Become a Student of the World: Semester at Sea
May 23 '01
The Bottom Line Studying abroad is an amazing, life changing opportunity. So go ahead and take it!!
You know that saying when one door closes another one opens? Well I am a big believer in that, and after my study abroad experience I came to believe that everything happens for a reason, even unpleasant things. Let me explain:
In the fall semester of my junior year at college the love of my life decided to break it off. I went to a small school (2000 people). After the break up I found it was extremely painful for me to be in his presence. I figured I’d never get over my feelings if I continued to see him practically everyday. I tried avoiding him, but the fact that we ran in the same circle and shared many friends made that impossible. That was a very unhappy semester for me and I decided somewhere in the middle, for my own good, I needed to get out of there. I obviously wasn’t going to transfer to another school or drop out. When my friend suggested going abroad for a semester, I was wary at first. I couldn’t imagine being far away from my friends and family for so long. The more I thought about it, the better and better it sounded. As it turns out my study abroad experience was the best thing that could have happened to me and it was the experience of a lifetime.
WHAT IS STUDY ABROAD, WHY IT”S IMPORTANT AND HOW TO DECIDE:
Study abroad is a chance to prepare yourself for life in a global society. No matter what career you are thinking about getting into, you will find yourself dealing with issues and people on an international level. I am now a therapist and deal with many people from different lifestyles and cultures and find that my experiences abroad have helped me understand people and interact with them on a more personal level. I believe that studying abroad is important because it sets you apart from thousands of other graduates when entering the job market. The number of graduating students often exceeds the number of available jobs out there, and having studied abroad can give the edge that many companies are looking for. “Whether you decide to pursue engineering, nursing, applied sciences, or theatre arts, you will need to develop an awareness and sensitivity to the global issues which directly and indirectly influence all of our lives.”
I researched dozens of opportunities to study abroad in a variety of settings and countries. I considered going to London or Scotland for a semester; Spain and France were possibilities too. My brother had spent a semester at the University of Glasgow a few years earlier so he had recommended that. One unique opportunity caught my eye. This was Semester at Sea. How does this sound to you? Travel around the world on a cruise ship. Well that sounded pretty damn good to me. As with any thing there are pros and cons to choosing SAS. Pros: I decided that I would get more of a global experience than if I studied in one place for three months and I would get to see more of the world. Cons: I would not get to submerge myself in any one culture and truly get to know it, it’s language and its people. I decided in the end I wanted to see and experience as much as I could. I applied was accepted and in January 1994, I embarked on an adventure that would change my life.
SEMESTER AT SEA:
ACADEMICS:
Semester at Sea is intended to give undergraduates the opportunity to have a truly global experience. The University of Pittsburgh academically sponsors SAS. The academic program is created, reviewed and approved by UPITT. They also recruit and approve the entire faculty that teaches at SAS. The University also provides the Academic Dean for each voyage. The credits that students earn meet all required standards (if they are transferable) to each person’s university or college. The curriculum is much like you might find at any college, except that it also exposes students to various cultures and societies. In this shipboard “campus”, students learn in a traditional classroom setting, and use the world for their “field experience”. Classes meet daily while at sea, and not at all while in port. This was interesting because sometimes we’d meet for 10 days in a row, or only 3 days in a row. Most classes are fairly small ranging from 15-30 students. Students must take at least 12 credits (4 classes), and are permitted no more than 15 credits (5 classes). There is a lot of one on one contact between student and teacher, which is possible because of the close environment, in which you live and work. All students are required to take “Core” class, which is where students will learn all about the countries, which they are visiting.
FIELD EXPERIENCE:
In my opinion the field program in an integral and far more important part of the experience of SAS. Port stays range from 3-7 days and gives students an opportunity to look at things that you have studied in the classroom first hand. The field experiences are designed to complement what one learns in the classroom and provides 20% of the contact hours for course credit. Field experiences are varied. Some are part of specific class requirements. The trips students take as part of their filed experience are an additional cost and are not included in tuition costs. Trip prices range from small inexpensive day trips, to larger pricey trips, such as going on a 3-day safari, or a 3-day trip down the Nile. Obviously the more money you have to spend, the more you will get to experience. When I went, my parents allowed me 1 major trip and several smaller less expensive ones. I chose a safari in Tanzania, an experience I will never forget.
STUDENT BODY AND STUDENT LIFE:
Currently there are about 650 students from dozens of different colleges and universities, as well as several foreign institutions as well. Students share cabins (doubles or triples), meals, classes and field experiences. The friends that one makes on this voyage will last a lifetime. In terms of leisure activities, there is a student lounge with a bar which is open every night serves beer and wine, there is a gym where students can workout, and there is a volleyball court and swimming pool where students can lounge and play.
ITINERARIES:
There are three possible times for students to take this amazing study abroad opportunity. Fall, spring or summer semesters. Each itinerary is different. I traveled in the Spring and went to Venezuela, Brazil, South Africa, Africa, India, China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
GO FOR IT!
Being able to study abroad is an amazing opportunity that I would encourage any person to pursue. Whether you study in one country for an entire semester, or chose a program like SAS, which many of you probably came to know about if you ever watched ROAD RULES on MTV. Didn’t it look amazing? Didn’t it look like fun? It really was, and what I got out of my experience had helped me immensely in my personal and professional life. My eyes have been opened in a way that otherwise would have been impossible. So if you have the opportunity to study abroad TAKE IT!! (go on SAS hint hint) If you know of a college student that is thinking about studying abroad, encourage him or her to take the risk, and have the time of their lives.
To find out more about Semester at Sea or even apply online go to www.semesteratsea.com and become a student of the world!!
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Epinions.com ID:
marnica
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Location: Southern CT
Reviews written: 52
Trusted by: 26 members
About Me:
I'm a therapist and a substance abuse counselor. I live and work in CT.
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