Update For Y?all on the Mainland?

So this is my second attempt at writing this second update.  I had written a pretty lengthy one last night, but unfortunately my email had timed out and it kicked me out without sending and OF COURSE without saving.  I am now copying and pasting from Word, so as to not run into this problem again.  Here goes. 

        I am currently sitting on the ship in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  We are not able to disembark though as this stop is for refueling only.  O well.  For those of you wondering if this is just some pleasure cruise, we did have a full day of classes today.  My oceanography course will be very hands on and I am greatly looking forward to some of the activities that will go along with that.  The professor teaching my religion course is interesting to say the least.  He’s a die hard Star Trek fan (kudos there, right?) and a practicing Zen Buddhist.  I am looking forward to the various topics and speakers I will be exposed to on the voyage.  I just got out of my digital storytelling course.  When a poll was taken of our class to see who had ever edited video before, only 4 out of the 23 of us had, so I’m not too concerned with the expectations here, though I am looking forward to further developing my creative technique.  My sociology course will be especially interesting because I have signed up for various service projects in the different ports led by my professor.  What better way to grasp the socio-economic needs of a country than to get in and serve the people in need? 

        Aside from class, I’ve been meeting a ton of new people and introducing myself to more at each meal.  I’ve been hanging out with a guy named Benson, who’s from Palos Verdes and lives across the hall.  We have a class in common and have been meeting friends together.  The thing I miss and will certainly continue to miss the most is the familiarity of a best friend, of being surrounded by people who know me best.  But I am also looking forward to this experience to grow and stretch my ability to represent myself and my God.

        I’m still getting used to walking up and down the halls, and last night got pretty rough, so I may have a few bruises.  Ha ha.  We will be arriving in Salvador Brazil in one week.  I do not have any trips planned for Brazil, but I have found others who are looking to explore independently as well. 

        Can’t wait to share more of my experiences with you all.  And though blogging is very therapeutic, its nice to know there’s an audience out there somewhere;-) So thank you all for your prayers and thoughts, I appreciate the support more than you know.  “The lives that have been the greatest blessing to you are the lives of those people who themselves were unaware of having been a blessing.”-Oswald Chambers

-mason

PS- Email me at mtschroder@semesteratsea.net...its free!!!