North Hawaii News article

http://northhawaiinews.com/news/semester-at-sea-experiencing-a-worldwide-adventure-in-four-months.html

I'm home. Did that all really happen?

I hope you all figured it out by now that I'm home. Got home on May 10th from Cali. =] I got to thinking today that I've done a lot for those 4 months. I've seen a lot of things and people, heard a lot of stories, learned a lot about the world, sailed thousands and thousands of miles, and met amazing people both on and off the ship. I've been him for at least a month and a half and it's normal and weird being home at the same time. The rocking of the ship (sometimes too much) is gone. No more NOT knowing what time of the day it is by being in Cabin 3313. No more waking up to the sound of waves crashing against the bow of the ship. No more tanning on Deck 7 Pool Deck for 45 minutes just before I have to go into work. I now have fast internet, unlimited internet access, video chat, calls, texts, and voicemails. If I wanted to find someone, no more calling their cabin directly or searching the entire ship for them only to find them back at their cabin or in a hiding spot, studying (Chelle). No more Jessey or Will barging into Ashley's and I's cabin unannounced to just talk story, see what we're doing, procrastinating on studying/homework, and sometimes even falling asleep in our beds. O_o No more time changes! This one I am completely thankful I don't have to experience anymore (until I get on a ship again at least). My regular ship schedule is gone; my schedule of waking up for A or B class days , then eating lunch with wonderful people, talking for a couple hours and then going to work at the Activities Desk where I talk story and do sometimes nonsense tasks with Emily or Nidhi. I'll miss talking story with Dean Saunders and Kelly and getting teased by the Hotel Director at least every week. No more buying $20 phone cards for 13 minutes to hear Zoey's voice. I've learned from professors that teach at MIT and Cornell. I would have never had an opportunity like that if I didn't go on Semester at Sea. It was an honor and privilege to learn from them. Some of the most intellectual professors I might ever have. Learning about current issues in the countries we visited as well as issues in the US.

^^^I could go on and on about things I'll miss, but those are just about things I'll miss about the ship.

I've met people who had to walk hours just to grab drinkable water. This is what their "working day" consisted of and they may do this almost every day of the week. Never mind working for money. They're working to stay alive. I've eaten meals that cost $2, but in the US it would've costed me $15 and $2 was what people would consider pricey. On this trip, I've seen more kids than adults begging for food and money. I've seen kids snatch food from a white girl's hands and then continue to fight over it. I've seen many kids trying to sell various items just to make a buck or two the entire day. I've seen hundreds of kids smashing and stepping on kids smaller than them, just to get a mini plate lunch I had in my hand. I've seen modern day slavery. I've seen many sad things, but I've also seen many inspiring, hopeful, and happy things. I've seen many people who are less fortunate be happy with way LESS than what I have. They are playing with toys that they made on their own, toys that their mom and dad didn't have to buy at a department store. They are smiling and laughing with us travelers that are experiencing their country, most times, for the first time. There are girls who are fortunate to be alive.

Again, I could go on and on about the things I saw in all of the various countries I've been to, but no amount of talking story and showing pictures will even let you get a glimpse of what I experienced in those mere 4 months. Notice I could talk about all the happy things I'll miss, but it's harder for me to recall the hardships I've seen. Not that there aren't that many, there are. I I hope that everyone who has the opportunity and the determination has the chance to travel. Maybe not in the same setting I did. A ship for 4 months is a bit out there, but going to countries you wouldn't normally go to, not countries that are common such as Europe or tropical destinations. Go to third world countries. Even if it's just for a week and you'll see what I'm talking about. Especially being a girl, you will cherish the life you live even more. If I was born in India or China, I might even be here today, or I may not even have been born. After a overwhelming trip like I had, you will stop to think what you have more and more.

CHALLENGE yourself to do what you think you can't or couldn't. You never know till you whole-heartedly try.

I double dog dare you to see the world for what it is.

Miho =]

4/20 #2

It's 4/20 once again! We're crossing or we just crossed the
International Date Line! I'm now 2 hours BEHIND Hawaii! It's now only 4
days till Oahu and 5 days till Hilo!

Miho =]

First 4/20 done!

Its about 11:42pm but before I go to bed right now I have to advance my clock forward an hour so it would technically be 4/21 at 12:42am, but we're crossing the international date line later tonight so we turn the the date back one day! On to the second 4/20!

Happy Groundhog day!! =]

Miho

Sent from my iPhone

Two April 20ths!?

Yup! I'll be living a day TWICE! We'll be crossing the International
Date Line so we relive a day and I'll be 2 or 3 hours BEHIND Hawai'i! =]

Two 4.20s?! Probably a bad idea...but we'll be out in the middle of the
Pacific!

Total this year, I'll be living 367 days of the year! It was a leap
year, plus a second 4/20!

Miho =]

P.S. I know I still haven't posted what I did in Vietnam, China, and
Japan. I'm still swamped with papers! A 4-5 page one due tomorrow with
presentation, another 5 page one due the day after, then another one a
couple days later, and the last one due on April 22nd. O_o

Anthropology of Food Blog Entry on SAS website

Here's the link for an article that's on my Anthropology of Food class.
I was interviewed for the article! =]

http://blog.isevoyages.org/2012/03/23/culture-cuisine-and-the-anthropology-of-food/

I'm on my way HOME!

=]