IU students travel around the world in 1 semester

The Beatles in London? Art in Florence? Surfing in Sydney?\nWith the Semester at Sea program, there's no need to choose just one study abroad option.\nThe dozen IU students participating in the current Semester at Sea program will visit Nassau, the Bahamas, Cuba, Brazil, South Africa, Tanzania, India, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Korea and Japan -- and all in one semester aboard the S.S. Universe Explorer, a 23,000- ton "floating campus" passenger ship.\nIU junior Aleeza Paul said she chose to participate in Semester at Sea because she "wanted to travel and explore the world." \n"Other study abroad programs sound great," Paul explained in an e-mail, "but there was no one country I had my heart set on. Semester at Sea allows you to travel to nine countries, and these are countries that most people never get the opportunity to travel to. I knew I would experience things that I would never have the opportunity to experience again."\nSemester at Sea is academically sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh and administered by the Institute for Shipboard Education. Each semester, about 650 students from universities around the U.S. and abroad take part in the program. Since its founding in 1963, more than 37,000 students have studied and traveled to 60 countries, according to Paul Watson, director of enrollment management for the institute for shipboard education, in a press release.\nThere are currently 634 students enrolled representing 235 colleges and universities on the 100-day spring voyage. \nIU senior Alan Hazzard said he chose the program after first hearing about it on MTV's "Road Rules."\n"Experiencing different cultures is one of the best ways to understand the world and your place in it," he said. "All the petty things seem to fall away after seeing the best and worst conditions on the planet. I likely will not understand it all until a few months after I get back. It's very hard to process everything when you're in a new country each week. I've made so many great friends here, and it's sad that it will be over in a month."\nAdmission to the program is granted based upon the student's application form and an essay. A 2.75 cumulative GPA is also expected, according to the program's Web site, www.semesteratsea.com. \nPaul said though the process is not rigorous, getting your application turned in early is crucial, since admissions are on a rolling basis.\n"This program is a little different from other abroad programs in the sense that it fills up a lot quicker," she said. "So they suggest you apply about six to 12 months ahead of time."\nThe Semester at Sea faculty consists of visiting professors from universities around the world. Every student must take a "Global Studies" geography class in addition to 70 other course options, according to the program's Web site.\nHazzard admitted the coursework has been his least favorite aspect of the trip. \n"Can't we just sail around the world without classes?" he asked.\nEvery class has a field component requirement. "In-port" activities can consist of anything from home stays with families and university visits to unstructured "free travel" time in a city or rural area, and each in-port visit ranges from four to five days.\nHazzard said his favorite port so far has been Cuba.\n"We all had the chance to hear Fidel Castro speak directly to our group," he said in an e-mail from Hong Kong. "The Cuban people were all so nice, too. It was such an educational opportunity to speak with Cubans about their government. I would love to return in the future if it ever is possible. It is so hard to have a favorite thing, though. Every country is so different and so interesting, and even shipboard life is amazing." \nThe semester program for students costs $14,675 for tuition, accommodations and passage fare, and financial assistance is available.\nPaul said her trip has been worth every sacrifice.\n"This trip has been such an incredible but overwhelming experience that it is hard for me to comprehend all the things I have seen and done so far," she said. "Every country has allowed me to experience so many different cultures and people. If there is ever a second where something might not be going exactly quite right, I just stop and realize where I am and how not many people will ever get to experience something like this. I really have learned to appreciate every moment because these moments are probably once in a lifetime."\n-- Contact staff writer Andrea Minarcek at aminarce@indiana.edu.