What to bring to give away

As promised, my post about what to bring to have even more fun interacting with new people in port.

The things that worked best or worst were not really what I expected.  For example, of all the things I brought for kiddies to play with, my camera was by far the best thing.  I always thought of cameras as somewhat isolating; that the photographer would always be separated from the world by the lens.  It is true that cameras can hurt relations when you use it to take pictures of people without asking or in dodgy situations (don't ever do this) or take pictures of the military in Tibet (unless you like the idea of having your camera taken away, definitely don't ever do this).  However, if used correctly, having a camera is an awesome way to have fun with people, especially kids.

Taken by my homestay sister, Sara

Taken by my homestay sister, Kofi

I was nervous the first time I handed over my precious camera to a group of kids, but they were great and very careful.  In many different countries I had a great time showing them how to take pictures or taking pictures and then showing it to them.  (I really wish I had brought one of those Polaroid or instant print cameras so I could have given the pictures out.)  Plus, once I got back and uploaded pictures, I had a great collection of the kids and I making funny faces or the kids taking pictures of what was important to them.  I seriously can't recommend using your camera in this way enough.

A lot of people, including myself brought some fun trinkets for the kiddies.  I went a bit overboard but don't regret it one bit!

Try to bring a variety of trinkets so kids of all different ages and abilities can enjoy them.  The best things I brought were less something I just handed out, and more something that promoted interaction.  Face paint, stickers and nail polish were really fun to have.  

When shopping, just try to think what would have blown your mind when you were seven.  (Like that fake snow stuff!  Or those saucer popper thingies)  The oriental trading company is a great resource.  

My little buddy showing off his new bling.

On the practical side, school supplies are perfect.  I had so many kids 10X more excited about a pen than anything else I brought.

Without bringing anything material, bringing fun dance moves or clapping games is really awesome.  Think macarena or something like this video of Kyle, an RD, teaching kids the stanky leg.

  

Learning a new clapping game in Ghana

Another skill that is good to have going into the trip is to know how to fold a few origami pieces.  I had a really great time swapping origami patterns with tour guides or kids I met.  By the end of the trip, I was carrying around paper with me in case the opportunity came up.

On to homestay gifts...It really depends on where you are going to have the homestay.  I brought completely different things for each place I was supposed to have a homestay (the one in Japan got canceled).  Card games that don't need a common language, picture books, school supplies, USA themed shirts, cups etc. are all awesome.  Read up on the countries where you will have your homestay to get a better idea of what would be appropriate.

Finally, I REALLY wish I had known about this before I went.  A lot of the vendors at markets asked me if I had anything American that I could trade for goods they were selling.  I unfortunately never had anything, but it would have been a great way to take the social experience of bargaining to the next level.  People always asked for things like watches, sunglasses, phones (one kid really did trade in his iphone for a drum!), pins, really anything that came from America.  Just like you want the drum because it's from India, people will want a shirt or pair of earrings because it is from the US. 

  

The SAS Packing List

Packing for a SAS trip is a crazy, exciting thing.  I've been off the ship for almost two months now (boo-hoo) and I still find myself shopping for things to take on the trip.  It's like that dream you have about missing a test in high school...

I did a few posts about packing pre-trip and I wanted to combine that with my now expert (haha) alumni knowledge in a new post for future SASers.

First little bit of advice is to start early, especially for things you have to shop for.  Part of the reason is to have plenty of time to prepare and part of the reason is because who wants to wait to start obsessing about the trip!?!  I started collecting things in my SAS Bag several months in advance.  About one to two months ahead of time I started seriously making and editing my packing list and aquiring items I would need to buy.  About two weeks or so before the trip I started the mamoth process of packing because I knew it would take me several tries to fit everything.  (I was still shoving random things in as we were leaving for the airport.)

My huge duffle bag waiting to be filled.

Here is my (annotated) master packing list.  (I may or may not have copped a lot of it from other alumni's lists.)  I'll come back and edit it as I think of them.

Clothing

4 pairs athletic shorts

bathing suits (two, one to ruin)

belt (2)

bras (3)

capris (1 jeans 1 khaki)

business dress/outfit (1)

dress for ambassador’s Ball  (or buy one on the trip)

flip-flops (3)

goofy outfit(s)

hiking shoes

jacket  (temperatures may get below freezing some places)

jeans (2)  (Only needed one)

khaki long pants

shorts (4)

skirt (1)

sleep shirt (1)  (You will buy more)

socks (4)

sports bras (2)

sweat pants (2) 

sweatshirt (1)  (You will buy more)

t-shirts (3)  (You will buy more)

tank tops (4+)

underwear (18) 

walking shoes

workout clothes

yellow bandana

leggings

sundress

scarf (to cover up in religious places)

Long sleve shirts made of light airy fabric (2)  (didn't bring this but wish I had)

Rain poncho

Cosmetics

big conditioner

big shampoo

bobby pins

chapstick (3)

cover up/concealer

deodorant 

eye liner

facepaint (for sea olympics and having fun with kiddies in port)

hair bands

hair brush

hair clips

hair products (well, not really. you don't need them and they take up too much space)

hairspray

lady things

lip gloss

mascara

nail file

nail polish

nail polish remover

q-tips

razor 

tide spot stain remover

tissues

travel size bath bottles for travel in port  (didn’t use them)

tweezers

makeup remover wipes

lotion

Electronics

AA bateries  (didn't need them)

AAA Bateries  (didn't need them)

auto-shut off curling iron and straightener

bag of beans (to dry out electronics in humidity)

battery powered alarm clock (or cell phone with alarm)

book light

camera battery charger

camera case

camera cord

camera

video camera

waterproof case (you WILL want this!)

DVD movies

cell phone 

cell phone charger

flash drives

flashlight

handheld fan

hard drive  (you will definitely want one!)

headphones (2)

ipod(s)

ipod speakers

ipod USB cord

iPod wall charger

laptop

laptop charger

kindle

kindle charger

solar charger and cables 

extra camera memory card 

universal outlet adapter (or at least European adapter)

Yeah, that's right.  A coloring book.  It was awesome.

My homemade journal.

School

calculator  (pocket sized so you can bring it with you in port and calculate prices!)

blank paper

colored pencils

coloring book

hilighters

lined notebooks

pencils (11)

pens (9)

rubber bands (10)

safety pins

scissors

sharpies

sketch supplies

water colors

glue stick

glue

Art  supplies

School Supplies (The smiley faces are vital)

Meds

1 bottle advil

airbourne
Emergen-C  (good for rehydration and preventing sickness)

aloe vera

anti malaria meds

antibiotics for travelers diarrhea

band-aids (40)

blister pads

cold eeze

cough drops

first aide kit

hand sanitizer (4)

benedryl

zyrtec

melatonin

medical documentation

Medical hisotry 

neosporin (2)

non drowsy dramamine!!!!!  (may save your life/sanity)  

rolaids/tums

tylenol

ginger gum  (for nausea)

Wheelchair

vapor rub

prescription meds IN their original containers

For On The Ship

anti wrinkle spray!!!!!

my roommate had this awesome cosmetic holder that hung on the door...get that

beach towel

big world map for wall in cabin (can buy on ship for like $4)

blanket if can fit  (Didn't need it)

candy  (can buy on ship, but bring your own too)

clotheline

clothes pins (10)

collapsible hanging boxes (didn't bring/need)

dry erase board for door

dry erase markers

duct tape (1 roll) for taping drawers shut in rough water.  Some staff members said it was banned, but other staff members said it was ok and let me take it on.  Don't sneak it on.

febreeze!!!!!!!!!  

gum

laundary stuff

laundry bag

lock/safe  (don't need.  One in room)

magnets (20)  (bring even more of these than you think you will need so you can decorate your room)

pictures of friends and family

playing cards

post-its

sink stopper

small jorunal (2) 

snacks (you will get sick of ship food fast!  think ahead!)

      -Cup a noodle soup

      -Goldfish

      -powerbars or granola bars or something like that

      -mints

      -fill all the extra space in your bags with food!!!!

sunglasses and case

sunscreen

tea, hot chocolate packets, crystal light!!!!!

tide spot stain remover

tissues

trash bags (2)

travel mug

Word magnets

ziplock bags (9)

sewing kit

ear plugs

peanut butter (FYI don't try and sneak this into Tibet)

Misc. and Docs

$100 in $1  (at least)

$1 per day for cabin steward tips

2 copies of passport photo

4 copies of passport front page

addresses of friends/family 

copies of credit card (2)

copy of birth certificate

credit/ATM card

driver’s license and copy 

emergency contact list

foreign currency ($25 per port)  (getting it there can be a hassle and more expensive) 

immunization records

passport/visas

sas paperwork

student ID

travel student ID

travelers checks (didn't bring/need)

yellow fever proof

For In Port

binoculars  (did use these a bit surprisingly)

camleback (2)

compass (but not really)

gifts for the kiddies  (more info in future post)

homestay gifts  (more info in future post)

Things made in USA to trade (more info in future post)

money belt (or just keep things in your sock...)

mosquito repellent with deet 

picture book

purse  (one that is not easily stollen/unzipped)

sleeping bag liner (did not bring/need)

travel toilete paper

travel wet wipes 

umbrella

waterbottole (2)
a small doll or stuffed animal to take pictures of (especially if you are doing Vicarious Voyage)

Getting there

2 roller duffel suitcases

fold up duffle bag for end of trip

1 smaller cary-on duffle (for flying in port)

large backpack

Vietnam (Day 3)

   I don't know how I managed, but I signed up for pretty much the same service visit two days in a row.  I was a little disappointed at first, but then I realized how excited I was to go back to the School for the Deaf and see all the kiddies again.  :0)

   It was just as fun as I thought it would be.  The kids remembered me and were very excited that I came back.  I couldn't participate in the first activity that the kids and SASers did (standing and running) so I drew pictures of the kids with the animals from the zoo from yesterday.  They thought it was really cool and drew some pictures of the zoo animals for me too.  :0)  

    Once again, the picture book was a fantastic thing to have.  The kids loved going through it and showing me the signs for the pictures.  We had the added component of me acting out the some of the pictures.  They were very interested in the medical pictures so I showed them where all the things were in the body and where the braces went.  It felt very cool because I could see that I was teaching them things.  They would excitedly show one of their teachers the new things they were learning by explaining them in sign.  We didn't even come close to speaking the same language but I was still able to use my limited knowledge of the world to show them something new.  It made me start wondering if I may want to be a teacher.     I also learned some new things myself.  Lots of new signs and how to write the names of things in Vietnamese.  

   I still probably wouldn't consider this a good example of service learning.  I remember when tourist used to come to my elementary school and we always thought of it as us doing service to them for allowing them to come and showing them our school.  I imagine that is what the kids here think of all of us coming as well.  It doesn't really matter whether it was service or not though.  I had so much fun, and so did the kiddies.  :0)

   I hung out a lot with my little buddy from the day before.  He was just as rambunctious as ever!  He was the kid in class running around while everyone was coloring and poking people or stealing their crayons.  :0)  

I think he met his match in this little one.  haha

I REALLY didn't want to leave now that I had spend so much time over two days here.  The kids kept sneaking downstairs to wave goodbye and give me a last hug as I was waiting for the bus.  :0)

Our next stop was quite a bit more sobering.  We went to an orphanage for kids with disabilities.  Once again, my views on the trip differed from most people.  They were sad because the kids were disabled.  I was sad because they were abandoned by their families and there weren't the resources to help them meet their potential.  There were kids laying in beds all day and I could just see it in their eyes that they could think far more than their bodies would let them act.  It breaks my heart that at home, these kids would have an electric wheelchair and assistive communication device and could do almost anything any other could have.  Here they had to lay in bed all day in a room with forty other kids and only two or three staff members.  That is to say nothing negative about the facility.  THey were actually doing a wonderful job for what resources they had.  The place had an excellent playground, decent medical facilities, and some trade classes for the older kids.  There was a much better staff or kid ratio than in some other places and the staff was all very caring and attentive.  There was a therapy room which I snuck into while my group went up stairs so see some more rooms.  It was really interesting to see a therapy session.  I talked with the women working there and between the four of us we communicated that I was a therapy student.  THey were really excited that I was going into that area.  I was worried that I was getting distracting so I excused myself and headed out to the courtyard.  I have to say I was a concerned at what I saw of the therapy session.  There were three kids to one therapist and they weren't really interacting.  The therapist was sitting there putting a puzzle together and the kids were looking around the room.  The therapist didn't really do anything to engage them even though I could tell they were definitely capable.  It added to my feelings of frustration that these kids would never be able to reach their potential.  

On a brighter note, some of the kids were only at the orphanage for day care.  They got to go home with their families at the end of the day.  I was so happy that so many of the kids actually weren't abandoned and and had homes to go to every night.  It was nice to see that there were resources for families with kids with disabilities because this is often not the case.  

I rejoined my group and we handed out some toys and played with some of the kids for a while which was really fun.  Then it was time to go and a short bus ride back took us back to the ship.  

India (Day 6)

Boo-hoo it's the last day in India.  :0(  I absolutely LOVED it here!  One more reason to get job so I can travel back soon!

I spent the morning on a grand adventure with one of my friends, Sarah.  We wanted to go to this mall that one of the professors had told me about the day before.  It was the place where people who lived here shop so I thought it would be a really good experience.  Getting there was pretty exciting.  We took the ferry over to near Fort Cochin, where I had gone before, and hired a rickshaw driver to get us to the mall. It was WAY farther (34 km) and more expensive (1200 Rupees) than I thought it would be.  I think we got overcharged, especially because it was originally 600 rupees one way and then we got back and it changed to 600 each way.  Oh well, the guy was nice and didn't take us any random places.  

 

On the ferry.

The price of gas if anyone is interested.  

Taking a rickshaw through a village is one thing, traveling for a long time on busy roads was quite another.  It was quite a hair raising experience!  The driver was weaving in and out of traffic and narrowly missing huge busses!  It was crazy!

We had to take a ferry once on the rikshaw with a bunch of other vehicles.  I don't think my lungs will ever be quite the same...

The mall was really fun.  It was pretty much like the malls at home except the things in the stores were different.  The people working in the stores were also much more attentive than at home.  Even the discount stores had people who treated you like you were shopping at Rodeo Drive or something.  We went to the grocery store first and stocked up on snacks.  I was so excited to find peanut butter!  I bought two tubes of it.  There were also clothes and school supplies for really cheap so I bought three outfits and some art supplies for about 1/10th the price they would go for at home.  The prices of items were really interested to me.  There would be a pen for like the equivalent of seven U.S. dollars that would go for one or two at home.  But on the other hand, a nice set of pastels would be like 80 cents as opposed to $10 at home.  

I was starting to feel a little POTSie so we just went into a few clothes stores after that and each bought a skirt.  I took a risk and got a milkshake at Baskin Robbins but so far no sickness from the milk.  :0)  I also got some chocolate for the driver since he was going to be working through lunch.

The drive back was also quite exciting.  Instead of going right back to the boat, we stopped by one last store to spend our leftover rupees.  

By the time I had gotten back to the back to the boat I was feeling quite POTSie.  I was in a rush though, so I tried to ignore it.  I had to get on board, drop off my stuff, get lunch, and head back out to catch my field program to an orphanage.  At lunch, I got to meet my friend Josh's Dad which was awesome.  I was bummed I basically had to just say hi and rush off.  I managed to get to the bus on time after all that.

This is where Invincible Emily (my superhero name, duh) got some holes in her cape.  The bus air conditioning broke after a few minutes into a 1.5 hour drive.  And the windows couldn't be rolled down.  So we were in a metal can on a 95 degree, 95% humidity day with no air ventilation.  Not fun. I, of course was feeling completely awful, but some other people were not doing too well either.  Some people were even crying a little.  I would split my time laying down awkwardly and sitting up when I got too carsick.  Not fun at all.

We finally arrived at the village and got out to the 95, 95% air that actually felt refreshing.  It took me like ten minutes to get to the place where the welcoming talk was because I kept collapsing.  One sweet little girl comes up to me, tilts her head and said, "You are handicap."  I shook my head and said, "Yes, handicap!"  She took my hand and let me up the last bit of stairs.  I didn't have the heart to collapse on her so I made it the last little bit and thanked her very much for the help.  

   I spend the welcoming talk and the first half of the trip laying on the floor getting familiar with the view of the ceiling.  A few kids came up to me, but for the most part I think they were a bit scared of me.  haha  I finally was able to sit up and crawled over to a group of kids to show them the saucer popper thingies.  As usual, they were a big hit.  I got a brief reprieve form the dizziness and was able to walk to and visit one of the houses the kids lived in.  The orphanage was set up in a very cool way.  The kids are divided up into different families and all have a house mom.  They is just like any other family, eating meals and hanging out together.  It was such a healthy way to organize things!

   On my way back, one of the younger boys ran up and took my water bottle.  I thought he was so cute, I didn't even care.  And boy did he love that thing!  He ran around and wanted me to take pictures of him in various poses with his water bottle.  I think we had a strange kid bond.  He had no interest in the other kids or toys, but loved our disposable water bottles.  He had several by the time the trip was over.  Honestly, probably more things happened that were noteworthy, but I can't really remember much of the trip.  :0(  

   The bus ride back was even more miserable than the way there.  I was so carsick and dizzy and it seemed to last forever.  When I got back to the dock, I collapsed SO many times on the way to the line to get on the ship.  During one of my down times, the drum guy who I had talked to before came up and the lack of blood flow let me to buy a huge drum from him.  I'm actually glad I did because it is pretty cool and makes a nice sound.  It's just so big I have no clue what I'm going to do with it.  

   

  After I got on the ship (with some help) I basically crawled to my room and my roommate got my wheelchair for me.  I had to use it when I went to dinner which was a little embarrassing, but after the first shock of wheeling in to the dining area and having people stare at me, I was ok.

   

  I couldn't eat much, but at least it was something.  I also drank a glass or two of water.  :0)  Then it was to the health center with me for an IV.  Dr. Bill is seriously awesome!  He gave me 2 liters and didn't give me a hard time at all.  I also drank a bottle of gatorade while I was there so I was pretty tanked up.  When I got back to my room, my face looked super pudgy!  haha

  Now it's bed time!  IVs always make me so sleepy!  Hope tomorrow is better!  I don't need to make more of a scene than I already have on this ship!  haha

Brazil! (Day 4)

Wow, it's amazing that leaving a place I've only spent four days in can be so heartbreaking!  We are pulling out of port as I write and I almost teared up thinking how wonderful my time here was, the awesome people I met, and how long it will be before I get to go back here.  I am mostly thinking about the people, especially the guides I really got to know.  I now wish that I had asked for their e-mail address or something so I could see how those English lessons one guide was giving his daughter turned out, or see pictures of the child another guide was planning to adopt.  I guess I'll just have to be content that for a few hours we knew each other and talked about our lives.  

Today didn't start out quite as pensive.  I could have slept in, but some noise woke me up early.  I spent my extra hours tidying up the room, getting ready for the day at the orphanage, and updating my blog.  For the first time, I decided to try doing this trip 100% incognito.  No wheelchair, no cooling vest, no explaining my possible need for extra assistance to the leading professor or guides.  It worked out fairly well with the exception of some carsickness from sitting in the back of the bus.  (I'm used to the front where the professors, guides, and disabled people (me) sit.)  The traffic was bad today since it is a friday so we got a slow start.  I had fun chatting with one of the guides who decided to sit in the back new to me and waving to people on the sidewalk.  I challenge any other city to have strangers be so warm in their responses.  I shared many more laughs with random pedestrians as we waved, made goofy faces, and I took pictures of them posing.  One street side vendor even made a motion to symbolize him giving us his heart.  It was a lot of fun and goes to show that connections can be made even if it's only in the seconds it takes to drive or walk by someone.  

The field program of the day was a service visit to one of the orphanages for the city.  I wasn't sure how much service we actually did, but I sure had fun!  The facility was very nice with large grounds complete with a playground, field for sports, and trampoline.  Another homey touch were the handful of dogs that roamed around begging for attention.  (Unfortunately I did not reciprocate due to the flea infatuation the dogs had.)  The kids were a lot of fun!  I'm pretty sure we had more fun visiting them than they had having us there.  I don't know how many tours come there, but I do know we were the second one this week.  Our large numbers would have probably seemed a bit frightening to them as well.  After a brief talk that described how the orphanage was founded about ten years ago to take in kids in at-risk home situations, we were given free time with the kids.  

To break the ice, we spread out some gifts of school supplies and small toys on a table and the kids picked out things that they liked.  The would dart between the table and somewhere inside and I heard later that they would hid their new prizes under their pillow for later.  Just like any group of kids, there were some that jumped right in, chatting to us in Portuguese or grabbing an SASer by the hand and leading them to their favorite places.  Other kids were more reserved or focused on playing with the new toys.  It took a while, but we all were finally getting comfortable with each other.  I pulled out my own back of toys and was happy that the kids really enjoyed them.  The boys went crazy over the hot wheels cars and saucer popper things.  I especially enjoyed giving out my jewelry and nail polish from when I was little.  I had though of how grown up I felt when I wore it and was happy to be able to pass it on for it to be enjoyed all over again.  The girls particularly liked the nail polish so we sat down and did each other's nails.  One of the more outgoing little ones painted my nails a sparkly yellow.   In between bouts of rain, I also joined in on kicking a soccer ball around.  I realized I need to brush up on my skills in that area!  I thought it was very special that one of the older girls wanted to make sure that the SASers didn't leave empty handed.  She gave some of us folded paper boxes and saved some of the jewelry that I brought to give back to us.  She made sure that I took home two bracelets which was very touching.  I've had those bracelets for probably ten years and they held no meaning, but now I will treasure them!  

  

  

Just as we were really starting to connect and have fun, it was already time to go.  It took quite a while for the poor professor to usher us back onto the bus.  We were so reluctant to go!  I hung back as long as I could taking last minute pictures and giving last minute hugs and high fives.   We waved goodbye from the bus until we couldn't even see the building anymore.  As we drove away, I felt extra glad that we would be able to communicate with the orphanages through e-mail after our visit.  There is still a lot of picture and story sharing to look forward to in the future.  

I spent the last couple of hours in Brazil getting cleaned up and catching up with friends who did other trips while in port.  It sounds like everyone has a lot of fun though we are happy to be back "home" at the same time.

Right now we are making  our way downriver and out to the ocean which we will cross over the next 11 days.  Africa here we come!

P.S.  I'm going to have to start posting less pictures because I've already used up a lot of my internet minutes.  After the free ones are gone, it becomes VERY expensive to buy more minutes.  :0(  Also, due to the limited internet access I can't respond to any comments from the ship.  I do get to see them via my mom forwarding them to me and I love hearing what everyone thinks!  :0)  Also you can always e-mail me at emily.block.s12@semesteratsea.org!  

Holidays and Communication

I  hope that everyone had a fantastic Christmas and/or Chanukah and/or Festivus, and/or Kwanzaa.  For me it was a travel themed Chanukah and Christmas (yep, I'm half and half).  I feel much better prepared for the trip with my shiny new travel sized art supplies, Kindle gift card, collapsible water bottle, book light, and new clothes.  Probably most exciting was the sonic screwdriver to get me out of any sticky situations that don't involve wood and the two seasons of Doctor Who from my parents.

This is a sonic screwdriver in case you were wondering.  It's from Doctor Who.  

My pretty purple collapsible water bottle.  Genius for traveling! 

Koi Travel Watercolor set. Also great for traveling.    

     In other news, I found out more about how I will be able to communicate while on the ship.  This link goes over how to send mail as well as time zones I will be in.  I will also have a satellite phone as well (my doctor is letting me borrow his) but that will probably only be used to call doctors in an emergency or my parents.  Even though it's the cheapest option I could find, the rate is still like $1.24 per minute.  (Yikes!)  The best way to communicate for me will probably be via e-mail.  Even though internet use is severely limited, I will have unlimited access to my shipboard e-mail account!  The e-mail address I will be using isn't live yet, but it will be emily.block.S12@semesteratsea.org.  I would love to hear from you during my trip!

First World Problems

  

Oh my goodness the stress!  (Hence the 4:45am insomnia post.)  That to-do list of mine just keeps getting longer and yet time until departure keeps getting shorter. 

 Don't get me wrong, I absolutely can't wait for this thing to start, but I wish I had more time to do everything I need to do first!  Just the SAS preparation stuff alone actually isn't that much.  I pretty much just have to send in a few more forms, find home stay gifts, finish up various projects, and start to think about packing.  Not too bad if you don't count the hours I want to spend obsessing about the trip.  However I also have finals this week, holiday shopping, daily life stuff (library, errands, cleaning, etc.) and am spur the moment applying to graduate school.  That's a lot for a girl who is used to being able to do only one thing every day.   Of course everything I just mentioned would be under the category of first world problems.  :0)

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  In other news, I am officially 100% signed up for field programs!  There was definitely a bit of sticker shock once all of the costs were tallied up, but it was actually about two thousand dollars less than I anticipated.  (YAY!) Also, the prices really aren't that bad for each individual trip.  It isn't like a regular cruise where the lowest priced option is several hundred dollars.  Since SAS is a non-profit, the prices are incredibly reasonable, even under $10 sometimes.  (Most day trips are between $40 and $150.)  Traveling independently would probably still be cheaper because you could put together budget transportation and accommodations, but I like the security of traveling with SAS and having everything planned out ahead of time.  

  I saved the best for last in this post.  The current SAS voyage put together this awesome video that entertains as well as gives a tour of the ship.  Definitely worth watching!  I really hope that our voyage does something epic like this.

       

Less than 60 Days to Go!!!!

Right now 60 days seems like an eternity, another lifetime away. I wish I could speed up time and be on that ship now!
Anyone got a Tardis they could spare? I'm trying to immerse myself in getting ready and enjoying the holidays as a distraction and I would say it is working marginally well. The getting ready part is quite a job actually. Since my parents had handled everything when we traveled in the past, all of the visas, vaccinations, reservation making, etc. is a huge wake up call for me. To make sure I stay organized I have a SAS to do list. Luckily, I am making some good progress. Here is what the list looks like:



I also check the SAS facebook group every day to stay caught up on news and "meet" people before we actually get to the ship. So far everyone seems really nice and excited for the trip. Someone even made a website for us that organizes our discussions and has lots of links to great resources.

Because I have an inborn tendency to create projects for myself, I guess it isn't surprising that several projects have sprung up around my trip. As I mentioned before, I'm making a picture book to help with communication. Here's a page from it:



I'll laminate the pages and then put them all on a flash card ring so they are durable and easily accessible. I don't plan on using it much but it would be nice to have in a pinch. (As I learned when my family's car broke down in rural France. Imagine trying to say you accidentally put diesel in a non diesel engine by hand gestures...)

I'm also working on hand-binding a leather journal that was going along well until I got my right arm casted (due to a wrist dislocation). Now it's sitting on my desk and patiently waiting until I can finish it. I'm modeling it after River Song's diary from Doctor Who and so far it looks pretty good.

I always like to bring little trinkets to give to people when I travel and am in the process of finding things to bring. So far I have sparkly bracelets for girls, those things that you blow into and the curly part shoots out, and some sets of marbels. I am thinking of also getting a large pack of popping balls for giving out to large groups of kids. That just leaves some gifts for my homestay families and I'll be all set. I'm having trouble coming up with what to get, so if you have any ideas, please send me a message!
What I mean by popping balls and the blowy party favors (they are surprisingly difficult to describe despite the fact that we all know what they are):



I think that's about it for now. :0) Just more waiting and getting ready for me.

TTFN