SLIDESHOW

Hey guys!

So after my trip to Pearl Harbor, I was asked by the ship photographer John if he would like to have a word with me about our trip.  I said yes and took a quick little interview.  If you go to http://www.ise.virginia.edu/video/S09/vid_12.html and watch the slide show you will hear me talk about my experiences at the Arizona Memorial.  I am the last person to talk on the video if you can't remember what my voice sounds like :).  I think I'm in the background of one picture too, but I'm not sure.

 

Enjoy,

Steven at Sea

The beach at monterrico

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Monterrico

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

My Guatemala travel partners

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Exams and Guatamala

Hey guys,

Today I finished up two more of my classes aboard the MV Explorer.  I took my Money and Banking final, which was actually on introductory macroeconomics, and I turned in my final project for Physics for Mariners.  A few days ago I took the Global Studies final.  We received our grades for that test today, I got a 91 and an A in the course.  That's one A in the book, lets hope for two more.  All I have left is our final MICE performance while in the Panama Canal.  Stay tuned for information on how you can view and listen to that concert! 

 

Tomorrow we dock in Puerto Quetzal, Guatamala.  This is our last port and I hope it is a good one.  I bought a ticket to go mountain biking the final day in Guatamala.  I just now need to plan the other two days.  I can't wait to be back home stateside,

 

Steven at Sea

Final Exams and almost to Guatamala

Hey guys,

 

My trip around the world seems to be coming to an end rather quickly.  I'm sad the journey is almost over, but at the same time, I can't wait to be home.  Today was the last day of classes.  I turned in all my papers that I had left to turn in, finished up my last quizes, and did my last homeworks.  All I have left to do is take two exams, the first being tomorrow, and one final MICE performance.  Wish my luck!

 

We are getting closer and closer to Guatamala.  To be honest, it scares me.  First off, we got an email today from ISE saying:

 

Based on the current security assessment from ISE and its partners, the following precautions are required for Guatemala:

• A mandatory curfew is in effect for all voyagers throughout the country.  Please be back in your hotel or on the ship by 2300.
• ISE strongly discourages any independent travel to Guatemala City.
• Avoid public buses in Guatemala city.
• ISE strongly discourages travel to the airport unless traveling with an SAS trip or SAS sponsored transportation. 
• Avoid independent travel to Tikal and remote areas of Tikal.
• Use only reputable tour operators and reputable transportation providers.
• Because of frequent highway robbery and hijackings independent travel should avoid any road at night, rural roads, and remote areas.
• Hikers have been a frequent target by criminals.  Volcano hikes should be planned as a group and with reputable guides.
• Independent Travel Forms should be filled out.
• Review the  U.S. State Department Country Information sheet in the Health and Safety case in Tymitz Square.
• Attend the preport and diplomatic briefings for more information.

Secondly, I have heard stories of very bad things happening to tourists.  Because of this, I'm pretty sure I won't be traveling very far from the ship.  This is our final stop on our way home.

 

Mom, don't get too worried about me :).

 

Love,

SAS

Hawaii and final stretch

Hey guys,

                This journey is winding down fast now.  We have 4 days of classes, 3 days of exams, 3 days in Guatamala, 2 days of exams, 4 days at sea, then home.  In that time frame I have to write 4 papers, 3 sun reports, and my log book.  I also have to finish writing my MICE piece, take 2 final exams, and one small exam.  This is going to be a hectic few weeks.  It’s hard to keep track of time on this voyage.  Once you lose track of the time, it is hard to get everything back on track.  I’ll get it done though, I always do.  But enough about school, let’s talk Hawaii.

                Hawaii is an interesting place.  Many of you have probably been there as it isn’t too exotic to us Americans.  Thinking back, I didn’t do THAT much there.  I hit the beach, which I hear is the thing to do there seeing as it’s a tropical island and all, and I saw Pearl Harbor.  Sounds about right to me for a day and a half trip to Honolulu. 

                The first day started with me going to a mall so I could get a proper pair of swimming trunks.  The ones I brought with me were really lame, so I got some nice board shorts.  From the mall I was picked up by my friend Christian, his girlfriend Jen, and a group of their friends.  We headed to a beach called Lanikai.  Lanikai is a local’s beach, so no tourists were there.  It was so much nicer then the tourist beaches.  I actually enjoyed myself at the beach.  I don’t usually enjoy my time at a beach, but I did here.  The water was extremely clear, you could see the bottom, and a perfect temperature of about 70 degrees.  We spent almost the whole time in the water.  It was probably one of the most beautiful days out and the drive down Interstate H1 to get there was absolutely gorgeous.  It was well worth the trip.

                The second day I made my way with SAS to Pearl Harbor.  We started by touring the USS Crommelin.  It is a Navy Frigate.  It is an active ship, so we are not allowed to take pictures of it.  It was a semi modern ship.  It had some really nice new equipment on it as well as stuff that looked like it had been there since 1930.  Their computers looked like they were from 1900.  It all must have worked just fine though or they wouldn’t be an active ship.  We were given a tour by two of the members of the crew.  We then made our way of to the Admiral’s private boathouse.  It was the boathouse of CINCPACFLT, the Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet.  He had three boats in his boathouse, the biggest of which has been ridden on by multiple presidents.  We were obviously given the smallest of them.  We made our way out to see the submarine that took out the second most tonnage of vessels during WW2, The Arizona Memorial, and the USS Missouri.  We also got to see a sub leaving port.  Those things are scary when you see them from far. 

                After this tour I made it over to a tattoo shop where a few of my friends got tattoos to commemorate SAS.  I didn’t get one, but the ones they got were really cool.  Tattoos are really cool if they have a reason, if they have meaning.  After that it was down to Waikiki Beach for the remaining few hours of my time in Hawaii.

                Hawaii is a great vacation spot and it knows it.  That is why it costs so damn much to get there and to be there.  Everything was about 3 to 4 times as expensive as it is back home in Cincinnati.  I enjoyed my time there and if you have time and money, go for it, it’s worth the trip.

Love,

Steven at Sea