Roaming the streets of Galway and Dublin…

We got to Galway on August 31st bright and early. I woke up around 6:30 am to see us come to land, because lets face it, after a week at sea, land is really, super, exciting. The morning was pretty rushed with people trying to get into their groups for field labs and trying to find their "travel buddies" but Emily, Carrie, and I finally got together and got in a life boat. Then we headed to shore. "Tendering" as people call it, was actually not as scary as it looked with the huge waves and wind. I don't know, maybe I was lucky it wasn't too windy.
Once we got to Galway we found our hostel on Quay street. Carrie and Melanie (who was meeting up with us later) were staying with me at Barnacles and we had a room full of sas people. Had so much fun that night. We went out to a couple pubs and met up with a huge group of people. Galway was absolutely gorgeous. The buildings are all painted different colors, there are dogs everywhere, and the people are so friendly! We went to this amazing little bakery on quay st. I had some of the best food...
The next morning Melanie and I woke up early to meet up with Emily at her hostel (she was staying down the street). Then Emily, Yadu, Carrie and I decided to go to the cliffs of Moher.
They were stunning and I am so happy I decided to go. I don't think I have ever seen something so beautiful. While it was raining and windy and almost miserable, I had a great time there.

Shark Week, Packing, and Honey Boo Boo

Four days till Canada! I'm starting to think of all the things I will and wont miss... for example I'm gonna miss the season finale of Pretty Little Liars, but I wont miss the 115 degree weather. I will miss my netflix account but I wont miss the dust burning my eyes almost every time I leave the house. I most certainly wont miss how people call the dust storms Haboobs. I don't care if that IS the correct term for the storms, it's stupid. Oh and I probably wont miss recruitment with my lovely sorority, though I'm sure they'll do just fine without me. :)

I'm trying to go through my packing list but I keep flipping back and forth between Honey Boo Boo and Shark Week. If you don't know who Honey Boo Boo is I don't know whether to be jealous of you or feel sorry because you must live under a rock. "Dollar make me holla Honey Boo Boo"... sound familiar? 

Anyways, I've been trying to think of some things mom and I can do while in Halifax. She needs a break (if you read this, You need a break). So I've found some wine tours and some nice restaurants and such. I'm really excited!

I'm starting to get annoyed that it's only thursday and I leave Monday. Shark Week and HBB are helping distract me from nervously picking the nail polish off of my nails. (I can't believe I just abbreviated that...) 

Note on Shark Week: Great White sharks are amazing and I can't wait to go cage diving in Africa with them!.... Although the biting and other shots on this show are starting to disturb me. 

I don't know what I'm going to do when I'm on the ship and tv is no longer an option for boredom and I can't pack all my books because that would take up more space than my two duffle bags. 

I'm sure that everyone on board will be interesting and fun so I wont have to worry about being bored. I hope... 

This post is pointless but I guess I'm just so excited to leave that I can't help but write about it. 

YAY! FOUR DAYS! 

Write more later..<3

-A

I don't usually do blogs

I'm turning twenty in two days and then a short twenty-something days later (twenty four to be exact) I'll be leaving for Canada. I don't exactly remember when I heard about Semester at Sea, I mean I remember seeing those obnoxious posters in the LL building after French class, but honestly I always thought that it was for people that knew how to sail. Like, hard core sail. Like throw up the sails, aye aye Captain, kinda exploration thing. Who knew SAS was this fabulous cruise ship turned student university that I was going to be on come fall 2012 my junior year?
I always tell myself I can do anything I want to do. So far I have. I don't think there has ever been an instance where I've wanted to do something so bad and I've failed at it. Well except for riding a bike. Still haven't gotten that down. Maybe that makes me a brat (not the riding a bike thing, the getting everything I want thing), I don't know, some people think so. I think it makes me headstrong. Some people think that's the same thing as being a brat. Screw them. I'm gonna go travel the world.
There's this quote about being in your twenty's that goes something about how they're the best years of your life, your selfish years. Something like that. I'm starting my twenty's off with a bang. Ireland here I come!

With only a couple weeks left before I leave for four months I've been scrambling like mad to get everything done. You'd be amazed at how much stuff you have to do in order to leave the country. And how much everything cost! It's completely insane. Yet for some reason I can't get my lazy ass out of bed. I've mostly packed up my apartment, yet you'd be amazed at how much clothing I have. Well, maybe you wouldn't be amazed if you actually knew me...
Today it's 106 degress and slightly humid. I love when people take pictures of the weather report on their iphones and post it on facebook. Absolutely LOVE it. It's not like I don't know how hot it is outside. It's not like I can't just walk outside and be like Holy Crap I can literally fry an egg on the side walk today and I have to move all my stuff in this weather. So for all of my lovely, wonderful friends on facebook who like to be weathermen: screw you.
I know I'm going to look back on this and laugh at myself. I think this summer heat is getting to me. Arizona summers are the all time worst. My mom keeps telling me, "just wait till you get to Africa".

I can't wait till I get to Africa...

-A