1/19/2011

Hey everyone!

Thought I’d sit down for a couple minutes while I have the chance to update! The past couple of days we have been at sea which means class – ugh. Yes, mom, I know that’s why I’m here but it’s been pretty over whelming so far with trying to sign up for more class-required field trips, making sure they don’t overlap, having all the requirements, trying not max parents credit card too soon.. ANWAYS. I’ve been trying to get rid of these ridiculous tan lines I’ve gotten from my snorkeling life vest, shorts, capris, swimsuits, tanks and God knows what else. Oh yeah.. and my big ol bumble bee sting I got while snorkeling.. just my luck right? So Tuesday (01/18/2011) was EXTREMELY rough while sailing and I tried running on the treadmill and let me tell you it’s probably the hardest thing to do at sea. I looked like a fool but sure it was pretty entertaining to everyone else. Showering is quite the task too (I’ll leave the rest up to your imagination). One of the rituals from room to room is to write on the back of each hanging picture (approx. 3’x3). Students from past voyages give advice, tell funny stories, ship ‘secrets’, fun stuff to do in ports, etc. Some of my friends and I went from room to room today checking out each others’ pictures. In my room some of the advice on my walls was funny and serious… “Try and do everything you’d normally think twice about”, “Buy bootleg DVDs in Vietnam, they get movies sooner”, “Use ATMs -> Big plus -> saves time and exchange rates”, “try to meet locals”, “don’t skip a meal”. Ill take a picture of all these recommendations (some of them I won’t go into detail!)

We entered the AMAZON RIVER TODAY!!! (I’ve been writing this blog for a few days). All we can see is brown water, which should clear up soon, and trees. Lots of trees. Other than that.. nada.

For one of my classes I’m taking something called Global Studies. It is a required class and basically teach you about each country before you get there, the geography, etc. Well yesterday there was a guest speaker and he was AMAZING. He is actually a professor on the ship this semester teaching social justice and altruism. Long story short, about nine years ago he was in a very secluded little town in Nepal. (Quick Geography Tip: Nepal is squeezed between India and China)He kept hearing about the village’s young girls ‘disappearing’. None of the towns’ people would speak on it but he kept doing more research and found out that kidnapping into sex slavery was mostly the cause. He talked to the principal of the school who pointed out a young girl named Inu that was going to be ‘next’ because her family couldn’t afford to send her to public school anymore. Prof. Kottler asked how much it is to send her to school for the year and the principal replied “too much money, way too much money” and kept avoiding the topic. Finally, the principal answered in local currency and after equated into USD the prof. discovered only $50 a year could send her to school AND keep her from being a sex slave. So he pulled out 50 USD and handed it to the principal. A few other voyagers reminded him that if he does not come back from year to year to make sure Inu is in school, the government (which is EXTREMELY corrupt) will keep the money for themselves. So year after year he continued back to the country of Nepal along with all volunteers mostly comprised of students and eventually formed the organization “Empower Nepali Girls” over time. There is more about his story, sex slavery and the organization on the website. I just thought it was pretty cool how his story all happened by ‘accident’ on a random trip to Nepal and shows the types of people we’re traveling with on SAS!!  www.EmpowerNepaliGirls.org       

 Love and miss everyone!!

P.S. I love emails :) exciting to hear from everyone and what they think!!!!

kmkout@semesteratsea.net