Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

SEA was an infinite, blue, life expanding, salty, and intentional experience! Past Review

By (Women's and Gender Studies, Kenyon College) - abroad from 10/06/2012 to 01/02/2013 with

Sea Education Association: Colonization to Conservation in the Caribbean

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes. I am so grateful to have participated in SEA! While I learned a lot about the ocean and the Caribbean, I learned more about myself and the ways in which I inhabit the world.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

While on shore, students cooked for themselves. At sea, the Steward, Assistant Steward, and student working in the galley for the day prepared meals. Two very different cooking/dining/eating situations, but both good!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Since the program is domestic and then at sea, the local culture was that of the ship, which is definitely different from shore culture, but not the same as living in a new country. As far as integrating with ship board culture, you kind of integrate automatically since your class helps create it.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Sea sickness is unavoidable and depends on the person, but the crew did a good job keeping morale high.

* Safety:

Woods Hole, MA is tiny and beautiful, as is the SSV Corwith Cramer.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Food money was provided while we were on shore, so we didn't have to buy groceries ourselves. At sea, there aren't that many places to spend money...

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? >$25

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Other

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Being at sea
  • learning nautical science
  • learning about a new part of the world and the little squiggly bits (and people type bits) that inhabit it
* What could be improved?
  • more student support and encouragement at sea
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? JWO is scary and really intimidating, but I promise it will be ok and you will look back on it and be proud that you did it. Remember to tell shipmates good job and encourage them, both during JWO and anytime - everyone can use some love. Take time to go aloft, to play the ukelele and sing, to stare at the stars, regardless of how much work you have to do. Appreciate where you are and who you're with.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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The Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.