08/30/2012
It is 11:43 pm here in Atlantic, still moving to Ireland. Finally, we will arrive Galway, Ireland tomorrow August 31, 2012 at 8:00 am local time. I have field lab for Drawing at Sea class. Tomorrow, we will draw picture of many beautiful places in Galway, Ireland. I am excited!!!
August 25, 2012
Now, it is 6:52 am US Eastern time, and 7:55 am here in the middle of the Atlantic. I woke up at 7:15 and took a shower. I am almost ready for my first class. Oh! Man the ship is shaking. I am feeling unbalanced walking down the hallway. I look around and other passengers are also doing it.
Finally, I get into the Ecology class; my first class in the ship. Despite little seasickness, I am excited to experience my unique classroom. In this class, we talked about energy afterreferring the syllabus. Since, I lost my baggage, I did not have textbook with me. After approximately 1 hour, at 9 am my class ends. Now, It is time for the second-class, Global studies. My lack of balance gets worse and I feel very uncomfortable during this class. My head was shaking. I was seasick, though that wasn’t only me. I try to concentrate to lecture when professor was talking about top ten populated nations. I believe they are China, India, USA, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Russia, and Japan. Since I was a little sick, girl near by my seat helps me with notes.
After completing Global Studies, I come down to my cabin. I take nice nap. After an hour, I moved out of my cabin and head towards information desk to ask about my baggage. The lady said chief James is not available at the moment so, I went to lunch. That means I did not eat breakfast, right? Well, I had good lunch.
Next I moved to cabin 6 to find someone for joining extended family. Extended family is like finding Life Long Leaners and become part of their family on ship. I find this is interesting. However, I do not find person who is responsible for this program. So, I need to find her may be later or tomorrow.
Then, I went to deck 6 to view ocean and chill out. It is so cold there; I miss my jacket! it is in my bag(which is missing). I moved down to SAS shop, and look for one hoody. On it is written SAS global education, and one t-shirt with all names of countries I am going to visit. It cost me around $64.
I go to process the purchase and I discover my SAS ID card is missing, which is very necessary in Ship to enter my room, or purchase anything in the ship. Oh! God, now another problem? Give me a break…I look over all possible places but do not find it. I went back to my cabin, my roommate Denial was sitting outside. I ask him key (his SAS ID card) to enter the room but he also left his card inside. I run to information desk and ask for temporary card. The lady there charges me 1 USD. I bring it andenter my room to search the ID card. I do not find it. All right. That is fine then. I went to information desk again to ask for help. Lady told me they would inform me, if they find it. Okay! She said I could hold on to this temporary ID card for 3 days. If not found, I need to get a new one, which cost another 25 USD. I came back to my room, search again but do not find it. Oh! Yea. I forget to mention about my conversation with Chief James. I talked with him about my missing baggage. He told me he hasn’t got any update from the agent yet. Still missing! I hope I will find my SAS ID card and my bag.
August 23, 2012
It is around 12:20 am, when I arrived in Halifax, NS, Canada. It took approximately 1:30 hours to get out of the security check. I went to luggage claim and found out that my luggage is missing. I filled the application and asked them to search my luggage. After a while, I took a taxi and arrived in my Hotel in Halifax at around 3 am. I rested for 5 hours and got ready to embark. Wait, I was not ready. I was missing my bag, so I called to US Airways in Halifax and asked about my luggage. They replied, it is not found yet. The lady there talked about leaving a note to the baggage department. My hotel roommate called me and said, “They said you have to come now to embark even if your luggage is missing,” I decide to embark without luggage. I took a taxi; there was a driver from Pakistan. I had a good conversation with him. Finally, I reached the Halifax port, from where our ship was going to embark. I stay for half an hour for security check and get inside the ship. I was excited; I was not even stressed about missing luggage. This is what I had been waiting for long time!
Unfortunately, I am facing another challenge, traveling without my luggage. Well, I am here for adventure! So, No big deal! Still my warm clothes, shaving machines, camera stand, books and other more important stuffs, are still missing. Luckily, I have one small carry on luggage and backpack. I have 3 sets of clothes, one pair of shoes and socks, slippers, some medicines and other basic stuff. I went to the Staff Office and asked for help about my luggage. They promise me to keep track of my luggage. My roommate enters the room. I introduce myself to him. He was like, “How’s going on man?” I was like “I am fine, but I am missing my luggage.” “ Don’t worry it will be delivered to our room later.” I was like “no man, I am missing it from the Airport.” He was like “Oh! No. What you going to do now?” I replied, “I have no idea.” He told me, “dude, you can use my stuff anytime man, sorry about your luggage,” I said thanks, though I was not worried about my clothes, there was more other stuff.” He replied, “sorry man. Well, we will figure out.”
We leave Halifax at 4:55 PM. I walked out of the room with my new roommate Daniel. We wave our hand and say good-bye to Halifax. Seriously, I do not know whatHalifax looks like. I was in such a rush. It was very nice to see all smiles and excited faces on ship. Everyone was so proud to be on the ship. It was such a great environment that I am unable to explain it in English. It was wonderful.
08/22/2012
Sitting on waiting room of U.S Airways, Gate B6, in the Philadelphia international airport I feel like to start writing my journal. Well, I don’t have anything else to do besides sleeping on the chair. I sat quietly almost 4 hours; it is exactly 9:12 PM now. Today, I arrived Philadelphia international airport at 2:05 PM, taking in mind that I have flight from Philly to Halifax, Canada connecting in NewYork at 4:08. But my flight is canceled. So, I started waiting for next flight, which is at 8:20 PM with a different airline. Unfortunately, again the fight to Halifax is cancelled, and it turned out that I needed to wait almost 3 more hours. I am stilling waiting while writing this journal.
I know everybody in my home is thinking that I already reach Halifax, NS, Canada. For some reason, I haven’t called home yet. Actually, I don’t want them to worry now. Anyways, I plan to call them whenever I get into the plane. I did a lot of waiting and I am truly tired.
Yesterday, August 21, I was in Washington DC. The story about collecting all visas in time is even worse. To be honest, I was not sure about going to Halifax before I get Visa from Argentina Embassy. On August 16, I had conversation with Visa and Passport agency “Travisa Service,” The person from Travisa told me that they are not able to process my Argentina visa, and just 5 days left. At eleventh hour, I called Argentinian Embassy, and consultant general told me that it is too late to apply for visa. I begged her with strong request. After listening my request, she asked me to send documents just to try without being guaranteed. Till then, it was not too bad. I was thinking that I could still sail without Argentina visa. I said myself that, “it is fine if I miss one country and yes I can still travel others.” BUT Semester At Sea informed me I wouldn’t be able to sail without Argentina visa. It turns out like Argentina Visa is very important to be able to sail and I don’t have that. Now, my heart starting beating even faster. I feel my cold sweat around my forehead and all over my body.
“What about my dream to sail around the world, my preparation from last 8 months. Furthermore, my family and friends were all sure that I am sailing and they were helping for my preparation. I was working so hard to get all visas. I had got almost all visas spending all time and money. Even TRAVISA was supposed to take care of my visa, I was working too hard for that. Since, I do not have a real passport, I mean I just have Travel documents, it was long process to get verified by Embassies. I have spent more time getting visas than studying for summer classes. Even more, to get travel document was very stressful. Getting all those visas on travel documents, sending embassies documents they required. I cannot explain how much time, attention, and money I contributed to get all visas. Moreover, I was about to loose $28,000 scholarships by not attending this voyage. It was just a few days before that I was celebrating the honor ceremony organized by the National Society of High School Scholars. I was awarded a full tuition fee scholarship to attend Fall 2012 Semester At Sea. Most of all, I was risking my dream-to visit all around the world.
Next day, August 17, again I calledArgentina embassy but they did not picked up my call. I wrote almost 3 emails and got no reply. What should I do now? “I am not going to Semester At Sea and achieve my dream?“ Oh! God! It was 7 pm when Marta Salsa, Argentinian consultant respond my email. She asked me to request Semester At Sea to send notarized documents stating that I am verified for semester at sea mentioning all detail information about semester At Sea. I emailed to Semester At Sea, and late on that day, they were able to send email to the consultant general attaching all notarized documents. But later I got another email from Argentinian consultant general asking me to request SAS to send original documents. It was Friday, and my flight to Halifax is on Wednesday. Is it possible that I am going to get my Argentina visa? In fact, the Argentina embassy office is closed on Monday. So, They have only one day towork for my visa, the 21st of August, the day before my flight. However, I decided to visit the Embassy on the 21st even if they did not schedule my appointment. I contacted the helpful sister of the helpful person Dr. Robar. Mrs. Elizabeth lives in VA near by Washington DC. She is the sister of one of my professors Dr. Robar from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. I had spent 5 days with these wonderful people in addition to the nice lady Dr. Weber. These three awesome people helped me to apply for the Uruguay visa and attend the NSHSS honor ceremony for me. Yes, I contacted Mrs. Beth who worked for DHS. I asked if I could stay one more night in her house to collect my visa from DC. She is wonderful and she gladly welcomed me. I am very thankful to her and Dr. Robar, who helped me a lot. On the 20th I took a megabus to Union station, Washington, DC. Mrs. Beth picked up me and showed me the directions for the next days work. That night, I did not sleep at all!!! Words played in my mind, “tomorrow will decide what I am doing in next week”. However, I did not lose my hope, even though I was stressed. I decided to let the future unfold. After waiting hours laying in bed, it was time for me to get up without getting any real sleep. I went with Mrs. Beth to Washington, DC. I took metro and went to TRAVISA office to get my travel document before I went to get the Argentina Visa. After getting back my travel document from Travisa, I took metro again to go Argentina embassy. They will decide whether I can go on my voyage!! There was line in consular office. I sit in the waiting room and wait to talk with receptionist. Well, some how I did not get chance to talk with her. However, I was checking mail in my phone, hoping Mrs. Marta might respond my email. Yes! I got email from consular general Mrs. Marta. She wrote, “you are schedule for interview today at 11:30 am.” Now, I got some hope but still not sure about getting visa today. I went to Subway for breakfast/lunch because I had some time to spend. After lunch, I went back to Argentina Embassy. After waiting for bit, someone called my name. Absolutely, it is Mrs. Marta. I gave her my travel document and green card. She asked me to wait bit, and become ready for interview. I wait till 11:35 and she called me for interview. I did an interview with a lady, I guess she is the Argentinean ambassador. I was so worried I do not remember her name and position. She was very nice to me, She asked about the reason for my visit and about myself. I told her my story, my reasons and about Semester At Sea. Finally, she said, “Everything is perfect.” Still I had a question on my mind,” Am I getting my visa today?” She answered my internal question by saying “Mrs. Marta will help you to get your visa today.”
Thank god!!! I am so happy! I cannot control my happiness. I thank them a lot. I got my visa and went back home. I was home at 2:00 am of 22nd August. I have flight on same day later. I ate something, took a rest for may be 3 hours. All my family wakes up to say me good-bye. My dearest elder brother in law, Mr. Raghu Pyakurel came early in the morning to drop me to the Megabus station. My dad, my sister Khina, Raghu vena, my Uncle Phoj prd., all went with me to the bus station downtown early in the morning. The bus headed to Philly at 6 am and reached Philly at 1 pm. My elder brother’s friend Mr. Kafley helped me to get in the airport from bus station. And I was waiting for my flight since 2 pm.
