April 17-18, 2011

Hawaii.

Even though it was nearly 4 days ago since we left Hawaii, I can't wait to go back!  I've visited Hawaii before, about 5 years ago, but this time was far better than the last. 
Transportation via hitchhiking.  So. Much. Fun.  Sarah, Hannah and I hitchhiked in 9 different occasions in the two days we spent in Hilo.  Walking long distances, visiting several markets and hippie shops, eating Mexican food, dodging the rain every once in a while, relaxing by the beach on some rocks at night, visiting Kahena Beach on the east side of the island, Ken's diner at 3 in the morning, hammock between the trees, and endless conversations with locals, who spoke ENGLISH!!! were the things that made Hawaii beautiful for me. 
It was super weird using US Dollars again, I totally forgot that they existed.  But anyways, back in the states.  I love being back, but hate it at the same time.
I feel like coming back to the United States is just another country on our itinerary.  It doesn't feel like home yet. 
Never been to California before.  I'm gonna stay there until early May.  Don't feel like getting home quite yet.  Not ready for the real world, a world of work, stress, traffic, driving, politics, etc. 
Can't wait to see the people from home, but at the same time hate to see the friends I've made over the past 4 months leave.  It's going to be sweet, but tough.  After tonight, one more full day out at see.  The Pacific was just as calm as the Atlantic Ocean, and I hate to see it go.  Exams are over, traveling is close to be, but my life has just begun.  I can't wait for what's to come in the future, and I will go ahead and give my thanks to Semester at Sea for making my future the way it will be. 
Thanks for everyone who made it possible for me to embark on this voyage, and even though my words do not nearly show enough affection, I feel that my actions in the future will.  Thanks everyone. A lot.

Now off to roam around the ship, finish packing my bags, clean out my room, and see some great friends for the last time.  Thanks to all who kept in touch.


Conquered the world,
Eric


PS: Yea that's right, I globe trotted. 

The Pacific Ocean Stretch

We all thought it would take forever.
11 days at sea.
How can we do it?
How will we stay sane for such an extensive amount of time.
All along we've traveled little between countries,
constantly entering new places,
international places,
unfamiliar faces.
The smells, sights, tastes, touch, sounds...
where did it go?
To experience multiple nationalities
and for it to be suddenly gone.
Where did it go?

Now we sail,
among the coast of Honolulu.
Waiting for the next immigration checkpoint.
International, gone.
We have almost completed the voyage,
our future's near is simply filled
with a country of our own.

Hawaii,
second time ever visiting,
first ever to Hilo,
hopefully not to be the last.
We all wait in anticipation,
to step off the ship one last time
before arriving to our mainland destination.

Living it up.
It's all we can do from here on out.
It's a time of reflection of what
we have just witnessed and seen.

For me, it's a time of change.
It's a time of change from the "normality's"
and a time of understanding our place.
I will take what I learn, not make a difference right away,
but eventually I will apply it to solving problems. 
It's take's ambition and understanding to make a difference.
One day, I will make a difference.

       Eric Bouchard

April 4-7, 2011

I think from now on, I'm going to try and not plan things in advance when circumstances permit.  It makes a world of difference in many instances. 

I had planned nothing before docking in Taiwan, and in return gained one of the most self-reflecting experiences I could of ever asked for.  

First of all, my time in Taiwan was primarily spent with Hannah, who happens to be the best traveler ever.  Between a full day of hiking in the rain, which happened to be a mistake which turned out phenomenal, renting a taxi driver for dirt cheap to tour the east coast, and a full day of city sightseeing and shopping, my time was well spent in every aspect of life, even though no plans were thought out prior to embarkation.  Throughout the three days there, I hiked and visited the Yangmingshan National Park’s border of the Taipei Basin, the Jyuansih waterfall there, the Cingtiankang grasslands, the historic Taiwan Gold Company site, the Longdong Geopark, the Pitou Cape, the Longdonwan Cape Trail, and other surrounding areas down the Eastern Coastal Highway of Northern Taiwan.

Besides the daily sightseeing of the countryside, mountainside, city life, and a bountiful amount of modes of transportation, I was able to experience the Keelung night market, which is a whole new venue that I had never even new existed.  Venders side by side with little room to budge, with a variety of selling items which can vary from ginormous crab legs, squid on a stick, food I don't even want to share publicly, to clothes, head scratching devices that I couldn't even handle, and your occasional poor man who would walk around with flowers, and ask you 20 times if you wanted to buy them.  The night market was absolutely incredible, and it was an experience I will never forget. 
With all that said, this trip has gone by way too fast.  You don't realize how short life really is until your put into a situation which you would do anything to stay in for the rest of your life; knowing that there really is an end to this experience, I can't believe it's right around the corner. 

The last international port of call was a success, and luckily for us we didn't end up going to Japan, where the natural disasters continue to torment the everyday lives of the residents who live there.  Hopefully one day I can visit the country, but in the meanwhile I'll continue to keep these unfortunate people in mind and simply hope. Hope for an end to the disasters.  Hope that they can go back to the place they call home, and see that not much has changed. 

Pacific Ocean, you are beautiful.  You make me realize how small we really are, and how incredible this place we take for granted really is.

I'm going to miss the constant rocking of the ship, the plentiful amount of incredible people including the students, faculty, crew, and life long learners whom I've lived with for the past 3 months.  I'm going to miss the every day vibes that comes from sailing the world.  I'm going to miss the access to the front of the ship, where you can simply stand in fresh air that flows across your face, looking out into ocean, nothing but calm and peaceful blue ocean.  I'm going to miss my steward, who cleans my room twice a day completely, and happens to be the happiest person I've ever met.  I'm going to miss unending games of ping-pong on the ship, which feel like your playing on a roller coaster.  I'm going to miss the stairs, which bring me from my room to the rest of the ship.  I'm going to miss the Dean Dan, and the amount of respect each and every person receives from him (I still don't see how the Dean could be as nice as he is with all of his responsibility).  I'm going to miss the best slushy’s in the world, most importantly the Strawberry Banana ones. 

I could go on for days, but I've got too many papers and projects to do before Finals day.  I should get to that.  Yea, I should definitely get started on that. 

But most importantly, I'm not going to miss the things I've learned throughout this entire journey.  I'm going to bring these things with me for the rest of my life, and hopefully teach others my experience, as it might help them with their lives and more importantly, the lives of others who live on this Earth with us. 

Peace World,
Eric

March 26-April 1, 2011

I've learned more than anyone could ever teach me.  I've learned about my self, and about who I am and what means dear to me.  It's more than an education, it's a personal finding, and understanding of what life is all about.

China.
Incredible.
I got to see Hong Kong, Macau, and Shanghai in 7 days, all of which are amazing in their own unique way.  2 days in Hong Kong, a day in Macau, a 20 hour train ride to Shanghai, and four days there.  Wow.  I continue to be impressed by our worlds wonders.  Every new country I visit I realize how much is really out there to be enjoyed by our senses.  Every place is completely different, and I find myself repeating more and more that I like this place better. 

We are currently stopped in the middle of the ocean, at some islands owned by the Japanese.  I guess you can't go directly from China to Taiwan for some Geo-political reasons.  The weather is perfect, I'm sitting outside by the pool, looking off the aft of the ship into the vast blue waters that we have been traveling for nearly three months now.  The vibes are incredible, and I am happier than I could ever be.  My friends on the ship are a prime example of what true friends should be like, and it continues to amaze me how great people really are. 

My name is Eric, I love like, and I wish everyone could experience the world like I have. 

Get away from home, see new things, and realize how free you can really be. 

Tomorrow-->Taiwan

*Pray for the student who was severely injured on the Great Wall of China, we are all waiting anxiously for your return

March 19-23, 2011

Vietnam… nothing like I had expected.
Why do we expect things anyway?  So we can be proven wrong?  So we have a good feeling about what’s to come?  Beside the point…
I started my Vietnam experience with nothing planned at all, and subsequently achieved far more things than I would have if I had planned every minute of it.  Once again, best way to travel is with no plans.  Can’t stress that enough. 
As soon as the ship was cleared for the students to get off, I headed straight for the city without a plan, map, nor idea where in the hell I was going.  The sights were incredible in Ho Chi Minh City and the people were entirely too nice.  Mopeds.  More mopeds and motorcycles than I had ever even thought existed. 
Ho Chi Minh City population: roughly 10 million people
City’s Moped population: upwards of 4.5 million
Population of people divided by the moped population=absurd.
Next, I headed off the next day to the Cu Chi Tunnels, the major site of the Vietnam War.  It was very eye opening to see the war from another perspective rather than the one we are forced to gaze upon.  After seeing the way the Vietnam were far more intelligent in the war, it should interesting to hear about these issues back at home, from the one-sided point of view.  
After the tunnels, I explored the city some more, including shopping through one of the busiest/most stressful marketplaces I’ve ever witnessed. 
The next day I took part in a Semester at Sea led service visit for the majority of the day.  We visited a school for the deaf and an orphanage for the disabled.  Not only was it fun and interesting to see this side of the country, but also it was a great learning experience. 
My next day in Vietnam consisted of a trip to a Buddhist temple and a daylong visit to the Mekong Delta.  Happy Buddha… he was huge.  With the amount of food and fruit we were fed, you’d think they thought that we had an eating disorder.  I’ve never eaten that much food before, but it was all so good. 
My last day in Vietnam was quite a sobering one to say the least.  We visited the Vietnam War Remnants Museum, and what a sight to see.  The images and words portrayed many emotions that completely changed my viewpoint on the war.  I’m super glad I got to visit this museum, and I hope that we never have to experience a tragic war like this again. 
Following the museum, I got more shopping done in downtown Saigon and enjoyed a 90 minute hot stone and oil massage… for only 13 dollars.  What a deal. Only if massages back home cost that cheap…
Overall, Vietnam was nothing I had expected, but phenomenal at the same time.  I hope to come back someday and spend more time here. 
Now, I’m sitting in my bed and we are en route to Hong Kong, China.  This might the first time that the seas are really rough.  We had to close the hatch to our cabin window, and secure everything we had out in our room.  It’s going to be hard to sleep tonight.  Waves are huge, and this storm seems like it’s not letting up any time soon.   Wish me luck!

March 17, 2011

It's approximately 11:00 at night here in this calm ocean.  We found out earlier today our new port will be Taiwan.  No more Japan obviously.  Listening to Mumford and Sons.  Relaxing.  Finally.  We gain an our tonight rather than loose one.  Singapore to Viet Nam, time-zone drawer guy didn't know how to draw a straight line I guess... I don't mind it though.  I don't mind it at all.  Tomorrow, class.  Next day Viet Nam.  Sweet.  Excitement.  Great excitement of what to come... only because I have no clue what I'm doing there.  The best way to travel: On the spur of the moment, no plans at all.  Just great experiences.  Stay tuned for post-Viet Nam updates.  Thanks to all, stay lovely people. 

Good Things,
Eric

Update on Japan's Port of Call...

March 14, 2011: The Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE), in consultation with our shipboard administration, has resolved to cancel the Spring 2011 Semester at Sea voyage's call to Kobe and Yokohama, Japan on April 4 and April 7 respectively. This decision follows our careful assessment of the conditions in Japan which raise serious concerns about health and safety as well as concerns that our visit would impede relief efforts currently underway. Our assessment also takes into consideration a recent travel warning for Japan issued by the U.S. State Department. Currently, ISE and senior voyage officials are evaluating alternative ports in consideration of safety, logistics, and maximum value to the academic and field programs. Thank you for your patience during this complex process. A revised voyage itinerary will be announced on the SAS website in the next 48-72 hours. Participants who have signed up for ISE-sponsored field trips in Japan will be reimbursed.