet (big or small?!). and my money belt. then an empty bag to pack things in when my suitcases are stuffed at the end of the semester? this will be a challenge, i need to really decide what is multi-purpose and only pack those sorts of things.

-decide on a sim card for the international cell phone i have yet to purchase. i should probably have ordered these things a while back. (opening a new window.. ordering now.) (the sim card at least.)

- figure out classes for fall 2009, freak out about life, think about grad school just long enough to freak myself out, worry about paying for grad school... enough about that; i'll tackle this one in may.

- find a job for the summer. no more coffee shop, though it's a hard habit to break. find something in philly, nyc, boston, nh.. anywhere they'll take me. and pay; though its unlikely that an internship will pay. remind myself that i need the experience & i'll take anything i can find.


i think this is enough procrastination for now (as i have posted twice in the same night & accomplished nothing on the to-do list.), off to waste away watching dvds with the girls.

ramblings

- i got my prescription for my typhoid vaccination, as well as my anti-malarial, anti-seasickness and anti-foodborne illness prescriptions yesterday. so now, with all those meds, plus some high quality bug spray, i should make it home without any incurable diseases. good thing!

-i'll be heading to student legal services tomorrow to arrange for power of attorney for mom and dad. this way they can sign things for me when i'm at sea.

-i ordered my text books today! a grand total of 6 books, coming out to about $300. its a lot of money, but 5 will be shipped home and 1 will be waiting in my cabin when i make it to the bahamas. i was able to save some cash by staying away from the university of virginia's bookstore and by getting them used off amazon. hopefully they are all in decent condition.

- i am officially doneeeee with classes for the semester in one week from today. and then i'll be home for a few days, back up here for finals and then home until i leave on my great big adventure.

-this weekends to-do list includes figuring out my darn fieldtrips. i have GOT to decide by tuesday. but i dont want to pick! with the help of some friends i have selected a few, but i still am too scared to fill out the application on the website! i dont want to get locked in and then change my mind.

- i found an international phone program that wont break the bank! i'm getting myself more information, but i think its going to be exactly what i was looking for. more on that when i figure it all out.

off to dinner.

i need as many distractions from life these days as i can find.

is it january yet?

45 days, 22 hours.

thanksgiving is over, but..

i am thankful for my friends and my family.
without them, i don't know where i'd be.

the sentiment sounds so simple, overstated.
but in times when nothing seems to go right,
i am reminded of how incredibly important it is to be grateful.

and no words seem to be enough these days to express my gratitude to all who have cared for me.

i am blessed, though there have been days where i don't feel that way.
i am going on my adventure of a lifetime and i am so fortunate to have such a supportive group of people cheering me on as i struggle to get everything done.

i have much to do, but today i am simply thankful.

50 days to go.

a whirlwind of a weekend

what a hectic, crazy, emotional, fun, and exhausting weekend.
brandon's junior ring weekend (jrw) @ pc-- two nights of party clothes, dancing, and friends;
and poppa's 90th birthday celebration at home, with family from across the country.

i am so grateful that everyone was so accomodating to me (and to brandon). my family was understanding and i got to see aunts & uncles & cousins, albeit breifly. i wished i could have been in two places at once. jrw was a great time, and i'm so glad we made the last bus!

SAS update
-- all of my forms have been sent and are accounted for! YAY, no more paperwork!

-- the field trips have been posted on the semester at sea website. i have NO IDEA how i am supposed to pick my trips. there are so many amazing offers. i just have to choose wisely in the first round of selection so i don't blow my budget before i make it to the ship.

-- i'm looking at hotels in the bahamas. and i need to book a room as soon as possible, as they will only become more expensive the longer i wait. i suppose i'm only hesitating because i would rather not stay by myself, though i don't know anyone who would be able to share with me. i posted on the facebook group asking if anyone was interested in sharing a room and i'm not sure if anyone has responded.. i should check.

-- on a sad note, a student died on semester at sea's fall voyage. kurt leswing was hit and killed by a drunk driver in hong kong. i still have shivers down my spine everytime i think about the horrible accident. i am sure the ship community is struggling right now, and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and all who knew him.

-- i go for more shots on wednesday! technically, its a shot and then a round of typhoid medicine for a week.

-- hopefully my lovely sister collected names & emails for me at poppa's party so i can get my email list all set up and crossed off my gigantic list.



off to clean up, unpack & head to class.

70 days and they will be flying by. i couldn't sleep when i realized-- that 2 months! where has the semester gone! i can hardly believe that i am getting so close to this trip, which has been in the works for about 7 months now!

YAY OBAMA!!

hopefully there will be some sort of coverage of his inaugaration while we are on the ship in january, because that's something i wouldn't want to miss.



t-minus 75 days.

is japanse mickey different than american mickey?

i want to go to tokyo disney!

i got the idea from a friend who's sister is in taiwan on a fullbright scholarship. she's going to tokyo disney for their winter break! i've been looking online and the tickets are about 5,800 yen. (~60 USD) and its not to far from where the boat will be when we dock in yokohama.

there is also a hong kong disneyland, which is accessible by train. and according to the currency exchange website, it would be cheaper. about 350 hong kong dollars (~45 USD).

i'm looking into it, and hopefully other people will want to join me!

78 days + 5 hours. YIKES!

today & this weekend's to do list

-get my remaining immunizations (on monday..)
-send in the last of my SAS forms (on monday, after the shots.)
-figure out why i got an email saying i haven't paid. i'll be calling financial aid and home and SAS and back again. i thought i had sent everything! i have a feeling they are waiting on a single piece of paper. i'm not sure which one. and that is annoying.
-FIND A PLACE TO STAY IN THE BAHAMAS. i have to stop procrastinating on this one.
-save money. where the heck is it all going?!
-hand in housing forms. the release & petition to return. (monday..)


and there is lots more than that to take care of.

like, what to do in each country! i dont even know where to begin.

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.

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!

100 days!

yesterday was my twenty first birthday and 100 days until SAS S09!

so much to do,
so little time!

my great friends, roommates and boyfriend all got me things that i'll be able to take with me on my adventure. they are all so thoughtful & i'll miss them so very much!

i'm still going.

we were notified about the financial aid packages from the institute of shipboard education(ISE) on thursday via email.

i got nothing. and so did a lot of people. in the email, ISE & SAS said that the number of applications for financial aid increased over 80% from the fall 2008 voyage to the spring 2009.

as expected, i was heartbroken and very worried. i was so scared that i was not going to be able to go, even though i'm already financially invested in the trip (plane tickets, visas, etc.). i called dad crying and he said we'd figure it out. i've been so nervous all weekend for the phone call that would let me know if i was going or not.

as of now, i'm $3,700 short.

i talked to mom and dad; and i know that they have been over and over it all weekend, trying to figure out how to make it happen. we've decided they'll spot me and i'll pay them back once i get home and working. the last thing i want to do is put them out financially. i know that this trip is a once in a lifetime deal, that it will be an experience i'll never forget. but i also don't want them to struggle because i'm taking this trip. i am so grateful for all they do for me, and i will never truly be able to pay them back for the gift of my college degree and all of the opportunities they have provided for me.

i'm stressed, now, about how i will make it all work. i know that i'll be working very hard next summer to pay them back and somehow get a car.

it will be worth it.

i remind myself that there are students who have been planning their semesters for longer than i have and who were counting on the financial aid to make it happen. and i know that many of those students are now not going. so in perspective, i'm one of the lucky ones. i can only imagine their heartbreak, as i would be devastated if my parents had said it was no longer possible.

i'm excited to go, overwhelmed that i am 100% and absolutely going, and stressed with all the things on my to-do list.

until next time..
--l


105 days until the ship departs from nassau.

computer-less

my computer got thirsty.
and now it's in the land of computers being fixed, and i'm not sure when it'll be back!

can't complain too much, i have 5 lovely roommates who all got a's in sharing in kindergarten, there are bunches of computers in the library, and i will eventually get mine back.

and, even better, its covered under the warrantee. so its not going to cost me anything! yay!

this is wonderfully random,
but you never know how much you take things for granted until they are gone!
...so glad a computer was the root of this realization.

haha.

off to class.