You forget how hard it is...

Barcelona, Spain 

Today, I put everyone in a cab (more like 11 cabs for 12 people) along with their 87 pieces of luggage and said my final goodbyes. Everyone else was off for a few fun filled days in Spain before heading off to another exotic locale in Europe or back to the States to continue their real lives or to start a new one with a new job in a new city. The final day on Semester at Sea is always weird. One of the Lifelong Learners who also sailed as a student compared it to the day a woman gives birth-you forget how hard it is. And she’s right. The prolonged cry fest as you stand at the gangway saying your goodbyes is one of the hardest, most awkward thing I’ve ever experienced. And I’ve done it twice. I was doing pretty well as far as keeping my emotions in check until one of my favorite four year olds comes up the stairs, runs across the room, and jumps up into my arms. She asked me to sign her journal (many college students were doing this as well) and after I asked her how we were going to keep in touch, she whispered in my ear, “We can write letters!” It was about the sweetest thing ever.

Now new Semester at Sea chapter begins. Today also starts my grand adventure as a nanny for yet another wonderful family from the Bay Area. Let’s call them the K family. I will be nannying for three boys: ages 4, 6, and 8 during the first half of Semester at Sea’s Enrichment Voyage. They have more energy than I quite know what to do with, but they are an amazing family and I am super excited to share this adventure with them.