The last four days have been crazy. I had a presentation in my Comparative Politics class. I called a meeting for my group, twice. No one showed up. I did the whole presentation on my own, gave the people on my team pretty much lines (speaking parts) to recite during the presentation an hour before it was due, and we, according to the teacher had the best presentation. Haha. It was hard to pull off, but I love presentations. It was one of the more stressful experiences I have had, because I have never had such a bad group. One kid literally read his paper and never looked up, he even read, Thanks so and so when he was introduced from the previous speaker, and ended with For more on the budget, I give you so and so. He realized that he was supposed to say my name in place of so and so and instead of quietly realizing this, he immediately said, Fuck, my bad before I could cut him off and go into my part. Wow.
We also have had some interesting parts to my International Trade class. I wrote a scathing review of the teacher and then found out that instead of typing to the comments left by students like most schools, Semester at Sea just sends them to the teachers in the hand-written form. Problem is: My teacher knows my hand-writing from essay exams. Haha. I guess he will know that I said, One of the worst professors I have ever had. And, I just Semester at Sea for hiring this professor again and again (He has been on several voyages as a teacher.). So, it will be interesting to see if he keeps up with Jack and I after those remarks, because right after our reviews he told Jack and I how much he has enjoyed us specifically and wants to keep up with us. Haha. I dont regret it though, which might be worst.
The Shipboard Drive has been interesting. I got a scholarship to be here, so I wanted to give back some. So far, we have broken every record for the Shipboard Drive donations. Jack and I have brought some decent ideas, including, promoting the Drive through selling a study guide for the class that every has to take. We have the final for that tomorrow, and I swear, Jack and I are like mini-celebrities on the ship because of the 28 page study guide that Jack mostly prepared and I helped out on.
I was selected to give the speech at graduation on the ship on the last day. I am a little nervous for it, btu when I have the speech written I will post it, so you can read it too. I asked if Jack can do it with me too, so we will be giving a team speech.
The next three days are finals. Tomorrow is our common course, Global Studies exam, and then we have a study day, and finally our last two finals for our additional courses. Two more days after that of reflection, a promotion dinner and dance, and graduation, then we are homeward bound.
It has been non-stop on this ship with everything going on. I will try to blog as exciting stuff happens, but with finals, the shipboard drive, the speech, and some communications interview I have in two days, and Jack and I are both in the Global Ambassadors Program (so we may have some training on ship on promoting Semester at Sea on our home campuses). It is tought to find the time.
I am missing all of my friends and family back home. I am really missing some good food. Six more days. Much love to everyone!
