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Success At Sea

G46A2100As the Spring 2015 voyage sails on, previous voyagers spent a night lending their advice to current students about how get the most out of Semester at Sea. The Explorers’ Seminar was hosted by seven alumni, who shared personal stories and guidance about what was effective and what may have hindered their former voyage.

Evan Meyer, the voyage photographer, explained “To get the most out of this semester, you need to make a conscious effort to take care of yourself. There are so many opportunities and so many things to see and do that it’s very easy to cram all the experiences in you can without stopping. It’s very easy to get burnt out. Taking care of yourself can be as easy as going to sleep early one night, watching a movie in your cabin, reading a book, or for me, it was finding time alone outside and just watching the ocean go by.”G46A1453

Kesho Scott, an associate professor of American Studies and Sociology at Grinnell College, discussed the importance of being open to all experiences aboard the ship and while visiting each of the 12 countries. She advised that “success at sea is about being open to transformation from the inside out, as well as from the outside in, because every conversation with members of the voyage can change your life. I keep open to the spirit that every conversation can go from the ordinary to the extraordinary.” She continued, by reminding voyagers of what a great opportunity this excursion is, “success at sea is about recognizing that this journey is about having great privilege, but it is what you do with the privilege that counts!”G46A1755

An associate professor of Anthropology From the University of Miami, Caleb Everett explained the value and responsibility that comes with a global comparative education. “Ultimately, Semester at Sea enables students to discover themselves in new ways. I encourage everyone to realize that you are simply being presented with snapshots of these countries. Some of the impressions left with you may not even accurately represent those countries. Yet, while you won’t be an expert on Burma or Vietnam, or anywhere else after just a few days in port, these times will leave an indelible impact on you. This is about opening yourself up to the realization that so much of who you are is an artifact of your native culture. If you’re open to truly experiencing these countries during these quick successive visits, you’ll come to know yourself in new ways through the larger realization of how much you yourself have been shaped, in ways you never even realized until SAS, by powerful aspects of your native cultures.”

With seasoned alumni on board, so willing to share guidance, there is no doubt that success at sea will be achieved on the Spring 2015 voyage.

Topics
  • Voyage Updates

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