Boarding Day!

So, today we boarded the ship! Pretty exciting huh? The way they did it was by last name so Candice and Katie went earlier, and Megan, Maggie, and I went together since Megan and I both have M last names. Maggie doesn't, but who wants to board the ship alone? Anyways, we rode in this crazy lady's taxi cab which was super entertaining considering the fact that she was yelling at people to be more aggressive and saying she would be a great driver in New York which I wouldn't disagree with. We finally got there, and Candice wasn't even through the line when she had gotten there an hour earlier. She said she knew it was me because I was pushing my two, huge zebra suitcases with all my might. Pretty typical. Anyways, the line stretched as far as the eye could see, so we headed for the back. Don't forget. We are outside...in the Bahamas. So, we are basically sweating to death and waited in line for over an hour. We finally got inside where they put our luggage through a water detector and proceeded to go through all of my stuff to make sure I didn't try to sneak on any alcohol. No worries. I was clean!

Megan, Maggie, and I then went to board the ship which is totally awesome. They have a library, a spa (which is actually reasonably priced), workout facility, dining room, pool and pool deck, and much more. It is really a nice place. So, we set up our email and internet and found Candice's and Katie's rooms which was a little trying. The boat can be a little confusing, but it is only day 1! We then went to get some food which is nothing to rave about, but it will do. Typical college food for the most part. I met my roommate whose name is Isabel. She is really nice and is from Virginia, and I think we will get along great.

We didn't actually set sail until after we did a wonderful lifeboat drill which involved putting on life vests, long pants, long sleeves, and closed toed shoes. Remember that we are still in the Bahamas. We had to line up outside of our designated lifeboat and swelter while they called out all of our names. Pretty exciting. But we finally set sail and now as far as the eye can see is only water. I don't know if I am a fan of it or not yet because I am getting a little seasick. But hopefully the dramamine and my mental strength will help me to be balanced. We then had a welcome meeting where we were introduced to the faculty and such. The dean and academic dean and others talked a little bit about how this voyage should be about pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and taking advantage of all of the different people that are in our shipboard community. I really hope I can take this advice to heart, but I have been a little shy so far on this voyage. I am not sure why, because that is not really how I am, but I think I am just exhausted. We had a little one-on-one time with our "sea" which is basically the people we live around on the ship. Sort of like dorms. And there is a sea olympics where we compete with other seas, so that will be fun. But I just had a dramamine and the ship is rocking, so I am going to sleep. Talk to you soon!