Once in Rome...O Wait! We aren't there yet!

I woke up, papers in hand, and no one was there. We all went out to lay out in the sun. I was going to read for my upcoming European Union class and I fell asleep, I awoke and everyone had fled. These last three days have felt more like three weeks. I have been so caught up with all the work that I have been infected with an intense case of boredom and have resulted to either sleep or complaining. Thank god Italy is tomorrow.

We are all so pumped. Currently we are sailing by the Sardinia Island. Our European Union teacher stopped class to tell us! He is such a funny guy. Yet I see him sitting alone at times during lunch or dinner, but recently found out he has a wife, so now I’m at ease. I hate the sight of lonely people!

Within these three days I have taken two exams and written two papers. ALL DONE! I am packed and ready to explore this grand ancestral country. We had our debriefing for Italy tonight and once again was prepped for the "do’s" and "don’ts" for our travels, including the ever so popular sex speech. But we are in a 90% catholic demographic. Roman Catholic to be exact so any sex before marriage is already frowned upon. DUH! Also sexual relations with a foreigner is not recommended by me. Either is kicking young gypsies children, even though this is what Congresswoman Sanchez demanded that we do in order to protect ourselves. I only imagine the group of us, with large backpacks, running down the street, Screaming, away from these supposedly dangerous infants.

Today’s dinner was an Italian cuisine and I don’t quite understand the method to their thinking. Pasta, Bread and Lasagna is what we will be eating for the next 5 days straight so wouldn’t it have seemed more efficient to give us like McDonalds? Where are the burgers? It would make us more appreciative of the amazing and delicious dishes we will be paying a fortune for in the lovely towns of Rome and Naples.

Sitting in the warm sun is so amazing. Mostly because the temperature inside the ship is like arctic. I’m not sure why, but it doesn’t make the most comfortable living situations. Sweatshirt inside, bathing suit outside. Still working on ship-life climate I guess.

Tonight we plan on watching another movie together, seeing as we have nothing else to do and we need to calm our excitement for our overly anticipated arrival. The boat sometimes offers showing of Imax movies. We kind of lose the Imax effect when it is formatted to a 15” screen. What were they thinking? Sure the Imax will transpose fine! Good going SAS!

Music is a large part of our days. We listen to music in the morning, during our work outs, we have our I-pods as we lay in the sun, and at night when we have dance parties in our room we let the volume soar on our players. It has been yet another week. And I will recap with these song selections. Again take a listen!

Black and White by Michael Jackson

See its not about races
Just places, faces,
Where your blood comes from
Is where your space is
I’ve seen the bright red door
I’m not gonna spend my life being a color.

In honor of his death and to comment on the situation with Congresswoman Sanchez, it is time to put aside our differences and instead celebrate our individuality. They may sound like the same thing but there is a huge polarity to those two words. We can’t categorize people into certain groups just because of their race, their last name, or their skin tone. People come with multiple, complex layers that make us an individual human being and therefore has no history like the next. “It doesn’t matter if you’re black or whites,” says Michael Jackson. What matters is what you have to offer as a student and as a citizen of this global community.

Journey on from Ragtime

There’s two ships passing
At a distance, Through the darkness
One going from, One going to: America
Strangers sharing the beginnings of a journey
I salute you. God be with you. I will miss you.
In the darkness of the dawn
Journey on!

As we came into Spain it was so amazing to think of the vast ocean we had just traveled across. And also to think of all the others that were traveling either aboard ship or plane in the other direction. The world is constantly in flux trading each other’s citizens for a mutual cultural experience. Whether intended or not; Travel unites us all. And we were headed for one hell of a culture. Spain was exotic, relaxed and an exhausting experience. Yet it has only infused our love for travel even more!

Happy Birthday

**I hope you know the lyrics**

Traveling with your best friend: nothing beats it! Celebrating her 21st birthday with her at the same time is not only magical but truly lucky. I know her mom was sad that she wouldn't be there for such an important time in one's life, but I’m happy to report that we had a happy and safe time in Spain. It was an unforgettable time and we were meant to do this together! I love her. Happy 21st Erika!

Sailing from A New Brain

I’d rather be sailing,
Yes I would, on an open sea
I’d stand at the railing, if I could
Feeling wild and free
The sun is on my neck
The wind is in my face
The water’s incredibly blue
And I’d rather be sailing
Yes I’d wanna go sail.

I complain about the length of the distance between Spain and Italy but I must confess I love it. This song explains it perfectly of how amazing it is and how it makes me feel. Besides the nature of it and the irreplaceable sight of the open sea, I love spending time with Erika and all the others I have grown close to. I am always in anticipation of the next nation but I am also appreciative of the time that I do have here on the ship. I also would rather be aboard a ship then constantly flying. That just freaks me out!

Too Much Time on my hands by Styx

I’m so tired of losing
I’ve got nothing to do
And all day to do it
Well I go out cruising
But I’ve got no place to go
And all night to get there
Is it any wonder I’m not crazy?
Is it any wonder I’m sane at all?
Is it any wonder I’ve got too much time on my hands?
It’s ticking away with insanity!


Procrastination sounds good right about now. I never thought that doing all your work could be harmful to your mental health. And as the song says, I’m going crazy having nothing to do, while everyone else scrambles around to study material or write papers. I just have “too much time on my hands”. It doesn’t help my anticipation and it makes me cranky sometimes. But I guess it is always nice to be prepared. I’d rather be that then rushed and miss out on all these moments I have been able to happily and fully record.

Time IS ticking. Italy is only a night away! Sleep tight.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

~Michael-Anthony


P.S. Kevin bought a fanny pack today! Yippee! I can make fun of him now.