Reunion day 4... life resumes

What a SAS-tastic day.

If I didn't love Semester At Sea enough before this morning, I certainly do now.

Jill and I awoke at the crack of dawn to try Yoga. That's right, yoga. There's something about this community that just makes you want to leave your comfort zone a bit... and so I did... and loved it! I was only corrected by the instructor once, and I have to say, I looked pretty sexy in the Down-Dog pose. Just sayin.

After some breakfast to cool down, I attended a lecture on the enrollment issues facing SAS and how we as active alums can help. I told the story of how I was actively discouraged by my study abroad office from participating in SAS, an experience which would soon become the cornerstone of my collegiate education. Board members swapped tactics and explained new strategies to try and increase enrollment in such difficult economic times.

My afternoon was spent doing what I love the MV for so much... just relaxing. I sat outside, I sat inside, I took a shower, I took a nap, I read my book, I sat next to strangers, started conversations and networked with new friends. Overall, a wonderful time as always.

At 3, Heather invited me to the faculty-staff lounge to partake in a wine tasting with many of the SAS board of trustee members. We sampled 11 different reds' and whites', and we may or may not have used the spit-bucket for its intended purpose (we drank a bit more than we should have) It was really good wine, though, and I learned the ins-and-outs of sipping, slurping, smelling (the "bouquet"). Tons of fun.

Tonight was the Reunion Voyage's concluding dinner, aptly called the Captain's dinner. We all got dressed up nice and had an amazing time all together. It was Win, Jill, Heather and Heather's mom's three friends from her voyage in the 1970s. We shared more wine and even more stories. It's incredible how the SAS experience transcends so many years... all in all, it's much the same.

The night was spent partying with my 700 new friends whom I already share so much in common with. The ship has been rocking severely all day, so dancing to the live music out on the back of deck 7 was hilarious. Jill and I at one point stopped dancing to just watch everyone tilt with the ship's motion... 10 feet port... 10 feet starboard. It brought back many memories of the evenings on the aft of the ship around the world.

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You can't go on a Semester at Sea voyage without changing. It's impossible. This 5 day hop is no exception. Before, I looked at my experience with awe and sadness, wishing that I could somehow transport myself back in time to those wonderful 108 days in the Spring of 2009. Having not seen the ship since disembarkation in Ft. Lauderdale last May, it was re-mystified... I wondered how it was that I managed to experience such incredible times.

Now, as I leave tomorrow, I don't look back anymore at my experiences. They are over, but they are far from finished shaping who I am. In May, just before the end of our voyage Les said "you don't know it yet, but the voyage has just begun." I didn't believe him. I most certainly do now. I spent the past week learning about how SAS continues long before arriving home your first time... it's what you do with your experiences that matter.

Over the past 5 days on the ship and the past 11 days in San Diego, I've become so much closer to my fellow voyagers who may have been just "peripheral friends" while sailing with them. I've felt a re-ignition of the flame within me to make my life bigger than I had previously imagined. SAS shows students the world, and I refuse to accept it as a one-time trip.

So, tomorrow, as I disembark the MVX, I look forward, not back. I won't cry or sob as I walk the gangway stairs this time, but smile... because I know I'll be back soon. More so, I know that the things I experienced on the ship will continue to dictate who I am in this world... and in that way, the voyage truly never ends.

Talk to you all from land. Again.

Best always,

Greg

Reunion day 3... CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO

As I've stated all throughout the week, traveling by way of the MV Explorer is eerily familiar.

Our 1-day port stay in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico was proof of just that. I began the day as I did many times before, rising early to head up to the 7th deck forward, always happily surprised that some new beautiful city is waiting ahead of the bow. This was hardly the exception- Cabo stood out, glimmering in the early morning sunlight. The most recognizable of the features was the rock formations that were centered at the northernmost point of the city. The formations jutted out of the water hundreds of feet high, and took my breath away (well, it was either that or the ship's monster horn that I forgot to be prepared for). Check out the rocks:

Unlike any port I've ever visited aboard the ship, we had to "Tender" to land- that means that instead of pulling alongside a pier, the ship anchors a mile or so off shore and then uses it's lifeboats to shuttle passengers from the gangway on the second deck to a marina a few minutes away. While this was a common practice that is well rehearsed by the crew, we ran into some unexpected issues when a small yacht-carrying ship was not out in time for our arrival. From the 7th deck forward, I could see and hear the captain and the officers on the bridge yelling down to sailors on the smaller craft. Some heated words may have been exchanged as frustrations rose... eventually port security came out by small boat and coerced the other boat to, well, "get the F out of our way."

Within an hour or so, we found ourselves on the gangway on deck 2, boarding MVX lifeboats headed to shore. It was an interesting experience, and provided some amazing sights of the ship from the water. We arrived on land, and I was awash with all sorts of emotions. My good travelers sense that I gained while on SAS last year came back like instincts. I found myself brushing off hagglers 3-at-a-time, and using my mediochore spanish to barter for taxis into town. We settled on a horse buggy that took Jill, Win, Heather and I to the main beach for a measely 5 bucks... gotta love it.

After a fantastic lunch... god I love mexican food... we hung out on the beach, all the time watching the beautiful ship sitting right out in the middle of it all, just under a mile off the shore sitting there in the water. One of the highlights of the day was the way in which Win was awoken from his afternoon beachside Cabo nap. Apparently 3 chihuahuas got loose and decided to start licking Win. Win, never known for his cool demeanor, instead opting to be a jumpy... spirited individual, freaked out, apparently thinking he awoke in some crazy nightmare where tiny mexican dogs attack humans. I watched this all with quiet amusement 10 feet away under the protection of my umbrella.

Finally, we gave up and got in the water, which was beautiful and refreshing. While wading there, I realized that I had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity before me... to rent JetSkis and fly out to the ship and circle around it on the water. Everything on the logical side of my head told me not to do it- sketchy mexicans, unsafe machines, the margarita I had at lunch... but as Semester at Sea taught me, sometimes you just have to shut up and go.

30 minutes later, Heather, Win, Jill and I were on two waverunners, flying around the MV out on the water. We dodged the harbor traffic and the ship's tenders, stopping often to just sit up and look at what we so easily call "home" against a stunning Cabo background. What a moment. It ranks right up there with some of my favorite memories on SAS... and I'm truly happy I did it. We julled back up on the beach, excited to find most of our fellow reunion voyagers hanging out on the beach partying. We joined in the fun for the last hour or so, and then caught a water taxi to the marina where we grabbed some last-minute tacos before boarding the tender back to the ship.

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Back on the ship, the famous 7th deck BBQ was set up, along with the band that has been with us all week long. I spent a lot of time hanging with my friends watching us sail from Cabo, so happy that I have the good fortune of being connected to the program, and even happier I was back on it again- even if for just 5 days.

Cabo was a great experience, and I really enjoyed being in Mexico. The cultural differences are palpable, and it was yet another fun time exploring a new place. Stay tuned, tonight's the "Captain's Dinner," and the farewell stuff as we prepare to disembark tomorrow morning.

I'll write again later.

Greg

Reunion day 2- like we never left...

Sunday was fantastic aboard the MV.

I used the always faithful "Luke Jones Alarm Clock" and woke up to my favorite SAS public address announcer informing me that another favorite- Les- was giving a talk in a few minutes in the union. I donned some clothes and ran upstairs. Les hosted a great candid discussion on the state of the program, it's current challenges and the direction in which it's heading. This whole week has served, for me, as a big wake-up call as to the gravity of SAS. It was not only Spring, 2009 who has experiences aboard the ship- but thousands more.

After the talk, I fell into old routine. I grabbed a book, some sunblock and sat upstairs on D7 to read. We had a great S09 lunch, and during it, I saw something I didn't see while on the MVX for 4 months last year: a full whale breach. All of a sudden, a giant whale completely jumped out of the water landing with a monstrous splash, right behind the ship. It was incredible. We all hung upstairs and read and tanned and watched the Spring/Fall 05'ers drink into oblivion... it's pretty much a spectator sport.

At night, we had cultural and logistical pre-port, complete with little green sheets (smaller than normal size)- greensheetitos as I called them- that have all the information for Cabo on them. Afterwards, we were entertained by a talent show complete with two very R-rated SAS alum comedians (one of them is Theo from 'Last Comic Standing,' he sailed in 2002). They were hilarious. Soon after, we went back upstairs to "Club MV," which had an 80s theme. Luke and Les joined us for some great S09 fun, and we really couldn't have had a better night if we tried. By 2am, we were off to bed, ready for Cabo in the morning.

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We've just arrived in Cabo and can't wait to get off. We have to tender to shore using our lifeboats, something we never had to do during the S09 voyage... so that should be fun, certainly different. I'll let you know how Cabo goes!

p.s. Way to go, RAVENS!

---Greg

REUNION VOYAGE 2010 Day 1

From January 9-13, 2010, I am on board the MV Explorer again for the Semester At Sea 2010 Reunion Voyage.

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As I approached the ship, driven by my three SAS friends who weren't attending the reunion voyage, I couldn't help but fall into old routine. It would be the first time I'd see the MV Explorer since disembarking in Fort Lauderdale, FL 8 months and 1 day prior.

My mind floated back to my most recent memory of the ship, that fateful morning in May, 2009, that has played out countless times in my head. There I am, standing at the starboard staircase in Tymitz square, I have my backpack on and my sunglasses on my head. Luke "The Voice" Jones is across, in his office, calling out groups of students to get off of the ship in succession. I have tears in my eyes as I watch my friends, my family walk through the door, down the 5th deck promenade, and off the ship for the final time. As I hear "Carribbean Sea" called, it becomes a reality... I must leave... now. I hug Les, our executive dean goodbye and move my sunglasses from my head to the bridge of my nose as my tears turn to quiet sobs, walking the 200 yards or so from forward to aft along the 5th deck, ready to hop off the ship. My last memory is grabbing the metal rafter, a steel blue I-beam right at the gangway... as if I could somehow refuse to let go of the ship. Then I descended the gangway into the Fort Lauderdale port terminal as I fought to get my bags, get through customs, and begin the rest of my life after SAS.

Since that day, I've wondered when the first complete 24-hour period in which I do not think about my voyage around the world would occur. It has yet to. The memories I have aboard this ship and around the world are by far my most treasured possessions... a quiet escape I can travel to in my mind when the weather in Maryland or the test in genetics begins to wear on me.

Back to yesterday...

Hannah drove Jill, Win and I to the San Diego port where the beautiful MVX was docked. I was all smiles as I hugged my friends goodbye and set out- like I had so many times before- to get back on the ship. A friendly woman in an SAS shirt was waiting at the entrance to the berth to direct us down the walk toward the ship. "Welcome Home" was her greeting... and we couldn't have felt more at home. As early as the check-in line, I was greeted with familiar faces like Marjorie and Aparna and Les. Ascending the gangway, I couldn't contain my excitement... I looked back at San Diego, fortunate that I had such a great week with my friends, and even more fortunate that I was getting "home" once again.

My feelings of happiness were juxtaposed with confusion... who the hell were all these people on my ship!? It was weird! Being the social guy I am, I recognized most of the faces on our voyage last spring, and was half expecting those 730 individuals to be waiting with open arms when I arrived. No such luck. But it's actually for the best... I have met so many great people from other voyages, and I've realized the gravity and depth (ocean pun) of this program. It's not just our voyage, its all 100 of them that has affected over 50,000 people worldwide.

Also great is the fact that friendships that were mediocre or just acquaintances on the ship (there were a lot of people) really get to be re-kindled and grown when back together. Aboard from our voyage is myself, Jill, Win, Heather L., Brian S., Marjorie, Luke "the voice", Emily, Sara, and Erin. Even though these people were not in my immediate circle of friends on the ship, we've all already gotten so much closer! It's great, and a lot of fun.

The ship is exactly as I recall. I guess I expected to wonder where things were, but my mind hasn't skipped a beat. The layout, secrets, shortcuts and passages have been internalized... it's like I never left. We spent a while yesterday just walking around and smiling, remembering the thousands of memories in every corner of the globe that fit in each of the MV's rooms and areas.

We watched the ship depart from the beautiful San Diego skyline, and enjoyed a famous Taco Dinner (a rarity on SAS). After a welcome speech by Les, we headed upstairs to the pool bar and to the faculty/staff lounge (we're allowed in, now), which became known as Club M/V, complete with dance floor, pulsating music and strobe lights. Needless to say, it was a great late night.

We have the day at sea today (Sunday) before arriving in beautiful Cabo San Lucas, Mexico tomorrow morning. It's truly a privelage to be back here... and to the many S09ers who may be reading this blog, please know that you're missed by all of us and I can't wait to see you onboard next year.

With love,

Greg

**ARRIVAL TIME CHANGE**

the ship will be alongside the pier at 0700!! NOT at 0800 as planned.

**ARRIVAL TIME CHANGE**

the ship will be alongside the pier at 0700!! NOT at 0800 as planned.

Day 108. My Last post aboard the Explorer. But not my last post ever :-)

Hey there

The entire ship was outside this evening at 7:50 when the sun finally set. On the three outside decks in the aft part of the ship, most of the community was there, clapping, singing and crying their eyes out.

I can't even begin to digest what is going through my (and my friends') minds right now. This entire voyage, from Nassau, to Spain, Morocco, Namibia, South Africa (!!), Mauritius, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Hawaii, Guatemala, Panama, The Ocean, The world. Nobody can believe we did it.

Convocation was this morning, and was full of great speeches and songs. It was extremely moving and sad, but so warm (just like our community). I was honored as a student leader and a 4.0 gpa-earner... which was pretty cool too.


I'm going to go enjoy my last night with my friends. Nobody is sleeping, everybody is just laying out on the deck, awaiting the first USA lights that come over the horizon in a few hours.

Stay tuned after the voyage ends and I'll post a bunch more post-voyage thoughs in the days to follow.



To you all. Thanks. You have taken a part in my Voyage, and I thank you for that. PLEASE contact me. Email me and let me know your connection to a program I now know and love.

Thanks as always. Talk to you from land, from US soil in a few hours!!!



-Greg Lessans