A Secret Unravels

I have a secret.

Ok. It's not that big of a secret anymore, but it's something that took weeks to plan and hours of coordination and deal-making to become reality. And let's just say it involves one of the most respected and cherished men on the face of the Earth. Know who I'm talking about now? Desmond Tutu, perhaps? Indeed.  Good work. So smart, you are.

I will not tell you what exactly is happening, however. Not yet. That's for a later day. Only a select few know as of yet. I will tell you this though: Archbishop Tutu is receiving a major award from the Republic of Ghana, and I get to be a part of it.

Once again- that's all I'll say.

The mysterious world of Ghana, Africa appears on our horizon tomorrow. Takadori awaits.

I will post soon.

Love, peace, and happiness to all. Thanks for reading. Miss you all.

Morocco: A Reflection on Adventure

Morocco- The simple, abridged version: IT FREAKIN ROCKED MY SOCKS.

The long, detailed version: Morocco was a cultural experience filled with adventure, excitement, and amazement. Words cannot describe what we felt. The previous post lightly touched on this. 

I will not bore you with too (take that word lightly) many words, as they cannot describe the scale of the adventure, but I will detail only the quintessential parts of the journey. They are what's most interesting In my opinion. I truly believe that good writing is concise writing (we'll see how that goes), and I'll try to do just that for this guy. 

Morocco was a whirlwind from the beginning. Have you ever been on a non air-conditioned train packed to the brim with people in a country with above 90 climate? I have. I thought it was only in movies. I stand corrected.

On September 10, twelve students and I embarked on a journey to Marrakesh, a major city dedicated to street fairs and haggling everything under the African sun. The journey, as mentioned before, started with a train ride. Because it was the end of Ramadan (Morocco is an Islamic country), the most holy part of the year, the trains were overbooked with people trying to get home to their families. Though seemingly a crappy situation, we actually had an incredible time on the train and made friends with a number of the locals. It was amazing. It's absolutely incredible how a language barrier can be broken with body language. English and Arabic are nothing alike, yet a simple smile makes everything understandable. It's beautiful how there is still a common human bond, and it involves more than just verbal communication. Emotions are the language of the world. Everyone understands emotion, even if you are from half-way across the world.

So why Marrakesh? Well, because the next day we were going to be heading out for a trek into the middle of the Sahara, and we just happened to leave from Marrakesh. But first, we checked out everything the city's market had to offer. It boasted everything from fresh squeezed OJ to snake charmers. It was complete chaos, something straight from Indiana Jones. A completely surreal environment, but I loved every second of it. People were yelling, screaming, demanding that you look at their products at every corner. Mopeds and cars whipped by with absolutely no direction or rules. Kids begged for change, swindlers sucked people into their shops, public boxing matches ruled the turf. All of this seemed to be in a space of only four square acres.  The scene was nuts.

The next morning, the real adventure began (9/11). We headed out to the Sahara, the forbidden land for outsiders. The land of scarabs, scorpions, and ancient spirits that ruled the desert winds. We went with a company called Sahara Trek, and their service was phenomenal. The first night ,we spent the night in a desert villa, a palace that kings would find worthy. We couldn't believe our eyes, and the fact that it was in the middle of the SAHARA FRICKEN DESERT blew our mind. Unbelievable, but absolutely amazing. A splash in the pool under the Milky Way complimented our stay.

In the morning, we mounted our camel and headed out into the dunes. For two hours we roughed the extremes of the Sahara, which just happened to be sunny, 100 degrees, and breezy. Ok, so it was fairly nice. Slight sarcasm, but we still endured the camel. Though my hips (please disregard my femininity) screamed at me at the end of it, I will never regret it. It was such a cool experiences. Every year, people in these Saharan villages are forced to make the 50 day camel trek to Timbuktu- just to buy clothes. That in itself is incredible. I can't even imagine how that was.

With all that said, we traveled to the different villages, most of sporting more donkeys as transportation than actual cars. Literally, we were blasted to the ancient world, with most using donkeys and livestock as their main form of transportation. In many cases, there would twenty donkeys at a time in a lot, waiting for their owners to return. We were speechless. 

That day, our tour guides prepared us for what would be the coolest part of our adventure. Later that afternoon, Habib, our local tour guide gathered us together, put us in his Land Cruiser, and tore into the desert at 90 miles per hour. Our destination: a nomad camp in the middle of the Sahara dunes. Habib was the reason for our incredible experiences. Words cannot describe this man- a combination of Dumbledore and Indiana Jones- the wisest of the wise, and a man raving for adventure. 

In the middle of the desert, Habib pulled the car over and started dancing to the music blasting from his speakers. Does the song "We No Speak Americano" ring a bell? If not, look it up. If so, blast it. Because this was our jam. It's the rage in Europe.... and Morocco for that matter. We let loose for seven minutes, not holding anything back. On the top of the car, on the ground, everything you could think of- we were dancing on it. Wait til the pics. Wait til the video. It was truly a dance club in the Sahara. Once in a life time experience.  And the best part? It was under the the influence of nature- nothing else. No alcohol is what I'm saying. It was one of the coolest things I've ever done.

We spent that night at the camp. Our back yard consisted of 350+ foot sand dunes, reaching as high as the eye could see. We climbed them- not an easy feat, but still an incredible adventure. We were also confronted with the sight of nomad children, four beautiful children wanting to sell their treasures to our group. Allie bought an item, and the rest of the children surrounded her. Both a blessing and a curse. Regardless, it was still an amazing interaction, one I'll remember forever.

That night, we slept amongst the stars- or so it seemed. We put our mattresses together, all 12 of us, and wasted away the night under the cosmos. I thought I'd seen the stars like that, but I was sorely mistaken. I will never see the sky like that again. I guarantee it. The edge of Milky Was was in clear view, Jupiter at our right. It was a glimpse into heaven. It sent chills down my spine. Still does when I think about it.

We awoke the next morning to a beautiful blue sky, one mixed with light and dark and blue. The day was making its debut as night was quickly falling into its slumber. The air fresh, the wind nil. Animal tracks dotted the sand. Scorpions, birds, cats, and dogs all made their mark. After getting up, we headed back to Casablanca- a 12 hour drive back to reality.

This trip was a great success, one I'll remember for the rest of my life. But it wasn't what we did that made it great. It was the people we met. As mentioned in the previous post, Habib, our guide made the experience greater than anything you can possibly dream. His partner, Brahim, was also a major part of the experience. Each wise in their own right, each richer than the kings of the Earth combined. They were not rich with possession, but rich with wisdom, passion, and spirit. I envy them. Our entire group did.

When Brahim was asked for three wishes of his choosing, he responded by saying that he had everything in his life that he needed. He wanted nothing else for it was already complete.

That is the beautiful answer of them all. It is selfless. For us in Western society, we'd want to have the world. We'd want as much as we could have. Sadly, that's our nature. But for Brahim, he was content with next to nothing. His life was complete because he was emotionally rich. His life was complete because of the relationships he had. It was not the pair of pants he owned that mattered, but the friends at his side and his family around table. I love that. If only out lives could be like that. 

Habib was exactly the same way, and then some. There is something very special about that man. I will not begin to describe him, as I know a thousand words will never do him justice. Just take my word for it. He made an impact on our life. Everyone in our group felt his power. That's all I'll say.

Right now, I must soon enter into slumber. It's roughly 12:30 AM. I have no sense of up, down, or all around. All I know is that we're steaming towards Ghana. By the way, I am using my portable alarm clock as a timekeeper. I bartered my 20 dollar watch for a fossil and a Berber figurine. Cool, eh? I'll catch yas all later.


Love, Peace, and Happiness to all. Thanks for reading. Love you guys. Email soon.

What You See is Human

I have done a lot of cool things in my life, but nothing on the same scale as this. I am truly blessed. Why am I so lucky? This is something I’ll be asking until the day I die.

For the past two days I, along with eleven other students, spent two nights in the middle of the Sahara Desert- a vast, dry tundra that spans over 80 million square miles in northern Africa. But it was more than just a simple stay in the desert. It was an emotional experience that I don’t think anybody other than those involved will ever be able to comprehend. It is something that we will never forget. From abruptly stopping our vehicle and dancing to techno music in the middle of the Sahara, to interacting one-on-one with beautiful nomadic children, we did it all.

We were lead by an Arab man named Habib, a wise soul who put his entire heart into making our experience something we will remember forever. Though we met him only three days ago, the group instantly fell in love with his charm, wisdom, and fatherly ways. The man has been through so much, things that we as a people from a first world country can never even imagine, yet he still let down his guard to share his world with us. We broke down a cultural and social barrier with Habib. He was more than a tour guide. He became a friend.

I tell you this because Habib is perhaps the soul reason for our incredible Sahara experience. Sure, we went out to the desert, but because we were lead by this incredible man, our experience was more than just superficial. It became emotionally and physically real, unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.  It all started with the disco party in the middle of Sahara. Habib, mid-drive, decided to pull over the Land Cruiser, get out, and dance to the music blasting from the speakers. We just let loose and let go of everything holding us back. It was amazing. All fifteen of us (Habib and crew included) acted like fools to a foreign techno song that none of us had heard ever of. It was spontaneous. It was fun. It was beautiful.

I’ve never felt more carefree in the world. The soul was liberated.

At first, Habib seemed like a large intimidating man whose robe and headscarf indicated an Arabian knight ready to fight to the death. But don’t be fooled. This tough facade masked an incredible man that made an impact so great that our group is dedicated to making it back one day to see him. 

I believe I truly felt what it was like to live these past two days. I stayed completely in the moment, and put aside all other worries and obligations in my life to experience what is. That present is the only thing at is real. That is the Power of Now- just as the book suggests. There is no need to look at the past- for it is the past and cannot be changed. And there no need to dwell on the future as it has not happened yet. The only thing that is real is the present. It is tangible. Make the most of it. Seize the day.

I realize I haven’t said a lot of what we actually did, and I can understand if you don’t really comprehend what I’m trying to say, but I just had to put this out to world.

I guess the biggest message from this is that I am making the most of the time we have over here. I thank God and my parents for this opportunity. I love you and thank you. You have given the world to me- literally. 

I titled this post “What You See is Human” because it is a key line in Dave Matthews Band’s song “Minarets.” Though not one his most popular songs, I invite you to listen to it. We are group from the other side of the world, yet our human connection with Habib and his men made that distance seem trivial. You see where I am going with this.

The title of the song is also fitting, as Minarets are the tower portions of Islamic mosques. Given that Morocco is an Islamic country, I don’t think this song could be more appropriate. Mosques are everywhere. Listen to it while watching the stars. I dare you. It’s awesome.

There is much more to come on actual activities, but for now I just had to get the emotions out. After all, they span over 48 hours… and they are still alive.

Shukran. Thank you to everyone.

Peace, love, and happiness to all.

Three days, and a Year's Worth of Adventure

WARNING: This post is rather long. Deal with it.

España. Words cannot really describe how awesome this country is. After arriving early in the morning on September 4th (as read in the last post), a group of us Semester at Sea students set out on an adventure that will be remembered forever. It was a whirlwind to say the least, but the incredible experiences we had made it all worth it.

(The Plans)

        Cadiz, Spain was our starting point. Getting tickets for the bus was a our first plan of action. There were six of us in total: Greg, Allie, Morgan, Olivia, Dallas, and myself. It was a solid group from the get-go. Because the train station was so close to the cruise ship terminal, our group walked and got tickets for a bus at 1500 (that’s 3:00 PM for you American regulars). Our final destination? Grenada, Spain- one of the oldest cities in all of Europe and the last stronghold of the Moor Dynasty. Upon getting the tickets we did what any person in their right mind would do- proceed to the first local bar we saw and get some of the local brew (“Cruzcampo” beer was the only beer anyone drank in Cadiz. Hell, that was fine with me! Give me the good stuff). Luckily, there was bar right in front of our ship. It couldn’t have been better. In the United States, it would have been considered a hole in the wall, but in Spain, this bar was a spawning ground for cultural exchanges. We were six American students sitting amongst eleven Spanish men. Needless to say, we didn’t say much to them, no pun intended, but it was a great way to get cultural immersion. English words were absent from every conversation other than our own.

We were officially in Spain…. and lovin’ it.

(Granada)

        After leaving the bar, we got on our five-hour bus ride to Granada. That’s right. FIVE hours. Typically a bus ride from Cadiz to Granada takes about two hours, but our route took us to Sevilla first, and THEN to Granada. For our group, this seemed completely counter-intuitive because we were heading to Sevilla two days later. But whatever. The bus ride was still sweet. We saw hours of beautiful countryside, everything from the never-ending rows of olive trees to spots of massive wind turbines. The landscape spread as far as the eye could see.  We passed a multitude of “white villages” along the way. These are small, centuries-old communities where every building is dressed in white- our logic being that they reflect the sun and ultimately keep the building cooler. Very smart.
While on the road, we met this awesome young man. His name was Clemont, and just happened to be from France and home of the infamous mustard- Dijon.  He was studying Industrial Sustainability in Madrid through a European Union program. The kid was awesome. He joined us in Granada and accompanied us on our treck through the city. From the Alhambra to nightlife, Clémon was there, and we loved it. In Granada the seven of us (Clémon included) stayed at “The Funky Backpackers” Hostel. Granted, it was my first hostel experience, but I could tell that this place was pretty cool. I mean, how can you go wrong with a Funky Hostel? I don’t think you can.  I mean, any hostel that gives you paella and sangria for free on your first night is pretty freaking cool.
        Staying at the place were three Australians, “Aussies” for short.  There names were Eddie, Eddie (aka Freddie for the time being), and Chris. They were hilarious and taught us Australian slang from words such as “boardies” to “snag.” Come talk to me if you want the  They had an entire conversation purely based on abbreviations and slang. Our group was blown away. It was hysterical.
         Amazingly, the three just met in the hostel, not knowing each other prior to ending up in Granada. That’s the beauty of hostels. You meet people from all over the world. There were French, German, British and Brazilian people all staying there. Most of them our age. We went out together and talked together. It was a community of strangers.
        The nightlife in Granada was great. We went to a few clubs and bars, had “tapas” out the wazoo, and met a number of other students studying abroad (including one from IC!!!!). But what about the day life? Now, that’s where the good stuff was. After a night of heavy “socializing,” we went to one of the most beautiful pieces of historic architecture I have ever seen.  We went to the Alhambra, the last stronghold of the Moors, a Muslim people that controlled part of Spain and were defeated (at the Alhambra) in 1492 by the Spanish Christians. Ever heard of it? I have never seen anything like it. It was a castle, palace, and fortress combined, all on a hill overlooking the beautiful city of Granada. It is truly the landmark of the city and symbol of Spanish history and conquest. 
        The Alhambra’s architecture paired with an incredible Islamic art riddled with precision and care is a major feat, even in modern standards. Every single wall of the Alhambra was meticulously hand-chiseled with Islamic symbols and characters. One again: every single wall was meticulously hand-chiseled with Islamic symbols and characters. It was absolutely breathtaking. To give you an idea of the Alhambra’s scale in size, it took our group four hours to see only half of the grounds. We were blown away. Though this does the monument absolutely no justice, here is the link to the Alhambra: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alhambra. Check it out. Pictures will come later. And, yes, they’re awesome. Just so you know.
        The city itself was also incredible. Truly a mix of past and present. It was a mix of ancient cobble stone streets and modern vehicles. I loved every second of it. The culture was alive. 

(Sevilla)
        Though we had some more awesome memories created, I’ll spare you more random pieces of information about Granada. After saying goodbye to our friends at the Funky Backpakers Hostel (especially Clémon), we made our way via train to the lovely city of Sevilla (spelled Seville in the US), and decided to change our living arrangements to a slightly different scene. We stayed a hotel. Scratch that, a “Palace.” The name currently escapes me at this time, but for approximately 102 euro, we were able to get a room for three people…. but ended up shoving six of us in there. Totally against hotel policy, but totally awesome at the same time. In total- seventeen euros a pop. Not bad at all.
        Like Granada, we went out and took in the scene.  On the first night, our group explored the city.  It too was an incredible city, and boasted one of the most beautiful river scenes I’ve ever seen- truly European, truly remarkable. Bars, otherwise known as “Cervesarieas” were scattered along the edge of the River Guadalquivir. We of course stopped at different ones, getting a taste of local sangria, tapas, and (most importantly) people. We also ran into fellow SASers and spent some time with them. It was good to see some familiar faces and hear some English from a different crowd…. But not too nice ;-)
        The next day, Morgan and I awoke early to see if we could catch our FDP (Field Directed Practica- a SAS sponsored fieldtrip) for Sevilla. We of course could not find the group, but that’s OK. We made it up in other ways. Because we got to the heart of Sevilla early, before any tourists arrived, Morgan and I got to experience something that not a lot of tourists have ever been able to say they’ve done. At the center of town stands one of the most magnificent pieces of architecture I’ve ever seen: The Catedral de Santa María de la Sede (Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Sea). Because we arrived early, Morgan and I were able to enter the building free of charge. In fact, mass was even going at the time, and the sound of the priests’ hymns echoing through the massive building made the experience come alive. I was alive with the Spirit. Not to get too preachy, but I could feel something more than just of the chill of the morning breeze. It as a feeling from generated from the inside. It was refreshing. It was beautiful. Morgan even had the same experience, and she claims to have never been a person of faith- one who often feels uncomfortable in places of worship.  Not this time. She said she felt there was a reason for her being there and that she was calm and relaxed- something she has never felt before. She doesn’t know exactly why. She just was. There is something comforting in that. 
        Starting construction in 1184, the building stands today as the third-largest cathedral in the world. Like the Alhambra, words cannot describe what we saw.  It is still mind-blowing to think that people had the power to create structures so magnificent back then. I can’t even imagine how they did it. But they did, and that is awesome.
        By the way, Christopher Columbus is also buried there. You know, the guy who found the “New World” in 1492. Yeah. That guy. Remember him? Not knowing this fact, Morgan and I literally stumbled across his tomb by mistake. Can you believe it? We were at a loss for words. I was stunned and literally felt like I could die. I could not believe my eyes. Sevilla truly is the gateway to the world...
        After seeing the cathedral, Morgan and I found our group and headed back to Cadiz by train. Our time in España was almost over. We spent our last night in Cadiz and simply relaxed and enjoyed the local attractions. The group was safely back on the ship by 1800 hours on September 8.

I finish this blog in the port of Casablanca, Morocco. Tomorrow- desert, camels, and stars for 2 days and 3 nights. Let the good times roll. Adios, Europe. Hello Africa.



Thanks for reading. Much peace, love, and happiness to you.
       

Espana. The First Frontier

I sit on the back of the ship, rubbing my eyes because we woke up only ten minutes prior.  It’s alright though, because land is within our reach.

“We are in the promised land. Finally,” as my roommate Greg would like to say. We’ve made it to Spain. We’ve been waiting eight days for this. Through waves, vomit, classes, meetings, and an onslaught of carbohydrates, we’ve made it.

I write this to you while sitting on the back deck, watching the port of Cadiz pass us by into the dock. At twilight, the city lights blend with the pinkish sky.  The buildings of Cadiz represent a beautiful history of Spanish conquest centuries old, to a city flourishing with progression and modernity.

It’s 7:30 in the morning. There is commotion on deck 6, with students pouring out to witness the docking. Everyone is up. Life has emerged from its slumber, yet a sliver of the moon is still present.

10 minutes later. And we’ve finally made connection with the dock. Cheers erupt! The 600+ students and Life-Long Learners are clapping in happiness! Land. It’s here. For some, it’s felt like months for this time come.

Espana. The first frontier- for MV Explorer that is.  I’m getting off the computer for now, but will update home in a couple days.

We’re traveling independently from between Cadiz, Granada, and Seville.  There are six of us: Dallas, Morgan, Greg, Olivia, and Allie. All of us on an adventure.

The brilliant orange sun is just beginning to peak over the mountains in the distance with a contrast of modern ships in the foreground.  I figure this is a good time to stop.

Adios for now. Hasta luego, friends.  Peace, love, and happiness.

!OLE!

Celestial Brilliance

I have never seen something more beautiful. Last night, student activities initiated one of the coolest events I have ever done in my life. Stargazing.

Though it may seem like a such a simple activity, the brilliance that I, along with several other students and faculty, witnessed cannot be described in words. At around 10 PM, the ship turned off the lights on the observation deck so that the entire sky was illuminated with stars as far as the eye can see. I have never seen anything more beautiful.

In period of 30 minutes, we saw five shooting stars, witnessed the entire Milky Way expand across the infinite sky, and viewed Venus radiate with an orange glow on the eastern horizon- dead ahead of the ship. We are in fact heading in the right direction. That much is clear. 

It was incredible. I have never seen anything like it. One girl even brought out her iPad on the deck, which had an app that when pressed against the open sky, it could tell you exactly where the constellations were, the direction in which you were heading, and the exact position of various celestial bodies. As the iPad was moved, the screen adjusted with you to show the different objects in the sky. The devise was essentially a window to the universe.

Technology continues to boggle the mind. What could possibly be next? I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Right now, still Spain bound- mid-Atlantic.

Peace, love, and happiness to all....

Life in the Fast (Shipping) Lane?

The M/V Explorer is the fastest ship of its kind in the world. Just so you know. Figured it be worth mentioning.

That said, we’re well over half way to Cadiz. Right now (to give you some perspective on how I spend my free time) I am sitting in my cabin watching the epic 1950s adventure “Abandon Ship.” It’s about an “around the world cruise” that ends up sinking after being struck by a sea mine and goes down somewhere in the Atlantic (Hmmm….. interesting thought). Only a few survive, and a man is required to take charge of the remaining group. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? Actually it’s not.

You might be asking: why the hell is he watching this? Well, I’m required to watch it for my Making Business Work class.  The course is taught by a named Steven Dickstein. He is self-proclaimed capitalist who apparently managed a Fortune 100 company sometime in his life. Sound familiar? Professor Dickstein wanted the class to watch the movie because there are apparently some elements of business within the story.  The only real thing I can get from it is “survival of the fittest” and that only the strongest (companies) survive. It’s natural selection.  There is also a major leadership component to the movie, but who’s counting. There was also "abandonment" of weak individuals for the sake of the strong. It was father "f-ed up." I take it that this was analogous to laying someone off? I guess you can think of it that way. 

It is such a nice movie.  Especially in the middle of the Atlantic.

Different professors require students to watch movies, so they work with the Institute for Shipbaord Education (ISE) to play movies at certain times on the TVs in all of the cabins. It’s actually very cool. Abandon Ship was on at  1700 (5:00) and 1900 (7:00) tonight. Babel is on next. Professors pick movies depending on the course material they may be presenting in class.

In lighter news, WE PASSED THE AZORES TODAY!!!!! At approximately 0830, the beautiful islands of the Azores came and went. Many of us swore we were looking at the big island of Hawaii. We were amazingly close too.; just a couple miles away. It was the first bit of land we have seen in 5 days. It was nice sight to see.

Everything else is awesome. Father Des is still kickin it, my roommate and I are still holding strong, and I continue to progress in meeting new people. Classes are also going well. I have faith I’ll do OK. It’s such a stressful environment here on the ship it’s hard to think sometimes   ;-)

We have put final plans together for Spain: Cadiz to Granada. Granada to Seville. Seville to Cadiz. This is all in a period of three days.

Any issues? Please let me know.  We arrive September 4th. TWO DAYS.

There are about six of us going. I’m stoked!! The only thing now is hostel reservations and we’re set.  That happens tonight. Get some.

I’d love to hear from you. My official email address is jsbagliere@semesteratsea.net.

Miss you all. God bless. Peace, love, and happiness.

Will talk to you guys soon.




*This was written last night, but am just posting it now. Cheers!