Okay, so this is worth the update in my book.

Who would have thunk that it'd be colder in the Southern Hemisphere right now? Certainly not I. It is partly sunny, 57 degrees, and there is a nice breeze (this is because we're traveling on a moving ship...).

So, to me... this is great tanning weather! I just spent the past hour or so outside soaking up some rays- of course I was the only person doing so (which never happens). It was so relaxing. Anyways, the real reason for this blog update is because I had such an amazing lunch (no lie). For those of you who know my incredible pickiness and how I have been living off of PB&J's here, this is a good story. (Only not really).

Today they had pumpkin pie! I don't think I need to say more. That is what my lunch was- and it was amazing.

Everyone for sure thinks I am insane since I tan in 50 degree weather and eat Pumpkin pie for lunch- but it's all good.

I'd also like to take this time to commemorate Sherwood and Dr. Debra Kelley.

RIP

Hey daddio- just checking up on you to see how you're doing. I worry about you :/

We will be in South Africa tomorrow morning :] I'm pretty excited- and really looking forward to that steak, and maybe a good glass of red wine to go with it.

 

I went to a club meeting for one of my 37865 clubs that I am in. But this one is Alcohol-Free Voyagers- me and the 7 students in it do not really drink at all, and will maybe have 1/2 glass to 1 glass of wine or a wine cooler, and oddly enough the 2 people running it do drink- but they're not drinking for this voyage, which is kind of cool.

 

There is also an LLC (life long coordinator- i.e. "supervisors of work studies") named McGarret- and he's probably mid to late 30's and he's never even tasted alcohol. He didn't get too much into detail, but I can only imagine that someone close to him abused alcohol, or maybe he just never really cared to try it, either way it's really awesome to have the support of someone like him on the ship, and he said that he is so proud of us and our group.

 

There are actually a decent amount of kids who don't drink/ don't get drunk on the ship- a lot of them just aren't in our group.

Either way it's just really nice- we try to go out together once in each port- this way we can still enjoy the nightlife without getting trashed or babysitting people from the ship, it's just us kids having fun.

And we're from all over the map- NY, Colorado, California, Hawaii, and Minnesota. I think we covered a broad area Hahaha.

 

I'm just hanging around today- no classes. I'm throwing another party for our interport students Phi and Bubelani ('fee and boo-lay-la-knee) it took me forever to get Bubelani's name correct :p

So it should be fun- I delegated some tasks to my committee so I wasn't stuck doing everything, but you know me, I like things done may way, and to my standards- so I gave them the "not-so-important" tasks so if they messed up, I would easily be able to clean up after them.

 

Oh well, hahaha.

 

I miss you and love you!

 

<3

 

Samantha Zerio

Executive Student Ambassador of Semester at Sea

Goodwill Operator

Heyo! Alright, so I figured I would do one more update before  Cape Town- which we will be in by tomorrow morning! Whoop whoop- I’m stoked.

The following is for all you History buffs, and people who like to be fountains of useless knowledge  :]

As part of my work study as Executive Ambassador- these are the types of things we get tested on/ have to know (Yes- my work study is the only one on the ship that gives tests):

The library on board has around  8,000 volumes in it.

Our Union (where Global Studies takes place) comfortably seats 450 people- but can easily fit more.

Shipboard education dates back to 1877-However in 1926 is when Dr. James Lough of NYU launched the first floating university with students.  

Shipboard Education got its “sea legs” in 1963 upon the creation of the University of Seven Seas (which was on the ship MS Seven Seas) .

Chapman College obtained administration of the program and renamed it World Campus Afloat, which took place on the SS Ryndam.

In 1970- C.Y. Tung purchased Queen Elizabeth 1, but it never sailed. Her replacement was the Universe Campus, which was later named the SS Universe. (Which set sail in 1971)

The Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE) became a non-profit organization in 1976. The program was renamed Semester at Sea, and the University of Colorado-Boulder became the academic sponsor for its first voyage on the SS Universe in 1977.

In 1981 the academic sponsor for Semester at Sea changed to the University of Pittsburgh- who had it for 25 years.

Finally in 2005 Semester at Sea got together with the University of Virginia! :]

Fun facts:

The 1^st voyage of the University of Seven Seas (1963) took 275 students to 22 different ports in 16 countries!

I’ll name some of the well-known people who have come to Semester at Sea as guests:

Arthur C. Clarke (author of A Space Odyssey)

President Mikhail Gorbachev

Sidi Mohammed (Prince of Morocco in 1988)

Desmond Tutu! Who sailed with the voyage the entire year- and lived in room 7010 :]

Nelson Mandela

Mother Teresa

Fidel Castro

Ghandi!

And so many more! I’m excited to see who we get, after all- we are the 100^th voyage. But at the same time, how can anyone top Ghandi?!?!? Rumor has it that we have 2 special guests.

And many people associate SAS with MTV’s Road Rules (which I totally forgot that they did this).

More about the MV Explorer:

She was built in 2001 in Hamburg, Germany; she has four diesel engines, and travels at the top speed of 30 knots (34mph). She is flagged in the Bahamas (because it is cheaper and easier than being flagged in the US).

The crew- aka the nicest people on earth typically come from about 20 different countries (most are from the Philippines though- which sadly got hit with a bad hurricane this week which affected some of the crews family :[ )

So there’s some information about where I am currently living. Everything is fairly up to date (with the exception of Microsoft Word- which runs 97-2003); and being on board is amazing, granted it gets dull at times.

Anywho- I am beyond excited for SA, Bubelani and Phindwa (boo-lay-la-knee, and ‘Phi’) our interport students told me about a great steak house in port- which is apparently a gorgeous port as well. But they did also mention the extremely high rate of AIDS and rape, which is good for people to know since they intend to get belligerently drunk in SA.

As for me, I will stick to some SA wine and a nice big steak :] I can’t wait to be in SA and start my adventures. I will keep you all posted as always, and probably won’t blog until after SA. Which happens to be Mid-Term week; crazy right?!?!

I hope everyone is having fun back home!

<3 Dig it.

Well I figured that I would update while I'm in Global Studies. Honestly- this class (which is mandatory by all SASers) seemed like it'd be pretty neat. Man was I wrong! I really can't even say that I have learned anything from this course, last time I found out that I am exceptionally good at drawing mushrooms and Chinese rice farmers. I have a page full of nothing but doodles, and the date. I guess the only positive thing is there are no tests or quizzes with the exception of a midterm and a final. And if you miss a day of Global Studies you can just go the next day.

Other than that not too much is going on here at sea- it's pretty boring to update when we're on the water in between countries because nothing really goes on. I mean, I go to class, I work, I study, I attend 327893 meetings, and I sleep- not so fascinating. Hahaha.

On a side note- the girl sitting next to me just threw up- that was attractive. Everyone has been getting sick between food in Ghana and the rocking of the ship heading towards South Africa (which is apparently some of the roughest waters). I however; just get sleepy, and due to my crazy stomach issues and extreme pickiness, I have yet to get sick. (With the exception of the day where my diet consisted of chocolate and Plantain chips- which I'm almost positive would screw with anyone's stomach).

I am beyond stoked to be in South Africa, and we will be there Sunday! It can not come soon enough, I have so much planned, and I feel like I have so little time. Out of the 7 days there I have one day "free".

I'm excited for the music in SA too. I mean, I've always liked other countries music (even though I have no clue what they're saying). Boolayanni (That is definitely not how you spell his name- but it's how it's pronounced) is giving me all the music on his itunes, so I'm pretty excited for that. I have a bunch of Ghanaian music from Nii, and some Spanish disco-techa from Marta.

I suppose I should rest my fingers because they will be on fire after SA because I will have so much to write about I'm sure. Plus- I should really listen to professor Winchester, especially since I'm in the front row.

On a side note- I cannot believe we're almost into October- I definitely miss my New England weather, with the leaves changing color, and I'm really upset I'll be missing LU's Oktoberfest :[

But I think I made out like a bandit by being able to travel the world. It doesn't look much like Autumn here- but then again, how can ocean water really resemble Autumn? There have been some life forms out here lately- a few moths on ship, and some birds in sight, but other than that- nothing.

Alright- I will put my procrastination to an end.

Talk to you all after SA.

Much <3