We have officially started our voyage today. I stood in line to board the ship in the sweltering sun for around 45 minutes, finally getting on the boat that will be my home for the next three months at 11:30 am (eastern time). They took my passport and vaccination records, handed me an insurance card, ID card and sent me off to my room.
My roommate was already in our cozy cabin, 4157. Her name is Kellie, and she is a senior in some school in New Hampshire, though she is from New Jersey like everyone else on the east coast. She commenced unpacking while I waited for my own luggage to be delivered.
It's so weird to compare the amount of stuff I seem to need up in Boston to what I brought on this trip. I needed to pack appropriate clothing for 11 different countries, oh and the ocean. But I was limited to two bags of up to 70 lbs (mine were under 50lbs) plus one carry-on. While I was packing, it felt as if I would never have enough stuff. As soon as I checked my bags at the airport I realized I brought way too much stuff. How am I supposed to bring home all my souvenirs? I guess I'll have to figure it out because there is no way I'll return empty handed.
My baggage soon arrived and by some miracle fit into the limited storage in our room. Perhaps I'm just a miracle worker. Hopefully I'll have a miracle when I pack to come home.
So, by the time I was finished unpacking, my parents were allowed on the ship. It took them long enough to find me in my cabin. As a result, lunch was over by the time we found the dining room. That just gave me the opportunity to use my credit-card-backed student account to buy a burger and drink. This is way better than convenience points.
The parents had to get off the boat at three so the students could go through life-boat drills. I wonder how effective those things really are. You are just herded to an area of the boat with your life vest on. Then they call roll and wait for the captain to come around and inspect the group.
Once that was over with, Daniel and I booked it to the deck to wave goodbye to all the poor parents being left behind. That included mine. I could see them standing in the waves on the beach behind our hotel. I'm sure they couldn't see me. We left the pier at 5 pm, and a mere 30 minutes later the Bahamian islands were distant land masses on the horizon. Daniel and I sat there on the back of the boat for a long time just watching the wake. The water is very blue–like toilet cleaner.
Now I'm sitting here in my room. It's storming outside; the rocking of the boat is noticeable and sleep-inducing. So much so that Daniel and I had a hard time staying awake before and during the meetings that occurred this evening. They were basically to tell us to read our Student Handbook and Portfolio. After I'd gone back to the room and showered I realized that it was lightening that I was seeing and not lights flashing on the boat. God, this is exciting.
I've already met several people. And I've seen about as many BU students, all the ones I already knew. There are 670 something students on this voyage, and 74% of them are female. Figures. Twenty-five percent are from California. You can easily tell which ones they are; they look and act just like the girls in The Hills.
I really just can't believe that I'm actually here. It's cliché, but I want someone to slap me. The problem is they're feeling the same thing. I'm not a gifted enough writer to describe the excitement leaping around in my stomach, so I think I'll just go to bed. Early morning and long meetings for tomorrow.
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holla at me when you're in CR.