"Do you dream that the world will know your name? So tell me your name."
I dream often of the world. I study maps for fun. When I feel anxious, I quiz myself on country capitals. This semester gave me the opportunity to put memories to these names on the map. This globe is my home, and I am psyched to know more of its names.
So Kobe, Japan, this girl knows your name. She knows your Maritime Museum and rolled ice cream and temples. She knows your ferris wheel and music you play when ships come to berth.
So Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, this girl knows your name. She knows your wild traffic patterns and policies on homelessness. She knows your Irish pubs and sushi restaurants.
So Port Louis, Mauritius, this girl knows your name. She knows your sweet taxi drivers and tranquil tea plantations. She knows your world heritage sites and and waterfalls.
So Cape Town, South Africa, this girl knows your name. She knows your aquarium and she (unfortunately) knows your airport.
"Do you care about all of the little things or anything at all?"
In and out of class, I took care to notice of more of the little things surrounding me. I watched clouds move on the open ocean. I watched Sally's tai chi lessons make all of my lifelong learner friends come together and smile every day at 1600. I took time to notice my breath at meditation with Chris each morning. I cared to give a smile to John as I came into Global Studies. I happily grew to know my sweet roommate Courtney as we learned each other's routines and mannerisms. I watched the sun rise as I ate oatmeal with Sean each morning. This semester gave me such encouragement to notice about all of the little things and care about their existence.
"I want a sunburn just to know that I'm alive, to know I'm alive."
We spent four days on the Equator crossing the Indian Ocean. I believe this one explains itself.
"Don't tell me if I'm dying, because I don't wanna know."
The coronavirus really wrecked our semester. It first became a problem in Japan when we were told a new virus was spreading in China and that we would no longer be going to Shanghai. Since then it has exploded to every part of the world. It changed our itinerary 13 times over the course of 2 months in which we ended up skipping 9 of the countries that were in the itinerary at some point and going to 4 we had originally planned. We never looked forward to an email from our Dean, because we knew it was just a little more of our semester dying. So beyond the coronavirus for us, don't tell us if more of our semester is dying, because we didn't want to know.
But goodness how grateful I am for the life that each person gave to me throughout the semester we did have. My shipboard community is luminous and life-giving. They are encouraging and flexible. They are beautiful and kind. I am so lucky to have travelled with all of them when I did.
"Don't wake me cause I'm dreaming of angels on the moon, where everyone you know never leaves too soon."
I sat on Deck 7 one of my last nights on the ship, just noticing the life happening around me. The professors and lifelong learners laughing at the Fritzs behind me. The waves gently rolling by. The people from fancy dining coming to take pictures in the moonlight. My professor dancing with her husband while music plays. I just kept thinking, "I'm dreaming. This life is an absolute dream." I never wanted to wake up. The tranquility of the ocean met with the unbelievability of where I was became too good to be true. Despite the chaos of this world, when people leave too soon and go their separate ways, there is such peace in dreaming and seeing the tranquility in small moments like staring up at the moon.
"Do you know that every day is the first of the rest of your life?"
My professor Dr. Sue sang to us a song on the first day of class called "the Greatest Adventure." It's from the 1977 soundtrack of the Hobbit, so I don't know if I loved it so much because of that or because of the lyrics ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Anyway, the song tells us our greatest adventures are the ones that lie ahead, and that is so true. Although my greatest adventure thus far has ended much too soon, there are so many new, beautiful adventures that await me here back home. So today is the first day of the rest of my life, filled to the brim with sweet adventures. I can't wait to see what else the Lord has planned for me.
"You can tell me all your thoughts about the stars that fill polluted skies."
The people on this ship were some of the most brilliant and thoughtful people I know. There were several nights when we would stay up talking politics and religion, and several other nights debating gummy bear brands and tea flavours. Our classes provoked our conversations about communication, poverty, culture, homelessness, development, consumption, happiness, pollution, sustainability, the oceans, and the world. I have never felt more comfortable with such a lovely group of people talking about all of my thoughts about politics, religion, communication, happiness, sustainability, or the stars that fill polluted skies. Goodness, I miss them.
"Don't tell me where the road ends, because I just don't wanna know."
The road (or, water?) has ended on my semester at sea. Did I want to know this road ended in South Africa instead of the Netherlands? Of course not. But through the sadness of leaving my friends much too soon, I am so thankful for the people, lessons, and world Semester at Sea gave to me.
I am sure this won't be the last time I'll be writing trying to reflect on this insane semester. For everyone following along with these updates, I'm safe and sound at home in Kentucky in quarantine. Thank you for reading along during my adventures.
All my best,
Alarah ♡
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