So close..

It's unbelievable how quickly time has passed. I remember sitting in the SAC with Nicole talking about her upcoming trip in the Spring. Well that has come and gone, and so has my 114 day count down, and I'm sitting here 3 days away from leaving for Semester at Sea. SAS is a study abroad program, sponsored by the University of Virginia. In the Spring and Fall, the ship travels around the world, and in the Summer it travels to the Mediterranean and African ports. My trip is 67 days long and includes 9 ports: Cadiz, Spain, Civiteveccia/Naples, Italy, Dubrovnik, Croatia, Athens, Greece, Varna, Bulgaria, Istanbul, Turkey, Alexandria, Egypt and Casablanca Morocco. I have been researching and trying to plan the most exciting trips in each port, and it has been exhausting. So far, I have a really exciting trip planned for Spain and the ports in Italy :)

I think I'm just about all packed, but I keep opening things and rearranging so that my bags can all be checked at under 50 pounds. I am so excited, words don't even describe. In the last few months, thanks to the amazing Facebook group, I have met several people who are also going on this trip, which made put me at ease, because I could meet and talk to these people before I left. I am doing this all by myself, but that shouldn't really come as a shock, as I like to do things like this. I decided to go to Temple University, simply because there was not a single person from my high school that went there. I like the adventure of meeting new people, and I think that this experience will give me just that. There will be about 725 other students right along with me, embarking on one of the best experiences I think is possible.

I always knew that I wanted to go abroad. I absolutely love to travel, and have been doing so since I've been allowed to fly on my own. I looked into the Temple Rome program, but realized that it was silly because I could only really take 4 art credits, and I had already completed my art requirement. With SAS I am able to fulfill one of my cores and one of my classes for my psychology minor. I am also taking a class called Global Access to Education, which I think will be really interesting, given my major, Elementary and Special Education. SAS was not only able to offer me the credits I really needed, but I am also able to travel to 9 countries that I have never been to.

I have heard so many amazing things about Semester at Sea and how it has changed people's lives, how it has made them think about their lives, and where they are headed. Semester at Sea has also been known to change people's outlook on life and redirect them to paths they never though possible. I am hoping to have a similar life changing experience, where I am able to take in everything around me and cherish every moment. I want to learn as much as I can. I want to see as much as I can. I want to take more pictures than humanly possible. I want to make sure I document the entire trip, so I never forget any of it. I want to make new friends. I want to overcome some of my fears, and try new things. I want to step out side the box. I want to watch the sun rise in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. I want to climb an active volcano. I want to see the wonders of the world. I want to keep this blog, so other people can share in my adventures.

I will miss all of my friends, my cell phone and most of all the Internet. Its all part of the experience, I guess. Please keep in touch and email me: nagordan@semesteratsea.net! And if anyone gets a call from a random or blocked number, it's probably me, because I downloaded Skype to my iTouch :) See you in August!