SEA Semester was fascinating, but if someone interprets that as "fun" I want to punch them Past Review
By Giulia A (Environmental Studies, University of Washington) for
Sea Education Association: The Global Ocean
The knowledge gained on that program was invaluable. I just wish it wasn't so physically, mentally and emotionally taxing. It builds character.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The grading is fairly lenient and classes are quite relaxed. The subject matter for the most part is entirely basic. However the expectations and time demands are high relative to any academic program. Don't expect unlimited free time--especially once on the ship. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Lots of light hiking and close to the beach. But not much else going on; no night life within an hour's driving distance, reportedly a bowling alley we never found. You're on campus so very close to class. The houses themselves are very sparse; don't bring more than you need to survive 6 weeks or you'll have to invent space to store it all. |
| * Food: |
On shore, you're given $40/person/week to cover groceries, which is then combined into an all-house fund for 8+ people. When our house included 6 boys with teenage metabolisms, this was far from enough. It caused unnecessary stress. Once at sea quantity was not a problem, although food was never a highlight of the day. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
No cultural events to speak of. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
A ship is always dangerous, but SEA takes that pretty seriously. There's tons of rules in place specifically to avoid such incidents. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | SEA Semester is no cake walk; you will be challenged, mentally and physically. I've been to kayaking Jr. World Championships and this was harder. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Maritime Studies |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Jamin Wells |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Painfully basic and awkwardly presented. Especially because I'm from the culture being lectured on, the over-simplification and slow pace was frustrating to say the least. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Oceanography |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Chuck Lea |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Very elementary concepts presented with the most abstract and entertaining explanations I have ever seen. Very important to get these concepts down pat as they become the basis of all work once at sea. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Considering I'm still waiting on grades a full 2 months after completing the program? Yes. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Nautical Science |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Terry Hayward |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Fascinating material but very abstract. It's hard to hold everything in your brain at once because it's very abstract concepts (celestial navigation in particular, as well as the portion on ship physics if you're not already familiar with ship handling). |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
