'Semester at Sea' keeps studies afloat

In 1835, the "Beagle" set sail with a twenty-six year old naturalist named Charles Darwin aboard and the theory of evolution was born. In 1513, Ponce de Leon set out to find the fountain of youth. Instead, he found Florida. On September 10, 1998, as part of the "Semester at Sea" program, the S.S. Universe Explorer will depart Vancouver with University students aboard. Who knows what they'll discover?

"Semester at Sea" is a floating university that travels the world while contributing to students' learning experiences.

The program began with a vision. A Hong Kong businessman, C.Y. Tung, wanted to see ships used for educational purposes. In 1963, his dream became a reality when the University of the Seven Seas was founded at Chapman University in California.

Unfortunately for Tung, the program got off to a rocky start. The group purchased the ship "Queen Elizabeth I," only to have it go up in flames in the Hong Kong harbor before it ever left port.

Now, in its 35th year, the program is having better luck. The S.S. Universe Explorer departed this spring for Venezuela, Brazil, South Africa, Kenya, India, Vietnam, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Japan with 600 students representing 200 colleges and universities.

One thing is clear - the un-seaworthy need not apply. Three months at sea may require a little more than Dramamine, participants said.

LSA senior Deborah Kolben explained why she ruled out "Semester at Sea" when considering study abroad programs.

"I can't even go on the pirate ship at Coney Island without feeling seasick," Kolben said. "Besides, being trapped on a ship with 500 strangers - no thanks!"

Although claustrophobia and nausea are factors, those ailments are a price some students are willing to pay.

"Whenever I read the newspaper now I feel so much more attached," said Graduate Molly Farabee, who was aboard the Spring 1996 voyage.

"When we were in South Africa, it was right after (Nelson) Mandela had been elected," Farabee said.

"A friend of mine asked a woman if she had ever met Mandela ... the woman laughed, (and) then she said, 'Honey, I haven't met him, I've talked with him, I've hugged him. Everyone has met him.' It felt like we were witnessing history."

While the focus of most study abroad programs is cultural immersion and language proficiency, "Semester at Sea" takes a different stance.

"The program takes a global comparative approach, with an emphasis on the non-Western world," said Paul Watson, director of enrollment management at the Institute for Shipboard Education.

Watson said the main purpose of the program is to examine the common issues which affect different countries.

In addition to 600 students and 70 faculty, staff and family members, 50 non-student adults participate in "Semester at Sea" through the Continuing Education Program.

Watson called these seasoned travelers, "an integral part of the shipboard community ... who often contribute through life experiences."

At a time when global is in and national is out, "Semester at Sea" is a study abroad experience with a focus on the 21st century, Watson said.

05-11-98