The challenge we face...12 countries in 100+ days!

Here's the challenge...sitting on a trip, equal to winning two major lotteries, for nine months while containing the excitement. That's what D. and I have been going thru since we were accepted as faculty for Semester at Sea, a highly touted and respected around the world travel experience for undergraduates who want to test their limits and their provinciality. Additionally, the challenge is preparing to teach three new courses whose contents are based on the cultures and histories of twelve countries, Mexico, Hawaii, Japan, China/Hong Kong, Vietnam, India, Myanmar/Burma, Eqypt, Turkey, Croatia, Spain. Ummmm. Just contain those stresses and all will be fine. Then add the daily grind of submitting documents and dealing with the downsides of the program shift from U Pitt to U Virginia, and ol' Tom Jefferson of UVa fame could roll over in his grave. But we'll put up with it!!