Going with the Flow and gettting used to it all

I took some of these paragraphs from emails to friends and family but for the most part they're relevant.
I wanted to explain how it works when we go into ports. I only found out a few days ago because they just told us how to get ready for arrival. When we get into port we have a few options. The first is to go on what's called a field program which is something you sign up for before you leave the boat and consists of a pre-organized program. It could be things like "Tour of Cathedral" or “Hike to Something Mountain”. In the case of Cadiz, Spain, I signed up for the “Cadiz City Orientation” as well as “Spanish Coastlines: Beaches to Gibralter”. The first is a city tour of Cadiz and the second I think involves a hike and going to the beach, but I’m not sure. I also heard Spain has a really good nightlife so I kind of want to try and get into a club or something. You can also do what’s called an FDP (I forget what it stands for but a professor goes on the trip with you and leads the group). You could also go out on your own and walk around town. I’m pretty sure I can do this safely in Spain, but in Africa I’ve heard that the AIDS monster roams the streets, looking for new victims to kill.
I’m still trying to grasp the fact that I’m crossing the Atlantic- that big blue thing that took up most of the page in the back of my textbook back in 5th grade when I was learning geography. I'm really enjoying being out on the sea though and am finding each day more and more enjoyable. I just finished getting all my field programs set up up till India. I've met with and talked to all my professors and they are all extremely nice and understanding. I missed my first "WEst and the World" class a few days ago because I sat in on the wrong class (it was Comparative Politics so somewhat similar) and it wasn't till half way through that I realized I was in the wrong class (at that point I felt obligated to stay). The next day I was looking for my professor frantically because I had to sign up for some of his FDPs by noon. I eventually found him randomly while he was eating lunch on deck outside and he was really understanding. My Literature and Film professors are husband and wife and teach the class together (the husband looks like an Indian Groucho Marx- like spot on. All he needs is a cigar). They brought their kids too. My documentary film professor is really interesting and I've already learned a lot. He is an Academy Award winning documentary director. I don't even know my global studies professor's name.
Every once in a while when I'm on my computer I'll turn around and look out the window at the ocean and I still can't believe I'm more than half way to Spain. I've heard everyone saying the exact same thing. Everyone is really in awe and it’s difficult to grasp what is going on. I cannot believe how fast the days are going by. THis is the fastest I have ever seen days go by, which is a bad thing in this case. The fact that when I wake up and look out my window and see nothing but ocean is really cool. I was telling my friend Vince how trippy it was that when you look out at night on the water, unless the moon’s out (which looks insanely cool reflecting on the water), its like pitch black and you can only really, really slightly see the horizon. And then when you look down from your window at night all you see is like this black abyss- its totally mesmerizing and kinda scary in a cool way.
I've just about oriented myself to the ship so I'm not getting lost anymore. Once you explore the ship it’s not as big as you think. My room is just as good if not better than rooms I’ve had back at college. My roommate was nice enough to let me have the only desk which works for him because he just has his laptop in his lap (its one of those Netbooks, which a lot of people here have). The shower works great except the hot and cold water don’t correspond to the blue and red marks, so that “first hot shower” was actually freezing cold and sucked and I didn’t find out till later that our markings were mixed. I spend a lot of my free time hanging out in my room, watching Venture Bros., Superjail, and Flight of the Conchords. I also have the bible, that is to say Wikipedia, as a free website so needless to say this makes me really happy (you have no idea). We are allowed to have beer/wine onboard at a high price and a limit of three like every other day.
I wanted to save this part here for when I get closer to South Africa… but I have a horrible memory and would forget to write about it. Recently, I was talking to a professor about how I play rugby back home and he told me one of the other professors, also named Colin, likes rugby and that he's Australian. Earlier tonight we had a Spain orientation meeting and everyone met in the Union (the big auditorium) which is where my Global Studies class is taught (Quick note about Global Studies- everyone, including staff, etc. takes it in 2 separate sessions on alternating days). I sat down in the back and a professor sat next to me. I recognized him as the Professor (Colin) White because I saw his picture in the faculty display. I’d been wanting to meet him so I introduced myself and told him I played rugby in Socal on a club team as a wing and he said he played internationally as a wing as well. We talked a little more about rugby before the presentation started but it was really cool meeting him.
Besides friends, family, and the G.I. Joe cartoon series, I really miss rugby. I'm listening to some hard rock music and I really want to tackle/get tackled. It’s hard to exercise here even with good gym equipment and so I can’t really get thorough workouts. The boat sways all the time (which I’ve gotten used to really well) and so when you lift weights they sway to which is not good. I had a dream last night about playing rugby, but with obstacles on the field. Then I tackled Hillary Clinton (no joke) and a bunch of Ewoks came and treated me like a god. And I’m not even on the malaria medicine yet (malaria medicine is notorious for giving hallucinations and nightmares)!
The same thing happens every time I do a blog entry: I forget what I want to right about and what I want to cover. The main thing I’m trying to convey is I’m becoming more and more excited about everything within the next few months and I really want to share with people back at home what I’ve been experiencing here. I feel like if I didn’t, it would be really selfish on my part because I have this really good opportunity. I will add more pictures when I get to port as internet is limited and its like impossible to upload photos. Hopefully I'll get my Photobucket updated. One more thing I wanted to mention is my texting/calling is not working right now because apes run Verizon Wireless (no offense to the apes). Also, I’ve received emails but I’m not sure if people are getting my replies. So if you get an email from me PLEASE respond. Other than that, that’s about all I can remember I wanted to say. I apologize again for the poor order of things, but A) I’m lazy B) I don’t have a lot of time and I have a short attention span, and C) I’m lazy. I do miss home and everyone back in the U.S., but you’ll all be happy to know that I filled the gap where you, my friends and family, used to be with a delicious soft serve yogurt machine. Seriously, this thing is freakin awesome-wish you were all here.
.S. Keith, I really wish you and you’re camera were here. My camera can only take okay quality pictures. You would have no shortage of things to take pictures of- it’s a photographers paradise here.