Middle of the Atlantic

It is Friday, June 20th and I am in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Just one week ago I was still in Rochester, getting ready to leave for the airport.

I apologize for not writing sooner. Needless to say, I’ve been busy meeting new people, adjusting to ship life, and starting classes.

I spent both Friday and Saturday nights in Halifax with a really nice group of 20 or so students, also doing Semester at Sea. Halifax was a neat little town. It is geographically and culturally centered around the water. All the locals were very nice. It was surprisingly very warm on Saturday afternoon but because of its proximity to water, the weather changes quickly. If you ever go, take a jacket.

Probably about half of the people doing SAS stayed at the Westin in Halifax, since Semester at Sea’s partner travel agency was able to reserve a lot of rooms at a reduced rate.

On Sunday, a lot of SASers were in the Westin lobby with their luggage waiting for their turn to board. It is done alphabetically by last name and since I’m an S I wasn’t due to board until 11 am. I was really surprised at how easy check-in was. First, you get a pre-printed nametag which also says your cabin number. Then you walk down the line to the next station where you are crossed off of a list. Lastly, you get a ticket with your room number on it for every bag you want to have delivered to your room instead of having to carry them.

There is a rigorous security check inside the port terminal. First, you give your passport to people who check it off of a list--I haven’t seen mine since. I’m glad SAS is holding my passport for me. I would lose my feet if they weren’t attached. Next, you put your “checked” bags on an x-ray belt just like at the airport, and then they are taken directly to your room. Meanwhile, you then go to the next security checkpoint where your “carry on” bags go through a different x-ray belt while you walk through a metal detector.

Then you finally board the ship! You walk up about 30 stairs and then go though the gangway security entrance which is where you enter the ship when it is in port. Then you are directed to the Union, where there are five or six check-in stations. One table involves your class selection where you receive your class schedule, another for your shipboard account where you can double-check that you have not been incorrectly charged for anything, and another for the Field Program where you have one last chance to sign up for any pre-sale trips that aren’t sold out. I chose to do an overnight trip for Turkey/Troy that I had read about. At another table you are given your ID card which also doubles as your room key. Then, at the last table, the SAS staff makes sure they have your medical form on file.

This whole process takes fewer than five minutes. Then you can go to your cabin, where your checked bags are already waiting for you!

I got to my cabin and was pleasantly surprised. I don’t know the exact dimensions, but despite the rooms being small, there is a ton of storage space especially if you don’t mind getting creative with it. All of the rooms come with a small TV and remote, a small fridge, and a hairdryer in the bathroom. The closet had about 20 hangers to split between two people but if you put a few items on each hanger you can definitely fit everything. There is also another cabinet next to the closet with a small electronic safe in it to keep your wallet and cell phone in. The beds are small but surprisingly comfortable. Also, there is a built-in desk, along with a small glass table.

Time for class--I have to get to Russia and the Problem of Economic Development, but I’ll try and write more soon.