Visiting 11 countries in 4 months is mind boggling Past Review
By Kyle H (ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS., SUNY - Binghamton) for
Semester at Sea Study Abroad: Make the World Your Campus
Absolutely. I became a world citizen, and came home a different person.
Personal Information
| The term and year this program took place: | Fall 2009 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Semester at Sea and the University of Virginia were very helpful with passports, etc, and the faculty-led trips at each port were great. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in a cabin on board the MV Explorer. <br /><br /> Living at sea for 4 months was absolutely amazing. I wouldn't have traded it for anything. |
| * Food: |
The cooks brought on board were allegedly world renowned, and they prepared excellent gourmet food every day... buffet style. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
In what other circumstance can you meet locals and go out drinking and dancing in Ghana one day and Vietnam a few weeks later? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
There were definitely some scenarios where it would be difficult to get help... Hiking the tallest mountain in Ghana comes to mind. There were some problems in the more dangerous countries with students being mugged and beaten. However, the risks are comparable to those found in bad areas of New York -- just be smart. |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Semester at Sea is far more expensive than advertised... You really need an extra $400 discretionary money per port (11 ports total) for activities, drinking, etc... Not to mention emergencies. |
Language
| Language acquisition improvement? |
NO language courses were taken. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Do it.. You will not regret it! |
