February 2-5, 2011

I'd like to begin this blog entry by saying that these past couple days have been ordinary, but that would be a complete lie in so many ways.  Thursday we held Sea Olympics on the ship, and my sea one second place overall, which is a huge accomplishment!  The day was full of events including basketball, volleyball, dodge ball, relay's, 3legged race, etc.  Definitely one of the most fun days on the trip so far, but I'm getting anxious about Ghana and can't wait to be in port.  We've been at sea for 8 days now, and the Atlantic Ocean was nothing like I would've imagined.  Not once did the ship violently shake or experience any kind of horrible weather.  It was rather smooth the whole voyage across the sea.  My second point I wanted to make is that there is a sense of unity on this ship that is unparalleled by any other University in the world.  Not only do we live with everyone we take classes with, but we eat, work-out, and do everything with our professors and faculty on board.  It's hard to explain the concept if you've never witnessed first hand, but it is something that resonates a sense of "one" when we are consumed in each others lives each and every day, and the fact that we are traveling the world together sets this new feeling of accomplishment and educational achievement, that is obviously unobtainable any where else at home. 

Last night, I decided to not go to sleep on the ship.  Instead, I stayed outside on the top deck of the ship with some friends and simply watched the waves, looked out into the infinite horizon, saw dolphins leaping into the midst, and felt a sense of completeness that my mind, body and soul has never experienced before.  This is experience has probably been one of the best thus far, and I'm certainly going to do it again.  Watching the sunrise at the bow of the ship is something that everyone's eyes should witness; the array of colors beaming off the Atlantic, when there is nothing else in sight, is something that cannot be explained, which is why I won't try now due to the lack of justice it would entail. 

Today is the last day of class before we arrive in Ghana tomorrow morning, and I am so excited about the new land I'm about to witness and take part in.  Tonight, at our ship's pre-port meeting (where we learn about the country we are about to visit and learn everything we need to know about what not and what to do), I will be leading a drum circle while John Rosenberg and a few singer's perform a native Ghana piece.  It should be interesting, and I am sooo glad I finally found the "music room" on the ship. 

For anyone that has talked to me previously about skyping, this should be the first time on the voyage that I will have internet off the ship... hopefully that is.  For everyone at home, I miss you dearly and I hope that everyone is doing fine, and hope to hear from everyone soon.  Thanks again everyone for the emails, it makes me feel good hearing about what's going on back at home. 

Can't wait to see everyone and I mainly can't wait to come home and share my experiences with everyone! 

Wish me luck,
Eric