*Deep Breath*

Here it comes.

My emotions are swinging in a lot of directions...from excitement to anxiousness to enthusiasm to a little nervousness. The truth is, the beginning of the trip approached very quickly. And although I've gone over my packing and to-do lists ad nauseam, I don't feel done preparing. Maybe it's because these preparations have been on my mind for almost a year, and I've just gotten used to that feeling of ongoing planning. Or it could be because it's my first time preparing for a trip of this kind, and I feel like if I were to look at the whole situation and think "OK, I'm finally ready", a more experienced traveler would step in and say "wait, don't for get about [...]". I guess I'm as ready as I can be, and that'll have to be good enough.

Well it's time to fly. Here I go.

(Next post will be from the ship.)

How To Stay In Touch

There are a few good ways to contact me while I'm away:

I should have pretty reliable access to my email when I'm at sea. My address will be ijallekotte@semesteratsea.net .

If you feel so inspired, you can send me physical mail. Instructions and addresses are here. If you send me mail, I will bring you back something extra special from the country where the mail arrives!

Finally, I'll be able to read all the comments here. Thank you all so much for your messages, blessings, and well-wishes thus far! They mean the world to me.

Today's Progress

Before

After

Just Subtract 12

I'm keeping my watch on military time to try to get used to it.

It's now 0:32.