Ahoy Everyone!

I am writing from the very middle of the Atlantic Ocean. I have been on the boat for 5 days and 4 nights so far. It feels like we have been living here for weeks. I have already come to realize the boat isn't quite as big as you would imagine and I have met so many new people. There are people from 48 different states and multiple different countries including India and China living with me on the MV explorer.

The first day on the boat felt like freshman year all over again. Everyone was racing around looking for their rooms, unpacking and frantically looking for new people to meet. As hectic as it was, the first couple of days were new and exciting. Alex Skanse (my roommate) and I have moved in quite comfortably and have been sleeping more than ever. We are convinced the boat is rocking us to sleep each nightand day. The ship has 63% girls, and is one of the smaller trips. The ship can handle over 700 students and on our voyage we only have 450 students. It is nice having a smaller group because its easier to meet people and the common areas are nearly as crowded as I would imagine with 700 students. Some of the professors on the boat brought their families along. So there are 24 kids under the age of 16 running around the boat.

Life on the boat is much different than life at home for many different reasons. First, our home (the ship) is constantly rocking. The first day we hit the Atlantic people realized that yes we were actually at sea. Walking around on the ship feels like you have drunk goggles on constantly because you are wobbling around and definitely not walking straight. As uncomfortable and weird as it sounds its becoming very normal. Running on the treadmill was a very big challenge. I had to hold on to the wall to steady myself after I almost fell 2 or 3 times. Second, internet is limited and ridiculously slow. As students we are given only 2 short hours of internet for the entire voyage. This means no facebook hacking or tweeting while I am on the ship. Third, classes are not held in your standard classroom setting. The chairs are soft and comfy and no desks. Its much more relaxed environment. Lastly, I get to see the ocean everyday. Being from Minnesota waking up and looking out at the ocean or watching the sunset on the back deck of the ship is amazing. And last night at dinner we even saw a family of dolphins!

I have already lost a total of 3 hours since leaving Minnesota. I will be losing another 3 before we arrive in Morocco on Saturday. I have already planned a trek through the desert in Morocco. While on the trek we are camping in the middle of the desert and coming from a family who has never camped it is sure to be an interesting story. I will update you all when I am back from Morocco!

Miss everyone!

Ash