the beginning

Here is a place for me to organize my thoughts, plans, and ideas for traveling overseas this summer. Once I am actually abroad, I will update as often as I can in order to share my experiences with all who are interested in reading. After spending months researching various study abroad programs, I finally decided on semester at sea, an incredible program that will undoubtedly be one of the best experiences of my life. Here was my application essay:


At the heart of my soul, I am a traveler. I have lived my life as an American gypsy, chasing the currents of the wind and embracing the changing landscapes. The painting of my spirit is a myriad of colors, reflecting the different shades of scenery, the varied hues of culture and the diverse tints of towns I have encountered. My hope is that this painting is never finished, that it continues to evolve as I grow and see more of the world. As moving is all I know, my academic goals have always been interwoven into my travel aspirations and I see a career based off of these explorations. There could not be a better program than Semester at Sea to lead me on this path of discovery, both literally and figuratively.
Traveling is the foundation of my future. It is the intrinsic framework of my career goals to which everything else will be built off of. Although my specific profession may change from time to time, I am certain that I want an occupation that embraces and studies cultural diversity. I yearn to develop a global perspective and share these viewpoints with others, perhaps using the media to promote understanding. I cannot promote this understanding until I have become it. Most of all, I want to immerse myself in as many cultures as possible, meeting as many people as possible, and write about these experiences. I long to be inspired at the Steindalsfossen Waterfall in Norway, to be lost in the architecture of St. Petersburg, to be swept off my feet at the “island of love” in Italy, and to feel the kiss of the wind from the side of a traveling ship.
As an anthropology major, we are taught about the importance of fieldwork in our studies. Semester at Sea will provide me with a plethora of excursions, not unlike the fieldwork anthropologists do and perhaps will even inspire me to return for extended periods of time at a future date in order to conduct further research. I plan on spending most of my undergraduate time abroad, and Semester at Sea is the perfect first experience that will introduce me to so many different areas and lifestyles, and from there I will have obtained a greater idea of where I want to spend more time.
In this way, Semester at Sea can dramatically influence my present and future studies in such a positive way by opening my eyes to more colors I never knew existed. Semester at Sea will offer me the present of a larger palette that will hold the promise of a masterpiece.