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!!
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.
Four months and counting!!
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