We are now on our second full day at aboard the MV Explorer. Everything is absolutely amazing. This is going to be an amazing and incredibly unique experience. Before continuing, let me discuss my voyage to here in the middle of the Atlantic thus far.
After various delays and a cancelled flight, Mom and I safely flew to Nassau this past Saturday (Jan 16) in the comfort of two very large, first class seats. Aunty Mara arrived safely on Sunday morning. We had the opportunity to go to the Atlantis hotel and use all of their amenities. The slides are incredible creative and fun. Mom and I went on the slide that goes through the shark tank as well as a tube slide that was more like a roller coaster with huge drops and turns than a water slide. While I didn’t provide any donations, the Atlantis Casino is tremendously decorated, with three gigantic Chihuly glass sculptures scattered throughout. On Sunday night, Mom and Mara had the chance to tour the ship and attend the parent/family reception. We had a very nice dinner afterwards and then I went out and met up with several hundreds of my soon-to-be shipmates. I’ve met two very nice guys who go to Michigan conveniently named “Ari” and “Alex”. On Monday morning, we got in line to get on the ship at about 10:15 and were on after about an hour and a half waiting in line. Parents were not allowed on again, so I just dropped my stuff in my cabin and went back off the ship for a final lunch at a terrific Greek restaurant with Mom and Mara. A couple hours later, after performing our first safety/muster drill, all the students were on the side of ship waving to all the parents and families below.
That was it. As the distance between us and the pier grew, it became all the more real to me that this journey, which I’ve been waiting for so long now, was real and actually here. Later Monday, after sailing, we had the first of many orientations and then met with our “Seas” (we are divided into Seas based on where our rooms are. Each has someone like an RA.) After, we had the chance to hang out by the pool and start meeting people. My roommate is named Chris Jones. He’s from Hinsdale, IL. I can immediately tell that he will be a great guy and that there won’t be any issues. He goes to school at Santa Clara and has a sister who went on Semester at Sea several years ago.
On Tuesday , our first full day at sea, we had probably six separate orientation sessions, one for everything we need to know (safety, rules, classes, traveling, etc.) They all were long and mostly extremely boring and we only had breaks for lunch and dinner. For those wondering about the food, to put it simply, its not any food you’d have on a cruise. Statesider’s cafeteria would be REALLY appealing right now. But its fine, there is always something for everyone to eat. And more importantly, the best food on this trip should be coming from the countries we’re going to, not on the ship.
It is now time for our first class, Global Studies, the one that all students attend. Since there is no room large enough on the ship for all 700 of us, they broadcast the class live on TVs throughout the ship. Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have by posting comments on the blog or send me emails WITHOUT attachments or pictures (they’ll be too big and thus discarded) to arirokni@gmail.com. We have unlimited email access, so I will be checking frequently. Also, feel free to give anyone interested the address of this blog (ari-at-sea.blogspot.com).
Some fun facts about the ship and our community…
-Fastest passenger ship of its size, with a max speed of 25 knots
-There are 80 students from CU Boulder
-Of the 723 students, 73% are girls
1 comment:
Go Bering Sea!
- Mara
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