Photos from this summer

Semester Voyage

So I decided that it is probably about time I updated my blog after my adventure filled summer of world traveling.

Semester at Sea by no means was what I expected. How could I possibly have planned to see tons of incredible places and meeting amazing people. SAS was full of surprises and I continued to be astonished by every twist and turn along the way.

I came aboard the MV Explorer June 16, and debarked for Cadiz, Spain. I left Casablanca, Morocco August 12 to head back to the states. But what the heck happened in between then and now? I went to nine incredible countries. I met tons of new people and learned a little more about what it means to be culturally aware and culturally sensitive. I experienced exotic foods and wines all throughout the Mediterranean. I came home with an awesome tan. But most importantly, I began to look at different cultures and places through the lens of Human Rights and Social Justice.

I saw places most people only dream about seeing and traveled to more places this summer than people do in a lifetime. But the most important aspect of my journey this summer was seeing the generosity and hospitality of those in poverty to others who had less. Time and time again I was impressed by the giving of others. People living on the street barely able to provide for their family gave to those less fortunate so they would not starve.

We complain about the economy. We stress over every penny but at least we can eat. We refuse to give a dollar to the homeless lady on the corner, but we can max out our credit cards ten times over. I learned more this summer through the people overseas than I could have ever learned in a classroom.