Engaged in Spain!

Hello All! I'm finally able to post some pics and great timing because I'm engaged! Brian surprised me on the steps of a beautiful private church in Barcelona! He's so wonderful and I think I'm the luckiest girl ever! Take a look below at the few pics we got of the proposal.

A few quick details... I was with one person from Semester at Sea and a friend of hers who lives in Spain, who were both in on it. They wanted to go see this church (where Brian was waiting) and after I took some pics in front of it, I turned around and he was walking down the steps. I had been sight seeing all day, it was hot and sticky out, I was exhausted from about 3.5 hours of sleep the night before, and he was in a tux ;) It was wonderful and I've never been so surprised. Love you all.

Walking up, he's coming down...

Saying yes and putting on ring...

 

Terri, one of the helpers (who lives in Spain)...

And Amy, who's on SAS with me and helped Brian!

Very happy;)

I'm a lucky, lucky girl;)
-CC

First Few Days on the Ship

Sea Sickness-

Nope! For those of you who may be unaware, I get car-sick like a little child every time I ride in the back seat of a vehicle (right Hunekes?!). We are rocking, yes we are. But my pressure point wristbands that look like super sporty athletic bands (thanks Andrea!) are keeping me happy. I also took a Meclizine (motion sickness med) and am super sleepy but not sick. Success! (update: I have now taken off the sea bands and am just fine!)

Life Boat Drill (a.k.a. Roast in the heat for thirty minutes in long pants and sleeves, tennis shoes and orange life vests like a baked potato in tin foil with butter)-

Yep, we stood like sardines in tight lines of three, one in front of the other, for half and hour in silence. Apparently the captain was very pleased with our very little noise making and statue impressions and said we were “close to the best, if not the best group he’s ever had”. That’s right.

Poker-Shark

An informal poker game with the Lifelong Learners (participants over 40 yrs who audit classes, but the majority are over 75 yrs), Dottie and Janna (fellow Minnesotan!), led to a rousing final round with one of my professors. My negotiation professor, Galea, ironically began negotiating with other players who had already folded in our last hand (we were zonked and ready for bed) for their chips. He succeeded and I went all in, and lost. I knew I would but it was fake money so why not?! Tomorrow night we are apparently playing for real money and I’m really putting on my POKER FACE!

Minne-SOH-tAH

I am laughed at, at least ten times a day, for my accent. Is it really that bad?!

To the left, to the left

It is so funny to walk down the halls behind a group of people and watch as they sway from one side of the hallway to the other. The ship constantly sways back and forth. I don’t know why I’m so shocked at this, we are plowing through wavy seas, but it still gets me to see people walk from one side of the hall to the other, and not notice it.

I WON!

I won a free spa treatment today! My friend Adrienne and I went for a tour of the spa (yes, I said spa, it's ridiculous) and entered into a drawing for a free treatment. We walked back to our cabins and our prizes were on our doors! Wooooohooooo!!!!

They do EVERYTHING. They have steam rooms, massages, reflexology, hair (color/cut/karatin), mani/pedi, facial... it's crazy! There are some very wealthy students who we suspect use this often. We were laughing when we left that we'd never use the space, just dream of massages and steam rooms, but now we get something!

Thanks for letting me brag. I'm really excited;) We were laughing when we won because we think we may have been the only people who asked for a tour, meaning we may have been the only ones entered. Otherwise it's a huge coincidence we both won;)

In the Bahamas! Photos coming soon

First of all- My new email is >> caconley@semesteratsea.net

I made it on the ship, even though I threw away my immigration form I got when I arrived at the Nassau airport! We were never told we were supposed to keep it for getting on the ship, but they still let me on. Ugh. I hope I don't get thrown off! ;) It wasn't as bad as Ashley, a student in my program who wasn't even on the roster, anywhere! I felt so bad for her! The weird thing is she wasn't on the roster to get on the ship, but her picture was in the main hall with all the other pictures! Silly Semester at Sea. But she got on anyhow. THEN, right after we got on, we went up to the 6th deck, and my roommate, Kristina, opened her computer and it was all smashed up, the picture was fuzzy, etc. She had it in her suitcase and they totally threw the bag like it was a ragdoll and her computer took the blows. :( She's trying to get it fixed right now and it's taking so long I'm all unpacked.

I'm taking pictures of everything. I'm doing ok right now (emotionally) because we are so busy, but as I'm writing this (and listening to corny elevator love song music on my tv, as it's the only station I get right now) I'm a little more "cry face".  But I’m holding it together.

Students Have Arrived! Friday, June 17, 2011

I was lucky enough to work at student check-in this morning. I stood outside (in the heat, thought it wasn’t horribly hot today) and helped students in line with questions.  It was a great time to meet some of the students and even met two of the UST students on the ship!

I’m exhausted already and we still haven’t left port, but I’m not alone. We are all tired from long days of orientation and heat. I’m really enjoying getting to know the other people in my program and on the staff.

It’s such an interesting experience! Right now, I’m in the faculty lounge (really a swanky dance lounge with dance floor and full bar, though right now it’s just coffee) and there are two staff members working out on the ship deck right outside the huge windows, making me feel lazy for being inside and not working out. I am writing a paper (blog right now, but a paper before this!), though, am I just making excuses?

It’s paradise down here, but reality will set in today at 1700 (5 pm) when we set sail. I’m already seeing millennial behavior (<<Kate Boyle, I’m always keeping an eye out for my SA pieces:) with 350 parents who boarded the ship last night to tour and see where their students would be staying. It’s interesting to see many affluent families sending multiple students on one voyage. They were all great and really excited to hear all about the fun things we would be doing on the ship.

Well, I’m off for now! Bon voyage! I’ll be posting more often, and then loading photos at each port. I can not at this port because I am on the ship’s internet.

How is everyone doing in America?!

"Going Away"!

 (Abby, Caroly, Me, Royce, Jamie)

My mom wanted to get a few ladies together for a "going away" party this week. It was a blast! I had friends from high school, undergrad and grad school come, along with moms and family friends. I made (or should I say Carolyn and Heidi) food inspired by each country including Couscous, Pita/Hummus, and Croatian Fritters (Fritule). The three of us in our aprons below (Heidi, Me, and Carolyn).

This was a great way to say "so long" until September and I'll miss everyone! I still need to pack but that'll have to wait until Sunday. "So long" 'till next time!

CC