Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A challenging and eye opening educational experience I'll never forget Past Review

By (University of California - Santa Cruz) - abroad from 08/25/2014 to 11/17/2014 with

Sea Education Association: Sustainability in Pacific Island Communities and Ecosystems

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained friendships I will have for the rest of my life. I also learned a lot about living and working with a variety of people. It opened my eyes as to what is important to me and has somewhat guided me in what I want to do with my life.

Review Photos

SEA Semester: Programs at Sea - Sustainability in Polynesian Island Cultures & Ecosystems Photo SEA Semester: Programs at Sea - Sustainability in Polynesian Island Cultures & Ecosystems Photo SEA Semester: Programs at Sea - Sustainability in Polynesian Island Cultures & Ecosystems Photo SEA Semester: Programs at Sea - Sustainability in Polynesian Island Cultures & Ecosystems Photo SEA Semester: Programs at Sea - Sustainability in Polynesian Island Cultures & Ecosystems Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Overall, it was such an educational experience. For many, it might have not been heavily rigorous like we are used to at our home universities, but I thought it was just different. The community of learning you are put into is more of a relaxed and personal experience. The things I learned were not necessarily things I would learn at school-- it isn't information that you could find in a textbook. The things we learned are more about learning about working with others and learning about yourself. Nevertheless, coming into this program as more of a humanities type major, I found this program to be a good mix of humanities and and introduction into environmental science/oceanography. The knowledge that all the professors and staff bring to the table was great!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Shore component in Woods Hole was pretty good, really gets you to learn how to live with these people. As far as on the ship-- you have a small bunk, and you just learn to love it.

* Food:

Honestly, it was better than expected at first, but by the end you definitely wish you could have the foods of home! Its ship life though, you work with what you got. Definitely wold not recommend for those with lots of dietary restrictions, but if you do, you have to be ready for not a lot of options!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I've never felt so uncomfortable in my life-- but that's truly when I knew how immersed I was in the cultures of the small polynesian islands we visited. Although we started out as outsiders, I like to think by the end we fit in just a little bit more.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Everything was fine, just tough coming from a UC and having to get BU insurance.

* Safety:

Lots of policies to keep yo safe!

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)

Being aboard a ship, there isn;t much to buy... so that was nice!

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Maybe $20, depending on port stops

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Other
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • the uniqueness of everything we did.
  • The relationships you are able to make with professors and crew.
  • The places we got to visit!
* What could be improved?
  • More time at sea!
  • Communication between professors.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? What to pack!

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 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.