Semester At Sea

[Donna Beukelman]

Our family just returned back to Phoenix after taking our son, Jarod, to Nassau, Bahamas where he boarded a cruise ship, MV Explorer, to travel around the world while doing a semester of college. We are very excited for him and the experiences he will have. The past several months, many students for the Spring06 semester had been sharing on a forum. There was a group already planning a Bible study group, so Jarod said he would check it out. I would certainly appreciate prayers for Jarod to have a safe trip. I can't help but have concerns.

These are the places he will be traveling to. Also in each port, students will be doing many field trips to not only sight-see but to experience the culture and interact with other college students in the various countries.
San Juan, Puerto Rico, Jan 23-25
Salvador, Brazil, Feb 1-5
Cape Town, South Africa, Feb 14-20
Port Louis, Mauritius, Feb 27-Mar 1
Chennai (Madras), India, Mar 9-13
Yangon, Myanmar, Mar 16-21
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Mar 26-31 (will also be going to Cambodia)
Hong Kong, April 3-4
Quindao, PRC, April 7-8
Kobe Japan, April 11-15
San Diego, CA, April 28

I'm not sure how much contact we will have with Jarod while he is gone. He really wanted to experience being on his own. So I didn't rent the satalite phone to call him often. So he has set up a blog for all the family and friends to follow his travel journal. http://jarodatsea.blogspot.com

I would post a picture here, but I don't know how. Couldn't find instructions for posting a picture anywhere. Where do I find the instructions?

Donna

[Jen Blackburn]

donna, that is an amazingly incredible opportunity for jarod! how exciting!

i bookmarked his blog & will check it a couple of times a week... i'm excited to see the world through his eyes. :) i've not had a chance to travel very much, and never outside the usa other than short trips into canada...

thanks for sharing with us, and i'll be praying for jarod too....



jen

[Wanda Van Winkle]

He'll learn a great deal more than book learnin' ! :-)

[Alisa Stoll]

If he has set up a blog then he'll have access to email - great way to keep in touch.

Alisa

[Christine Josephson]

Donna.
Jarod's Blog is quite interesting and he writes well. His experiences will be fun to follow. Thanks for posting the address. Will be keeping him and all of you in my prayers.

[Donna Beukelman]

Jarod will be arriving in Cape Town South Africa on Feb 14 through the 20.

One of his field trips will be a 3 day trip from Cape Town to Durban and then to the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi and Mkuze Game Reserves. He will also be staying at Shakaland and Hilltops Lodge.

I have not heard from him and he has not posted on his blog. A few weeks ago he sent an email saying the ship was having internet issues. Hopefully he will be able to call.

[Edith K. Thurmond]

......you just might get a daughter-in-law out of that cruise! One couple we know met while on a semester cruise aboard the University of the Seven Seas, and they have been happily married for forty years. :)

What a wonderful opportunity for him and he will, undoubtedly, communicate with you when possible - that is, if the history thing is not repeated.

Excited with you,


Our family just returned back to Phoenix after taking our son, Jarod, to Nassau, Bahamas where he boarded a cruise ship, MV Explorer, to travel around the world while doing a semester of college. We are very excited for him and the experiences he will have.
I'm not sure how much contact we will have with Jarod while he is gone.
Donna

[Donna Beukelman]

Jarod has been finding it a challenge to write on his blog as he travels around the world, but he did just update it with his travels to Brazil. His adventures were so interesting to read about. Hope you enjoy them too.

I've had a couple of short emails from him. After Brazil he went to Cape Town, South Africa and got food poisoning and was in the hospital. I'm assuming he is ok. Then his next port was Mauritius. Said that was paradise and loved it. Now he is heading to Chennia, India.
http://www.jarodatsea.blogspot.com

I am so proud of him and can hardly wait to hear more of his travels.

[Gina Stevenson]

I've had a couple of short emails from him. After Brazil he went to Cape Town, South Africa and got food poisoning and was in the hospital. I'm assuming he is ok. Then his next port was Mauritius. Said that was paradise and loved it. Now he is heading to Chennia, India.

'Heard that about Mauritius from someone who'd been there (heard several years ago while still in Phoenix) ... about the beautiful beaches ....

[Jim Franklin]

Lord, help this geographer not to be envious of Jarod. Donna, it was good to meet Ed and your dad at the NNC gathering. Your grandfather McKay was a close friend of my dad and I remember him staying over night at our parsonage in Fargo, ND in about 1947. I palled around with your Uncle Neil at the Northwest District Assembly in Spokane in 1953 and your Aunt Marilyn was a classmate of mine at NNC. Small world, young lady, and I will remember Jarod in prayer.

[Donna Beukelman]

Would appreciate prayers for Jarod's safety. There was a bombing in Varanasi, India today or yesterday at a temple and train station and people were killed and injured. He arrives in India on Thursday, March 9. Then on Friday he travels to Delhi and Varanasi to the temples. I am concerned! Not sure if bombings would happen in the same place a few days later. I did call the school and they said they are in contact with the State Department and a Risk Management Company and are gathering information. At this point, I'm not sure what the plans are for continueing the field trips to Varanasi.

Jim...sorry I didn't get to meet you. Maybe another time.

Donna

[Gina Stevenson]

Donna, we'll pray they'll bypass the place, if things tend to recur in the same spot sometimes, rather than elsewhere. Can imagine you'd be very concerned!

{{{ hugs }}}

Would appreciate prayers for Jarod's safety. There was a bombing in Varanasi, India today or yesterday at a temple and train station and people were killed and injured. He arrives in India on Thursday, March 9. Then on Friday he travels to Delhi and Varanasi to the temples. I am concerned! Not sure if bombings would happen in the same place a few days later. I did call the school and they said they are in contact with the State Department and a Risk Management Company and are gathering information. At this point, I'm not sure what the plans are for continueing the field trips to Varanasi.

Jim...sorry I didn't get to meet you. Maybe another time.

Donna