Mile 2: Voyage Calendar

Semester at Sea is going to something like 16 countries, 18 cities in 5 different continents this fall. I thought I'd share the locations for the voyage. Come visit me on port if you will be in any of these areas during this time! It would be great to see family and friends on the trip. Here it is:

http://www.semesteratsea.org/voyages/fall-2014/calendar/

Aug 23: Embark: Southampton (London), England

Aug 29 - Sept 2: Saint Petersburg, Russia

Sept 5 - 7: Gdansk, Poland

Sept 8 - 9: Rostock, Germany

Kiel Canal Transit, Germany

Sept 14 - 16: Antwerp, Belgium

Sept 17 - 19: Le Havre, France

Sept 24 - 27: Dublin, Ireland

Oct 1 - 2: Lisbon, Portugal

Oct 4 - 5: Cadiz, Spain

Oct 8 - 11: Casablanca, Morocco

Oct 16 - 19: Dakar, Senegal

Oct 25 - 26: Takoradi, Ghana

Oct 27 - 28: Tema (Accra), Ghana

Nov 7 - 9: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Nov 12 - 14: Salvador, Brazil

Nov 22 - 24: Bridgetown, Barbados

Nov 29 - Dec 2: Havana, Cuba

Dec 8: Debark: Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States

Mile 1: Semester at Sea

Here are the basics about Semester at Sea and how I got hired!

Last year, in May or June, I got a random email from a Professor from the University of Virginia (let's call him Prof. L) asking about my interest in a program called Semester at Sea. I had heard about the program years ago in college but students always stated that it was a big party and very expensive. And, it has been years since I left college. So, why was he emailing me? Turns out he found me through UW and was now asking about my interest in being an instructor on board the ship for an upcoming voyage (my jaw officially dropped to the floor for about 20 mins). I began looking up the program and quickly became completely awestruck with the potential travel (who wouldn't want to travel the world for free??). It would be an incredible opportunity to travel to so many countries I had never seen and teach students along the way. I love teaching, I love traveling - dream come true!

Semester at Sea (SAS) is a study abroad program through the University of Virginia that allows students to see different places while completing college credits towards their degree. Students from all over the world apply but most come from various institutions in the US. They take courses aboard the ship (the MV Explorer, a real floating university) and use their field experiences to enhance classroom readings and assignments. The semester is about 3 1/2 months long and the SAS voyages go around the Atlantic Ocean in the Fall and the Pacific in the Spring. In total, most semester voyages involve visiting something like 15 countries, 17 cities in 3 different continents. Dang! Check out the website: http://www.semesteratsea.org/

A few months later, during my initial conversation with him, Prof. L told me that instructors aboard the ship are given a small stipend (and travel expenses + room and board) for teaching three classes in their discipline. Instructors from all over the US teach on subjects ranging from Anthropology to Biology (an incredible opportunity to meet new colleagues!). In the next two months, he passed my name to the Dean for an upcoming voyage, I had a short interview and was awarded the position of Academic writing workshop instructor and Writing Center Director aboard the Fall 2014 voyage. I couldn't believe it! I was literally jumping around my apt.

I began to work on teaching course descriptions, syllabi and field lab proposals (more on this later) for review. The paperwork went through and in early 2014, contracts were signed, classes finalized and times coordinated for field labs. Its now the end of April and we are about to begin the arduous task of getting travel visas, immunization shots, and doctor check ups and I never thought I would be so excited about these mundane to-do-list items. Checking these things off my list takes me one step closer to getting on the ship!

Four months and counting!!

Mile Zero: Beginnings.

I start this blog with the hope of cataloging my various travel adventures. Its not a secret that I am a travel junkie, always looking for vintage maps in old book stores and researching new off-the-beaten-path destinations (especially when it leads to good food!). Icelandic bike ride? Yes, please. Hiking near Victoria Falls? Let's go now! (Ok, I haven't done either of those things, but I really want to!)

I've been lucky enough to travel a fair bit in my years on earth. Although I traveled to India, Mexico and the Caribbean when I was young, studying in Grasmere, England (the home of the famous William Wordsworth) in 2000 began my real international travels. London's cobbled streets and not-so-cheerio residents smelled of warm leather after a rainfall. The green hues in the lake district of England were astounding and the beer was equally serendipitous.

Then,  in 2005, I went to Italy to write some poetry, drink some REAL wine and get immersed in the pantheons of history. Chocolate coconut gelato is a must near the Trevi fountain.

India's northern region was the third study abroad on my list and it proved to be both educational (studying Hindi) and heart-warming. In 2006, the longest of my study-abroad experiences, Mussoorie India was full of monkeys, spicy chai with homework and a sea of scarves. Lovely.

Now, I'm about to begin the most exciting adventure of all: Traveling the World!