Adventures away from home

My ultimate goal is to travel the world. Instead of just seeing places from photos on the internet, I want to have my own photos and memories. I have been extremely fortunate throughout my life when it comes to traveling over seas. I have a strong drive to see the world, but that became more intense when I decided I wanted to go to more places than my father has been. Since he has been to a lot of places on business, the rule is that we must leave the airport and experience what the country has to offer. so far this is my list:
1. France
2.England, (London)
3.Czech Republic
4. Ireland
5. Germany
6.Canada
7. Greece
8. Turkey
9. Spain
10. Italy
11. British Virgin Islands
12. Mexico
13. Austria

My list has been growing, and after this trip I will be able to add at least 10 more. My dad is way ahead, but I am catching up.

Classes on the seas

Registration for Semester at Sea happened not too long ago and was extremely successful!
Registration is a very nerve racking experience. One has to compete with hundreds of other students for classes that have limited spaces. For semester at sea, the students must have one lens course and three regular courses. Options for lens courses are limited, and for me there was only one that would benefit me. I went about choosing my classes on which ones would be best for my overall graduation. Before registration started I had made a schedule of classes I wanted and also chose classes that would work for back ups if I did not get my first choices. 

Lucky for me class registration was at 12:00 when I did not have any UNCW classes. When it came time to register I logged on at the same time as the hundreds of other students and was scared out of my mind. The system was extremely slow because of the amounts of people on at once. After all the heart pounding, freaking out, and terrifying wait for website loading, I was all registered and completely relieved. I had gotten all of my first choices! 

Classes:

Lens: water for the world:

Topic = Everything to know about water. 

Professor = Johnson 

Field Lab = singapore day one 

Why take it? I decided to take this class because it transfers back to UNCW as a science. For me to graduate I need two science classes and I have already taken one. By taking this class my general studies for sciences are fulfilled. This class was a good choice because I actually have a reason to take it rather than it being just a fun class to take that would not benefit me in the future. 

1) Introduction to drawing at sea:

Topic = Visual recording of personal expression.

Professor = McLeod 

Field Lab = Hilo, Hawaii, lava rock beach 

Why Take it? To graduate UNCW there are a certain amount of elective class you have to take for graduation. I decided to take this class because I love to draw but am not allowed to take art classes at UNCW because it is not my minor or major. By taking this class on the ship it allows me to have fun while abroad and fulfill elective credits. 

2) Consumer Behavior:

Topic = Creation of marketing strategy. 

Professor = Oliphant

Field Lab = Vietnam markets, day1 

Why take it? I wanted to take this class because it is a mandatory class to take as a marketing major. With this class I will be starting to fulfill the courses for my major and will get to use what we learn first hand in the countries we visit. we will be learning by seeing and being involved rather than from only a class room. 

3) Theory and practice of persuasion: 

Topic = How to be persuasive. 

Professor = Acosta-Lewis

Field Lab = Market persuasion techniques in Myanmar, & dinner with a United Nations representative. 

Why Take it? This class would also come back as an elective but the main reason I decided to take it, is because in the business world one needs to learn how to be persuasive without being pushy or rude. It is necessary to be able to communicate your opinions and why they would be beneficial. This class would give me knowledge that would be extremely helpful in the real world and give me a step up from possible future co-workers. 

*The four classes I chose I believe are very strong and enjoyable. I can not wait to get started! 

**For those of you who are not aware, Field labs are mandatory for each class and are faculty lead excursions that bring what we are learning into real life. Field labs are different for every class and the professor chooses which country would best represent the class material. 

song, and time for glasses

Viewer discretion is advised for this video; contains a few bad words. 

                                   

Words of Wisdom:  "Maybe its not my weekend but It's gonna be my year." This pretty much sums it up!

Ps. I got glasses. I can See! 

India Visa Difficulties

When preparing for a major event, in my case a trip, difficulties are bound to happen. One just never knows when and about what. Well, I have had quite a few throw backs, nothing major but still obnoxious. My biggest difficulty was the India visa application.

The first time I sent it in I never wrote down my middle name, I know your thinking "wow how does she forget that", well there was no line for it, when filling out the application "surname" means last name and where it says name you have to put for first AND middle name. oopps didn't know that. I found out about this little problem by an e-mail from Travisa saying I left out an important detail.

So again I filled out the application which is trouble in the first place because it LOVES to randomly close you out and never save anything you have written on the FOUR page application, O joy. When I finally manage to print out the application I was frustrated about something that came up with my medical history form and sent in the application without signing it... again I receive an e-mail from my visa advisor saying that I have made another error.

Shaking my head I printed out another copy of the application signed it with my best writing and sent it in with my last good pre-paid mailing order, the other one I have printed out blue for some reason. Feeling good about the visa I had just sent I thought the India nightmare was over. Then it happened, I got another e-mail! Thinking to myself "what in the world did you do wrong this time," I opened the letter and I found out that I did not sign within the box, the Y in my last name came down too low and did not make in in the lines.

Saying my prayers, I looked over the application about five times and was extra careful about where I signed. My one problem now was my mailing order sticker. I had no idea if they would accept faded blue ink. I went online and tried to print out another one but the website did not let me because too much time had elapsed. So I crossed my fingers, closed my eyes and dropped my visa application in the mail box for the FOURTH time.

The next day there was no e-mail. I waited another day and checked the website for a status update... nothing. I decided to e-mail the person who had been helping me and he got it!!!! He never mentioned any errors so I hope this means the fight with India Visas and I is over!

Moral of the story: Never give up, because the next time you try could be the time you succeed (this does NOT apply to gambling, you WILL lose). The study abroad process is definitely one to remember!
 :)

INDIA HERE I COME!

Lets Celebrate!

For a limited amount of time, it is officially time to celebrate. I have finished all of the UNCW papers and application forms for study abroad! The part that took me the longest was collecting all the signatures from each department chair. Setting up appointments, dealing with cancelations, and many other road blocks, but the chase of professors has all come to an end. I went into the study abroad office for the last time and it felt great. One major step down and only a few more to go.

whoooooo!!

Sibling love

Meet my awesome brother Ryan. He called me the other day and we had a nice long chat and got all caught up. He lives in the mountains and I live at the beach so we don't see each other often, but when we do it is always fun. Meanwhile, we talk about as many topics as we can pack in one call before one of us has to go. He has always been there for me no matter what and over the years we some how manage to grow closer than before. He is the greatest big brother I could ever ask for. :) 

:)

My loving and supporting swim coach!

                         

                                         My awesome family!

Itinerary :)

If you have never heard of Semester at Sea I posted the link below. Of course I gave you the link to my voyage, but anything you would ever want to know is at the top of the website. Then my information is right under the photo of the map. You could look up my class options, excursion opportunities, and lots more!
**
http://www.semesteratsea.org/voyages/spring-2013/

MY ITINERARY!!!! 

	ARRIVE/DEPART	DATE	TIME
SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES 1
1Participants will be transported by bus from San Diego, Calif. to Ensenada, Mexico to board the ship on January 9. Boarding will take place from 0700-1200.	Depart	January 9	17:00
HILO, HAWAII, UNITED STATES
	Arrive	January 15	08:00
	Depart	January 16	20:00
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN [*]
1-1-4 Kaigandori, Naka-ku	Arrive	January 27	08:00
	Depart	January 28	23:00
KOBE, JAPAN [*]
	Arrive	January 30	08:00
	Depart	January 31	20:00
SHANGHAI, CHINA [*]
Shanghai International Port F18, 358 East Daming Road	Arrive	February 3	08:00
	Depart	February 4	20:00
HONG KONG, CHINA [*]
Port of Hong Kong Harbour Building 38 Pier Road	Arrive	February 7	08:00
	Depart	February 8	20:00
HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM
Port of Ho Chi Minh City End of Dien Bien Phu street, ward 22, Binh Thanh district	Arrive	February 12	08:00
	Depart	February 18	16:00
SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE
Port of Singapore 460 Alexandra Road	Arrive	February 20	08:00
	Depart	February 21	20:00
RANGOON, BURMA
	Arrive	February 25	08:00
	Depart	March 1	20:00
COCHIN, INDIA
Cochin Port Trust	Arrive	March 6	08:00
	Depart	March 11	20:00
PORT LOUIS, MAURITIUS
Port Louis	Arrive	March 18	08:00
	Depart	March 18	20:00
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
Port of Cape Town Duncan Road	Arrive	March 25	08:00
	Depart	March 30	20:00
TEMA (ACCRA), GHANA
Port of Tema Fishing Harbour Road	Arrive	April 6	08:00
	Depart	April 10	20:00
CASABLANCA, MOROCCO
Port of Casablanca Downtown Gate no 1	Arrive	April 18	08:00
	Depart	April 21	20:00
BARCELONA, SPAIN
	Arrive	April 25	08:00