DAY 1

Aug. 30, 2005

Okay, so……

I am on the boat! I can’t believe it! You all will be happy to hear that all of the nervousness and anxiety I was previously feeling is pretty much, if not all, gone! I am so excited I cannot even express how excited I am. Of course I’m keeping it mostly concealed under a cool exterior (easier to make friends that way, haha).

I got into Nassau, the Bahamas last night. The flight wasn’t that bad from Miami (just delayed an hour), which was good because it was a small plane, and some of you know about my fear of small planes and airports. The travel agency I used put me up in a resort called The Atlantis Paradise, and it was pretty much that. It was absolutely amazing! I would have been happy at a Holiday Inn, so The Atlantis was a pleasant surprise. Don’t get me wrong, they made sure we paid for it. Blah! The resort was so gynormous I didn’t even have time to see it all.

The next morning I took a taxi with a few other girls to the ship. Oh and side note: Why is the girl-to-guy ratio so skewed?! Seriously there are only like 261 guys here...out of 683. Weird. Oh well. Anyways, I boarded the ship after standing in the humidity from hell for about half an hour. It didn’t take long, but it sure felt like it. Following getting on the ship and getting settled in was A LOT of introductions. So many people to meet all at once. I’m really trying to remember names, but it’s growing harder and harder with every Hi, My name is ­_________. I hear. But it’s good. Meeting people is a good thing. :o)

I went to lunch, met more people, and realized that if Stanford spoils me Semester at Sea just does me in! The crew really does give you a cruise-like treatment. Waiting on you, cleaning your room everyday, etc. I’m trying to stay humble. I promise. ;o)

Tonight we have our first mandatory meeting. Orientation is tomorrow, and classes start on Thursday. I can already tell I’m not going to regret this semester away from Stanford one bit. If anything I wish you all could be here with me. Then everything would be perfect, but as it is I really can’t complain.

I love and miss you all!

Lauren