Arrival in Cochin, India

Jess arrived in Cochin, India to celebrate her birthday.   She was anxious to tour Agra to see the Taj Mahal.   Unfortantely her friend was not able to join her due to class schedules.   She apparently has gotten some additional responsibility related to the "Balloon Club."  Below is her email to me.

Hi Dad,

So you probably talked to mom and I'm really sorry to do this to you, but I need your input/help for India again.

So when you booked me the flight my intention was to go with Jordan, but 8:00 p.m. is too early for him because he has a field lab for a class/he may not got to Delhi at all. That said I was told by everyone that traveling alone in India is not good,  Especially being a girl getting there at 11:00 at night with no hotel. I'm only expressing this concern because I've heard multiple horror stories. My friend Kelly, who is on the ship, has a friend who was kidnnapped in India when she took a cab alone and was held for ransom for 2 days.

I'm not trying to be dramatic, but everyone I have talked to has said that India is one if not the worst place to travel alone in out of all of the ports. That said, if there is any way you could help me either a) help me get a hotel room near the airport or b) if it is possible to cancel the flight - there is plenty to do in southern India, by Cochin.

I would love to see the Taj Mahal and northern India, but I would only have one day and transportation is terrible so what do you think I should do?

Thank you. I'm so sorry to be a pain in the butt, I know you already booked the flight- but I was hoping to go with Jordan. I want to experience all of India, but would also a) like to see the country without being rushed through everything and b) don't want to die.

Also If the flight cant be cancelled, I am going it is only a matter of seeing if there is a hotel/ maybe getting in earlier when it is a little safer since i wil be alone/ getting a later one that Jordan could get on.

THANK YOU AND SORRY--IT WAS NOT MY INTENTION TO DUMP THIS ON YOU

Sincerly,

Jessica L. Coder

VP of Balloon Club, Spring 2013 Voyage, Semester at Sea

She will be exploring Southern India around Cochin and not traveling to Agra. We have heard Southern India is is a lovely part of the world.   Perhaps we will do a family trip to Agra to see the Taj Mahal.

Signed:  The Grouch

Life at Sea

The below paragraph and link are from the official SAS website.   This is a brief video from last fall's voyage of what life is like for the semester.   I hope you enjoy it.



"Have you ever wondered what it is like to sail on Semester at Sea?  How do classes work? What are cabins like? Where do you  eat? Is there a place to study? How does the community form on the ship?  Watch this informative video to get a glimpse into what life is really like life onboard the MV Explorer, the most unique college campus in the world. Filmed in beautiful time-lapse over the Fall 2012 voyage, follow the journey of students, faculty, staff, lifelong learners and the crew as they embark on a journey around the world."    http://vimeo.com/60493174

Signed:  The Grouch

Burma

I just received word that Jess has departed Burma and received the below email:

"Hi dad, I am leaving Burma today. I had a really good time. Our group hired a tour guide while we were there and it was a good idea because he took me everywhere i wanted to go. We went to remote villages which comprises of 5 stick huts together, we went to 2 orphanages, and I went to an elephant camp and got to ride them. We also saw that shewdagon pagoda in Yangoon. It has been one of my favorite ports even though it is 100 degrees, lots of stray dogs, and its kind of stinky."

Once photos are received (it could be in April) I will share.

Signed:  The Grouch

Reflections on Vietnam & Cambodia and Field Lab in Hong Kong

We are not getting much word from Jess.   We are assuming that she is having a wonderful experience and does not have time to send updates or is simply having technology problems.   Below is a link from SAS Official site regarding Student Reflections on Vietnam and Cambodia, and Field Lab in Hong Kong.   It taks a little time to load.   Please be patient.  I hope you enjoy it.

http://vimeo.com/60464909#t=198

Signed:   The Grouch

Crazy Cambodia

Just received word that Jess is now in Cambodia. 

Jess wrote: "I have had so many people straight up pose their kids in front of me to take pictures with the "white girl". ---Crazy Cambodia

And a note to her mother:

Hi Mom,

I think I am stealing internet right now, so I can't share a lot of stuff right now.  Once I get back on the ship, I'll try to give a better update.  I just wanted to say thankyou for this experience, I can't tell you all I have done in the past few days. Cambodia is probably my favorite place I have been.  I am in love with the country.   I am learning a lot and can't wait to tell you about it!

Jess has been incurring some technical issues.   Photos are few and far between.  However, below are a couple from Hawaii to Hong Kong.   Other than Kobe, Japan I am be guessing the locations.   My guess is the one on the bottom left being Hawaii.   I am guessing the one on the right being in Kowloon (Hong Kong).

TheTrain from Shanghai to Hong Kong

Yes, I really liked Hong Kong. It wasn’t as disgusting. It was fun we went to Shelly Street where a bunch of other SAS kids were and everyone was dancing in the streets.  We also went to Temple Street and had weird food. We had a situation where we couldn’t get into our hostel and it was pretty sketchy. A bunch of Nigerian rascals were following us and all the doors were locked.  In the end, we figured it out and we are fine.

I took a train from Shanghai to Hong Kong and it was literally the most disgusting and miserable experience of my life. Each cabin had 6 beds, 3 on top of each other on both sides. We each got the top so we had to climb on all the other beds to get up there.  There is no room to sit, the mattresses were covered in hair, and everything had a weird stench. The toilet was a squatter and so there was pee everywhere. Not to mention people kept hacking lougies and burping every 5 seconds.  It was a terrible.  The worst 21 hours of my life.  I don't mind taking the train from Boulder to home after that experience.  

I love you.

Desmond Tutu Reponds to Student Questions

Below is a link to the offical SAS web site with a student interview with Desmond Tutu.   Quite interesting.

Student Q&A with Archbishop Desmond Tutu

By: Rico Andrade | Date: 2.01.2013

Students in the Global Management Lens course taught by Professor John Girard of Minot State University  had the opportunity to hear from a very special guest speaker recently. Archbishop Desmond Tutu joined the class for an intimate Q&A session where students were able to ask him about a wide range of topics — from his work with the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa to what it was like to win the Nobel Peace Prize. The full audio podcast of the Q&A period is available here.