Imagine giving your student a hug and sending them off to study in a foreign country. Now imagine sending them off to eight! That is exactly what 676 families with students representing 290 universities are doing this semester; their students are embarking on a journey to travel the Mediterranean and North Africa with Semester at Sea. Tonight more than 350 parents toured the ship where their students will be living through the course of the semester. Upon stepping onto their modern floating campus, parents were envious but delighted for their children as they had a glimpse of their new home. Some parents joked about setting sail tonight along with their students.
Cynthia Walters was excited for her daughter Anna who will be celebrating her 22nd birthday on the ship this Friday. Her son Tyler just came home from traveling on the Spring 2011 Voyage. It was a trip of a lifetime for her son and she wanted her daughter to experience the world outside the classroom as well.
The journey to the Mediterranean will begin in the morning and for many of the students they will be experiencing different cultures for the first time. Their eyes will be opened to the world around them; they will be engaged academically with professors from around the world, meet new friends, explore, and become global citizens.
