Oh, black water, keep on rollin'

Five days in. 

I just went up to deck 7, the uppermost deck, to do some reading.  I looked out on the ocean and thought to myself, as I have for the last few days, that I'm in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, on a ship.  For school.  It's the greatest thing since sliced bread.  I can go and tan while getting my work done.  Or not getting my work done.

There is nothing in sight but ocean.  Absolutely nothing except ocean.  Besides the sun.  I look around every direction and though there is nothing but us on the surface of the sea for who knows how many nautical miles, I don't feel alone.  I don't feel like Spain is 1,800 miles away and the Bahamas around about the same back the other direction.  I feel surrounded by great friends, great friends-to-be, and at one with the ocean.

Going out at night is the most surreal thing.  I went out to the starboard (right) side of the ship, where there aren't any floodlights on the ocean.  The wind blew my hair around and ruffled my shirt as I watched the black and white waves crash beneath me.  Here I felt the real sense of nothingness, as I could hardly see anything past where the light from rooms was lightly falling on the water.

The bow of the ship at night is also incredible.  I've been out a few times, especially at night when all you can see are what I assume are the measuring instruments, water made black by the night and the stars in the sky.

We have four or five more days at sea before we arrive in Spain.  Our classes are on an alternating day basis, without weekends.  Today was the third day of classes, or "A2."  Prior to today, you can guess, was A1 and B1.  I'm looking forward to so much, so many adventures to go on, and so many people to meet.

I also look forward to more inspiring moments, staring out at the black water of the night.