Semester at Sea: Around the world in 4 months, but the knowledge and friendships of a lifetime. Past Review

By Jen L (Sociology., Shenandoah University) for

Semester at Sea Study Abroad: Make the World Your Campus

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

It was so worthwhile, I did not know a single person on the ship who was ready to leave. It has changed my life. My future plans are to go to Ghana and Vietnam to orphanages I visited and volunteer to work with them. I had no idea what the world was like, or how small it really is, until I went on SaS. I no longer see myself living in the Western world, my calling is to help in the developing world.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	It was difficult, not only for students, but professors as well. They did not realize the difficulty of teaching only a few days, then going to a country leading a group of students to places they have never been, then a week later being back in the classroom. It was difficult, but refreshing to not have the internet.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	We were on a ship for 4 months, the administration did a wonderful job and were easy to find and talk to.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I shared a cabin and bathroom with one other person on the ship. In the countries we were free to stay in hostels and hotels.
* Food:	There were buffet's for every meal that were prepaid for, so you could eat as much as you want. It worked well for me most of the time, but I did get tired of the same food over and over. Luckily there were two other snack bars that you could pay for things like pizza and ice cream.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	This was a wonderful social experience. We had no internet or cell phones or TV, so all we had to do was socialize. There were clubs, sports, activities, games, etc. There was so much to do I struggled to find time to do homework. My friends on the ship are now some of my best friends. The cultural experience was wonderful, too. You could explore the country on your own or take tourist like trips or faculty lead trips. I feel as though I have gained so much knowledge and cultural appreciation because of this trip.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	We had pre port meetings to cover safety and health issues before each country. They were generally very informative.
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)