Hasta la Vista, Puerto Rico!

Hello hop scotch fans,
Well we just left the US territory of Puerto Rico and we are once again back out into the wild. It’s been quite the adventure so far and we are currently on our way to Salvador, Brazil, what the teachers our calling our most dangerous port of call. To continue the trend of taking pictures with people, here’s me and the secretary of Puerto Rico who came to speak to us on the ship. I asked him about the independence from the US and he said there was an even split of 50/50. A lot of them want to vote and be included but they enjoy the luxury of not having to pay federal taxes. The city was really beautiful and I met some wonderful people. Here’s a breakdown of my activities and the wonderful time in the 51st state… sorta.
Monday- In the morning we went to El Yunque rainforest and walked through the jungle setting. It was really nice, and its when I developed my equation that Semester at Sea could also be called Speed Tourism. Monday evening , we ended up going to a local universe where we mingled with some of the locals and they taught us how to salsa dance. They also made me salsa dance on stage which was a lot of fun. After that we came back to the boat and fell straight to sleep.
Tuesday- In the afternoon, I headed out to the Bacardi factory, which was more of a Bacardi museum since we didn’t get to see any of the real machines. But it was two free drinks, and the whole tour was free so I wasn’t complaining. That evening we took a long drive to bioluminescent bay, which is where the plankton glow from the sun and when you touch the water they light up a little brighter. It was probably one of the most amazing things I have seen in my entire life. And if you ever get a chance, I highly recommend it, it was also a perfectly clear night and the stars here were perfect.
Wednesday- I went horseback riding on the beach in the morning with a gorgeous view of the sunrise over the mountains and it was a wonderful expereience. After that some friends and I toured Old San Juan and we stopped in some local restaurants and shops to try and some local cuisine.
All in All, Puerto Rico was a great first port because it’s like the fire before jumping into the frying pan. Now we are back to rock and rolling on the ocean and hanging out on by the pool and getting some nice tan lines. I’ve been drinking a lot of coke but for some reason the rocking of the boat makes you really tired so napping’s been wonderful. Thanks for all the wonderful comments, my psych teacher is like 35 and from South Africa and he’s really smart. New Guinnea is just north of austrailia off the eastern tip, I think its time to play some poker. It’s another pub night which means we can drink if we buy these uber expensive tickets and we are limited to five drinks a night on the boat. So I am going to try and win some money from the fun people. 7 days till BRAZIL!

And we're off!

Hello there fams and fans,

Well to those of you who thought that this trip would be a 33.3% boys, and 66.6% girls, ended up being quite mistaken. It’s actually a 30%-70% which in numbers wise adds up to around 210 guys and 484 girls. The funniest story so far was from two years ago, where as the ship departed the Bahamas, the guys hung a sign around the railing for all the parents waving goodbye saying ‘Fathers, thank you for your daughters.” So I decided to take a break from sun bathing and come inside for a little bit and make my first of many blog updates from the ship. It’s been really good weather so far, however with the ship traveling at a meager 9 knots out of a possible 27, it’s so far been a slow and very rocky trip. So far every night has been dubbed as the worst night for sea sickness. I have only come down with a constant light headedness, but with lots of coke (acola) I have been able to keeo myself from losing any food. Speaking of, the food here is pretty bland, but bland enough where it’s liveable for now. Classes are good, we have lots of little meetings at night, and I have played some great hands of go fish during Global Studies.

Other then global studies which not one person stayed awake for today, classes seem pretty interesting. I am watching lots of documentaries and my psych teacher asks for a lot of work, but he seems really smart and funny. Not a whole lo to do here on the ship but sunbathe, study, play guitar, plan our next adventure and nap.

Well Puerto Rico is tomorrow and I will be rain foresting in the first day and biolumenscent baying it the next night. I am pretty excited. Last night was the first ‘pub’ night where they serve alcohol to anyone willing to buy, and I decided it would be wiser to save my money for more coke and other such necessities of happiness. I don’t have anything else to report at this moment. The ship is more comfortable than anything you can possibly imagine a ship to be. Although the constant rocking is making me really look forward to land. That’s all for now, for questions on how to comment look in the FAQ’s part of the last post. Ta ta.

Final 24 hours in the USA! (and FAQ's)

I can't believe that tomorrow I will be on a plane bound for the Bahamas. It's weird to think that this is my last 24 hours in the friendly USA. Unless you count the Bahamas as still in the USA. Plans in the Bahamas are to enjoy a nice round of golf and go swimming near a shark tank. We actually set sail on the 19th, and beging classes on the 21st i believe. With Puerto Rico coming a week from today!

It's been a packing frenzy lately with lots of visits to the old target store and REI. But now i feel like its really getting to be crunch time and its time to get excited. there's so much to remember and even more you dont want to forget because there's nothing worse or sometimes nothing better than being ill prepared.

A couple of FAQ's!
1. To make a comment simply click on the word comments at the bottom of a post and then click the middle option or post anonymously. After that write a little something, and then hit publish and then i can see your comments.

2. Yes it's all students and teachers and yes you do take classes on the boat and recieve school credit.

3. Their is a cost to being online on the ship. so although i will try my hardest to post regularaly before and after each post, there are no promises.

4. There will be a wonderful party after the trip and not before. and hopefully if you keep up with this blog, most of your questions will be answered here.

5. I am taking 4 classes. Abnormal psych, health psych, docuemntry film and the required global studies class. Hopefully all of them will be wonderful and i hope i get along with my psych teacher cause i have him for two classes.

6. NO!, DONT send any packages or currency they are very heavily taxed and not allowed in some countries. Just postcards and letters please. and DO include a return address so you can get a letter from Mbokabakabstan. or somewhere like that.

I am sure i will think of plenty of more FAQ's as time goes on, amazingly, metallica is playing in south africa a month after i'll be there... what rotten luck. Well, this is the last post from the US. Talk you all on the far side of the world!

"People travel to wonder at the height of the mountains, at the huge waves of the seas, at the long course of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars, and yet they pass by themselves without wondering." - St. Augustine.... and a picture of my hotel in the atlantis!

One week to go

The birth of a blog space. Well skittles, this my first post for the semester at sea Adventure. we are currently on Day -9 and things are getting exciting. Packing is about to commence. I think all this build up and hype is gonna pay off soon. HERE'S WHERE YOU CAN SEND THINGS TO CHARLIES MAIL BAG. THINGS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!!!

I would absolutely love to receive mail while I'm on the ship to hear about how everyone else is doing. Even a postcard would be great! Of course I'll send something in return. :) Send mail to:

Charles Mitchell
C/O: MV Explorer
Arrival Date**
Port Agent Address**

Important: The U.S. Post Office recommends sending international mail at least two weeks in advance, so try to send it BEFORE the suggested dates below. Letters/Postcards should be sent Airmail only, do not enclose currency or send packages!


**
San Juan, Puerto Rico (Suggested airmail date January 9)
January 23, 2006
Cruise Plus Service & Sales
1760 Fernandez Juncos Avenue
San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00909

Salvador, Brazil (Suggested airmail date January 18)
February 1, 2006
Oceanus Agencia Maritima
Av. Estados Unidos, 555
7th Floor/Room 712
40015-010 Salvador, BAHIA-BRASIL

Cape Town, South Africa (Suggested airmail date January 31)
February 14, 2006
John T. Rennie & Sons
PO Box 702
1 Thibault House
8000 Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA

Port Louis, Maritius (Suggested airmail date February 11)
February 27, 2006
Ireland Blyth Limited
1 Queen Street
PO Box 53
Port Louis, MAURITIUS

Chennai, India (Suggested airmail date February 23)
March 9, 2006
J.M. Baxi & CO.
3rd Floor, Clive Battery Complex
4 & 4A, Rajaji Salai
Chennai-600 001, INDIA

Yangon, Myanmar (Suggested airmail date March 2)
March 16, 2006
Myanmar Port Authority
Sea Horse Agency
347/1st Floor, Mahabandoola Road
Kyauktada, Yangon, Myanmar

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (Suggested airmail date March 11)
March 26, 2006
General Forwarding & Agency
5th Floor Osic Building
8 Nguyen Hue Avenue
D. 1, Ho Chi Minh City
VIETNAM

Hong Kong (Suggested airmail date March 20)
April 3, 2006
Inchcape Shipping Services (HK) Ltd.
Units 1802-1805, 18th Floor
No 3 Lockhart Road
Wanchai, HONG KONG-CHINA

Qindao, China (Suggested airmail date March 24)
April 7, 2006
Penavico Qingdao
21 Wuxia Road
Quingdao, 266002, P.R. CHINA

Kobe, Japan (Suggested airmail date March 28)
April 11, 2006
Inchcape Shipping Services
Kenryu Bldg, Room 502
6, Kaigan-dori, Chuo-ku
Kobe-shi, Hyogo-Ken 650-0024
JAPAN