The Beginning

Hello everyone! :) Most of you already know this, but on August 28th I'll be sailing away on the 100th voyage of Semester at Sea. I have wanted to go on a SAS voyage ever since I heard about it in the 9th grade, so I'm really excited that it's almost here. I will be able to take classes on the ship while I travel to ten different countries. While I'm at each port I won't have classes and will be able to travel within that country. SAS is through the University of Virginia, but they accept around 700 students from universities all across the United States. They even accept International students. If you want more information about it visit semesteratsea.org.

I was lucky enough to get a work study scholarship, so I will have a job for two hours everyday while I'm on the ship. That really helped in bringing the price of the semester down. My job will be working in the campus store. I have already worked in merchandise stores, so it shouldn't be too difficult.

I have to be in Canada on August 27th for my work study, but we don't set sail until the next day. It will be nice to get on the ship a day before everyone else, so I can get used to it a day before the adventure begins. :) December 14th is the last day of the trip and the ship will drop me off in San Diego, California. On my voyage I will be visiting these places:

• Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Cadiz, Spain
• Casablanca, Morocco
• Accra, Ghana
• Cape Town, South Africa
• Port Louis, Mauritius
• Chennai, India
• Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
• Hong Kong / Shanghai, China
• Yokohama / Kobe, Japan
• Honolulu / Hilo, Hawaii, USA
• San Diego, California, USA

This will truly be an experience of a lifetime, so wish me luck! I will try and stay in touch as much as possible. I'll have limited Internet minutes, but SAS gives everyone a free e-mail account, so I'll post my address as soon as I receive it. I'll also try and update this with everything that is happening on board and with my excursions in each country.