From the Ocean!

Hey all,

I got settled in! I have an awesome roommate and we are having a good time! Today was orientation and getting ready for tomorrow's classes! Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu talked today and it is still so exciting that he is traveling with us! Very fun! Our room has a window which is pretty much like looking at the ocean on a big screen TV. I love it! We have decorated it from top to bottom and so it is super cozy.  Everyone is really nice and friendly and it has been great to get to hang out with some of my SAS 2009 Alumni!. I hope that the Hood to Coasters had a great race! I wish I could have been there!

How to reach me on the ocean!

Here is my Ship Email:

RJShaffer@semesteratsea.net

I hope to be hearing from all of you as I make my way around the world! 

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. -Mark Twain

Semester at Sea Round 2!!!

Hey Family and Friends,

I am heading around the world again! I know this is going to be a shock to some of you, since I didn't get around to telling everyone I was leaving before I left! Here is the scoop:

I am headed to:

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Cadiz, Spain
Casablanca, Morocco
Takoradi, Ghana
Cape Town, South Africa
Port Louis, Mauritius
Chennai, India
Singapore
Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
Hong Kong / Shanghai, China
Yokohama / Kobe, Japan
Honolulu / Hilo, Hawaii, USA
San Diego, California, USA

with: Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu!!!!

I am also sailing with some faculty from my past summer SAS 2009 trip and a whole new crew of amazing people I can't wait to meet!

If you don't know already, I am majoring in Liberal Studies with a focus in "Reciprocity in a Globalized Society" which means that traveling around the world is essential to my major and my interests. I have no doubt that Semester at Sea will open my eyes (yet again) to amazing places, experiences, adventures, friendships and discoveries! I wish that I could take all of you along, however, I am only limited to two suitcases and so I am keeping this blog so that you can live vicariously through me! I will try to keep it up to date as best I can!

Before I head out I want to send a special shout out to the Summer 09' kickit crew and my SAS 09' roomie Molly who will be in my thoughts every single day of this trip! To Carolyn, just keep on running and I will be home before you know it! Much love to all my friends and family and most importantly, thank you to my mom, dad, Lottie, and grand dad for giving me the world.
Love and peace