One Week...

One week and "wow" am I overwhelmed! So much to do! I know many people who complain about packing and the lists that entail with such an extensive trip but, I think its all exciting! Packing to go home...now that's another story. But with every step I take to ensure that I am more than prepared on this voyage, the more I get excited and anxious knowing that it is bringing me one step closer to doing something I never thought I'd have the chance to do!

All this afternoon I have been Youtube-ing "Semester at Sea" and constantly checking the Facebook group and of course the website for more information. I found a video tour of the boat done by a student on the 2006 Fall Voyage and it just made me that much more excited. The boat is gorgeous and here is the link to that video! Semester @ Sea Boat Tour Still need to finalize some plans in each port but me and Erika are finding some common ground and stability in what we want to do!

This past week I went to New York City to say goodbye to my friend Steven and to give me some closure to the grand city that I will be away from for 2 months. I know...pathetic....but I am seriously going to miss it! This weekend I went on vacation with my family who I'm also going to miss very much. We went to Maine; how ironic that I went to a beach for vacation when I'm going to be sailing the sea for the entire summer? All the while it was still beautiful and I had such a good time with my mother, my grandparents and my brother and sister (Who are in the picture above) As the week continues I will have to say goodbye to friends and family that I usually spend my summers with, I said goodbye to my good friend Annie last night, AnnMarie, Kelsey, my great-grandparents, and aunts and uncles are close to follow. To leave people that I love is very difficult for me, I embrace good times so much that leaving them is a hard task. But no time to spare....I have shopping to do!

Shopping!!! Ahh it starts! The lists, the double checking....the anxiety that you are forgetting something....and I always do! But don't worry my grandmother will call to check that I have everything. ha ha. There is lots to do such as get currency, call credit card companies to tell them what you are doing with your life...because they own it, right? And for the first time ever in my life I purchased sun screen. Now, I don't need sun screen, but I going to need to try and beat out the blazing sun of the Sahara desert, so SPF 50 here I come! o0o0o but its the spray kind...no lotion crap to worry about.

In the hotel one night, the Titanic was on television. It was thrilling to know that I would be boarding a large ship that would be my home for a couple of months, but watching that movie it made me also take the time to pray for a safe and hassle free time aboard the MV Explorer. The last survivor of the Titanic passed away this weekend, I don't want the title of "survivor".

*AHH* Anxiety expressed....moving on! I'm sure there will be more entries to come during the week, but now I just have to get back on track! What to do? What to do?


Explore. Dream. Discover.

Michael-Anthony