Semester at Sea: The Voyage of a Lifetime Past Review
By Savannah A (Business Administration, Trinity University) for
Semester at Sea Study Abroad: Make the World Your Campus
ABSOLUTELY. It has changed the course of my life. I now have several new goals I didn't even consider before and I have solidified my decisions for my professional life now as well...all because of Semester at Sea.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The workload was not crazy but it was substantial. It was by no means an easy ride and you definitely had to earn your grades. The grading system was a little strange because of the lab component counting for 20 percent of your grade in each class. Other than that, though, it was pretty much the same as in America. (It was hosted by UVA, after all) |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
It was just like being on my home campus - everything was so accessible! I had no problems at all. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived on the MV Explorer, a cruise ship style accommodation. We lived in "seas" (aka dorm halls). The dorm rooms were small but were very well maintained and met all of my expectations. |
| * Food: |
It was a little repetitive but the quality was excellent |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Everything was memorable! All of my travels were well-organized in the countries. In addition, our program held countless events aboard the ship during our crossings, so I never ran out of things to do. Most of the time these events possessed an educational component, so that was even better. Seeing things such as the Great Wall of China, the War Remnants Museum in Vietnam, slave dungeons in Ghana and tropical parks in Costa Rica was just incredible. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Before each port the program's medical team made a presentation going over all of the potential medical risks involved with visiting each country. They told us ways to avoid simple illnesses and made sure we were all being smart in our decisions. Safety was always debriefed in each country, and the program went to extreme measures to ensure each participant's safety at all times. Before leaving for this voyage I started taking malaria medication and pepto bismol on a regular basis and I also got a yellow fever vaccination. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | It depended if we were in country or on the ship. In country it ranged from $100 - $800; On the ship, it ranged from $1 - $150 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Everything adds up WAY QUICKER than you would think. My only advice is to BUDGET, BUDGET, BUDGET. BE REALISTIC! |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | If you are looking for a program that gives you a taste of some of the most interesting parts of the world then this could be for you. Rather than broadcasting itself as an "immersion program", Semester at Sea does in fact recognize that it doesn't immerse its students in any particular country. Rather, the program is designed to give students that are unfamiliar with international issues and situations a slap in the face to the realities of our world. By visiting so many different countries in several continents, students are given a well-rounded experience and are able to see that our issues in America are completely different than those someone in Africa or Asia might experience. Semester at Sea is a reality check. Semester at Sea opens your eyes to the bigger picture, to the world at large. You do become a global citizen. I feel entirely more connected to the poor places in the world and I know that my mission in life will be to reduce the inequality that exists in our world today. Semester at Sea will change your life. You will return to some, if not all, of these places someday. If you are looking for an immersion program, this isn't for you. If you are looking to learn a new language, this isn't for you. However, if you are looking for a life-altering experience that allows you to see the world, your home country and yourself in an entirely new light, this is your absolute best bet. |
