So this is pretty weird to me. 7:16 and I just watched the end of a sunrise over the ocean... I'm a Colorado kid, I don't see that everyday!! But I guess that will be the new norm... Not only the ocean, but waking up to see the sunrise on most occasions. 
My day of travel went pretty good, but seeing how we went out right as we got in yesterday, I'm still battling back to get back at those 3 hours I slept the night before I napped. I've always kind of wondered why Colorado is such a popular state for semester at sea kids to come from, but I think I've finally figured it out. I as well as many people who have grown up understand the amazingness that is Colorado, and I want to live there for the rest of my life. But there's something alluring about the ocean. I can't put my finger on it, but it's pretty cool to wake up, look outside and see a cruise ship heading in. It will be awesome to do this all semester.
A good friend told me to never resist the urge to blog. And the write with the most detail that I can and, although I'm not really a writer, when you wake up to something like this for the first time it's hard not to tell someone. I board tomorrow and I gotta say I am excited to get on board my new home for 4 months the MV Explorer. 

 -Matt Schnitzler. 

Well, tomorrow is the day! I am sitting in the armchair about to go to bed only to wake up in 6 hours and head to DIA and take flight! My day tomorrow consists of a lot of flying, a layover in Miami and finally getting to Nassau right around 5pm! I'm super excited! I really am not at all sure what I want to say here except the fact that this is going to be the trip of a lifetime, and it commences tomorrow. I'm a lucky guy, and I want to thank everyone who has made this possible!

It will be an amazing semester, and I hope to share it as much as possible!

Thanks everyone and tomorrow Is the day!

-Matt

Hello All,

I am getting pretty ready to head down to the bahamas and part of that is setting up my on board email address!
I will likely have very little access to anyone's email addresses therefore I will not have your email unless you email me first!
My email for next semester will be: Mathew.Schnitzler.S12@semesteratsea.org
Please send me an email so I have all of your email addresses!

Can't wait to get going!!

-Matt

Well, Its 3am. And I cannot sleep.

I leave officially in 2 weeks and I gotta say I'm starting to get nervous. I'm starting to not be able to sleep, and when I do finally get to sleep it's later than 3am and I end up sleeping until noon every morning. I'm super excited to embark on this voyage, and I can only guess the impact it will have on my day to day life starting May 2^nd when I get back. I've realized though, that it's already changed me some. I've grown a lot already, and I've really realized the privilege that I have. I'm one lucky son of a bitch that I can make this opportunity come into fruition. But planning it is only one half, nay, likely less than a quarter of the experience I will have. I've never really been off the North American Continent… Sure I've been to some islands off the coast on cruises, and a couple places in Central America on cruises, but this is going to be life changing. I hope that my reservations don't get the best of me. I hope to come alive next semester. I hope I can meet some great people. People who push each other into situations they wouldn't normally be in. I spend my nights laying awake right now, dreaming of something I never thought would actually happen, and alas, it will happen, and I will do everything I can to make it that story that gets told at weddings, family get togethers, and that someday my kids will tire of my stories from this voyage.

 

I'm excited guys,

Matt Schnitzler.

Well, Christmas was yesterday and it was pretty exciting!
It marks only 21 days until I leave for semester at sea! I'm trying out the email option to submit blogs on blogger. I can't stress how excited I am to get going on this amazing adventure and hope to share it with everyone who wants to see and hear about it!
I've got a lot of packing and a few things left to buy, but through the stress of preparing for the voyage I hope to enjoy the last days at home for over 4 months!
Can't wait to get going!!!!!


Til later days,
Matt Schnitzler

Post #1: Pre Trip- Finals Week

Hello all!

Welcome to my Semester at sea Blog. I'm just wrapping up Fall semester eagerly anticipating next spring's voyage around the world! I leave for Nassau on January 16th, embark on January 18th, and set sail January 19th! I'm setting up this blog to share my experiences, my fears, excitement, and everything in between.

All I can say is I am one lucky son of a gun that I get to take this voyage, and I can't wait for it!

Til Later Days,
Matt