Semester at Sea

As a comparative cultural studies major, I felt that having a cross-cultural experience was perfect for me. Not only would I be able to sail to six countries in Asia, which relates to my emphasis on Asian studies, but I would also be able to compare those places to the other countries the program would travel to. I have always had the intent to live abroad and work internationally later on in life, so I felt this was a study abroad program that would allow me to see all of the places I could potentially return to for a more extended amount of time.

I knew I wanted to study abroad from the time I was in high school. I actually turned down acceptance to certain programs when I was applying to colleges because the curriculum was so strict that it left no room for taking a semester to study abroad. I wanted to see and learn different things and meet new people with different perspectives. I had lived in the same town my whole life and was ready to experience new things; although I was close to my family and chose a college within a few hours of driving distance from my hometown, I wanted the experience of really getting out into the world for at least a semester.

After sailing as a staff member on the Summer 2013 voyage, I accepted a Student Affairs position with the Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE), the organization that runs SAS. My job is to focus on the co-curricular piece of shipboard life, including programming, community building, reflection, health and wellness, service learning, intercultural competence, and leadership and involvement. Learning happens both in and out of the classroom, and my role here contributes to the components of holistic development of all participants.