The Most AMAZING Semester Abroad-DO IT!!! Past Review
By Claire Mepyans (Colby College) - abroad from 01/14/2018 to 03/23/2018 with
Sea Education Association: Colonization to Conservation in the Caribbean
I gained a lot more confidence in my ability to really do anything. Once you've arrived on a ship with no sailing experience and by the time the six weeks fly by you're completely competent with your sail handling--it feels like you can do anything!! Its amazing how much we were able to learn and transform in the 6 weeks that we were at sea. Also this program was extremely eye opening-- making all of us more aware in so many things. It's hard to describe but this program will change you in many ways for the better.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Academics during the shore component were engaging and interesting-mainly discussions based on readings with two research papers being the bulk of the work. On the ship, there's nothing better than having the ocean be your classroom (but being surrounded by humpback whales makes it super difficult to focus on anything)! All the professors are great. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
|
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Housing during the shore component is in cottages where students from the Cramer and Seamans are living together. A lot of fun. It's a great way of getting to know the kids in the other program! There are bunks in the rooms but the rooms are very spacious with plenty of storage options. While on the ship, our living conditions are a little bit tight but thats boat living for you! Cramer is beautiful and clean so no issues there. |
| * Food: |
During the shore component everyone cooks and eats with their house. We are given PLENTLY of money to buy groceries each week and my house usually had money left over. We ate very well on shore but even better on the boat. On Cramer we had 3 full meals a day with 3 snacks throughout the day too! They really do make sure you're not hungry and the food is top notch. If you're lucky enough to get Ger as your steward, you're in for a treat!! Amazing person and amazing food! Also one student each day works in the galley with Ger and gives input on what meals/snacks they'd like to make. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Exploring doing port stops was amazing and we were given plenty of time to explore on our own. There were also always group trips where we'd learn about the local culture or environmental issues in area. All the trips were well planned, engaging, and I definitely learned a lot. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Since port stops are relatively often, it is relatively easy for students who needed it to see a doctor at any given time. And while on the ship, there was a medical officer who would give out doses of sea sickness medication, which is definitely necessary. No issues with any health care related issues. |
| * Safety: |
Very safe!! Always felt safe on the boat and off at port stops. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Absolutely would do this trip again 10+ times if I could. Really amazing program. I made friends for life and had the most beautiful experience. The things you see and do are so unique to this study abroad experience. It is something I'll never forget. I'm so thankful I had the opportunity and that I choose to do this program!!! |
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) |
Very minimal costs- just some spending during port stops at restaurants and bars. During the shore component we'd go to a cafe in town to do homework a couple times and we went out to dinner a few times too. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $10 on shore, $60 while at sea-but really depends on how many ports we were going to per week. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 10+ |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I knew that it really is completely fine to come to this program with no sailing experience at all. Most of the kids in my program hadn't sailed before and that is completely normal. Also we all kind of arrived and didn't really know what we were getting into-which is totally fine and its so normal to feel this way. You need to take a little bit of a leap of faith when you sign up to do this program-but its so worth it!!! |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Avid AdventurerThe 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. |
