Reflections from a Semester at Sea

4 months – 16 countries – 18,974 miles – 408 students – 28 professors – 28 administrative staff – 170 ship crew members – 1 life changing experience

My job on the ship was to produce the Dean’s Memo – a daily publication that goes out to the entire shipboard community detailing the events in the coming days and my place to comment on the voyage. I really grew to love the job. I had a pulse of the entire ship and I was able to frame the voyage for the students with my writing and perspective. The last passage from Costa Rica to San Diego, I really wanted to help encapsulate the entire experience – all aspects of 4 months at sea and in port – for those onboard. Sooooo…. I wrote a ton of questions. Some focused on funny parts of being on the ship (Team Lido or Berlin referring to the preferred dining hall onboard), some focused on personal growth and development, and some focused on in country experiences. It became a long questionnaire but I encouraged the students to respond. If they sent me their responses, I would send mine. In doing so, we’d reflect personally and then discuss the wider experiences of different voyagers. I got a lot of positive feedback on the project:

‘I didn’t journal as much as I wanted, so this is a perfect way to reflect.’ ‘Those questions are really thought provoking.’ ‘I had to look back at my photos to pick my favorite sunsets.’ ‘Thanks for putting that together!’ ‘I sent my responses back to my family so they could read it before I got back.’

The questionnaire took on a lot of different meanings and went off in many directions. I am really proud of it. So, I’d like to share it with you! If you were on the voyage or not, these are some good insights into the breadth of the program and my takeaways from a surreal few months. I hope you enjoy and let me know if you have any questions! – Lane

Here is the questionnaire and my responses!

What country most surprised you? – OR – Defied your expectations the most? Why? How?

Morocco. I was most looking forward to Morocco before the voyage but when we got there, I was blown away. It is such an interesting culture that was shaped so dramatically by the Arab  empire. It was the most different place, culturally speaking, that I’ve been to in the last five years and was my first experience with the African continent. The warmth and friendliness of everyone was unexpected too… They were so passionate about sharing their culture with us.

Your top 3 sunsets:

1. Sunset while going under the Great Beltway Bridge (Denmark)

2. Every sunset in Costa Rica

3. Sunset on the Baltic before Poland

4. Sunset over the Pacific – off the coast of Colombia

What physical activity was the most difficult to do on a moving ship?

Tie between yoga and running on the treadmill. Definitely almost ate **** a couple times.

Who was the most intriguing interport lecturer that we had onboard?

I thought Frank Luntz brought so much passion to the ship. He really connected with a lot of the students and was a disruptor, which at that point in the voyage was perfect. I was happy that he wanted to get so much out of the journey too. I also connected with him in terms of the importance of communication and found his expertise really helpful.

Which of the staff or faculty surprised you with their mentality/experience?

Kathleen Seville. I mean holy **** she rowed across the ocean in a boat that she built. That is a bad ass move! She also whips out custom, handmade books like it’s nothing.

Who did you misjudge? What went into that?

Professor Ingrid Byerly. We were on the same ship tour the first day onboard and she was taking photos of everything. I was worried she was going to be high maintenance and super opinionated and she is exactly the opposite. She’s amazing and we even had a hilarious conversation about this misjudgment.

When were your worst three days of seasickness?

First night at sea was awful. That’s when we went through the north sea from Germany to Amsterdam to pick everyone up. Second, Bay of Biscay. Third, North Sea going from Poland to English Channel.

As a percentage of at Sea days, how much would you consider yourself sea sick?

8%

If you had $10,000 to invest in a country’s economy (that we visited) – where would you put your money? Why?

Ecuador. It’s risky but the beauty of the country is so amazing. It’s also close enough to the US that travel is easy and it’s a similar time zone. Largest upside in my view.

What day did you see the most wildlife at Sea? What did you see?

First day at sea after Ecuador on the way to Costa Rica. Saw tons of flying fish, nasca boobies, brown boobies, lava gulls, frigates, huge pod of dolphins, fishing boats with small tuna and a pod of pilot whales!

What day did you see the most wildlife on land/port days? What did you see?

Day 2 in the Galapagos. Tortoises, land iguanas, marine iguanas, tropic birds, frigates, boobies, petrols, sun fish, sea lions, crabs, herons, wrens, parrot fish, 3 types of moray eels, hawk fish, Christmas tree worms. sea cucumbers, angel fish, surgeon fish, wrasses, gobies, white tipped reef sharks & anchovies, :))))

What takeaways will you bring home in terms of environmentalism?

The biggest takeaway is that our impact is global and there is no denying that. The fact that the oceans are fished out so badly and that almost every ecosystem is in crisis mode is terrifying. It’s time to make a large scale change BUT it starts with each of us, living that ethos and making that change.

In which country did you feel most welcomed?

Ecuador. The huge band at the dock was awesome and people were so friendly. They really enjoyed interacting and they appreciated us speaking Spanish.

Think of all the voyage and think of the following colors, what comes to mind?

Green – Lots of different plant leaves. The lush mountainsides of Galapagos. The rain forest in T&T and Costa Rica.

Yellow – The Brazilian flag’s yellow diamond

Black – the night sky in Ghana

Red – Morocco. Everything there was in reddish tones. During a hike, we crossed this deep red rocky plain that looked like Mars

Blue – the ocean obviously. All the different shades of blue as the ship cuts through the bubbly water

What was your favorite at Sea day? Why?

Sea Olympics! There was just an awesome energy throughout the ship ALL day. I needed a competitive outlet too and bringing home the basketball championship – in the way we did – was incredible.

What physical activity do you miss the most from home?

Playing basketball and throwing the football around the park

What hobby/ mental activity do you miss from home?

Cooking & woodworking

What was the prettiest water we encountered on the voyage?

Croatia

What were the challenges that came with always being around your professors and staff?

The feeling of always being ON is tiring. It is also a weird position to be in, wanting to make friendships with the students (closer in age) but having to maintain a certain distance being staff.

Was SAS harder than you thought it would be? In what ways?

Yes. It is such an intense environment to get used to. Like I’m extroverted and even I was like… I need my own time. It also took longer to forge friendships than I anticipated and I got homesick… which I didn’t think would happen. Being away from our dog Finn and our niece Adelaide (1 year old) was really tough.

Do you appreciate the ocean more now than you did? In what ways?

So much more! I appreciate the history of sea faring so much more. When Ed Sobey mentioned that ships going down the coast of Africa wouldn’t be able to get back to Europe because of the trade winds, I was just stunned. It was truly exploration and many people never made it back. It still is too. Like what Stuart Sandin is doing, mapping coral reefs with new technology, just amazing. I’m also so impressed with the power of the ocean. The size of the waves, the number of vessels (and size of them) that use the water to move things around the world. I’m also much more appreciative of the health (lack there of) of our oceans. Because we can’t see it, we have polluted the oceans so badly, overfished and continue to do so. As large and as powerful as the oceans are, they need our help.

What songs or albums were you jamming to during the voyage?

Coldplay’s new Everyday Life album is awesome. Odeza. Radiohead. A new band I found called Khruangbin. Jorja Smith. Daughter. Alt-J. Mac Miller. Kanye West. Andrew Bird. The Black Keys. Bon Iver. Lot of Local Natives. Logic. Tame Impala. The Xx. Young the Giant.

Has your perspective of time been changed at all since starting the voyage?

Yes. Not sure exactly in what ways though. I think I’m impressed by how much things change in just a year.

What bucket list activities have you crossed off your list?

Going to Africa. Seeing an elephant. Walking through an African Market. Seeing the Galapagos. Swimming with sharks. Seeing a sun fish. Experiencing the magic of that bakery full of bees. Riding a camel. Taking a train to the middle of nowhere and figuring it out. Traveling with my mom. Going to Montenegro. Going around the world. Passing through the Panama Canal. Mentoring students on traveling. Living on the ocean.

What small skill did you learn during the voyage? Where did you learn it?

How to cut and eat a pomegranate. (Morocco) How to staunchly but respectfully say No via hand gesture (Brazil)

What was the most, movie-scene-type of place that you experienced?

Bee bakery in Morocco was magical and watching the sunset on a surfboard in Costa Rica.

What language spoken in the host countries would you learn if you could? Why?

I would perfect my Portuguese. I just think it sounds so beautiful and I love Portugal and Brazilian culture.

Where is your ‘spot’ on the ship?

Jenny’s office or the Fritz

What was your worst sun burn?

Galapagos by a mile.

What are you looking forward to the most & least about returning home?

Looking forward to seeing my family and friends for the holidays. We get Finn back!!! Not looking forward to adjusting to a cold, snowy climate. Really not looking forward to the insane political media coverage and campaign.

Do you think it will be tough to get back in the normal swing of things?

Yes. It will be weird.

Who is your favorite crew member? Why?

Linval. He just has such a genuine joy to him. A gratefulness for life and opportunities. An optimism that’s magnetic.

Tell a story of failing to communicate in another language…

• Trying to say almost anything in Amazigh, especially remembering our little host sisters’ names.
• Trying to ask a profound question of how tortoises lifespans affects the conservation ethos of the Galapagos (in English) and completely falling flat

Tell a story of a travel ‘fail’…

• Getting stuck in the mud in the middle of nowhere Ghana. Here is the full story!
• Trying to get to a beach town in Costa Rica and a rented Air BNB – but taking the wrong ferry and having to turn around and scrap it.
• Booking a cooking class in Casablanca only to not have it confirmed and feeling really let down
• Missing our flight (which was moved up) in Tobago after speeding around the entire island at dangerous speeds, only to wait for the next flight for two hours.

What have you learned about maritime culture?

A lot. It’s one of those huge but tiny worlds. Regiment and routine is the name of the game. I didn’t realize how much work goes into maintaining the ship ALL the time. In port, things are being cleaned, repaired, torn apart and reassembled. The hierarchy is also interesting. I learned that it makes sense. The balance of power is so stratified but it kind of has to be. Also the number of Philippine workers in the industry is crazy and very interesting. The greek influence too! I’m glad to be on a ship with such professional crews.

What was you favorite thing we sailed past during the voyage? Why?

Straight of Gibraltar. It’s such a famous place and I have this wild concept to build a dam at the Straight of Gibraltar and add locks to the Suez Canal so that all of North Africa and Europe would be insulated from rising sea levels. It was cool to see what an absurdly large project that would have to be.

What are you more passionate about and more committed to now than you were before?

The environment and the power of communication.

What part of the SAS experience do you wish you had engaged more in? (Chapman Scholars, field programs, student life activities, student clubs, extended families, etc.)?

There are several field programs I wish I would have done but I wish I would have stuck with the Architecture, Construction and Engineering program.

Do you feel like you’ve made deep friendships onboard? With whom?

Yes. Eric and Lauran. Hannah. The Sobeys. Shannon. The Shockleys. The Hudsons. Caty and Tyler. Brandon and Kaity. Gaye. Juan. Nico. Anderson. Zach. A number of more students.

Did you have some gut-busting, laugh until you cry events? List them…

1. The hardest I laughed is when Eric and I were locked in an epic eating contest at the Brazilian Steakhouse. The waiter came by with Risotto and maintaining perfect eye contact, Eric waved him off with a hilarious hand gesture. ‘It’s all meat tonight folks’

2. Playing as kids would, in the waves with Kayla in Praia do Forte, Brazil

3. Upon entering the hammam in Morocco, just laughing at how unbelievably uncomfortable it was. Just a luke warm room with a bunch of dudes in the underwear rubbing each other down with soap… Getting very into it.

4. Commentating the Sea Olympics with Seneca, Eric, Brandon and many more

Will you think more about your impact on the environment when you go back home?

Yes definitely. I aim to reduce single use plastics and also see how to make a bigger policy impact in  Fort Collins and with my HOA.

Do you think not having much internet helped make connections onboard? Are you worried about having data & wifi when you go home? Why?

Totally. It is definitely hard to get used to and really hard to book things but the lack of service helped a great deal. I’m worried that in the distraction of getting home, I will be consumed by my phone and pointless scrolling.

Do you think Lane could be a real auctioneer?

If he wanted to, he could.

Do you think you’re a more mature person now than when you started the voyage? Why?

Yes. I understand the impact adults can have on students so much. About what we say, means a LOT! Wisdom comes with years and travels.

What is your favorite oceanic bird (a few options – frigates, petrols, wrens, gulls, boobies) ? Can you distinguish any of these?

Boobies! Probably nasca. I love the way they fly and dive with abandon. They are so graceful and have such sleek shapes. Pelicans are a second favorite. I never appreciated them enough and how close they fly to the water is amazing.

What, if anything, has the voyage experience changed about your perception of identity, race and gender?

I think it’s opened my eyes to the difficulty of identifying with something that you weren’t born with and that so much of our society’s norms are tied in with gender. Women face a very different reality than men. I have also contemplated race a lot. I’ve discussed both internally and externally, what is a reasonable cultural bias versus what is a racially discriminatory or limiting judgement. I think having the conversations has been one of the best parts of the voyage. 

Has the voyage made you want to change majors? From what to what?

Obviously not majors but the voyage has reinvigorated my love of the environment and communication. I want to pursue writing full time and look into opportunities with environmental companies. Specifically waste reduction and management.

What was your favorite new fruit you tried?

I was reacquainted with tomate de arbor and I love it.

Which country had the most live music in your experience?

Surprisingly, I heard the most live music in Poland. There were a lot of street bands and even heard a bunch of kids singing on a train.

Which country would you live in?

Brazil, Portugal, Ecuador or Costa Rica.

Are you proud of how you conducted yourself during the voyage? Why or why not?

I am. I think I achieved a lot of goals I had – writing a lot, speaking in front of groups, making connections with students, helping where I could, being the voice for a little while. I’m also glad that I could be a trip liaison and get experience being responsible for excursions. That was really unique. I’m not super proud of my lack of commitment to staying physically fit – definitely need to get back on that horse – but overall, really happy.

Are you proud of how WE – as the entire group – conducted ourselves during the voyage? Why or why not?

I’m really proud. I think the biggest fear is that most everyone will just want to drink and get rowdy – which then translates into bad situations. There was some of that but not too much. I’m happy that our group of students seemed to be quite fluid in terms of groups meshing together and balanced good cultural experiences with the party. I’m also so impressed with the professors onboard and their passion for the experience. Also, everyone embraced the ship kids (from what I could tell) and that was really special. I think we challenged each other too. To see a more complete culture of (you name it) and to accept ugly parts of history. I think we really became a big family and that means a lot.

What examples of foreign influence could you see from the US and EU in the countries we visited?

The first time I ever noticed American influence was seeing the absence of it. ‘Oh this elevator is made in Russia?’ The food chains and grocery stores are German? Not American? Weird! The influence in Ghana is all about Chinese investment? Hmmmm… We’re so used to American imperialism that we underestimate other large economies have influence on places. American business was definitely all over Salvador and Bahia. Seeing a string of giant factories and manufacturing plants for GE and Ford definitely served as reminders. Then seeing EU flags and signs all around Poland advertising – EU funding made this highway possible.    

What did you learn about currency during our trip?

I’m left in more amazement by how much I don’t know about currency markets. We are so spoiled being from the USA and having the dominant currency. The US dollar has been the benchmark (or one of three) for a hundred years. The inflation of other currencies against the dollar reveals how tricky it is for smaller economies to compete. Also… a closed currency (like the Moroccan durham and Ghanian cidi), that isn’t available around the world so there is less vulnerability to market manipulation. I had no idea that existed.

Are you more or less likely to take a cruise as a vacation after SAS?

This is a tough one because of the environmental impacts associated with cruise ships BUT I also think it is a really unique way of seeing places. I’d say I’m more apt to take an Antarctic, Norwegian, Alaskan cruise than a Caribbean one. I wanna stay clear of the giant ones.

Are you nervous about going home? About re-adjusting?

Yes, because we don’t really have a home. haha. We will continue our semi-nomadic lives and not having a semblance of home is a bit scary. I think the readjustment will be a bit easier than previous times because we know some other SASers and will keep traveling.

If you did it again, would you do anything differently in the first few days of the voyage?

I would share more – be a bit more open. Not worry as much about perception in the early going.

Are you still reading this?

Of course…

What was your favorite/most interesting film on the loop that you watched?

Tie. Artificial was really interesting. All about the salmon hatcheries and issues with dams and farming fish in the NW USA. Then the documentary on the Galapagos was amazing to watch just two days before going. Very cool cinematography and informative. It helped frame the trip and got me amped!

Will your eating habits change at all as result of the voyage? How?

I hope to eat less meat once getting back into the US. Being intentional about knowing the origins of my food and sourcing local milk, beef, chicken, vegetables. A lot of it is being OK with spending more money on better food.

How will you be a better ally when you go back home? To whom?

I want to be more vocal in my support of Islam. It’s not my religion but experiencing it in Morocco and Ghana was eye opening and really helpful. I think it’s an impressive societal structure and was impressed by how the Muslims live their faith. Much more so than anything I’ve seen. It’s such an integral part of their life. So I’d like to attend a service in a mosque in Fort Collins and write a blog post about Islam and what to know about it.

Who had the greatest influence on your whole SAS experience?

Kayla! Obviously! She got me so excited before coming and also helped (more like did) all of the setup work. Her joy and presence were great and traveling together is like… our favorite thing to do. So it was very special. Honorable mention goes to Ed Sobey. I found his experience in, knowledge of, and passion for the ocean an amazing frame to judge the voyage.

Do you think foreign aid is good?

I would say yes. But it can’t be just money and it needs to be culturally sensitive. It has to be done the right way and so often, it isn’t. It has to be a cooperative thing.

If the voyage could continue for another month, would you stay on (you would miss Christmas and NYE)?

No. I wanna see my dog, family and friends.

Did you find love during the voyage?

Continued finding it.

How long was your longest nap? Was it in class?

I think 2 hours. No, it was in my bed when I was sick.

Team Lido or Team Berlin?

Team Lido. Though I dabble in Berlin for lunch.

Did you learn to cook a new dish or in a new technique?

I figured out how to cut open a pomegranate! That was awesome! Cooking in a tajine in Morocco too.

Did you ever skim the top off one of the fruit crumbles?

Kinda, but it wasn’t a full top out.

Most challenging/rewarding class/activity?

Trip Liaisoning the Moroccan homestay program in the Amazigh village.

Service from the spa that you wanted but didn’t get…

Massage.

Did you make a budget before coming on the ship? Did you stick to it?

Very rough budget like a range of $3-5K to spend in port. Yes! I landed in that giant range!

How much foreign currency do you still have with you?

A. $0 – $5 equivalent

B. $6 – $10

C. $11 – $20

D. $20 – $50

E. $50 – $100

F. $100 – $250

G. $250+

Did you have anything stolen during your trip?

No… unless my identity is compromised.

Did you ever feel unsafe? Where and why?

Never unsafe. Uneasy in the huge crowd in Brazil the first night in Salvador because I’m claustrophobic and it’s a perfect situation for something to get stolen. Also speeding like crazy on rainy, twisty Tobago roads was sketchy – though I trusted our driver’s judgement.

Are you a cat or dog person?

100% dog.

What is your favorite ocean or sea that we sailed through?

Mediterranean. Just because it was eye opening to see how close everything is and every new land off in the distance was another African or European country.

Would you do SAS again?

Yes!

Did you connect with or learn from a Life Long Learner? Which one and what did you learn?

Stephanie Nowak. She is just the sweetest human being. Very positive about life and always open to new ideas.

What was the funniest/cutest interaction you had with kids in the countries we visited?

Playing cards with our little host sisters in Morocco and watching Kayla paint with them.

What were the top three departures from port?

1. Salvador, Brazil – BBQ on deck

2. Takoradi, Ghana – Tug boat dancing

3. Dubrovnik, Croatia – Amazing sunset & group photo

What was you best bargaining experience?

Pair of pants in Morocco

What was your worst purchase of the voyage (lip tattoos count)?

A yoga mat Kayla’s mom donated to the silent auction (I didn’t realize that). Way overpaid.

Think about Moroccan culture and their natural environment. Now think of Polish culture and their environment. Now think of Brazilian culture and their natural environment. In what ways do you think the natural environment shapes culture?

It has so much to do with culture. Long, cold winters and seasons force people to plan ahead and make more conservative decisions/take less risks (Germany and Poland). There is a certain exuberance that comes with tropical places like Ghana and Brazil. Life is everywhere and it’s lived to extremes. The joy is so great and so too are the risks – especially in Brazil with violence. It’s kind of like life is lived as a burning white flame versus embers (Poland). The mountains and desert of Morocco provided an interesting middle ground. Still seasons but no snow. Water is so critical and dictates a lot of life. You have to be disciplined in those environments and I think Moroccan culture & Islam show that concept in action.

Do you remember what seignorage is? Do tell!

The economic benefit that comes with countries printing their own currency.

What was going through your head in Amsterdam as you got into the terminal and saw all of the other SASers?

Holy shit… There’s a lot of em.

Do you have any regrets on the voyage?

I regret not traveling with my mom in Croatia.

Now you have to pick one song that will always bring you back to the MV World Odyssey. What song is that?

Orphans – Coldplay

Did not having access to much news improve your experience? Or detract from it?

Improve it. Being out of the crazy media cycle of the USA is SO NICE!

What were the top three nights of seeing stars:

1. Night in Ghana near the border with Burkina Faso.

2. High Atlas Mountains in Morocco

3. One of the last nights on the voyage – off the coast of Mexico. The stars were so bright!

What did you learn about geography during the voyage and on the ocean?

How close things are in the Mediterranean. How tight the entrance is to the Baltic Sea. How enormous Brazil is. How large the coast of West Africa is. How mountainous North Africa is. How the trade winds are a thing. The the wind at the equator is pretty tame. How mountainous Central America is. How shallow the Baltic Sea and North Sea are. 

What was the coolest ship or boat that you saw in port or on the ocean? Why?

Either the giant LNG ship just before the Straight of Gibraltar (going west) because it was one of the largest in the world and looked massive even from miles away. Or the sub-sea construction vessel that docked in Takoradi right before we left. That was like a space ship. So much technology.

What fellow student impressed you the most in the following categories:

Travel Acumen – didn’t travel too much with students independently.

Academic Excellence – Reeva – so much research in so little time

Language Skills – Xenia – she learned  conversational Amazigh in like 5 days

Good Nature & Go With the Flow – Nico – he is so chill and takes time to learn little things and loves teaching

What are some lessons you learned about traveling during the voyage?

• It takes some time to get into a new city – so don’t pressure yourself the first few hours
• Take what a tour operator offers you – flashlight for a cave (take it) – shirt for surfing (yep)
• Renting cars can be a great idea but also a hassle – be diligent about renting
• Respect your intuition and safety above everything

Did you feel social pressure on the voyage in regards to in-country travel? Did you have FOMO? What did you learn from those feelings? Are they valid? Or is it just noise?

For sure I had some FOMO. Part of it is valid but you have to listen to yourself and understand what is best for you.

Top 3 cups of coffee (or tea)?

1. Bohio Cafe – Jaco, Costa Rica

2. Small cafe in Guayaquil, Ecuador

3. Small cafe in Lisbon, Portugal

Did you go to a hammam (traditional bathhouse) in Morocco? Was that awkward? Comfortable?

Yes I did. It was extremely awkward and needed a good laugh to get into it. One of the testicles of our trip leaders also fell out his boxers and he had no idea… LOL. That was just too much.

Did you ever experience or see discrimination on the ship or in country? What happened?

Personally, I didn’t see it but I did hear of voyagers of color and LGBTQ+ experiencing discrimination in Poland and Ghana.

Do you know who the rumor rangers are? Guess…

1. Eric

2. Brandon

3. Me

This is not really a PC question, but if you could take one animal from a host country as a pet, what would it be and why?

I’d take a tortoise from the Galapagos = no more lawn mowing

After all of our travels, do you have more or less faith in humanity?

About the same

What was the best sculpture that you found? Where?

I’d have to say the giant one in Westerplatte, right next to our ship in Gdansk.

What was your halloween costume?

Austin Powers

Can you name three shipping companies which we’ve seen painted on the sides on containers? Do you know what country they’re based in?

1. MSC – I need to look it up

2. Hapag-Lloyd – Hamburg, Germany

3. Maersk – Copenhagen, Denmark

Who – out of the people you met in the countries we visited – had the most beautiful eyes? What color were they?

The guy who let us into the AirBNB in Sintra, Portugal had these crazy green and blue eyes, dark skin and black hair. It was a striking combination and I thought Kayla would leave me! (HAHA!)

What was the funnest activity you participated in with the Ship Kids?

Dodgeball as we departed Salvador.

Did you practice any art during the voyage? What medium? Did you learn any new forms of art?

Sketching, writing and pastels. I also started experimenting with patterns and kaleidoscope types of prints. That was a lot of fun. I did an origami class with Erika! That was new!

What was the highest point in elevation you reached during the voyage? Where and how high?

No idea… probably 4,000 feet in Morocco.

What was your biggest fear coming onto the ship?

That the experience would go by lightening fast. Luckily, that was not my experience.

What is your biggest fear now?

Losing momentum with Be a Man of the World and writing

What is the best thing to order at the grill?

Grilled cheese with a chicken cutlet inside.

Forrest Gump has that scene, where he recounts all of his travels in just a few scenes… Close your eyes and think about all the countries we’ve been to… Think about those settings and times that evoked strong emotions. Now narrow it down to five and list them out. Describe your experience and the emotion. Why are those important?

1. Bee bakery – That was straight magic – Casablanca, Morocco

2. Alleyway with a bunch of street cats and injured gull that a man cared for – felt like it was fake, such a pure expression of love, that I’d go back and it wouldn’t be there –  Casablanca, Morocco

3. At the top of mountain after hiking in Croatia – it felt like real exploration – Croatia, island near Dubrovnik

4. Watching the sunset on a surf board – felt very close to my dad and heaven – Jaco, Costa Rica

5. Drinking tea in a cozy cabin in Poland – just the perfect feeling of comfort – Kasuby National Park, Poland

Did you gossip too much?

Probably. I just want to know what’s going on…

Is there anyone you hurt on the voyage? Did you apologize?

Yes but not yet. Good reminder.

What was the top three arrivals into port?

1. Trinidad & Tobago
2. Lisbon, Portugal
3. Cadiz, Spain

 

Any questions about Semester at Sea? About the Fall 2019 Voyage? About any of the countries we visited? Reach out via email beamanoftheworld@gmail.com or message me on Instagram!