Semester at Sea's Last Summer Voyage

Fall 2013 and Summer 2014, Semester at Sea

Sailing with Semester at Sea was a life changing experience that I thought would be a once in a lifetime opportunity until Semester at Sea offered me the chance to sail again on this past summer voyage. I struggled between making the responsible decision of staying in my lease, taking summer courses on campus, and working as a summer intern or the bold choice of exploring Northern Europe and Scandinavia on the MV Explorer sailing with world-renowned professors, newfound friends, and the opportunity to explore beyond my textbooks. To study abroad twice was a blessing. To study abroad on Semester at Sea twice felt as though I had won the life lottery. Semester at Sea taught me not only about the world and its people but also even more about myself. Wandering around cities, struggling with language barriers, and attempting to learn about others’ cultures pushed me beyond my boundaries and catapulted me into becoming a global citizen with a true understanding for the world.

I sailed on the Fall 2013 voyage, which meant I’d miss big events in the fall such as the football games, Halloween, and watching the leaves change colors. I am apart of the Greek community which also meant I’d miss recruitment, homecoming, and all the events my sorority would put on such as our annual philanthropy event Nacho Fest. Being abroad at first felt as though I was missing out on the good times my sorority sisters and the rest of the Greek community were experiencing but through emails (the main form of communication for SASers, throwin’ it back to the 90s!) many of my sisters and friends had reassured me that it was just like every semester and to go out and enjoy myself. About a month into my voyage, the feeling of missing out quickly dissipated. Onboard, there were several Greeks from a multitude of chapters from several universities. I got the opportunity to meet other Alpha Chis as well as several other sorority women and fraternity men, talk about different traditions within our chapters, and form a community of Greeks that created a familiarity of our home campuses onboard the MV Explorer.

One of the greatest parts of studying abroad was having a strong support system to come back to. The overwhelming welcoming I received from my sorority house helped the transition back into normal life much easier with a household of women (and our house parents!) eager to hear about my travels and excited that I was back for the semester. Going abroad for the full semester and for a summer, I may have missed out on a tailgate, third datebook dance party, or hanging out at the Boulder Reservoir but the memories and experiences I’ve seen thanks to Semester at Sea are incomparable. From hiking up the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil to watching Swan Lake at the Hermitage in Russia to dancing the night way in Cuba, Semester at Sea gave me the opportunities of a lifetime!



 

Last Updated June 2015