Moving West

This is my first entry in a while and will probably be my last for this adventure. I'm sorry I did not write for Turkey but with finals and everything I just didn't have time to write it all down. For those of you who sent me birthday wishes yesterday, thank you. Everyone on the ship was wonderful and my roommate even surprised me with treats! I felt thoroughly loved and happily began my 22nd year of life. Unfortunately that means that today is April 17th and we have only about a day and half still on board. The ocean is waving us goodbye with some serious rocking, which seems only fitting. We have rounded southwest Europe and are heading in close to the French shore. Packing is driving everyone crazy and my room, which has remained rather clean throughout the journey, looks as if it exploded. I must admit I am at a loss. This experience use been unlike anything I could have dreamed. It has been challenging and exciting. It has required me to look at myself and the world in which I live and draw real conclusions. I could never regret choosing to come on TSS. It wasn't always easy but will remain as one of the best decisions I could have made. I am reminded of an e.e. cummings poem

i carry your heart with me by E. E. Cummings

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

From the people I have met to the places I have been each is part of me and never can they be separated. I don't think I will fully comprehend the significance of such an event until I return home, expecting to find everything the same when it will really all be different simply because I am different. Although every second I am growing more and more nostalgic I must admit that I am excited to go home, to see my family, and my friends. And I know it sounds corny but to tell the stories from this journey. It's been a beautiful voyage and like they keep telling us... the journey is only beginning. I feel quite privileged to be one of the 350 students in the world who knows what its like to be on TSS. Being part of the first year has been great and I know it will only improve from here. It's time for me to go. Tomorrow is my last day here on the ship and I want to be able to wake up and take it all in.

Sick in Spain

My days here in Spain have been predominantly spent wandering around the beautiful city in a stupor. Unfortunately, I have been sick for most of my time here, making it difficult for me to really get a feel for this culturally rich metropolis. We arrived on Good Friday to find most of the city quiet with the holiday weekend. After meandering down Las Ramblas, a main tourist street near the port, we set our sights on Segrada Familia and Park Guell. Bumming around Barcelona is extremely easy once you get the metro system down. It's quite clean and very quiet compared to Chicago's. Unfortunately, were not able to go up to the top of Segrada Familia, however, the unfinished cathedral certainly made its mark in my mind. In fact, I was having flashbacks of walking around the melted looking structure during my last visit seven years ago. It was amazing to see the difference between new and old and the efforts they were taking to restore and complete one of Gaudi's masterpieces. The outside reminded me of bones while the clean finished inside with bright stain glass windows was quite ethereal. My favorite part was seeing the comparison of the building's structure with the natural elements that inspired Gaudi.

Too Many Days at Sea

They have done a good job at keeping us busy but no matter how you fill the time 14 days on a boat is A LOT! A week ago we had a beautiful wedding on board the ship. It was all pretty exciting and everyone needed the little break. The bride was beautiful in her pink, orange, and yellow traditional Thai dress, and the groom was dressed in a coordinating orange Indian dress shirt and pants. Everything worked out wonderfully. Other than that we have been plugging away. I have been working with Yas, a career counselor on the ship, who has helped me revamp my resume and cover letters to look for internships for the summer. School is certainly piling up and the stress level is beginning to heighten. Our day in Cape Verde was very much appreciated but after 8 hours we had to be back on the ship until Barcelona. I haven't made too many plans for Spain but I don't have an AFP so I will have a entire week to figure everything out. Unfortunately, I will have to spend a day or two to do research for my projects. So much to do and so little time. Everything feels as if it is ending and even though we have a month left people keep looking ahead trying to plan their next steps. I'm sorry I haven't written much but with all the final projects and papers to do I have little time and when I do my words don't seem to come our right.