January 2011
33 posts
Cruising down the Amazon
So it is back on the ship, and on route to Ghana. But there seems to be a lot to do on the ship! Once we started leaving the Amazon I was eating dinner and looked out the window to see the meeting of the waters (the area where the Rio Negro meets with the Amazon). It was pretty amazing the way they stay so separate even though they flow into each other. Then later that day I was watching Planet...
Acajatuba Village/Manaus, Brazil, Day 4
My alarm woke me up at 5:15 AM so we could go see the sunrise. We all walked to the center of the village and met up for some coffee. Then it was time to head out to the boats to go see the sunrise on the water. On our way to see the sunrise, I saw a fresh-water pink dolphin swimming along side our boat. What a nice way to start the morning! I got some beautiful pictures of the sunrise and then we...
Acajatuba Village, Brazil, Day 3
The trip to Acajatuba began early in the morning with a 1 hour and 45 minute speed boat ride. The 15 of us were nervous but ready to meet the families. Our guide provided us with some interesting information about what we saw on the way there. The first thing he talked about were the water levels in the Amazon river. They have a huge sign with years on it denoting how high up the water was that...
Manaus, Brazil, Day 2 (continued, and fixed)
Because our “Amazon cuisine” program was not what we were promised, we got to go to free dinner with the woman who coordinated our trip. She is a Brazilian woman who is actually a Semester at Sea alumna. She took us for dinner right next to the famous opera house in Manaus. The area was beautiful and I couldn’t wait to have my first real traditional Brazilian meal. We ended up at...
Malaria Meds Make you Dream
So, apparently malaria meds make you have vivid dreams that are more easily remembered. Last night I remember a couple vaguely, but one sticks out as fairly memorable and kind of funny so I thought I would share. I dreamt that Pittsburgh came under some type of serious attack. I was completely fine but I was worried about everyone else. I asked the local policeman if anyone was hurt and he gave me...
Manaus, Brazil, Day 2 (so far...)
Today I went to the banana market again with my Semester at Sea trip called Amazon Cuisine. We walked around the fruits and I got to learn a lot more about what each fruit was used for. I learned about a bunch of fruits that I had never seen before that were only locally grown. It was also nice to walk through the market with someone who knew what they were talking about. Even though I walked...
1 tag
Manaus, Brazil, Day 1
Yesterday was AFC Championship Sunday and my first day in Manaus, Brazil. Brazil is already a blast and the Steelers are going to the Superbowl! What could be better? I guess finding a Steelers bar in Accra, Ghana would be better! Haha, I am sure we will figure something out. But enough about the Steelers, and more about Manaus! I woke up very early to get a good start to the day. My friends on...
Activities on the Ship
Because we have been on the ship for a couple of days without getting in to port, people have been trying to keep themselves occupied with activities on the ship. I think stircrazy would probably be the best word. During the day there’s lots of socializing and tanning on deck 7 and then at night there are shipwide events. Last night we had a panel of “sexperts” to ask questions....
Riding the Amazon River
Today is our 2nd day sailing along the Amazon river. It is a lot muddier than the ocean, but it is nice to see some trees and bugs! Tomorrow we get a day off from classes (which just means a lot of group projects getting together). And then the next day we get in to Manaus. I have been trying to plan out my trips for the rest of the voyage and it is a bit overwhelming. There are so many things to...
Anticipating the Amazon
I just thought I would share some of my plans for Brazil in the next couple of days. On my first day in Manaus/the Amazon I have some time to myself before I have a FDP (faculty-directed practica) planned for my Organizational Behavior and Communication class. During the time to myself, I think I will try to tour a little bit of the city and see the famous opera house in Manaus. Hopefully I will...
Global Studies was Eye-Opening Today
One of the psychology professors on the ship, Professor Jeffrey Kottler, was the guest lecturer in todays global studies class. I didnt really have high expectations for the presentation, but I really was blown away by the end of the class. So I figured I would share his message with all of you. Professor Kottler told us all about the non-profit he started in Nepal about 10 years ago. He went to...
Dominica, Day 2
So today was day two of my Dominica travels. I found out more useful information and got to see more of the country. Today was also my first Semester at Sea sponsored trip. It was the Jeep 4x4 tour that I was talking about in an earlier post. It was a very cool trip, but it was raining the whole time. Being in a open jeep is usually a blast in itself, but when you are soaking wet, the breeze...
Dominica, Day 1
I finally arrived in Dominica! We got here around 8 AM this morning and I was off the ship by around 9:45. Getting on and off the ship took a longer than expected because of all the security regulations (which I guess is a good thing). I didn’t have any planned Semester at Sea trips today but I made due and went with some friends for some independent (indi) travel. We got off the ship and...
2nd day of classes, and 1 day until Dominica
Today I started my Global Studies class as well as my Women and Work class. Both seem interesting and very involved in the countries that we will be visiting in the next couple of months. As of now, there isn’t too much work, just a lot of figuring out what everyone is doing in port and hanging out around the ship. Sounds good to me! Yesterday we had a ‘sea’ meeting (which is...
Andi: You go to McGill right?
Amanda: Yeah, why you know McGill?
Andi: Yeah, my Dad went to school there. He grew up in Saint Laurent.
Amanda: Oh cool, where do you go to school?
Andi: University of Maryland.
Amanda: Oh so you are a Terrapin?
Andi: Yep.
Amanda: My Dad went to school there!
Andi: That is so weird...
(later on)
Andi: I am getting all these ridiculous emails from my frisbee team.
Amanda: Oh my Dad played frisbee at the University of Maryland too. That was his 'thing',
Andi: Well what do you do at school? Maybe my Dad did it too?
Amanda: I am assuming your Dad wasn't in a sorority...
Andi: He was in a fraternity.
Amanda: Haha, this is so strange.
Classes have officially begun!
So today I started my classes on the ship. I had Organizational Behavior and Communications and UN and Human Rights Law. Both were interesting and I am excited about the semester. I got my first homework assignment in my UN and Human Rights law class today. I am currently trying to find it online, but finding the free website with my reading is nearing impossible, so I decided to blog instead. We...
Orientation day is finally over!
Thank god. But on to better and more exciting news… I signed up for some groups on the ship today. They include the following: Pre-law career information, photo club (with the ship photographer), community service information, student government, one futbol (an organization that is bringing indestructible soccer balls to kids in all the countries we are going to), and extended family...
Onboard and Onward
So it is my second day on the ship and today we have day-long orientation. Everything from safety, to community service, to the honor code is getting presented (not quite the fun I was hoping for today). It is so strange to get distracted by the water that is consistently crashing around the boat through the window during the presentations. It’s also really hard to stay awake because of the...
Blogging from the Ship!
So I finally made it on the ship and everything seems to be going pretty well. The lifeboat drill took a very long time, but it really wasn’t too bad (and I guess it was important). I am trying to find my way around the boat but it is very confusing. Lots of stairs and rooms! I am sure I will figure it out eventually though. People are everywhere and it is overwhelming trying to meet all...
Lobsters in the Bahamas
Dad's bad attempt at a joke: So why do lobsters in the Bahamas have no claws?
Cab driver: Haha, well we Bahamians kept getting pinched so we said to god, "hey stop sending us these lobsters with claws!"
Atlantis Casino
We went in and bet $100 and came out with $152.75! :)
Bahamas Bound!
My parents and I just got to the Bahamas and this already feels like I am a million miles away from home. The weather here is in the 80s, which is SO much better than Pittsburgh. And it turns out people in the Bahamas drive on the left side of the road and have their steering wheels both on the right or left-side of the car. I think it’s a good thing we didn’t rent a car!
I’m...
Semester at Sea
So my parents and I head out to the Bahamas early tomorrow morning. Semester at Sea is leaving from Nassau (great place to start the adventure of a lifetime, I know). I am all packed and we just have to weigh my two bags to make sure we don’t get charged extra on the flight down. This may sound simple but it is pretty funny when your standing on the scale holding a 50+ lbs bag. Anyway, it is...
Spring 2011 Voyage of Semester at Sea
I leave in 3 days!
