A Lasting Legacy

**Post Date August 23, 2009**

5:15am We see land. The first time in ten days.

Yesterday was full of picture swapping, sharing stories and dreading the inevitable goodbye. We basically were inseparable for the entire day as we sat like couch potatoes in each other’s rooms. But the good times kept rolling, laughter ensued and my love for these people grew even more. We watched one last sunset at sea and looked into the distance for ahead of us was home.

For one last time the ship community gathered in the Union. The theme was gratitude and memories as we prepared for our next port: The USA. Tears were shed but for happiness and longing for another opportunity as special as this one. Faculty, Staff and students were tearing up as we watched the multimedia productions of pictures and video footage taken throughout the voyage. I had chills as they took me down memory lane of these thrilling two months. Two months of bonding, two months of traveling, eating, laughing, sweating, tanning, swimming, walking, a lot of walking, hiking, taking pictures, taking bus rides, train rides, taxi rides, camel rides, and the infamous boat rides. We’ve traveled over 11,000 miles on this boat and it has become my new home.

And as I return to my old home I look back on the incredible time I’ve had. The first A.B.A adventure in Seville, taking that template and making it work for Rome, a paradise view of Capri and AnaCapri, the blissful day of kayaking in the Adriatic sea, the historic views of Athens, the busy streets of Istanbul, the luxury of Golden Sands in Bulgaria, the wondrous view of the Pyramids that remain an enigma, and the deserted area of the Sahara in Morocco. These are only highlights and I can’t possibly recap all the amazing moments I’ve had.

I repeat: We hadn't seen land in ten days. I was determined to get up and see the first sight of it as we sailed towards America as Christopher Columbus once did. I set my alarm for the wee hours of 5:00 am and by golly I got up.

I got to the top deck of the boat to wait for the arrival of U.S. land. This morning felt different. It was muggy and it even smelt different too. It smelt like home. It was weird and I never thought that America came with a certain smell. But it did and I was SO happy to be back! And so was the rest of the boat. I wasn't the only one with the great idea to greet America at dawn. Everyone else was ready to be home as well. All singing songs, all cheering and all enjoying the last moments we had to share with one another.

And so at that same time, the morning was grim. It was sad, dismal and ultimately bitter sweet. We had been away from home for over 2 months and missed are families and friends for so long, but didn't expect to make a new family and a new set of friends that we'd have to say goodbye to. Being with the same people everyday at almost every hour in such close quarters was a catalyst to how fast and how deep our relationships became.

But that took a back seat to our re-discovery of technology. As you looked to your left and your right, everyone was on their cell phones. We were definitely back in America. As much as I wanted to preserve the last moments on the boat cellphone free, I couldn't resist as I ran down to my cabin to get mine. Of course, I called my mom. I was so excited to tell her I was back and couldn't wait to see her later that night. Erika's parents we're driving us both home to the wonderful world of Colonie, New York. So naturally we were expecting to see them, along with hundreds of other parents, at the dock to greet us upon our arrival. But as the story of Morrissettes go, they decided to sleep in at the hotel. No offense but I would of have loved to have my mom there and they drove that whole way, they could have at least been there.

But no worries, the MV Explorer around 8am, after we just finished our last breakfast and last meal on the ship, pulled into Norfolk, Virgina, USA. The captain blew the horn, the parents cheered, we cheered, and then we cried. It set in. We were home. But were we? After the excitement died down and we remembered that we were expected to be on the boat until 2pm we did it the A.B.A. way and planned to meet in someones room so that we could have one final hang out session and one final goodbye.

The lucky room of choice: 4043. Us boys had one last call of duty before we could host the final get together. In each room there is a painting and behind that painting is notes, advice, and legacies of past voyages. It was time for us to leave our own legacy. So Bo, Kevin and I sat around as we decided the Top 10 most important things people on the voyage should know. Some were funny and some were serious but they were all something of us that we could leave behind. Sorry, but you got be a Semester at Sea insider to know what they are. I hope they are of some assistance for future voyagers.

Soon after, the knocks came one after another as A.B.A. piled on into the room. People were doing last minute packing, especially myself with all the souvenirs I had. As much as we didn't want to say goodbye to this amazing summer, we were ready to get off the boat. Luggage delays were pushing are departure time further and further. Parents were getting restless and we were getting hungry. They said they weren't serving lunch on the boat but due to the numerous delays they announced lunch. I was ecstatic but it caused chaos. The lines were extremely long and during lunch people were called to depart the boat. It was a frenzy trying to say our last goodbyes in such a crowded and rushed atmosphere.

At last, it is my time to leave the boat. My heart raced, my eyes swelled, it was dramatic. I couldn't believe it was the end. Something that I anticipated for over a year was now concluding and with much more weight than I expected. It was a task leaving the boat with hands full of luggage, heavy may I add and with heightened emotions. But I did it. It was surreal to walk on land and to think...I made it. I just did what I set out to do. We all did. We all traveled the world.

Outside the boat was just a large gathering of students with their families and friends. It was great to meet everyone's parents, boyfriends, girlfriends....it was just wonderful! I couldn't wait to see my mom. Only a 10 hour drive between us. Erika and I said our goodbyes with the comfort of knowing we'd see them again. In the age of Facebook and Twitter its pretty hard to fall out of contact with people and their lives. A reunion was already in the talks.

Gracious of Erika's parents, I hopped in the car to head home. The car ride was full of stories, swapped from both sides and a true reminiscence of that amazing journey. I looked out my window at the land of the free in awe of the privilege I have to live here. The car ride stretched late into the night. I slept.

I awoke only streets away from my house. My mom was of course awake and outside for my arrival. I was so excited to see her. She helped me with my luggage, gave a huge thank you to Erika and her parents and we went inside. At 11pm after a long ride home you'd think it be time for bed. But I sat up with my mom, my brother and sister till the late hours in the morning sharing with them my pictures, my videos and their souvenirs from my unforgettable travels. I had them try foods from different countries, I had a drum for Brother from Africa, A bracelet for my Sister from Italy and elephants for my Mom to add to her collection, along with other odd items. It was great to be home, but as I slept that night I could still feel the rocking of the boat.

Explore. Dream. Discover.


~Michael-Anthony



P.S. Special thanks to all my readers, Kevin for my P.S., Erika for providing comedic relief, my Aunt MaryAnn for commenting on almost every post, my grandmother for being devoted, Kevin’s mom for tuning in, and my mom for just being her.

Note: All blogs are posted without editing.

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