I've had the time of my life.... and I owe it all to you

On our 12-day journey home from Croatia to Norfolk, Va, These are some exciting things that have happened:

Monday 8/11/08
Today was a class day and a day of paper writing! I did work all day and took naps, I was still tired from all the exploring on land. I stayed up all night writing papers because at 2:30 we were supposed to be able to see a meteor shower and my biology professor told us that it was going on and he’d meet us all on the front of the ship to watch. We stayed out for about 45 minutes laying on the deck and watching the stars. It was absolutely beautiful and we saw quite a few falling meteors!!

8/12/08
Even though I only got a few hours of sleep, I was able to stay awake all day, get some sun between classes, and get a little bit more paper writing done! I was going to stay up all night again to watch the meteor shower tonight as well – our professor told us that it was going to be better tonight – but I fell asleep around 1. I woke up at 2:30 to go out and watch – the crew turned the lights out on the front of the ship -- but it was soo windy and cold, I only stayed out for a bit. I saw a few meteors, but it was better the night before.

8/13/08
Today was a study day, so naturally, we had out last life boat drill at 10am. At 11, I got a hot stone massage (it was a birthday present a la dad – but I decided to get it when I was stressed about finals and papers and really needed it..). It was really wonderful! I wrote papers all day, so I didn’t get to lay out. Around 4pm, we stopped in Gibraltar, Spain to refuel and whatnot, and we were there until about 11. I had a SAS family dinner with my family – minus Joyce (our ‘aunt’) and her daughter Bridget. There was also an auction in the union – I went, but didn’t buy anything. They were auctioning things off like unlimited Internet for the rest of the trip, seats at the captain’s table, a weekend of photography with Photo Mike who does Nikon workshops (which I really wanted, but don’t have $1000 to drop…).

8/16/08
Today was another class day of papers and work. There was a partial moon eclipse that was absolutely GORGEOUS! I didn’t get pictures because I forgot my camera, but I am hoping to snag some from someone!

8/18/08
Yesterday was the global studies final, which totally sucked, but two of the students did a comedy routine at night, so that was some good comic relief. Today was a study day, but I woke up at 7, so I did a little bible study while I watched the sunrise on the 7th deck, it was really pretty. I got breakfast at 8, laid out from 9-12, got some lunch, and studied throughout the day. It was wonderful!!

8/19/08
Today was the last day of finals – I had my Biology final at 8 and my circus final at 1. I woke up at 6 to get outside and study while the sun was rising as well as get a good healthy breakfast for brain food. I took my final and felt really good about it! I went back into the cave (my room) and studied for my circus final, with a lunch break. I took the final and felt really good about it, so I was happy!! I worked out and showered and took my good old time getting ready for the ball since it was only 4 when I was done working out and we didn’t need to be ready until 6. We had pictures with Captain Jeremy at 7 then took pictures out on the deck, but it was soo windy, it was hard to get a good one with my dress and my hair flying everywhere. We got in line for our 8pm dinner and got champaign on the way in. We sat down and ate bread and then we were served bruschetta, French onion sup (my favorite!!!), Caesar salad, and steak and twice baked potatoes as our main course. The dance was going on in the union from 10 – 1 and dessert was being served throughout the ship for a while. We ate our dessert in the fac/staff and Aimee and I were able to get a picture with our biology professor, Iain Cambell, who is from Scotland and the most awesome professor ever (even though he is from Pitt and doesn’t like Penn State). We went back to dance and then got some more dessert and I got a picture with my favorite waiter – Henry. We did more dancing and then when the dance was over at 1, I went to Paul’s room to watch a movie with him, Aimee, Marissa, Emily, and Jackie. I came back and got a shower around 2 and was SO thankful to turn the clock back an hour and get that extra hour of sleep!!!

8/20/08
Only 2 days left. I got up at 8 and got some breakfast. I came back to my room, put my bathing suit on, and hit the deck to get some sun. I fell asleep lying on my stomach for about an hour, so my back got nice and tan! Around 11, a huge gust of wind came along and brought a storm about, so I came inside and got some lunch. At lunch, I got really sad and started crying and then laughing hysterically to cover it up. After lunch, I packed up my stuff, and then went to a reflection meeting of the voyage, picked up my paper from my TA for global studies (I got a B/B- -- points were taken off because I cited Wikipedia), and then went to a meeting held by the psychologists about coping with leaving. Again, I started crying a lot and Marissa joined in with me this time. After, we hit up the pub night and had a drink with friends for the last time!

I have had the MOST amazing summer ever!! I am soo sad to leave it behind, but I have made so many friends and had a wonderful time with them! I cant wait to get home and see you all!!

I hope you enjoyed reading my blog! Stay tuned for the follow up blog to my voyage!

Love,
Kate