Blogger interview: Alex Budak on Semester at Sea

May 25, 2010 4:54:32 AM

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Travel blogger, technology advocate, media scholar - add ‘sailor’ to that list. Alex Budak tells us about his floating college days with Semester at Sea.

What is Semester at Sea?

Semester at Sea (SAS) is a study abroad program for college students. What’s unique about it is that instead of studying at a single university for a semester, learning takes place on a ship sailing around the world, visiting numerous countries.

While the ship is sailing from country to country, students have classes and lectures; upon arrival in new cities, the ship stays docked for a few days, allowing students to explore the country. During my semester we visited eight countries: Iceland, Norway, Russia, Poland, Belgium, France, Ireland and Spain.

Cabin

What does it cost? How often does it run? What do you need to take with you?

The costs for SAS are similar to the costs of a semester’s tuition and board at a private university in the United States. Luckily, like other study abroad programs, scholarships are available, and I was fortunate to receive one from my university to help a bit with the expenses. The programs generally match those of the academic calendar, with semester-long voyages taking place from August to December and January to May, as well as a summer program from June through early August. You’ll want to start planning a few months in advance, both for being accepted to the program as well as for logistical reasons, such as getting visas and paperwork taken care of. You need to bring clothes, toiletries and school supplies with you; while you can buy things while on the ground in various countries, you do spend multiple days in a row at sea.

What made you decide to do SAS?

It was part indecisiveness, and part sense of adventure. Indecisiveness because it was so hard to decide on a single location in which to study abroad when there was so much in the world I yearned to see. On the other hand, it was my nose for adventure and excitement that hinted that it was an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience, and that I shouldn’t let it pass me by.

Describe an average day, both on and off the ship.

On the ship, I would wake up early for breakfast and then attend lecture for our Global Studies class - the one course required of all students, which was fantastic in that it provided an academic grounding for understanding the countries and region we were visiting. The rest of the day, like life at any university, is a mix of classes, studying, working out (there’s a small gym on the ship), and the occasional lecture or event in the evening. Off the ship, days varied as much as the countries we visited. In some countries we would have field trips as a part of our courses - for example, when visiting Belgium, my ‘Politics of the EU’ course took a field trip to Brussels to visit EU headquarters. In other countries without required trips, we would be free to create our own travel adventures, which in my case ranged from white-water rafting in Norway to visiting the beaches of Normandy to taking an overnight train in Russia.

leaving sign

Who can apply?

Any undergraduate student may apply. For those past the college years, there are opportunities for professors and other professionals (there are librarians and an official photographer, for example). Also, there is a ‘Lifelong Learning’ program for non-students who have a few months free to join the voyages.

What did you get out of it? Anything that you didn’t expect to?

Having only briefly traveled outside of the US beforehand, SAS instilled in me a passion for exploring and seeing the world. I can’t emphasize enough what an awesome experience it is to combine classroom studies with cultural and international exploration. I definitely came back from it feeling much more of a citizen of the world, especially because it was my first experience with travel writing and blogging.

Sunset at Sea

Whom would you recommend it to?

I would recommend it to anyone who is curious about the world - especially those who, like me, have trouble deciding on a single place to visit and who want to see it all. It’s a different kind of education, but one that diversified and rounded out my traditional university education.

Any tips for university students?

All I can say to someone thinking of studying abroad is: just do it! Yes, it’s expensive; yes, it takes you out of your comfort zone and away from friends for a semester, but just go abroad, and you can figure out all of those details later.

Alex Budak tweets at @TheBudak and blogs at unpoppedcollar.com. Inline photos this page courtesy of Alex Budak.

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Comments

28 May 2010 4:29AM alancal Report this comment
Really, Lonely Planet? Alex, you may be a responsible traveler, but I'v run into Semester at Sea several times while traveling and found the shipmates to be rude and brash, the very definition of the sort of bad cruise ship travelers I would think LP would rail against.
Because SaS only docks for a few days at each location, by it's nature students are encouraged to treat each destination as a place to party instead of a place to learn from. They've actually been banned from locations in the past (Mauritius) because the students behave so badly.
28 May 2010 4:30AM alancal Report this comment
In 2003 when my dad was working in Vietnam, he arranged a private lecture between SaS students and some very respected Vietnamese authors -- a chance many Vietnamese students would kill for. Some of these writers are veterans who were eager to engage the children of a nation they had fought in the interests of reconciliation. Result? A handful of students showed up, and those who did were listless, unresponsive, rude and, I’ve heard in at least one case, drunk.
I've encountered SaS in India twice, and both times the students have been drunk, rude, loud and insulting. Ignorant as well, considering they were supposed to be learning about India. In 2004, SaS students had no idea an election had just occurred, the equivalent of foreign students coming to the USA in 2008 and not knowing who John McCain and Barack Obama were.
28 May 2010 4:32AM alancal Report this comment
SaS enages in the opposite of travel. Travel exposes one to new and challenging things. These kids snapped pix and retreated back into their boat and college lives. SaS doesn’t bring its students away from the US. It brings the US, in many of its worst forms, to the rest of the world.
28 May 2010 4:32AM alancal Report this comment
SaS enages in the opposite of travel. Travel exposes one to new and challenging things. These kids snapped pix and retreated back into their boat and college lives. SaS doesn’t bring its students away from the US. It brings the US, in many of its worst forms, to the rest of the world.
28 May 2010 5:42AM sas_dave Report this comment
(Full disclosure: I am the director of social media for Semester at Sea)
@alancal , it's clear that you've had some bad experiences with SAS voyagers in the past. I'm sure it comes as no shock that it disappoints us when we hear stories like that. Fortunately, we get a lot more positive feedback from the countries we visit than negative.
Even Mauritius, which you mentioned, provided an amazing backdrop for our most recent voyage (Spring 2010) to study and learn about women's issues on the island, from entering the world of business to coping with the indirect influences that drugs and alcohol play in many of their lives.
28 May 2010 5:42AM sas_dave Report this comment
Speaking of which, it's true that alcohol has been and continues to be an issue that we deal with on each voyage. College students are, by definition, adults, and therefore they are free to make choices. We go to great lengths before and during each voyage to educate our shipboard community as to the hazards (and potential consequences) of alcohol abuse. But there are still examples in which the education doesn't quite connect.
We strive to be a group of responsible global citizens. Many examples of this can be found on our website. But one of the things we do best is learn from our mistakes and the feedback of others. We would welcome any suggestions you may have to offer as to how we could further curb incidents such as those you've described above.
28 May 2010 5:48AM cldchi Report this comment
SAS does much beyond what "alancal" has written above from a witness perspective. As an alum of SAS I can speak personally from a participant perspective of the amazing personal development and changes that take place. SAS involves an intimate academic environment, cultural interactions, global exploration and personal connections in the program. It creates an inspiration for the future careers, pursuit of graduate studies, networking post college, and new focus of cosmopolitanism education of our world for its participants. SAS continues to influence its alum's lives beyond the voyage itself, I have yearly reunions with friends, witnessed weddings of those who met on the voyage, networked in careers and shed tears over those lost.
28 May 2010 5:49AM cldchi Report this comment
College students may have fun in various ways while on SAS but you cannot possibly speak to the magnitude of value ISE/SAS holds based upon a handful of observations of a select few of students students of a program that has been changing the world and its students since 1963.
28 May 2010 6:15AM alancal Report this comment
I'm speaking from my personal experience here. I'm glad SaS has led to more positive developments than those I describe, but I remain skeptical based off what I've seen.
My two suggestions for improvement would include: *Spending more time in fewer locations, to discourage the sailor on shore leave behavior. *Increase the academic requirements. A 2.75 GPA and a small essay is just not a guarantor of bringing responsible, engaged students on board.
28 May 2010 7:07AM sas_dave Report this comment
There can be no doubt that all it takes is one or two bad experiences to ruin the impression of an organization for someone, and we won't argue that.
As to your suggestions, we appreciate the thoughts and both of them have been discussed at one point or another. However, we see an incredible amount of value in the full experience we offer our students. Also, immersion into other cultures for two weeks or even a full semester is no guarantee of good behavior. Anecodtal evidence from our friends at other study abroad organizations backs this up. Those who behave badly tend to do so no matter the setting. That's why our goal is to educate in the hope of changing dangerous behavior not just for the short term, but for the long term.
28 May 2010 7:08AM sas_dave Report this comment
Regarding academic standards, the requirements mentioned are the minimum, as is the point you left out - that all applicants must be in good academic and judicial standing with their home universities. Our alignment with the University of Virginia since 2004 is a strong indicator of the importance we place on strong academic standards. Additionally, as is the case with other programs, when interest grows, competition follows and we've been seeing an increase in both of late.
28 May 2010 7:13AM sas_dave Report this comment
Correction: our alignment with University of Virginia began in 2006. My fingers were moving faster than my brain.
28 May 2010 8:36AM kelly_sas Report this comment
alancal: It saddens me to read your review on Semester at Sea as an alumni from the Spring 2009 voyage. I'd like to touch base on some of the things that you didn't cover on your review of Semester at Sea. To begin, every group of kids has its bad seed. Well, when you stil 800 college students on a ship together over four months - you are bound to find numerous bad seeds. That isn't the blame of Semester at Sea but of the students themselves and their parents. When students would act out we were told numerous times - if you are going to behave in a manner that Semester at Sea would not be proud of people do not associate yourselves with us. On my voyage there were plenty of people that I was ashamed of. Students who liked to explain their voyage around the world as a "party around the world" so I see where you base your review - I'm sure these are the students you have come in contact with.
28 May 2010 8:37AM kelly_sas Report this comment
continued...
Why I am quite upset is because I and 600 other kids for the matter were NOT part of that group of students. You didn't mention that students worked with Habitat for Humanity building homes in numerous countries. You didn't mention that students worked with Operation Hunger in South Africa building food gardens in townships or running programs to feed over 500 children in townships. You didn't mention that students walked around the ship asking for donations so that we could supply toys to a day care which had nothing but mattresses with urine stains. You didn't mention the fact that we met and prayed with monks - got to visit temples and shrines. You didn't mention the connection that many of us have made with people around the world that we still keep in touch with through facebook, e-mail or snail mail. You never seemed to mentioned what the 650 of us were doing while the other 100 went off partying on their "party around the world."
28 May 2010 8:37AM kelly_sas Report this comment
continued...
Could the program be so bad, could the majority of the students be so terrible if Archbishop Desmond Tutu, of South Africa, is eager to return and sail the complete voyage next semester? I do not think so.
Your reviews are definitely noteworthy for the 100 students who didn't grasp every opportunity thrown at them because they probably have the money to do it all over again. It though then in turn, is my job to stand up for the students who made a difference in a life in every single country we visited. The students who make Semester at Sea the amazing program that it is!
30 May 2010 5:47AM mycenaeanapollo Report this comment
Semester at Sea always seems like a nice concept - travel the world while working on your degree. That said, it really is a glorified cruise. The sheer cost renders it kind of pointless, unless you are completely inept to travel by your own fruition. The costs alone could allow a savvy traveler to work their way around the world (or just a matter of countries) over a span of years, not a semester (much of which is on board a ship).
1 June 2010 2:34PM sas_dave Report this comment
We actually hear the cost issue quite a bit, so I appreciate @mycenaeanapollo giving me an opportunity to address it. While the cost of the program is significant, so are the costs of our operations. However, we still make every effort to offset the expense for as many students as possible on every voyage. Currently, 40% of all participants receive assistance from the $4 million-plus we make available for financial aid each year. Also, we are constantly working to develop partnerships that result in partial and full scholarship opportunities for students. Many of our participants are well traveled, many are not. But it is this community of differences that most point to as their most significant learning opportunity.
2 June 2010 11:36AM whalers128 Report this comment
As a recent Alumnai of SAS (FALL 2009), there is not a day that i dont think about the experiences while i studied abroad around the world. Returning to the US and my home institution armed with these experiences has allowed me to formulate new connections to the world around me that i would never have dreamed of. It saddens me to hear the ISOLATED EXAMPLES that "alancal" speaks of, while nothing is perfect, the majority of voyagers are there to learn, and to take in as much as possible in thier stint traveling the World on the MV. SAS and the ISE instill values into voyagers values of respect and admiration of other cultures. To any college student reading this PLEASE look into SAS. This program has lots to offer, and i feel that it can give people off all ages as much as they put in. ISE and SAS have put together a fantastic program that for 101+ voyages have inspired young minds, and it is my hope that it will do that, for 100+ to come.
3 June 2010 5:47AM kimber_sas Report this comment
Yes, some people can call SAS a "glorified cruise" because of the cost and all - the simple truth is that is IS a luxury. I am about to leave for the Summer 2010 voyage, and I worked hard for my money (no, my parents are not paying for this) and I am looking forward to enjoying myself. This trip is for people that want to enjoy themselves. I've looked up other cruises that go to the same places, and they are by far more expensive and shorter.
I know for a fact I will encounter those students that are less than mature, and I will choose to ignore them.
3 June 2010 5:48AM kimber_sas Report this comment
I think its funny when people complain about bad tourists. There are people within their own countries that behave just as bad, if not worse. I know it must be a pain to have students show up to seminars and such and have them act immature - that is their own fault and their parent's fault for not teaching them respect and they should be ashamed of themselves. But please don't lump us all together. I am not like that and I do not behave like that. I am looking forward to this trip to learn.
3 June 2010 11:26AM sas_nikki Report this comment
As a former staff member it's been interesting to read all of the comments. @mycenaeanapollo- I think you're missing the whole point of SAS when you say, "The sheer cost renders it kind of pointless, unless you are completely inept to travel by your own fruition." Nowhere else could you form the amazing community of travelers that SAS so gracefully creates. It's not about getting to 10 countries in the cheapest way. It's about a college student's mind being challenged in a way that no other program or travel experience can match. Doing a similar experience without the on-board time with the crew, staff, faculty, families and other students would really tarnish the learning made possible by SAS.
4 June 2010 4:05AM mbgh Report this comment
If you want to be bored out of your mind, spend a semester at sea. Before I went to college I joined the navy and spent a couple of years on "sea duty" which I absolutely hated. On any ship, whether it's a working ship or a luxury liner, your movements are restricted to the confines of the ship; you can't go anywhere else. You're stuck on a very small island with a few luxuries perhaps, but it's still an island. Everything is small: Your room is small and the bathroom (head) is even smaller; the dining room/kitchen is small; the gym (if there even is one) is small. If you have a tendency to get seasick, you're in deep trouble. No medication is going to work that well (unless it puts you to sleep) and you're not going stop getting seasick overnight. Moreover, even the fastest ship moves at a snail's pace compared to anything on land, so be prepared to go nowhere fast. It takes an eternity just to get the thing underway or to get back into port and tie the thing up again.
4 June 2010 6:28AM sas_nikki Report this comment
@mbgh- sounds like you just weren't built for the wide open sea. This experience certainly does call to a certain type of person. It's magical on-board with so many adventurous souls.
Check out the SAS ship: http://www.semesteratsea.org/our-ship/overview/aboard-the-mv-explorer.php It's beautiful! I never felt like it was "small". It's also one of the fastest moving passenger vessels. So quick! And remember: you do get off the ship!
4 June 2010 10:11AM somegirlnamedmich Report this comment
I was raped by a fellow student while doing SAS. Since we were in so called "international water" they did an internal investigation and concluded that it was just a he-said she-said case and ignored all of my allegations. I asked for a rape kit to be done and they said that there were none on board. Later when my parents got our congress person involved SAS lied and told him that a rape kit is on board and that they "take all allegations seriously" and have a "zero tolerance policy".
4 June 2010 10:11AM somegirlnamedmich Report this comment
I ended up going on a plane and leaving early without any refunds! By then it was too late to start the semester at my home institution.
I still have weekly counseling, afraid to go on boats cause its too triggering of the rape and been battling depression and post traumatic stress disorder.
the only response from SAS? We have a zero tolerance policy, take all allegations seriously and provide training to their staff. BS. When it comes down to it they want to say that it is a "safe" place so parents won't feel stressed to send their kids. If rape allegations went public then it can steer students away so for the sake of SAS reputation they sweept my allegations under the rug. How many other women did they do this to? A lot. I posted something on a forum on facebook and over 6 other women came forward.
5 June 2010 5:26AM sas_dave Report this comment
@somegirlnamedmich - I can't tell you how sad we were to read your comments in the office this morning. In the last four years, much has changed about our program - including staff and most especially, our host university. I don't know which voyage you sailed on, and for obvious reasons, I understand why you would want to keep that information private. While we do deal quite regularly with issues stemming from alcohol, sexual assault is very rare. I can't speak to the past of the organization, but I can tell you that the current SAS administration takes news like this very seriously. Any criminal cases reported by U.S. citizens are subject to U.S. laws and are reported to the F.B.I.
5 June 2010 5:31AM sas_dave Report this comment
We all support your right to tell your story in this forum, so please understand that I am not trying quiet your voice. However, I would also encourage you to contact me directly and we can talk with you further about what happened if you're willing to do so. No one expects you to relive what you must have gone through, however, we don't want it to happen to anyone else and would welcome the opportunity to explore the issue further with you. If you are interested in talking more with us, you can email me directly here: dperks at ise (dot) virginia (dot) edu