Suez- OUT, Africa- IN... Change of Plans

I heard a few weeks back that the biggest virtue that a student can bring to SAS is that of "Flexibility." Let's face it... when you are traveling the world on a floating campus, calling on 11 different countries, and 5 different oceans, things are bound to happen- maybe rough seas delay departure, maybe political turmoil delays arrivals... we must be flexible.

That said, I never thought I'd have to exercise my flexibility this early...

Today we got an email from the Institute of Shipboard Education (ISE). It said the following:

The Institute for Shipboard Education, in consultation with leading government and non-government international risk assessment agencies, has resolved to reroute the spring 2009 voyage to avoid increasingly uncertain conditions in the Gulf of Aden. Given the recent attempted attack on a passenger ship and additional incidents in the region, we have amended the voyage itinerary to avoid this area of potential risk.


The safety of all Semester at Sea participants, visitors, and crew members remains our number one priority and foremost concern.

For that reason, SAS has changed their itinerary. ITALY, TURKEY and EGYPT are out. We will be sailing to Spain, then turning south, where we will call on Casablanca, Morocco; Port Walvis, Namibia, Africa; Capetown, South Africa; and Port Louis, Maritius.

My initial reaction was one of shock and awe, and truly anger. I will miss out on seeing Jenna in Italy, seeing the Vatican and Rome, and the Great Pyramids of Egypt. I'll miss floating through the Suez Canal as well.

Still, great adventure and opportunity await us. I'll get to explore the continent of Africa, a continent I have never set foot on. I hope to go on a real African safari in the highlands, climb Table mountain in S. Africa, cage dive with Great White Sharks, live with a Moroccan family and explore Casablanca, hike and 4x4 through the monstrous dunes in Namibia, and trek across the Sahara Desert. I'll see the big-5 (lions, buffalo, rhinos, elephants, tigers) and explore a place that I NEVER would go to without SAS.

ALSO, I'll get to cross the equator! A sailor's first trip across the line is a symbolic one, and SAS marks it each instance with "Neptune day" the rite of initiation for newbies like me.

Flexibility is a virtue, and I think that this voyage will all work out better than before. When it comes to traveling, each decision always leads to something unexpected... and it's that that I'm excited for.

Meanwhile, It's T-Minus 1 month and 9 days until I board the MV Explorer!

Best,

Greg

Casablanca, Morocco

Namibia


Capetown, South Africa

Turkey and Terror

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

This weekend I traveled home to Baltimore to see the family. As always, the holiday was filled with warmth and laughs as everyone related to me descended upon the house to partake in 4,000 calories more than we should have. 

A few days ago I eclipsed the "2 months til sailing" date, and I couldn't have more emotions running through my head. About a week ago I got all of my millions of forms in to SAS, I even got my passport back from the travel agency, complete with visas to India and China. Now my focus goes to planning my time for the semester to come. I have spent some time researching and looking at what activities I want to do in each of the 11 countries we stop in, but frankly, it's a bit overwhelming. With final exams looming, I feel as though I'll 'get to it later,' and spend lots of time after the semester ends really getting my hands dirty with plans. I'll be sure to post those once I start getting a handle on things.

It has to be said that the terror attacks in India, the political turmoil in Thailand and the Pirating activity in the Gulf of Aden... all areas of our voyage-to-come, has really put the trip in somewhat of perspective. I know that SAS is dedicated to safety first, no matter what. They have a track record of canceling ports in favor of alternate 'back-up ports' in the case that security situations change (A few summers back, the ship was rerouted from Turkey to Egypt after bombings in Istanbul). While that peace of mind comforts me, I'm also worried about missing out on essential places in the world due to the actions of these horrible terrorists. After all, it's their goal to strike terror and halt the way of life of civilized, democratic citizens. Though I understand if security calls for our avoiding of certain areas, I hope it doesn't. I hope that we don't let them win.

To my friends, family and colleagues at home and abroad, have a wonderful Thanksgiving and holiday season.

Talk to you soon,

Greg

Signed... Sealed... Delivered!

Wow.

I can't believe I'm doing this.

Overwhelmed, anxious, excited, nervous... all some of the emotions I have when I think of my upcoming voyage with Semester at Sea (SAS). I kind of fell into the program randomly. I had been considering study abroad opportunities for awhile, but never really cemented anything. I went to a study-abroad fair, though, and my interest for SAS was re-kindled. I picked up some paperwork, went home and did some research.

After talking to about 30 advisers, reading hours of blogs and literature, and conferring with the powers that be, I decided I may actually be interested in this- going around the world in 108 days, seeing 11 different cultures, and taking some awesome classes in the process. I applied, got in, and the rest is history... well, I guess it's the future at this point.

In 75 days, I board the MV EXPLORER for the adventure of a lifetime. I don't know a soul going (only adding to my anxiety), but I'm truly excited. I've been rushing to get all of my paperwork in (apparently it takes 10 trees worth of forms to circumnavigate earth?), so that I can get everything on time and not miss out on anything.

As always, feel free to chime in and comment or email me!

Greg