A Tender Adventure in Varna

A number of students, faculty and staff had a rocky start to the first day of Semester at Sea’s stop in Bulgaria. The ship dropped anchor off the shore for the first few hours after arriving in Varna, Bulgaria, and passengers were tendered between ship and shore. Waters were a bit choppy and one tendering effort back to the ship provided an adventure for a few voyagers. One to two-meter tall waves rocked not only the tender, but the ship as well and turned a norm 20-minute tender and boarding experience into a 90-minute ordeal. In the end, the ship’s crackerjack crew prevailed and as has been the norm on the MV Explorer, everyone boarded safely even if a bit greener in complexion. Click on the short slideshow below to see the full effect of the crew’s efforts and the passengers’ adventure.

Semester at Sea Changed Her Life

For Semester at Sea’s first-ever trip to Bulgaria, alumna Kelly Adams-Smith visited the ship addressing the voyage community as its diplomatic lecturer for Bulgaria.

Adams-Smith, who is the economic and political deputy counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria, credits her time on Semester at Sea with putting her on the path toward her work in the foreign service.

“Semester at Sea changed the course and direction of my life," she told gathered students and faculty before a talk about Bulgaria. My life is what it is now because of my experience on Semester at Sea.”

Adams-Smith has worked for the state department for 12 years serving in Washington, Moscow, Estonia and now in Bulgaria. She majored in Russian in college and then Russian and East European studies in graduate school because of her SAS experience.

Following her talk on Bulgaria, Adams-Smith spent more than an hour meeting in small groups with students interested in foreign service work, attending an SAS-organized tour on human-trafficking with students, and dining with them on the ship.

“She is a real inspiration and I got so much from hearing her speak about her career,” one student said.

Hear more about Adams-Smith’s life-changing experience on her Fall 1988 voyage on Semester at Sea’s YouTube Channel. Just click on either of the photos to get to the website.

Experience a Sufi Dervish Performance

Be sure to visit the Semester at Sea YouTube Channel to watch an interesting video of the students' visit to the Sufi Dervish ceremony in Istanbul.

Discovery the origin of "whirling dervish" (it's not just a frantic student running in five different directions) and watch this fascinating religious and spiritual ceremonial dance.

Just click on the image to find your way to the website.

Istanbul-A City of Many Stories

Istanbul is a collage of cultures and religion—current and past. Its 15th century fortresses sit astride modern, boxy apartment buildings and roadways. Ruins from BC times are fenced off from the swirl of a busy street. It transports you to ancient times. And then, in an instant, a merchant snaps you back to reality as he gestures for you to come to his stall, check out his merchandise or his menu. It is an in-your-face culture that makes the hustle and bustle of New York City look laid back. But that is just a part of Turkey as Semester at Sea students discovered.

The other part is the rural, quieter areas that are introduced by fields of sunflowers. There are the rocky masses of Cappadocia (pronounced CAP-A-DOCH-EE-A) that make you feel like you’ve landed on another planet. There are the ruins of Troy. For some students, Istanbul, specifically, and Turkey, in general, was a bit of a culture shock, especially being from a western, predominantly Christian country and going to a Muslim country. For others, it was by far the best experience they’ve had on Semester at Sea.

Click on the short video at the end to view some of the images of Turkey and Istanbul and read the students’ thoughts on their five-day stay in the country. (Don't forget to check the Semester at Sea website for the official audio slideshow on Turkey.)

Lucas Firmino, Daniel Webster College
Istanbul is definitely different than I thought it would be. A lot of my preconceptions were dashed and I learned more about what the country really is. I thought that as a predominantly Muslim country that’s the way the government would work, but it’s not. It’s a more secular government, more like the U.S. I was surprised that people didn’t dress the way you thought they would dress and there are few people who actually wear the full Muslim dress. So, I’ve learned quite a bit from being around the people.

Emily Bialas, Univ. of Pittsburgh
Istanbul has been a big culture shock for me. I didn’t realize how large the Muslim community was here. I heard that there are 3,000 mosques, just in Istanbul. And the call to prayer was very strange and surprising to me. It was good to also leave Istanbul and visit Troy to see rural parts of Turkey. I learned that Turkey is a very independent, self-sufficient country agriculturally. Plus, being in Gallipoli and seeing all the letters from soldiers and their families was very moving.

Sarah Shepherd, Bowling Green State University
Istanbul is probably my favorite port. The people were just so friendly here and more than willing to speak slow since we don’t understand the language and show you where you need to go. I’ve even had people ask me “Do you need a tour guide? I’ll be your tour guide for the day. I’ll even take off work and show you around the city. It’s a beautiful city; I want to share that experience with you.” That’s just amazing to experience—that there are people here who just want you to experience a city they love so much. It just fascinated and thrilled me to see that.

Ana Alexandrescu, Lehigh University
We went to a sustainable car-free day in Istanbul on the second day we were in port and talked with residents and sat down and painted with children. People in the neighborhood brought out their version of doughnuts, a big bowl of them, and they said “Help yourself, you are our guests.” That was amazing. Another person we met the day before told us about a football [soccer] game to go to, where to buy the tickets, and how to get there. So, we ended up going to a football game, chanting the Turkish cheers and just being a part of the crowd, which was another amazing experience.

Eric Paulino, Sarah Lawrence College
I love Turkey. It is my favorite place so far. I really have fallen in love with Istanbul and the people here. I thought when the noon prayer was announced that people were going to stop—that the taxi drivers were going to get out of their cars, get down on the hot ground and pray to mecca. And I was like ‘How ignorant of me’ because life goes on. People pray when they can, just as we do in America. Going to a mosque for the first time and seeing how peaceful the call to prayer was and watching people march in and quietly pray, it was one of the best things I’ve ever seen.

Sarah Cogdill, Univ. of North Texas
I went on a university tour that had SAS students meet Turkish college students. I really enjoyed meeting with students one on one and learning about how they live and their life in college. The best part about being in Turkey for me was the interactions with people because they were so hospitable and friendly. They had a real curiousity for who we are and where we’re from and they wanted to share their city with us. I didn’t have any expectations of Istanbul and it’s exceeded any expectations that I could have had.

Mid-Voyage Reflections

Just a little over a month ago, the MV Explorer departed Halifax, Canada for a 67-day voyage that would be a trip of lifetime for many of its students. In just one month’s time, the students have formed strong friendships, tried unique foods, challenged their peers, and pushed themselves to move beyond being tourists to become travelers in the countries that Semester at Sea has visited thus far.

They have learned that time is warped on the ship. There are no weekends, or days of the week for that matter. Instead, the days are tracked by whether we are at sea or at port and how much time is in between. In the end, few students are happy about this experience ending. But most agree that they won’t forget it anytime soon. Read on to learn some of the students’ thoughts at the halfway point of this journey.

GRACE OBANDO
It's difficult to come to terms with our voyage already reaching its halfway point. My global perspective has expanded beyond what I could have imagined. The people I’ve met on the ship, as well as in each port, have shared their lives with me, creating a world that you can't even read about in books. Semester at Sea has provided me the opportunity to challenge my own thoughts and perceptions within these countries. I am anxious to see what these next few countries have in store. I know they will bring excitement and fun.


JESSICA BINGHAM
Many of my learning experiences have come from just being on this ship. I have struggled with understanding some students who, despite living in the same country, have perspectives vastly different than my own. I’ve learned that it is not simply a language or a government that shapes our vision of the world, but also our socio-economic class, family, and other experiences. …I think one of the most wonderful things about this program is that it enables students to transcend notions of class or culture and decide for themselves what a culture is really like.

SAMANTHA SNELLING
To think that I got on this ship just one month ago blows me away. Already, I have created memories that will last me a lifetime. I can’t believe I have been to Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece, and Turkey! I’ve learned so much and have become so thankful for things that I left behind in Colorado. I am now, more then ever, proud to be an American, but willing to accept others and where they come from. After being a "foreigner" and always asking people questions and directions I promised myself that I will always take time to help someone who is lost or needs help in Colorado. I’ve learned a lot about myself on this trip and I know I still have much more to learn. I can not wait to see what the future holds.

RUDY SHAFFER
There is so much to absorb on Semester at Sea and, as we get further along in our trip, it just gets better and I learn more and more. The faculty, students, and lifelong learners have become my shipboard “family” from which I thrive and learn. The friendships and connections I’ve made aboard the MV Explorer are relationships I will have forever. The diversity, conversations, opinions, backgrounds, personalities and class discussions make this trip a much richer experience and would have been impossible to have if I traveled alone.

Each port has been so distinctly different and the interactions I’ve had with local people in these countries have been invaluable. We’ve coined the phrase, "try everything" and doing so gives us a taste of each country and a plan to return in the future. I’ve seen so many amazing places and I can't wait for what is in store in the next four weeks. This has truly been an experience of a lifetime!

JENNIFER PAIGE
I am truly blessed to have found such a program at such an influential stage in my life. The experiences I am gaining here have already begun to modify my views and behaviors. I have really enjoyed having conversations with locals, learning phrases in other languages, trying new foods such as bull cheek, and viewing historical sites such as the Acropolis. As a future physician, I have experienced how it feels to have a different cultural background, behaviors and language from others. Therefore, I will be more sensitive and understanding with patients. This voyage has made me bolder, more inquisitive, and has helped me to move out of my comfort zone more easily. I don’t think anyone can think of a better way for a student to spend a summer.

JENNY BOUATAY
It boggles my mind that it has been a month since I started this journey. I feel like I have grown so much in that short amount of time. The experiences I’ve had thus far will forever be kept close and dear to my heart. Semester at Sea has given me the wonderful opportunity to expand my horizons and see the world in a different perspective. Not only did it give me the chance to learn about the world, but also about myself.

TIMOTHY JONES II
Semester at Sea has been both a rewarding and a complicated experience. It is rewarding, clearly, for the opportunity to visit, explore and experience so many different countries and their cultures. It is complicated—and equally challenging—as an African-American man to realize how much people from my own country still have to learn about people of other ethnicities and races. As much as we as Americans are ignorant about other cultures, people, and religions of the countries we are visiting, so too are some of my fellow voyagers ignorant about other aspects of people in the U.S. who are different from them. But I have learned from some faculty and staff that this voyage is not about us vs. them. Instead, it’s about coming together to see the world beyond statistics and what we read in textbooks. It is about putting faces, stories, experiences, and fears into perspective and, as a shipboard community, opening our minds to educate ourselves and our peers to look beyond stereotypes and preconceptions and to truly learn about a person, a culture, a city, a country. Doing so requires a greater sense of compassion and responsibility. Dr. Martin Luther King said “We have flown the air like birds, and swam the sea like fish, but yet have we learned the simple art of walking together as brother [and sister]?” For me, the lesson on this voyage is that people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.

TRIANA FRANCOIS
Semester at Sea thus far has been an array of experiences. The MV Explorer and the Institution for Shipboard Education teaches me lifelong lessons every second. Analyzing our summer voyage theme, Human Rights and Social Justice in the Mediterranean World, and being from a diverse background, I find lessons that relate to the theme right here on the ship. A month into this voyage I am trying to figure out what I can do in this world so that my experiences don’t start and end on this ship. I hope the ports I am visiting are just stepping stones to push me towards bigger issues at hand. I certainly have realized that being true to myself and honest is the best way to start and finish my journey.

ANA ALEXANDRESCU
Being from Romania, I technically know of all these places and have been to a few of them, for instance Greece and Turkey. But it’s a totally different experience. For, Spain, Italy and Croatia, I only read about them, so actually to go and visit was just amazing. And I’ve met some really wonderful people. We’ve had a lot of great moments and a lot of great experiences. And, I feel that, we’ve grown to be more of travelers, less of tourists. I’ve met people on this ship who share my interests and with whom traveling is a great experience.

SHANI GRAVES
So far this experience has been cool. I didn’t expect the program to be as diverse as it is, which is nice, but I also wish it could be even more diverse with people from so many different backgrounds. But I’ve also met some really cool people. There are four of us who travel together and call ourselves “the quad”. Each week is a year on the ship and I tell them I feel like I’ve known them for five years. …I’m enjoying my classes so far. And, the crew of the ship are phenomenal and absolutely amazing.

SARAH SHEPHERD
Time wise I feel like I’ve been on this ship for years, but that’s a good thing. I’m sad that we’re halfway through and we have only a few more ports and I’m going to have to go back home and go back to reality. ….On this voyage, the days don’t mean anything anymore. I keep track by time and days according to the countries we are visiting and when we’re at sea. The only time I need to know is when lunch is and when dinner is to make sure I don’t miss it when we’re in port so I don’t have to go and pay for it..

MATTHEW POLLINGER
Whenever you go off the ship, even if you run into people you’re not personal friends with but you know they’re SAS people, there’s a comfort. Everyone is friendly to one another and willing to help each other out, even if you’re not on a first-name basis. Just in the Grand Bazaar [in Istanbul], I was there by myself one day and I ran into a number of SAS people and they were happy to see me. …You never feel like you’re alone even if you’re in a big city.

LUCAS FIRMINO
The ship definitely feels like home. I went on an overnight trip recently and when I came back it just felt like I was home again. And it’s a really weird feeling; I don’t know what it’s going to be like when I get back to my actual house. The MV Explorer is a place where I can come back and see my friends. It’s a really good community.

ELISSA GREENE
I can’t believe it’s the half-way point already. A couple of days ago I was looking back on the first day and I thought it’s been a month. It’s almost like I have a second family here. I love it.

EMILY BIALAS
I noticed the other day that I’m crossing days off my calendar and it’s halfway gone. I still can’t believe that we’re on this trip. It’s a bittersweet time for me. I miss my family so much and so I’m excited to be going back to see them, but at the same time I don’t want this to be over. I know I’m going to be so sad on the last day. But it’s really neat, actually, realizing how many people I’ve met. I’ve watched all the slideshows about the voyage [on the SAS website] online and going through them I realize I know so many people now. So you can definitely tell that we’ve been on here for a long time, because the community does get stronger I think.

ERIC PAULINO
I do think it’s a great opportunity for me as an America students to come into a country and be a part of it—albeit for four or five days—and experience something that’s different than my rushed New York life. So, for me, the most rewarding part is how I’ve challenged my own biases and prejudices. Even though I consider myself so progressive, I realize through this experience that I do have biases and prejudices. And, I’m learning so much in each country every day.

NHESTY ONG
It’s hard to imagine that we’ve been here for a month already, going around the world. I’m having a blast. The stuff that I’ve learned, people who I’ve met--this is be one of the most important moments of my life. At this point of my life, this is one of the most significant experiences, so I’m really grateful to have had this opportunity. When I go home to Taiwan or the Philippines, I definitely want to do something for people and for social justice. This voyage has really opened my perspective.

SARAH COGDILL
I don’t like to think about this being over. My transitional period when I get home is going to be tough for me because I’ve been looking forward to doing this program and this voyage for so long. But then, I’ve made friends in each country who tell me I can come visit them whenever, so I know I’ll be back to probably everywhere. Still, I’m avoiding that thought of this ending. I’m having more fun than I could have ever imagined.

NY Times Reporter Sails with SAS

New York Times national correspondent Randy Archibold has joined the Semester at Sea voyage as a Special Distinguished Guest Lecturer. He joined in Greece and will be sailing for two weeks until Egypt. In that time, he is speaking to several classes about his work as a journalist, participating in a panel discussion on careers in communications, and meeting with lifelong learners and diversity scholars.

“It’s been interesting not only to visit these countries, but to speak to the students about their impressions of them,” Archibold said. “I’ve also enjoyed speaking to students about their future careers as well as answering questions about mine.”

Archibold, who is based in Los Angeles for the paper, covers Southern California and the Southwest. He has spent more than two decades in journalism working for a number of papers, including the Los Angeles Times. This is his first time on a cruise ship and sailing with Semester at Sea.

“This may be a 67-day voyage, but the experience for these students will carry on for years,” he said.

To read Archibold's stories from the NY Times, click on the link: http://tinyurl.com/rcanyt

Post-Port Reflections on Greece

Greece is a country that is full of surprises in its ancient treasures, its landscape, food and people. Semester at Sea students learned that Greece is much more than white-washed buildings with blue-domed roofs. There are islands with terrain that is reminiscent of Colorado and the drier hills of southern California. And, to stand before the Parthenon, and realize that 2,500 years ago its architects studied the human eye to better understand how to construct the building is awe inspiring. SAS students thoroughly explored the country’s numerous, and gorgeous, islands. And most were impressed by the Acropolis and ruins at Delphi. Scroll down and read their reflections on Greece. Then, visit the Semester at Sea website to view the audio slideshow.

Gian Spells, North Carolina A & T State University
My journey through Greece was a great experience. From just walking around Piraeus to visiting Delphi, Meteora and the Olympic stadium of the 2004 games, the experience was really memorable. At Delphi and Meteora we saw the ancient Greek Oracle, which is said to lie in the center of the Earth. We learned the story of the Oracle and then went on to Meteora to visit the monasteries in that area’s high mountains. The monks use ropes to pull food and other necessities up from the bottom of the mountain. We visited three of the seven monasteries, which were filled with religious symbolism, art, and history. At the Olympic stadium we visited the indoor and outdoor pools, took pictures on the winning podiums and just soaked up the experience. Greece is an incredible country; I wouldn’t think twice about coming back to visit.

Christine Sullivan, Univ. of Connecticut
I spent my time in Greece relaxing on the island of Mykonos. As expected, it was incredibly beautiful with blue Aegean waters, unique Cycladic architecture, and rocky landscapes. I enjoyed “island time” and appreciated the Greek (and overall, European) culture of relaxing and enjoying the moment—not rushing to the next appointment. It was a welcome escape and a different view of Greece.

Samantha Snelling, Colorado State University
So much of Greece reminded me of Italy, especially Piraeus, the port city, with its high-rise buildings and beautiful Greek orthodox churches on every corner. Greeks are very proud of their religion and their beautifully designed churches. I also visited the Acropolis, which was like visiting a lost world. But helping with the special event on the MV Explorer with the Greek Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deree College students was a surprisingly great opportunity. There were multiple different press people there and they were kind of funny. I met a girl named Elenie who attended Deree and we really hit it off. She was wonderful. I am learning, on this voyage that, for the most part, the people, leaders, and faculty are so welcoming and inviting and that helps make this voyage better.

SAS Featured in the Greek Press

Semester at Sea made headlines in a number of Greek news outlets following its one-day special event with Greek officials and Deree College administrators and students. Click on the images of the news stories to go to the links. But, be forewarned, one article is in French (go figure) and the other in Greek.

Translation for the Greek article is below.

Deree – Semester at Sea: Floating University [appeared in Kerdos news]
The passenger ship Explorer, on board which the Semester at Sea program—sponsored by the University of Virginia –takes place, is visiting Piraeus with more than 700 students from various universities of USA and other countries around the world.

During this visit, the cooperation between SAS and Deree college has been corroborated. This cooperation allows exclusively Deree students to participate to SAS program which will also offer scholarships in order to boost that participation.

It is only the second agreement of SAS with international educational institution outside US. The first was the one with the prominent University of Shangai.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Miltiades Varvitsiotis, and number of Greek officials visited the Explorer. Deputy Minister addressed the visiting students for the challenges Greece and the greater area about Greece are facing and for the initiatives of Greece. The Minister praised SAS and the Deree for this agreement and pointed out that it will further widen (Deree’s college) students’ horizons.

A group of students and staff from Deree college visited the Explorer and they received a guided tour on board the vessel. They were introduced to the educational offers of SAS and they expressed their interest into participate in the program.

SAS is a fully recognized educational program on university level. Participating students are able to transfer (SAS) credits to their own university and they will widen their knowledge by studying on board this floating university. Explorer is fully equipped with library, classrooms and amphitheatre, visual and audio means and can offer more than 70 different courses in each voyage.

Deree college, part of the American College of Greece, is a non-profitable educational institution, recognized and certified by NEASC, with long history in Greece. The American College of Greece was founded in 1875 in Smyrna of Asia Minor and moved in Greece after the disaster (resulting from war) in Asia Minor. It offers five master’s programs and 19 bachelor’s, following the American model of higher education.

Today, Deree counts more than 28,000 alumni who have earned jobs in more than 1,700 companies and organizations in Greece and internationally.

Semester at Sea Celebrates New Affliliation with Deree College

Deree College’s president and administrators, as well as dozens of students from the Athens-based college, joined Semester at Sea administrators, faculty, staff and students to celebrate a new agreement between Semester at Sea and Deree that will expand and strengthen SAS’s global program.

The new agreement will allow students attending Deree, a division of the American College of Greece, to enroll in and experience the Semester at Sea program.

“The agreement with the American College of Greece underscores Semester at Sea’s long-standing commitment to fully internationalize the program,” said Les McCabe, president of the Institute for Shipboard Education. “We are excited to welcome students from Deree College—such an impressive institution of higher learning—to future voyages of Semester at Sea.”

More than a dozen students from Deree College attended an open ship event to meet Semester at Sea students, tour the MV Explorer and learn more about the program, during the special day-long event in Greece. SAS students also participated in a panel discussion about the program and their experiences.

“We are very eager to partner with this very outstanding program,” said David Horner, Deree College’s president.

Click on the video below to see more about the special relationship between Deree College and Semester at Sea.

Greece Deputy Foreign Minister & Other VIPs Visit MV Explorer

Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, Greece’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and a number of other Greek dignitaries, visited the MV Explorer during its stay in Piraeus, Greece, to tour the ship, learn more about the program and celebrate the program’s new partnership with Athens-based Deree College (see blog posting above).

"That we are here means that we believe in this program,” Varvitsiotis told a gathering of Greek and Semester at Sea officials. “And we believe in the importance of people coming to visit our country to learn more about our country.”

Varvitsiotis is quite familiar with Semester at Sea; his sister sailed as a student on a recent voyage. She is now a journalist in Greece.

The special day-long program included a number of special moments, marking an important time for Semester at Sea. During the morning, Les McCabe, president of the Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE), which operates Semester at Sea, and SAS Summer Voyage Executive Dean Michael Zoll joined Andreas Potamianos to raise the Semester at Sea flag atop Potamianos’ Epirotiki Tours building.

ISE’s relationship with Potamianos dates back nearly 40 years. Potamianos oversaw the design and construction of the MV Explorer, which once cruised Greek's islands in 2002. Potamianos owns Epirotiki Tours and had the MV Explorer built in 2001 for his tour company. ISE chartered the ship for its 2004 summer voyage and then purchased it in 2008, making it SAS’s official floating campus. Years earlier, Semester at Sea leased the Odysseus and World Renaissance ships from Potamianos’ company.

“I’m very proud that the [MV] Explorer has been dedicated to a noble cause: Educating the young generations of the future,” Potamianos said to gathered Semester at Sea and Greek officials. “…She now found her historical destination, training young people for a better world.”

Click on the video to watch some of this special event during the MV Explorer and Semester at Sea’s stop in Greece.

Semester at Sea on YouTube

Be sure to visit Semester at Sea's YouTube Channel where you can find extended videos about students' travels to the eight countries the program will visit this summer. There's also a video about the start of the voyage and soon.

The most recent video captures the special visit to the Osojonik Village in Croatia.

Click on the photo to go directly to the video. And, be sure to bookmark the SAS YouTube Channel to see all that's happening aboard the MV Explorer and Semester at Sea's 99th voyage!

And the Winner Is…..

The Yellow Sea team!!! This summer voyage’s Sea Olympics proved just as wild and crazy, with good natured rivalry, as in the past. Nine teams, representing seas from around the globe (several in which we’re sailing), vied for top prize: first to disembark the ship upon arrival in Norfolk.

The Yellow Sea team gave a rousing synchronized swimming performance to start off the competition.

Students competed in Pictionary, mini paper boat races, tug of war, lip syncing, an academic bowl and a “makeover” contest. Even faculty, staff, and younger children joined in for a day of true fun and games.

Click on the slideshow to see some photos of the day.

Croatian Media Visit MV Explorer

Thanks to the help of our ship's captain, Roman Krasnovic, several Croatian media outlets visited the MV Explorer during the time in Dubrovnik. During their two-hour visit, the reporters and photographers spoke to the captain and met with students, faculty and staff and toured the ship. Click on this short video to see the photos of their visit.

The Welcome Surprise of Croatia

If Italy was “amazing” for Semester at Sea students then Croatia was a breathtaking surprise.

The port city of Dubrovnik was a beautiful city of white houses, rose colored tile rooftops, a pristine Old City and hopefulness among people who endured a harrowing war nearly 20 years ago. Faculty, staff, and students were surprised and bowled over by the majestic coastline city and its lush countryside.

“Croatia wasn’t really on my radar as a place to visit, but after coming here I really look forward to returning,” said SAS professor Melvin Rogers.

Watch a short clip of photographs from the students’ time in Croatia and read some accounts of their experiences in the country as well as those of faculty and staff.


BILLY KEEFE MANHATTAN COLLEGE
The first day we arrived in Dubrovnik I went on a field program to the City Walls in the Old Town. The entire tour took around an hour and a half to walk around the walls, which are 1,940 meters long. One of the things that really astonished me was when the tour guide showed us a map of the entire region around and including the walls that was bombed during the war involving Croatia. It shocked me to see how many places in that area were actually attacked and how beautiful the area has become since the war. I really have gained a new respect and appreciation for the resilience and determination of the Croatian people.

As we made our journey around the wall my friends and I were surrounded by breathtaking views. In front of me was the bluest water of the Adriatic Sea. Behind me was an unexpectedly immense, majestic hillside. To the left were vibrant, rustic Mediterranean-style roof tiles of the Old Town houses, cafes, and churches. To my right was the distant seascape of the uninhabited and serene island of Lokrum and the port side of the New Town.

On my fourth day in Croatia, I was scheduled for a tour to Bosnia and Herzegovina, but overslept and missed the tour bus. I sprinted out of the pier and tried to find a taxi bargain a ride to Medjugore, Bosnia and Herzegovina to meet my tour bus. The taxi driver glanced at the side of my backpack and then mumbled something under his breath and sped off. I later learned that the water bottle I was carrying on the side of my backpack, which I bought in Montenegro the previous day, was named after a malicious Serbian leader who carried-out cruel acts on Croatians during the war decades earlier. Judging from the taxi driver’s reaction, I realized that 20 years may be enough time to rebuild houses and reconstruct landscape, but not enough time to heal intercultural relations and amend past atrocities. I put the water bottle in my bag, hailed another taxi and made it to Medjugore, the second largest Catholic pilgrimage, at almost the same time as the field program bus arrived. Though the beginning of the day started off a bit frenetic, the tranquil ambiance of my environment—an environment which not too long ago was literally in the midst of some of the most horrific war crimes—left me unexpectedly appreciative of the beauty and resilience of this region. I left Croatia with an undiluted sense of hope.

ERIN BEAULIEU UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
I felt like Croatia was so laid back. Nobody is in a rush to go anywhere. They are very relaxed. And they were so welcoming and so friendly. And everyone spoke English; I think that’s because Dubrovnik is really a touristy place, but it helped me learn my way about the city a lot. Everybody was so welcoming and so friendly.

I did a lot in Croatia. I went to an Osojnik Village folk show, to children’s orphanage and a children’s hospital, to the beach and kayaking and snorkeling. It was a really good experience, because I really didn’t know what to expect and it was all a pleasant surprise.

I visited the children’s orphanage for my social work class to compare and contrast orphanages in America and Croatia and the differences they have. One of the main differences is that all of the hospitals in Croatia are all governmental; nothing is private. Everyone has the same health care where in America we don’t have that. They have one social worker for the entire hospital, whereas in America there’s a social worker for different departments and they specialize in different departments for the hospital. So children or elderly can special care. But on a larger scale all the health accommodations between the two countries were very similar. They have almost all the same vaccinations and rules and safety precautions. It was really interesting.

The most exciting part about the folk show is that based on the description in the SAS handbook, I thought we were going to end up in the theater watching a show. Instead, we ended up in someone’s home eating a traditional meal with the family members serving us and the dad playing an instrument that was kind of like a violin. And then everyone started dancing and pulled us up to dance with them. It was kind of fun, because you really didn’t expect that. No one really knew what we were doing. It was really kind of fun.

If it’s possible to have a favorite port, I think I would vote for Croatia right now.

DANIEL HORNS SAS FACULTY-GEOLOGY PROFESSOR
It was five or six years ago that I first saw photos of the seaside, fairytale town of Dubrovnik, Croatia. It instantly shot to the top tier of my “Places to Visit” list. The Old Town area of Dubrovnik sits on a rocky headland and is surrounded by walls made of cut white limestone. Waves of clear blue water crash against the rocks below the walls. The walls--and the buildings inside--are capped by red clay tiles. A maze of narrow, marble-paved alleys winds through the buildings. If you took the best imaginations and animators at Disney and asked them to create a medieval/renaissance village, they would fall short of Dubrovnik.

When I finally got to visit Dubrovnik with Semester at Sea, another Disney reference came immediately to mind: Crowds. Great throngs of people bumped off each other as they wandered in groups through Old Town. Visually, Old Town surpassed my expectations. Psychologically, however, I felt like I was visiting a theme park rather than experiencing Croatia.

Our ship was docked in Graz Harbor, about 2 miles north of Old Town. In the evening after visiting Old Town, a colleague and I went out to get dinner. We reached a fork in the road – Old Town to the left, random neighborhoods to the right. I convinced my friend to head to the right to see a part of Dubrovnik beyond Old Town. After a few blocks of meandering, we came across a restaurant with a few tables out on the sidewalk. Three groups of people were eating, all of whom spoke Croatian (a language rarely heard in Old Town), and nothing on the menu looked familiar. We decided to take a chance, sat down, and ordered a few items with only a vague notion of what was coming. A long time later (this being a real European restaurant, it was assumed we planned to spend three hours eating) we were treated to a great meal of cheeses, smoked meats, soup, and potatoes.

It was my best meal in Croatia. We later learned that the restaurant is known to locals as the only place in Dubrovnik to get real Croatian food.

Our wonderful dinner reinforced the old adage that while you can learn a lot about a place by reading guide books and visiting the major attractions, great memories often come from ignoring both.

ZABRINA ANDRES LIVING LEARNING COORDINATOR
One of my special trips in Croatia was visiting a nonprofit called Desa (pronounced DESHA) that is devoted to helping unemployed women in the region. Desa first began after the war in the early 1990s to help female refugees who were left with little more than the clothes on their backs. Today, its mission is still to serve women and it does so with outreach, education, and instruction on weaving and silk embroidery. (Click on the image to go to the Desa website)

In a daring effort to resurrect the silk industry in Dubrovnik, a founding DESA member smuggled tiny silkworm eggs from France into Croatia by slipping them in her bra to keep them warm, alive, and secret. The eggs hatched into the silkworms that produced the silk that became embroidered thread for garments, table runners, bookmarks, cards, placemats, and accessories to stitch a country together. In the u.s. we have the refugees on their TVs, but in Croatia they came day after day.

After leaving the shop, we headed to a war photo exhibit that displayed prize-winning pictures from conflicts around the world: Colombia, Iraq, and Croatia. Many of the images were in black and white, but they were so powerful and poignant. I had tears in my eyes by about the 20th image, and on in particular. The exhibit made me think of the military people I know. I think I will remember that particular image and the emotion so intense on the film long after I leave Croatia.

PAUL BUTLER LOYOLA UNIVERSITY (CHICAGO)
We have already visited two other countries previous to Croatia (Spain and Italy) and it was interesting to see the difference between what is classified as "Western" Europe and "Eastern" Europe (or the Balkans). It is wonderful that among these geographically close countries there is still a sense of uniqueness and national pride that is a fiery passion within the citizens. Western Europe was filled with history of war. For Croatia, war and death was part of its immediate past and it is evident in conversations with some locals that the war is still a fresh wound for many Croatian people.

When I envisioned Croatia, I expected a country far behind the globalization movement, a place where progress was strongly needed and poverty was high. Croatia proved me wrong; this country is beautiful, filled with an amazing culture, an atypical landscape, and friendly people eager to share their culture. It is the land of the tie, a European Union hopeful, a recent victim of war and death, and the land where they say god was arrogant in his creation of the world. My experiences with Semester at Sea fulfilled my goal, for it gave me a taste of Croatian culture that will I hope to experience again to return enjoy a beautiful country and people.

SAS Students' Memories of Italy

From Rome to Venice to Civitavecchia to Naples to Capri, Semester at Sea students had a wonderful experience in Italy. Scroll down to read all their stories and see some of their photos.

SARA PECORARO, SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
Visited: Rome, Sorrento, Capri and Anacapri
I was really looking forward to Italy because both of my parents have strong Italian backgrounds in their families. My paternal grandfather and my maternal great grandmother were from Sicily. I grew up with a lot of Italian mannerisms and ways and the food. So I was looking forward to seeing if everything I experienced as a child in my family is really what Italy is like. I wanted to see if people really speak and interact as passionately with one another as I imagined and saw in my grandfather. I was also looking forward to seeing St. Peter’s Basilica and square because I’m Catholic. It was quite overwhelming. There I was in the Basilica looking down at the Square and I could just imagine this whole square full of people for the Pope’s mass.

I visited Rome for my first three days in Italy. I didn’t expect to turn every corner and see history everywhere I looked. Coming from a place that’s so new, like the U.S., and to see all that information was very interesting.

The most unforgettable part of my trip was visiting Capri and Anacapri which where amazing. That’s what I expected Italy to be: a small town with narrow streets that had beautiful, colorful flowers everywhere and the most beautiful water. The water was blue and green with restaurants everywhere and chairs and tables for people to sit out. It was the most beautiful, unforgettable thing about Italy.


TIA DAWKINS-HENDRICKS, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
Visited: Rome, Pompeii, Naples, Capri and Anacapri
I want to go to Italy again in the near future because I just thought it was amazing. Seeing the Coliseum was everything I dreamed of and more. Learning about it in my art history class was just the beginning, but going to explore it was just so special for me. It was just amazing to me to see the ring where these people fought and died and all the seats where people sat around to watch. I tried to imagine sitting there watching these battles. To know that we could learn about all of this in school and then to come and touch the columns and touch the wood was really just amazing to me.

It’s just crazy to see that all of these different places of the world are beautiful in their own unique way, and you get to explore them on this wonderful journey. It’s just a blessing.

GRACE OBANDO, TEMPLE UNIVERSITY
Visited Rome, Pompeii, Naples, Capri and Anacapri
Italy is a place where you need more than four or five days explore. You need at least two to three months to even touch the surface of what Italy has to offer. I was fortunate enough to visit Rome, Pompeii and Capri.

I had been looking forward to visiting Pompeii since I was in fifth grade and learned about it and Mt. Vesuvius. I’ve always been fascinated by this city that’s been frozen in time. It was amazing that I found myself walking there, touching the walls, looking at the remains of these houses that were once part of a vibrant city so many thousands of years ago. It was an experience that I will never, ever forget. To hear more about Grace’s visit to Pompeii and to see photos of the city covered by Mt. Vesuvius, click on the the photo at right.

AERIALE COOKSEY-KRAMER, PENN STATE UNIVERSITY
Visited Venice
I ventured off to Venice on my trip to Italy to experience authentic Italian life on my own. It seems as if the world has romanticized Venice in such a way that would almost be impossible to live up to. I’ve certainly romanticized about riding in a gondola and falling in love under the moonlit sky, accordion music in the background and all.

But Venice lived up to every one of my expectations in more ways than I could have ever imagined. The people were incredibly helpful and friendly. The cobblestone streets led to beautiful alleyways that were filled with brightly colored clothes hanging out to dry. Fruit and fish markets were crammed with Venetians. And I sat by a canal watching boats motor past.

I rode in a gondola (the driver even sang and whistled a bit) and sat outside on the balcony of my hostel watching the moon reflect off the water. I walked over the Grand Canal and let pigeons claw into my arms for bread in the middle of the famous San Marco Piazza. Venice was peaceful, serene, magical, and so much more. I fell in love with the city and the atmosphere. There is no doubt in my mind that I will be back one day to enjoy an almost indescribable experience.


BROOKE WOJDYNSKI, SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY
Visited Rome, Naples, Capri and Anacapri
On day two of our visit to Naples, I headed off to the lovely island of Capri, which was definitely a highlight of this voyage. Capri is absolutely stunning. From the sparkling green blue waters to the peak of Anacapri 900 meters above sea level, this island was blessed with beauty.

We took a hydrofoil over to the island from Naples. When we arrived we took small buses to Anacapri, the highest point of the island. When we got as far as we could by coach, we took a chairlift to the top of the mountain. The view from the top of the mountain was unreal. It’s so difficult to describe. I felt like we were in the heavens. The clouds were at the same altitude as us, and sometimes they would pass by and everything would get really foggy. When you looked off the side of the mountain you saw cliffs all the way down to the seashore. Flocks of white birds were soaring below us over the tops of luscious green trees. The water still looked stunning with its green blue tint. I wished so badly to have some of the people I love there with me, and then I realized I was one of the few who actually did have someone I loved with me. Sharing the moments with my sister were precious and I was thankful.

We took the chairlift back down and went all the way down to the seaside where we got in a speedboat. We figured we had already seen the island from above. We might as well see it up close and personal. The boat was awesome. My professor, Alex Nalbach, and his partner were on the same boat and we had such fun hanging out with them. We got to see some amazing caves, cliffs, and stalactites. Once we made it to the other side of the island, where all of the mega-yachts were, we swam around. Now I can say I have swam in the Tyrrhenian Sea! We went back to the beach and then got back on the hydrofoil to Naples where we got back on the ship. Capri was absolutely fantastic and one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.

All I keep saying to myself is how fortunate I am. So few people have been able to have this experience, and even fewer get to share all of it with their sister! I am so happy to be a part of this program. I wish so badly for other people from other countries to be able to have this experience. If everyone traveled I really do believe we would have a greater understanding of each other. Regardless of our customs, despite our governmental structures, even though we hold different roles and come from different regions, we are all people. We all laugh and smile. We all love and kiss. We all dance.

If there is one thing I am learning it is that we are not as divided as we may sometimes seem. I am no more valuable than another being. If we all love and are loved we are equal in my eyes.

A Trip on SAS to Italy? ...Priceless!

"Amazing!" That was the common response when Semester at Sea students were asked about their experience in Italy. From historic sites in Rome and Pompeii to hiking Mt. Vesuvius and floating in a gondola in Venice, students were thrilled with the time they spent exploring and eating their way through this country.

Below is one of several blogs about the students' travels, photos, and thoughts about their time in Italy. We start first with Rome.

Click on the photo below of the Semester at Sea students to watch a You Tube video about their time in Rome.

Rome: History Around Every Corner
In Rome, seeing history is completely unavoidable. It is everywhere you turn—a piece of ruin that juts out from behind a bush, a fountain, a simple looking church that happens to hold the Bocca della Verita (the Mouth of Truth).

“The stunning thing to me is that it’s not recent history, it’s ancient history. It’s not 200 years old, it’s 2,000 years old,” said Corbin Greene, a student from the University of Northern Colorado. Greene toured many of Rome’s historical sites during Semester at Sea’s three days in Civitavecchia, which is an hour outside of Rome.

Dozens of Semester at Sea participants toured Rome’s popular sites and were struck by the vast amount of history on almost every street throughout so much of the city.

During an Origins of Rome field trip, Greene and other students toured the Capitoline Museum, an archeological museum that holds much of the art and artifacts of ancient Rome. Housed there is the original statue of Marcus Aurelius, Rome’s popular emperor. But it was walking around the streets and touching the Coliseum and Pantheon that really struck Greene and his peers.

“As an American Studies major it really puts stuff in perspective to see places that have been around so much longer than the United States has been in existence,” he said. “Our storied past doesn’t even compare.”

For Jen Russo, history was coming alive for her everywhere. Russo has been studying art history this summer and was able to see much of the Roman art she had been studying in her class. “How often do you get to study something like this one day, see it the next day and have such an ability to relate to it again in a class discussion,” she said. “It’s just simply unforgettable.”

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez Visits Semester at Sea

U.S. Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-California) spent several days with Semester at Sea participants, sailing with the program from Cadiz, Spain to Civitavecchia, Italy, and sharing stories of politics, Italian-American affairs, and life as a woman in Congress.

This is the first time Rep. Sanchez has sailed with Semester at Sea, 30 years after first learning about the program as a college student at Chapman University. Back in 1979, Sanchez drove her friend to the ship for her friend’s voyage. Sanchez returned again to visit that friend, SAS Summer 2009 instructor Kathy McCarrell.

“I’m delighted that Loretta can get time to join the program. She has done such remarkable things with her life and has so much to share with students,” McCarrell said.

Rep. Sanchez, who is fluent in Italian, served as a special Interport Lecturer for the voyage. She lived and studied in Rome during graduate school and currently works on a number of issues related to Italy as a representative in Congress, including meeting with Italian officials regarding military basing.

Sanchez represents the 47th Congressional District of California, which encompasses parts of Orange County. She began her congressional career in 1996 and is serving her seventh term in the House of Representatives. She is the ranking woman of the House Armed Services Committee and sits on the Oversight and Investigations, Strategic Forces, and Military Personnel Subcommittees.

During her time aboard the MV Explorer, Rep. Sanchez met with dozens of small groups of students, spoke in several classes, and fielded questions from students during a nearly two-hour Q&A discussion.

“She was really confident and inspiring,” said Mourette Valcin, a student from Bethel University, MN, who attended the Congresswoman’s two-hour Q & A session. “She was really informative on how the governments of the U.S. and Italy are different in how they are run, but how important Italy is as an ally for the United States. I really enjoyed hearing her speak.”

Click on this link to Semester at Sea's YouTube channel to watch some of the Congresswoman’s time on the ship. Semester at Sea was delighted to have her on board.

Seeing the World and Saving it Too

Students aren’t just traveling around the world this summer—they’re also helping it. Through a project spearheaded by professors Andrea Parrot and Rocky Rohwedder, Semester at Sea students, faculty and staff have contributed more than $5,000 to go towards BeadforLife, a nonprofit program that helps women in Uganda, Africa.

Parrot, who teaches international women’s health and a course on human sexuality on the summer voyage, learned about the bead program through Dining for Women, a dinner-giving circle that exposes women to international nonprofits working on women’s issues. At a function, Parrot, a professor at Cornell University, learned of BeadforLife and was struck by the program’s mission and work.

In the program, Ugandan women twist small strips of recycled paper into beads that are shellacked and strung into necklaces, bracelets or earrings. Volunteers and supporters sell the jewelry and the money collected goes directly back to community development projects in the Ugandan women’s community.

“I was so inspired by the story of this project and these women,” Parrot said. “And I thought the mission of our voyage this summer [“Human Rights and Social Justice”] fit nicely with the organization’s work.”

The bead project also fits with Rohwedder’s interests and his course on sustainable communities. Craig Butler, a student in Rohwedder’s class, was intrigued by the program’s connection to sustainable living and development and bought two bead necklaces. “I’m really interested in things that provide sustainability to others,” said Butler, a business major who is interested in social entrepreneurship. “It’s a new way of looking at how to improve communities.”

Benvenuto a Italia

Or, "Ciao", as the Italians say.


Semester at Sea has arrived in Civitavecchia, Italy, the port of Rome. Civitavecchia is a plane ride from Venice, a three-hour train ride from Pisa and Florence, and a hop, skip and a jump from Rome. Many SAS voyagers flocked to the country's main city upon arrival fully loaded with backpacks in hand for overnight explorations of Rome and its wonderful food and sites. Others boarded planes and trains bound for Venice and Florence.

Be sure to check back for future blogs to read about Italian Inteport Student Alessandro del Ponte and to hear more about the students' experiences and thoughts on Italy.