THE UNIQUE EXPERIENCE OF SHIPBOARD EDUCATION
Lisa Martin studied abroad during the Spring 2007 semester on a student-initiated program through the Semester at Sea Program.
In the words of the Archbishop Desmund Tutu, "Just because you were born on third base, doesn't mean you hit a triple." The Archbishop is referring to the fact that just because an individual is born in the United States doesn't mean that they are in any way superior. We did not earn the right to live our lives freely with hundreds of opportunities right at our finger tips... rather, it was handed to us. I was fortunate enough to have circumnavigated the globe with the Archbishop. In just one hundred days the Semester at Sea ship, the MV Explorer, ported in twelve different countries. All but two of those stops were made in third world countries, places like Brazil, India, and Vietnam where most of the population lives on less than one U.S. dollar a day. These are not the typical places that a college student from the U.S. chooses to spend a semester. This isn't your typical study abroad program either. Only on Semester at Sea does your address change from day to day, do you live under the same roof as your professors, and do your professors actually force you to spend more time traveling than studying. Traveling throughout these countries was an eye opening experience; one that has changed my outlook on life and how I am going to pursue my future. Exposing oneself to societies of deep poverty is one of the greatest experiences ever. Semester at Sea and the Institution of Shipboard Education gave me the opportunity of a lifetime, one that I will never forget.
I am a very lucky individual and I could not be any more thankful than I am today. Thanks to the Office of Study Abroad, influential programs such as Semester at Sea are made available to each and every student at the University. I owe a huge thank you to my parents who made this study abroad experience possible. Semester at Sea is by far the most amazing thing I will probably ever do in my lifetime, and the best thing that my parents could have ever done for me.
ON MYAJIMA ISLAND, THE HOME OF THE FLOATING GATEWAY OF JAPAN (LAIS MARTIN (KU),
BAILEY MIKORICHIKAOHIA), OLGA FEINGOLD (NORTHEASTERN), KEALAS ASHER (WAIT)
NEW PROGRAMS IN 2008!
- Spring Break: Toledo, Spain; City of Merging Cultures This program explores Toledo as a site of cultural negotiations among Christians, Muslims, and Jews in the Iberian peninsula of the Middle Ages. Program is tied to a spring semester course (SPAN 450), and the travel portion allows students to enrich their critical understanding of the cultural dynamics of medieval Spain.
- Spring Break: Baroque Spectacle: The Art and Architecture in Rome The great triumvirate of artistic masters, Bernini, Borromini and Pietro da Cortona, as well as their illustrious predecessor Michelangelo, transformed the ancient city of Rome from its medieval and Renaissance form into the Baroque capital still visible today. This program will focus on the works of art, architecture and urban planning that fashioned this transformation, examining the individual artists and their works, together with their distinguished patrons. The program takes place in Rome during Spring Break week; however, there will be several meetings before the program.
THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME
Alysia Higgins studied abroad at the University of Newcastle, Australia as a sophomore in the spring semester of 2007.
Studying abroad has had such a positive impact on my life and helped me accomplish goals I never thought possible. I definitely found myself challenged in many aspects of the semester. Once overcoming those challenges it made me feel so much stronger as a person and happy to know that I could do it. Having the opportunity to travel was by far one of my favorite parts of the experience. I feel so lucky to have taken the opportunity to study abroad and meet people from KU and all over the world that I would have never met if I didn't participate in this program. Any negative experiences I came across are now nothing but positive, I consider my trip to be the most incredible experience of my life.
Living in Newcastle, Australia for over five months was simply amazing and absolutely gorgeous! Being able to go to the beach every day was something I never dreamt of! One of the best days I had was when a group of students traveled to the Reptile Park, which was my first interaction with kangarooos, koalas and many other Australian animals. It was so cool to be able to feed and touch the animals. I had so many other awesome encounters, a day in the rainforest, a trip to the Great Barrier Reef, visiting the Australia Zoo, a wine tour, trips to Sydney, nights out in Newcastle, Horse Races, visiting other countries such as Fiji and New Zealand, and countless more experiences.
The academic scene was so much different than at KU. I was concerned about my grades.
Knowing the final would determine everything, I felt very pressured but soon learned fully preparing myself would pay off. I received much better final grades than I had imagined. I rarely had actual homework, but it was expected by the teachers to keep up with the material.
Overall I had the time of my life! If I was given the chance to redo my experience I would do it exactly the same. I went into this program with an open mind and came out with so much more knowledge, culture, and friends. Coming back to the States helped me realize the distinct differences
ALYSSA HIGGINS FEEDING A KANGAROO AT THE REPTILE PARK IN GODSFORD.
among each country; Australia seems to be very laid back in comparison with the US. I have grown so much as a person, made so many amazing memories, and met such a great group of people who are now my really good friends!
GAINING A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
Peter Bollig studied abroad during the Spring 2007 semester in Hong Kong.
I was lucky enough to spend a semester on the opposite side of the globe as KU. It's not that I wanted to get away from Lawrence so much as I just wanted to be immersed in a different culture and look at life from a different perspective. Four and a half months in Hong Kong provided just that. To move from a small city in the middle of American heartland to a Chinese metropolis on a tropical island was an enormous change. But I was pleased that it wasn't insurmountable.
PETER BOLLIG IN A HONG KONG RESTAURANT
In fact, the supposed "culture shock" I was braced for wasn't that drastic. Sure, all the street signs were in Chinese and the street language was incomprehensible. In fact, many friends from Europe and Australia didn't know any Chinese but got along just fine. Being a part of Hong Kong University and its exchange program was the perfect balance to integrate me into the local culture but still leave me with a sense of independence and adventure.
Many of the most memorable experiences of my life took place while I was out of this country. I definitely learned at least as much outside of the classroom on my own in this strange new land, as I did studying this new culture.
In a world of ever-increasing globalization, it's becoming more vital to try to have a global perspective. To constrain ones views to ones own hometown or country is limited at best. As students with access to a global education, we are obligated to seek understanding of other peoples and cultures.
JAYHAWKS ABROAD
6
FALL 2007
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