I'm Here! - Tuesday 21 Aug

I finally arrived after a very long day of traveling. My day started at 3:00 a.m. and didn't end until 11:00 pm eastern time. My flight out of Philadelphia was delayed four hours and I arrived in San Diego around 3:30. San Diego is totally gorgeous and the taxi ride to the dock passed by much too quickly. The taxi pulled into the shipping terminal and it finally hit me that this adventure was actually happening. It has all seemed so surreal while preparing for this trip but stepping out the taxi and seeing the ship jolted me out of my out-of-body experience. I had big stupid grin on my face as I paid the driver. He probably thought I was totally mental.

After collecting my duffel bags and staggering into the terminal, I passed through two security checkpoints and out to the ship. Dragging around two large duffel bags and a small suitcase did not make for a graceful entrance. I looked and felt like a pack mule but eventually I was on the ship - without dumping my luggage into the water!

I checked in at the desk and received my ID with a very ugly photo. I had it taken back in May and apparently wasn't having a good day because I had an "Elvis" sneer going on with my face. Thank you. Thank you very much (said in my best "Elvis" speak). Hopefully, no one will look at it too closely or judge me by it.

I was assigned a temporary room due to a big shindig that the S@S people are having this week. I get my permanent room by the 26th before all the students board. I found my room through the labryinth of corridors and gratefully collapsed on my bed for a few minutes. However, I thought it best to get some of my luggage unpacked because the duffel bags were soaked. In was raining in Philadelphia where I transfered planes and apparently my luggage was sitting on the tarmac for a while. @#@$%! Packing tip #1: pack all of your clothes in plastic because I am now the proud owner of a white shirt with red stains on it from the dye of the duffel. I'm hoping that my handy dandy laundry implements that my colleagues gave to me will work wonders on the stain. All my clothes are now drying in various places around my room. Nothing like putting a personal touch on the decor!

After a quick dinner in one of the dining rooms on the ship, I found out from a couple of veteran staff members that the ship that the pretty part of the harbor was close by so I set off for a quick walk to the area. They were right - it was gorgeous and I got there just in time to see the sun setting over the bay. I got the obligatory photos (but haven't downloaded them yet) and then headed back to the ship since the exhaustion was finally catching up with me. I got to my room and jumped into bed by 8:00 (pacific time). It felt so damn good. Work begins tomorrow : )