Flying and waiting to be on the BOAT

I was told by an older gentlemen, labeled as an uncle with "a zest for life," that after touring the MV Explorer, our ship, that we're no longer allowed to call it a "boat". It's a "ship". (They had a parents' dinner and tour tonight for family)More to come on that when I get to see it tomorrow!

It has been an interesting day. First of all, GO STEELERS! I wore my Steelers shirt today while flying (I saw a Steelers-themed plane parked next to my connecting flight in Charlotte) and will faithfully wear it during the SUPER BOWL! :o) We'll be at sea - so maybe they'll have it on TV? I actually met a few guys and a girl from Pittsburgh. One guy's dad actually grew up in Sutersville! (Mom: ask Pap if he knows who Mae Keegan is.)

Anyway, rewinding to this morning. The whole family got up bright and early to take me to the airport with my ginormous bags. It was uneventful - except that the hockey bag was 65 pounds! Haha - that's good for four months. And I mistook my receipt for a boarding pass. And that paved the way for the rest of day to be without mistakes. I met the girl I chatted with on Facebook, Audrey, and we got on the flight to Charlotte, then once we got off that flight, we scarfed down an Italian hoagie we split before getting on our connecting flight to Nassau.

As we were descending toward Nassau, I noticed two other girls near me who were about my age and asked if they were on the Semester at Sea - and, of course, they were. So, we had to wait in a really long line to get through customs (which basically consisted of someone stamping my passport) and chatted and did introductions. I shared a cab with a those SASers, then settled down at the hotel, only to find the NFL on TV, enough to watch the Eagles lose (sorry, Tim). Lots of SASers were here at the Towne Hotel (which isn't anything "to write home about" but is a place to sleep) and many were hanging out in the lobby, so the standard greeting became - "Semester at Sea?" We exchanged a lot of names I might forget, but among them, it seems, are some pretty cool people. I met one guy watching the Steelers/Ravens game from Baltimore. And I already mentioned the guy who's dad grew up in Sutersville. Crazy. One girl from Iowa. Some from Colorado. Some from California. Some guys from Boston. I think that's the think that makes it a little complicated - I have to remember where people are from and what school they go to AND their name! But everybody realizes that we'll probably forget. Among my conversations I also met a couple people in the same classes as me, and two on the same deck as me. Hopefully I'll remember some names, but I think once we're 700 packed on a ship I'll see people a lot more often.

The nervousness is gone. I'm soooo excited for tomorrow. Bright and early checking in at 8:40. I can't wait.