University is often a time to expand your horizon.
And this is definitely the case for students who report to the competition Semester at sea Program, which sees that they spend a term traveling on a vessel.
The MV World Odyssey, a 590 feet/179 million ship, is turned twice a year into a floating home for students and faculties from all over the world.
But how does it really want to study at sea?
MailOnline caught up with the former semester at SEA student Carli Fogel to find out.
Carli, of FloridaComplete semester at sea in 2018 and describe the experience as ‘the best four months’ of her life.
She says, ‘We have of California And we stop in Hawaii And then went to Japan, ChinaCambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, India, Hong KongMauritius, South AfricaGhana, Morocco and Portugal. ‘
But although it may sound like a glamorous way to study, Carli reveals that the ship was far from luxurious.
Carli Fogel, of Florida, completed semester at sea in 2018 and describes it as ‘the best four months’ of her life. She is here with her friends on their last day of course
The MV World Odyssey (above in Dubrovnik), a 590 feet/179 m ship, is turned twice a year into a floating home for students and faculties from all over the world
She says, ‘I shared a room with another girl. The rooms were really small, like crazy small. You just had a small window that would look out on the water. ‘Above is a premium student cabin on the ship
She says, ‘I shared a room with another girl. The rooms were really small, like crazy small. You only had a small window that would look out on the water.
“I certainly became seasick and it was Klaustrophobic. A lot of people got a stomach virus and there was a doctor and nurse on board. “
Carli, an avid traveler, reveals that she has done semester at sea since the age of 12 when she met a family friend who completed the program.
But she was originally not sold on the ship’s element.
She explains: ‘I am from Florida, who is home to the craving, but my parents hate sailing because they do not like to relax on vacation.
“I never really went on the go. I just wanted to do it because I wanted to go to the different countries, I didn’t want to live on a boat. But then it appeared that the boat was the best part.
‘Of course the lands were incredible, but the boat was at home. You create this community on board. ‘
While semester at Sea is underway today, Carli explains that today’s students will not experience any of her favorite parts of her journey.
Students who report to the competitive semester to SEA program spend a term to travel the world on a vessel
While semester at Sea is underway today, Carli explains that today’s students will not experience any of her favorite parts of her journey – with no WiFi
“There was no WiFi on the ship when I was going, which was my favorite part,” Carli says. “You were really off the grid and couldn’t be on your phone.
“You couldn’t be on social media and you really had to be present. Everything you learned you learned from textbooks. You would learn something in class and then go on a field journey that matches the leather. ‘
The lack of WiFi meant that Carli and her friends could not regularly plan their days on land that led to some spontaneous adventures.
She reveals: ‘Unless you booked a field journey with the ship, not much was planned. You finally did unexpected things for which you would never have given yourself time if you had a planned journey with the Internet.
“The kids on the ship are making tapping tops that are cute these days, but for me it misses the point. When you did not have access to WiFi, you really got to know people and it was a small utopian society.
‘If a group of students did not like how a course was offered, they could teach the course themselves. The journey was incredible, but the community was very democratic, in a way I do not think that I will ever experience again. ‘
One of Carli’s favorite memories from Semester Ase Sea was when she managed to persuade the shipping staff to ward off the top deck lights for 15 minutes.
‘There were hundreds of students on yoga mats on the deck watching the stars together. It was probably the best moment of my life, ‘she says.
The pool on board the ship. One of Carli’s most delicious memories is on the deck to see the stars at night
And despite the challenges of a small room and sea disease, Carli says “Everything was so worth it.”
“It really changed my life and where I wanted to live and the work I wanted to do,” she’s done.
“I finally lived in Tel Aviv for four to five years and then traveled a lot in Europe.
“I made eternal friendships that I wouldn’t change for the world.
“If you can handle the shake of the boat, definitely do semester at sea, it’s a no brainer.”
