Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Semester at Sea: The most Educational/Inspiring/Amazing 4 months of My Life Past Review

By (Humanities, Providence College) for

Semester at Sea Study Abroad: Make the World Your Campus

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I became more comfortable with myself. I feel like I am able to handle myself in any type of situation because I found myself in some strange places while traveling. I understand the similarities among all of the people in our world. I was frequently shocked by the compassion of people in seemingly every country I went. My experience abroad has led me to the decision to apply for a Fulbright Scholarship to live abroad for a year post-grad. My time abroad has also led me to consider a career working for our government as a foreign ambassador or as a foreign diplomat.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The real educational value of this program did not come in the classroom. It came in the people that I met, the things that I saw, and the adventures I undertook. It was a voyage of self-discovery, something that cannot be taught in a classroom.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Semester at Sea administration was very accessible while studying abroad. They supplied all voyagers with travel advice, specific country news, and required steps for entry/departure. My expectations were fulfilled and I was very impressed with their knowledge and thoroughness.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The cabins on the ship were top notch. They were spacious, had a private bathroom, plenty of room for storage, and were cleaned often by the crew (who were fantastic).

* Food:

There was plenty of food and it was honestly pretty good. The only problem was the monotony of it. They served a lot of the same things. The food while you traveled in the countries was the best part.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Sahara Desert, Long Street in South Africa, Table Mountain in South Africa, Skydive Capetown in South Africa, Snorkeling on a catamaran in Mauritius, Ganges River in India, Taj Mahal in India, Waterfalls in Malaysia, Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, Great Wall of China, Thanksgiving in Hawaii, Ziplining in Costa Rica, Beaches in Honduras

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Safety differed from port to port. The administration did a great job informing us of any potential hazards. As long as you are smart and don't make yourself a target, it is difficult to find yourself in trouble.

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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Go in on hotel/hostel rooms with large groups to save money. 7-Elevens in Japan have really good/cheap food. Public transportation can add up. Alcohol is expensive in foreign countries.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
Language acquisition improvement?

I could practice Spanish with my classmates. I also used my Spanish with locals when I traveled in Spanish speaking countries. Most students on the ship spoke English.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Hotel
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

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

Select all that apply

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • the travel
  • the self discovery
  • ALL of the people i met
* What could be improved?
  • the on ship food
  • Providence College students' access to Semester at Sea
  • the costs of trips
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? It is worth petitioning administration because this program is well worth it. The fact that it isn't approved boggles my mind. A student who is adventurous, open-minded, and caring would benefit most from this program.