Auction Day!

I am done, done, done!!!  I just finished taking my Global Studies final, which went well, and I am done with finals!  My poetry teacher cancelled our final and we didn’t have to take our anthropology final if we were happy with our grade.  So I am just enjoying the ride until disembarkation on Saturday!

Last Wednesday (the 11th) was our auction day.  The silent auction started at 3:30 and the live auction was at 8pm.  There were lots of cool items, and I bid on a couple things but I was soon outbid.  =( There was artwork, food, clothes, jewelry, basically stuff that people picked up throughout the trip.

Then it came time for the live auction in the Union.  It was intense!!  I kept track of all of the items and how much they went for.  We raised SO much money! Here’s the list:

-3 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies - $135
-Dr. Campbell’s personal sweatband - $110
-Tickets for 4 to the Big Apple Circus with a backstage tour from Barry Lubin (Grandma the Clown) - $850
-One day unlimited internet access - $305
-2 bags of free laundry - $30
-4 reserved pool lounge chairs for the last five days of the voyage - $100
-T-shirt with selected special questions of the day - $600
-Sailboat race; compete in a sanctioned event in Lake Champlain, Vermont - $100
-Opportunity to steer the ship for 30 minutes - $475
-Select the dinner menu for one evening - $400
-First person off the ship - $450 (they gave this to 2 people, so we got $900 off of that)
-Map of route signed by Captain Kingston and bridge crew - $525
-Raise the MV Explorer’s US Flag as we enter Norfolk - $400
-Breakfast in bed served by your LLC - $300
-A weekend with Peter Chu in Santa Barbara - $650 (2 groups, so $1300)
-30 minute call home during our 9-day stretch to Virginia - $90
-Be “The Voice” for the day – make the noon and 1730 announcements - $300
-Five night stay for up to 6 people at luxury ski lodge condo in Big White Ski Resort, British Columbia, Canada (Tom’s condo) with a fully stocked fridge - $2600 (3 groups, so $7800)
-Photo session by ship’s photographer - $350
-Visit the Steelers training camp, go on the field during practice and enjoy lunch - $650 (2 groups, so $1300)
-Write one of the questions for the Global Studies final - $150
-The IT guy’s photo vest/safari jacket - $140
-Last student off the ship - $500
-Private guided tour of NYC from a local – eat the best pizza in Brooklyn, see the city by water taxi, grab a picnic at the best grocery store and eat it under the Brooklyn Bridge, and go shopping in Chinatown (all expenses included) - $300 (2 people, so $600)
-Three days and two nights at Terma Rosapepe near Salerno, Italy. Includes total body exfoliation and facial mask. - $800
-Bubble bath in the Executive Dean’s Office - $150 (2 people, so $300)
-Dinner with your favorite faculty member in the Glazer Lounge with a bottle of wine from Spain, Italy, or Croatia - $350 (2 people, so $700)
-Reserved spot on deck for entrance into Norfolk - $175
-Blow the ship’s horn as we enter Norfolk - $300
-Private dinner for two in Executive Dean’s Office - $250 (2 people, so $500)
-You and 12 friends sitting at the Captain’s table during the Alumni Ball - $1000
-“The Voice” records a personal message for your voicemail - $120 (2 people, so $240)
-Pie Dr. Bowler - $400
-3 day/2 nights in Seoul, South Korea with you and up to 5 friends or family members - $1000

With the silent and live auctions, we ended up earning $31,000.  Our goal is $50,000, which will beat the record of any SAS trip ever.  Right now they are just collecting donations and we are at $44,000.  Hopefully we make it!

Five more days until I’m heading home!