Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Being at sea changed my life! I would do it again in a heart beat! Past Review

By (Marine Biology, ) for

Sea Education Association: The Global Ocean

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Definitely! It was an incredible experience that I learned so much from, academically and about myself.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

This was quite the adventure. It was split up into two portions - shore portion and sea portion. The workload during the shore portion was pretty rigorous, because you are getting ready to nagivate and run the ship in just 6 weeks time. The sea portion was very hands on and an excelent learning experience. This wasnt a cruise! You and your shipmate (classmates) were the crew of the ship. We were split into watches and ran the 135ft brigantine SSV Corwith Cramer with our own two hands. It was an amazing experience and I highly suggest everyone try it! I would totally do another semester at sea with SEA.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Everyone was really friendly and easy to talk to. The campus was really small (only 6 buildings, 5 of which were student housing) and you pretty much knew and saw everyone, every day. I never had any problems with them and they were more than willing to help whenever I had any issues or needed to talk about something.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We lived in houses containing 4 bedrooms, a kitchen/living room, 2 bathrooms. There were eight people living in each of the houses and we bought food and ate together.

* Food:

Each house given $300 gift cards for a local grocery store at the beginning of each week and we went shopping together for whatever we decided we wanted.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Living so close together and being in class together everyday, you gain a lot of close friends. They become even closer when you are at sea. It was great being able to spend so much time on the ocean. It was also great stopping on islands such as Dominica and the US Virgin Islands.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* 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)

Language

If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Remember that your shipmates are there to help you, you don't have to do everything on your own. Have fun!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Oceanography
Course Department: Dont Remember
Instructor: Jeff Schell
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Another really interesting course. This course was incredible at sea because we were able to use a wet lab on the ship and deploy all kinds of equipment used for gathering samples in the middle of the ocean. Jeff was great, really dorky! He really loved his job and made us enjoy it too!
Credit Transfer Issues: Not at all.
Course Name/Rating:

Nautical Science
Course Department: Dont remember
Instructor: Jeremy S.
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Really interesting! A fairly easy course until it came to sail theory. Physics is just not my forte.
Credit Transfer Issues: Not at all.
Course Name/Rating:

Maritime Studies
Course Department: Dont Remember
Instructor: Liz Fisher
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Another really interesting course on pirates, and historical whaling. It is amazing what large part of our past whales were, and how we affected their populations even now after whaling has been made illegal.
Credit Transfer Issues: Not at all.