20 Days Left...

I can't believe I leave in just 20 days! At the beginning of the summer, I was telling friends and family, that this is the first time in my life that I have wished the summer would fly by, since usually I would dread going back to school in the fall - but this year is different. As the end of August is rapidly approaching, I'm happy to say, that the summer did fly by!

I'm happy today is almost over! Not only because as of tomorrow, there would only be 19 days left, but also because it was semi-stressful. What's that saying, in anticipation of something bad to happen?... "Just waiting for the other shoe to drop"? I think it's something like that. Anyway, if you've read my previous posts, I've been excited about this trip, but also nervous that something bad is going to happen. I hope today was all the bad that will happen. To start at the beginning, a couple of weeks ago, we had to select which trips through Semester At Sea (SAS) we wanted to go on, (they offer different pre-planned trips in each country that we visit), and it would be on a first come first serve basis, since the trips have maximums. Anyway, after submitting our trips, and paying for them, we would find out via online which trips we have been confirmed for. In the meantime, I received an e-mail stating that I was "bumped" from the Amazon trip I wanted to go on. I was really upset, but sent an e-mail clarifying what this meant and making sure there was no way I would be able to go on another SAS Amazon trip. Unfortunately, the reply was "no". Ok, so instead of being upset and missing out on the opportunity to go to the Amazon, I decided to get a group together and plan a trip of our own. So we did, we got a hold of a travel agency called Kontiki Tours, and they were phenomenal in helping us plan exactly what we wanted for what we could afford. Just last we were able to finalize everything and get our confirmations. Woo hoo! One hurdle down!... but there's another one... :(

On Tuesday, I find out that our confirmed trips have been posed online. I go to check out what I have been confirmed for, and there is an Amazon trip on there! I thought to myself, "What the heck? This must be a mistake, since I was informed I was booted from the trip." So, I called SAS, and they said that it seems like I was slipped in at the last minute, but that she would have to speak with the person who sent me the e-mail and get back to me. So today, the person who sent me the e-mail called me and said that usually there are no cancellations and that pretty much I should see what the other tour company can do to cancel me. She would however make a phone call to the airline and see what can be done, since she understands that it is a miscommunication on both of our parts and is willing to take 50% of the blame. "Just great..." I thought. So I called Kontiki, and the cancellation fee would be the total price of the airfare, over $700. Considering I have taken out loans for pretty much the whole trip, that $700 is really a lot more then $700 and I'm not going to let it slip away that easily. Anyway, the lady from SAS contacted me and said that the cancellation fee for the airfare is $100, and she is willing to absorb 50% so that would only leave me to pay $50. While I still don't necessarily think I should have to pay it, I'm going to do so silently and hope this was "the other shoe falling" and hope that the rest of the trip goes smoothly. :)