When Cal State Long Beach professor Nilufer Medora traveled to China as part of the semester at sea program, she was in a small kitchen but eating 22 different dishes, all prepared by one person.
Medora and her students had stopped at a port stop of the MV Explorer ship during the spring 2010 voyage and spent the day with a local Chinese woman who left a lasting impression on everyone.
The woman shopped and cooked lunch for them.
“The hospitality that we experienced was just unbelievable,” she said. “She was a remarkable woman.”
This notable field trip was just one of several that Medora and her students were able to experience during their semester at sea.
Medora, a CSULB child development and family studies professor, applied to teach in the Semester at Sea program during fall 2009 and was immediately accepted aboard in the spring 2010 voyage.
Medora said, although she was unsure, she ultimately decided to go for it.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and, if I passed it up, I had no idea when it would ever come back,” she said. “It was a lot of work but well worth it. It’s the best thing that ever happened to me in my life.”
Semester at Sea is a program sponsored by the University of Virginia and the Institute for Shipboard Education. The program is open for any students or faculty members.
The program offers four different voyages, including spring, fall, summer and short terms in the summer. Every voyage has a different itinerary.
The cost for a student varies from roughly $4,000 to $25,000. However, the program offers plenty of scholarships and their own financial aid system.
Medora said that although it seems costly, everyone should look into it.
“If I could give advice to any parent, I would say forget about giving your child a car or a house or a big wedding,” she said. “Invest in the Semester at Sea program. It’s the best thing that you could ever do for your child.”
Students who participate must take 12 units of classes. They have class every day, even during the weekends. However, they have free time for about a week during their port stop to explore and enjoy the area.
Medora thinks that the schoolwork is more rigorous because the students have to study every day. The program keeps every student and faculty member pretty busy so they really have to devote their time to academics.
Although Medora thinks all students should check it out, she doesn’t think it’s for everyone.
“If you are likely to get homesick, then it’s probably not for you,” she said.
Medora said she has noticed dramatic changes in the students.
“I see some of the most quiet and shy students and how their self-esteem builds over time,” she said. “It is truly one of the most significant life-altering experiences.”
Medora said she had such a wonderful experience in 2010 that she applied again and was accepted to teach for the summer program.
“Life is passing by and if I don’t give it a shot, I may never get this experience again,” she said. “I was so thrilled they selected me.”
Students that would like to apply for the program can apply at any time for the spring, summer or fall voyages. Student applications are kept in the system for up to one year.