Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

My Once in a Lifetime Past Review

By (HISTORY., Trinity University) - abroad from 01/09/2013 to 04/25/2013 with

Semester at Sea Study Abroad: Make the World Your Campus

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned the ways that cultures and histories interact to create the world that we live in. I met a monk in Burma who taught me about Buddhism, saw first hand the slave dungeons in Ghana, and a revolutionary water treatment system in Singapore. I learned tidbits of almost a dozen languages, and learned a lot about international relations. I made some of the closest friends of my life as we experienced fifteen countries together. For 11 weeks Archbishop Desmond Tutu sailed with us, sharing his philosophy of ubuntu, and his insight into race relations in South Africa. I learned a lot about gender relations throughout the world just by going out into port. I saw three wonders of the world in three months. I gained everything from this voyage.

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.

The courses were less challenging than at my home school, and I took five rather than the recommended four. But many of my friends and classmates from other schools thought that the courses were more difficult than those at their home schools. You learn a lot, and all courses are related back to experiences in port.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The deans and staff were amazing, and very helpful.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was in an economy room, and had a normal room with two other roommates.

* Food:

The food gets a little repetitive, but they really do their best for being on a ship.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

There is a preport meeting before arrival in port that lets you know about any medical issues you might encounter in port. The facilites on the ship are great, and they will set you up in port if you need anything like surgery or a specialist. They have comprehensive travel insurance. Before leaving I had to get several vaccines including yellow fever and typhoid, and we took malaria pills throughout the voyage.

* Safety:

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)

Some students buy $10,000 rugs in Morocco, and others manage a lot of travel on a budget. You can decide how much you'll spend. My roommate managed on $1,500 of spending money for the whole semester.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Less than $150

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • Travel
  • Classes with field labs in port
  • The amazing staff
* What could be improved?
  • Food
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Join the facebook groups for your voyage and the group where alumni can answer your questions. Alumni love to talk about SAS. Don't let the cost deter you, they give out tons of scholarships and work study positions.

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.