Sitting in class while slowly rocking back and forth, Robyn Chazen was amazed when her professor stopped lecture to let students watch the dolphins swimming outside of the boat window.
“There is something really unique about being in a school environment out at sea,” she said.
Chazen, a third-year sociology student, was taken aback by this spectacle and knew she had made the right decision to attend the Semester at Sea program.
Semester at Sea is a global, comparative study abroad program offered by the nonprofit Institute for Shipboard Education. The program is run through the University of Virginia but accepts students from all areas across the United States as well as internationally.
“I am pretty well-traveled and had already been to Europe, where most people tend to study abroad,” Chazen said. “I heard about this program and was blown away by how cool it would be to travel around the world in a semester.”
The program is fast-paced, as the ship circumnavigates the globe in about 100 to 110 days, and the itineraries typically include 10 to 11 countries, said Bridget Le Loup, a staff member for the program last year and the current resident director of Hedrick Summit.
Le Loup said the highlighted countries on her voyage included Ghana, India, Vietnam and South Africa.
“As for my experiences in Africa, I think they really changed my perspectives about the world,” Le Loup said. “It was there that I really began to critically think about the stark differences that surround developing countries.”
The curriculum offered aboard the ship provides students with a snapshot of world cultures, people and geography. Depending on the itinerary of the voyage, the faculty onboard ““ who come from many different universities ““ will lead various group projects while in particular countries. These projects might include drumming workshops in Ghana, visiting Coca-Cola plants abroad to learn about international business or service learning opportunities while partnering with Rotary Clubs, Le Loup said.
The program also offers transferable courses for people of all majors, such as sociology, life sciences, economics or even theater, Chazen said.
In addition to courses, Chazen said she could explore the countries on her itinerary, volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, help out at orphanages and participate in other community service activities. During her free time, she would often work out at the gym, enjoy the spa or pick up a book at the library, all of which could be found onboard.
“I was able to be a tourist hiking the Great Wall of China or see places like the Taj Mahal while still getting credit from my home university. Looking back, it was definitely one of the best things I have ever done,” Chazen said.
An option for UCLA students interested in the program is to take the fall voyage so there is no disruption in academic coursework. Students who apply for the spring program would miss both winter and spring quarters.
Lauren Barto, a second-year anthropology student, is looking forward to starting her own Semester at Sea experience this fall. Her voyage will include destinations such as Casablanca in Morocco and Port Louis in Mauritius.
“All three of my older sisters had done the program and raved about how life-changing the trip is,” Barto said. “I can’t wait to go out and experience all of the world’s cultures for myself.”
In addition, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who is a strong advocate for peace in South Africa, will be sailing with Barto on her voyage to give students speeches and words of wisdom throughout their journey.
Being out at sea offers an interesting dynamic for those onboard, because there is no longer a dependence on common items such as cell phones, freeways and Facebook. Rather, many of the students and faculty who have had this experience agree that it is the people onboard and the times shared that give the voyage meaning.
“I really enjoyed ship life and having late-night conversations about life, the universe and our place in it with students under bright starry night skies in the middle of the ocean,” Le Loup said. “I’ll never forget it.”
Students who are interested in the program can visit semesteratsea.org for more information.