Bon Voyage! (0 Days!)

Well... here we are.

Boarding the MV Explorer in a matter of hours.

It's been a long road here, full of the ups and downs that the passage of time generally holds. It has been a long journey, but it has also been a spectacular one. It's unnerving to know that this first chapter- the waiting , the stress, the endless planning- is coming to a close. The voyage is beginning. Stepping onto the ship is the first of many steps into a new life, a new understanding, and a new Mallory.

But mostly I can't believe it's real.
Seriously, someone should pinch me.

New York City and Montreal have felt unreal- more like a very vivid dream than my actual life. Both cities have been wonderful.

a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTcPbWIuk1poEB7surrLdRZcG68ba-S27Dr3VaGM41cBPHnzqTMKTvkR_qCUMYVpHTQSIwwTy_B-ziUsH13bTwMcOydArK2EUElLbxagO0wCLmv0SpAcQpXL5Q6mYSa6tXxhMqY64e0RI/s1600/IMG_0563.JPG">A friend of mine once sang "NYC, what is it about you? You're big, you're loud... I'm spinning" in my middle school production of Annie as he spun around in a desk chair during a rehersal. We laughed then, but it turns out that is not far from the truth. New York City was larger than life. The lights, the sounds, the smells, the people, all too much for my imagination to have created- but there they are. The city moved and ebbed and flowed in a way no place I have ever been to in my life has. I loved the city, and saying goodbye to NYC to board my train was more like saying 'see you soon' to an old friend. I feel like my life will lead me there again, and probably soon.

If New York City were to have a cleaner, smaller younger sister it would Montreal. The people move in similar ways, but the french speaking and distinctly Canadian relaxed vibe of the city makes it less stressed- more like a fancy Parisian lady who is running late, but stops to have a drink anyways.

Last night, my last night in Montreal, I hiked to the top of a mountain (I use the word mountain liberally... it is more like a large hill). Up at the top, the view of the city was beautiful, lights as far as the eye could see. It was one of those moments in life when the world seems to stretch out before your feet, just waiting for you to answer its beckoning call, and all you have to do is move your feet and be open to the universe of possibilities.

As I prepare to drag my super large suitcases down the flight of stairs to check out and then into a taxi, I would be remissed if I didnt take a moment to thank the people who have made this voyage a reality for me.

Thank you Mom for pushing me to continue to work hard even when all I wanted to do was sleep in. Your support has meant nothing short of the world to me, and as I head out into the world, know that I take you with me in spirit everywhere I go.

Thank you Mamaw for making this voyage a reality. Your help has assisted in so many ways- I could not be here without you.

Thank you to Matthew and Christine Quiat. Your kind words, guidance, and help has opened my mind to the wiser possibilities of the world (and inspired me to read Lord of the Rings again).

Thank you to my Dad, who has contributated to getting me in ways that have been a huge help.

Thank you to DR. Reed and Dr. Ammon of ASU. You guys have opened my mind to ideas I had never considered before.

Thank you to all my friends- there are simply too many of you wonderful people to list by name. I will miss you tons and can't wait to see you come Christmas. Start listening to Christmas music in October for me ;)

See you soon!

Holy Smokes (33 Days!!!)

I just want to share this little tid-bit with all you lovely friends, family, voyagers and bored people out there in internetland; I will be on board a ship leaving Canada to circumnavigate the globe in 33 days. I will be boarding a train that will take me to New York City for a day before boarding my train bound for three days of Montreal exploring in 28 days.

Holy smokes.

I'm not even kidding. The major plans are made, the luggage bought, the lists written down and recorded, the vaccinations complete, the malaria, motion sickness and antibiotic medications in hand. The final plans are being made- what snacks do I want to bring with me? What items of clothing do I still need to purchase? What school supplies do I need to get for my classes? I'm beginning to work in the details and that is extremely satisfying. It feels like all the hard work I have been doing since the days of getting my application materials for the study abroad office of ASU in August of last year, and the endless parade of forms that I completed for both ASU and SAS in the snowy winter months since my acceptance into SAS in January are coming to fruition.

I feel like I am standing on the edge of a precipice- that moment of pure adrenaline and excitement you feel just before you jump.

I pulled my suitcases out from the back of my closet, where they had been stashed to avoid the inevitable layer of cat hair that will dawn the black fabric, to eye the space I need to keep in mind. All of my possessions- toiletries, snacks, school supplies, clothing, laptops, EVERYTHING I will need for the next 4 months must fit into these bags. And I have only 28 days to play the even more ludicrous game of tetris to fit my life into 3 bags. I simply cannot believe how much time has passed, and how close this whole thing is to beginning. My first blog entry was at 221 Days, and I began my computer countdown at 385 days. And now, a mere 33 days remain.

Holy smokes.

I just came back from watching the last Harry Potter movie with my mom (her first time and my third). As we were walking out of the theatre my mom said something that truly touched me. She said "You know, your trip with Semester at Sea will be like your own Platform 9 and 3/4. It is going to change your life and who you become". I think she's right.
Just as a sappy side note about Harry Potter- I grew up with the characters- each book coming out so that Harry, Ron and Hermione were roughly the same age as I. They were friends to me when I started a new school or had boy troubles or friend troubles. But mostly I think they have helped me become who I am today- and have built me up to be the person looking for adventure that led me to SAS.

Mischief Managed!

I HATE needles (47 days!!)

My life is beginning to feel like a sprint to the finish line, and the finish line is a marathon of its own. With a mere 47 days until I board the ship that will carry me around the world, and only 42 days until I leave my home for a 2 day train trip and a day in New York City, I am feeling as if I am closing in on my finish line- and that is a weird feeling.

I got my Yellow Fever and Polio vaccines yesterday- something that is both gross, painful and exciting. I hate shots, and needles. And not like people hate onions or country music. I mean I hate needles. They are the stuff that plagues my nightmares and makes me weep. I have, however, been working on my fear of needles (I did get acupuncture this past year that went swimmingly) but it's still something I hate. I still have 2 shots to go (TDAP and Hep A) and the Typhoid pills, but the truly horrible ones are over (and the 2 super expensive ones). I would like to thank my Mamaw for sponsoring the vaccines. It was very nice of her to do so (even if I hated them).

I also got my Visa's and Passport back in the mail earlier this week! I look at those three travel Visa's in my passport and marvel at how expensive they were.

My Mom and I will be setting out on a number of tasks today- the first is to start aggressively making lists of the things I will need to pack for this trip in one of the 3 rolling duffel's I have and to pack for the imminent move into my position as an RA when I return from Semester at Sea. Trying to make sure nothing gets overlooked for a nearly four month trip is exhausting and scary. The second task will be to clean up the house for the arrival of my best friend from Florida for my birthday! I turn 22 on Wednesday, and that happens to be the day that one of my bestest friends, Oriana, arrives to visit from the sunshine state! Which is very exciting. The very last thing that must happen today is catching up my mother in preparation for the VERY LAST Harry Potter Movie!! My mom hasn't really paid any attention to the 6th movie (despite the fact that I have forced her to watch it hundreds of times) and has never even seen Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1! And since the last movie comes out this next week, these two movies must be revued.

Until next time!