Train to ship tomorrow!

To those slogging through our adventures on multiple sites, I thought I'd post something here for your viewing pleasure. We are mostly repacked for our early morning train ride to Boston tomorrow. The butterflies are kicking in. I know that we have the essentials (and then some) in our bags, but tomorrow we'll meet some of the folks that we will be living with for the next 4 months.
I wish that we could unpack and settle tomorrow, however we will stay in temporary rooms due to the Forum on Global Engagement taking place on the ship as we travel to Montreal next week. Sooooo, our summer of temporary housing will continue until August 25. Of course the entire fall is dedicated to study of and preparation and exploration for each port, nothing static or 'settled' for 3 1/2 months for the Nelsons!
As one friend recently deemed us the 'nomad family', I have a feeling that returning to our home next summer will be a very surreal experience. Since July we have shed personal items and clothing at each stop we take (we have literally left something everywhere we have traveled this summer). Some of this was due to total lack of space in our van, but it has also helped us to prioritize and examine what is truly essential. I'm sure we have more to learn and we may regret that extra bag as we board the train tomorrow, but I think we are as slim as we feel comfortable being for a family of five traveling with school and teaching materials in addition to travel guides for multiple countries, clothing for a variety of temperatures, toiletries and medications, not to mention snacks (especially for the biggest 'kid').
Off to enjoy the last full day in a spacious home and run one more load of laundry. Just a reminder that we have the dedicated blog for Semester at Sea at this link:
http://nelsonvoyage.wordpress.com/
This site allows you to sign up for an email so you don't have to remember to check our blog, you'll get an email when we post!
Finally, we appreciate all of the support this summer with a strange variety of doctor appointments as well as flexible family and friends willing to house, feed and love this nomadic family. Keep the prayers coming for our safety and health this year!!
Much love,
Kristine (for the Nelson family)