My thoughts...

A Entry about my thoughts as SAS gets closer!

As I continue to talk more and more about Semester at Sea and continually prepare for it. I have literally 1,000 things going through my mind. I figured this would be the best place to place them to look back later and also. it's less public then my Facebook. Keep in mind that this is my "Therepy" entry in a way to get all of the thoughts running in my mind out of it. Some aren't pressing but are still on my mind.

This all came about after a night wit my dad at an Aunts house this weekend, I really got to thinking about all of the emotions I am having. At first it was only excitement and nothing else. But now that I have had some time I realize some of my true motives for going on SAS and my feelings.

First thought:
How much this experience will change me. Almost more importantly, how I will feel after the trip. When you do something once and a lifetime that no one else you know has experienced. I can't imagine what my viewpoint on the world will be...

Second thought: 
I also can't help thinking about how I will tell people about SAS... I know from experience  how it is when you go on trips, you come back, say "it was great", maybe say some great experiences but then people usually begin to not care and you have to stop talking before you sound snooty. I figure it'll be better for people to just read my stories then to tell them, because then I hate feeling like I am boring people. Also I suck at telling stories, my mind goes to too many places at once.

Third thought:
I can't wait to be emerged in a different experience. I want this to be an escape from reality almost. I do not think the whole trip will be perfect, but I truly believe that I will be able to take some good "me" time. Away from those I love, It'll be hard at first but it'll be good to spend unable to contact them (easily). I have never had a time in my life where I have been away long enough or spend time on me. I spend too much time in my life trying to please others, which is int always bad but I need time to reflect on myself and what I want out of life.

Fourth thought:
Making friends.

Fifth thought:
Money
It's always been such a big deal in my family. I hate asking people to help me too, so I will probably have to take out some loans to pay for some things. I know it is work it in the end though.

Six thought:
Keeping track of schoolwork while preparing. 

Seventh thought:
Things I want to do while I port, making sure I make the most out of the trip.

Eighth thought:
I keep thinking about what attracts me to SAS so much, I think there are a couple of things that have influenced me

1) My desire to see and experience new things
2) My feeling of being a lone/self-reliance. I have become much closer with my mom over the past few years which has been great and lifted loss of stress off my shoulders as well as making me feel so much better about my life and the direction it's going in, my dad (the one I have lived with the past few years until this summer) has recently moved 13 hours away... not to mention my 3rd parent (grandpa) and my 2 sister and best friend.
It has been hard feeling as though I am alone, i know they would both be there for me in a heartbeat but I guess this just comes with growing up. I just never thought I would have to travel so far to see my dad, while still in college. I miss having a home to go to that I'm completely comfortable in, that I have lived in for a lobg period of time. I miss Guilderland ( sorry for the but of a rant)I have so many feelings towerd this, which are not  really related to SAS so I wont get into it, but I think their leaving has given me a even stronger "self-reliant" attitude toward life. It's sad but you really cannot rely on anyone but yourself for anything. If you do you'll most likely be disappointed.



Last thought for tonight:
wishing I knew people going

That's it for tonight.

I watch this video at least once a week. It's amazing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pA_I2GrwpQ

I love that they lip-sing in different languages and do it all around the ship :)

Testing, Testing, 1 2 3

This is me testing to make sure I will be able to make posts from my email :)

Pre-work for Semester at Sea

Let me start by saying that there is SO much work to do before you leave. I hope this helps future SAS'ers in getting ready for their voyage(s). Semester at Sea sends their participants a 30 page packet describing what to do before you leave. It can be intimidating but if you take it one step at a time, it is not bad. Here is sort of a "timeline" as to what the SAS process is like in general...

Beginning "Getting Ready": 

The application process.
Acceptance.
Paying the deposit.
Applying for scholarships


The long horrific waiting period: 

Depending on how far in advance you apply, this time range varies.
For me, I applied in March for the Spring 2013 voyage. I received the huge packet at the end of August, so my waiting took what seemed like forever.

The rush to get things done:

Once I had the necessary information, I had to act quick because many of these things have to be done within a few months of the voyage.

1) Visas.

For my trip, I had three to fill out. You first fill out a main form for a company that will process them (Travisa).  Then you must take your time and fill out each country's Visas and double checking all of the information as you go along. This processes takes many hours, and when you finish it feels so good. Then you print all of the forms out (some country's want 4 copies... idk why) and gather them together with your passport, passport size photos and other forms SAS asks you to send with it for overnight shipping.
I am currently waiting for the documents to arrive at their office and to be processed so I will know soon what else needs to be done.

Mine will be $562.00 for three of them, they have yo pay for the Visa shipping too (included in the 562)

2) Medical forms.

This means seeing a normal doctor for a physical and then a travel doctor to get a yellow fever vaccine which is not covered by insurance so it'll cost 200 dollars. blah

All of this has to be done by November.

3) Paying the Bill. (Due in October)

23,750 total.

4) Flights and hotel bookings.

All of these things take a good chunk of time and money, but if you stay patient and take tings day by day, everything should go smoothly and work out in the end.

I hope this helps a bit, I will post more when I have more things to do.

The beginning process, getting ready for Semester at sea 2013

Just setting up a page to record my travels and experiences while doing semester at sea. I will warn you now, I have horrible spelling and punctuation skills. Don't mind them too much. I hope to post lots of pictures too!