2/13/2007
07° 59.10N
053° 2.00W

Hey there! Well, classes have begun and they certainly will not be a walk in the park. It looks like I will be doing a lot of writing this semester. I am taking Global Studies, International Political Economy, Economic History of a Global America and an anthropology course on gender, race and ethnicity. It should be interesting studying the economies, political systems, culture and social norms of the countries we visit.

Getting used to life at sea has been no easy task. The classrooms sway back and forth (especially the ones at the front of the ship), walking takes on an entirely new challenge, and the bedrooms are tiny. My roommate and great friend, Frank, snores so loud he often awakes himself. Good thing the beds are so close together that I can drill him with my pillow without leaving my bed. Another challenge of living of on a ship is meeting so many new people. There are 702 students on this voyage, about 600 of which I have met, and about 100 of which I can remember his or her name. This is an area that certainly takes some effort.

San Juan, Puerto Rico was amazing. I spent the first day touring Old San Juan with a large group of friends I met on the ship. First, we checked out San Cristobal and El Morro, both of which are forts used in the 16th century to protect the island and neighboring civilizations. We then cruised the shops of downtown and ate at a local bar. The local beer, Medella, is quite good. That evening we attended a welcome reception at a local university, Sacred Heart, for an evening of music, dancing (I attempted to learn how to salsa with the help of many Puerto Rican students), food and drinks. The culture in Puerto Rico, like many Latin American countries, is very cherished. The rest of my port stay consisted of touring the countryside, enjoying the beach and eating many, many hamburgers. One evening, I kayaked to one of the three remaining bioluminescent bays about 2 hours out of San Juan. We paddled up a twisting stream through a dark mangrove forest to reach the bay. Once there, we jumped in the clear, fresh water that literally glowed in the dark. Such an incredible sight to see! Overall, San Juan was a great start to my adventures to come.

Check back next week to hear about my travels in Brazil as I visit Carnival and a national park in Brazil named Lencois.

Thanks for tuning in…

Adios,
Mike