In the field

Field trips are an integral part of semester at sea, especially since most of the classes have an in-country component and 20 percent of the students' grades depends on participation in a field "lab." Everyone on board is eager to experience the culture in each port; some prefer to make their own arrangements but many book a Semester at Sea-sponsored trip.

The most expensive trip I took was to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and a safari in Botswana that cost about $2200. It included four flights, three nights at nice hotels, all meals, transportation, guide, entrance fees, visas,
tips and so on.

A great deal of work and effort go into planning these trips. There are at least half a dozen overnight trips at each port, most lasting four or five days and involving flights, trains and buses and boat rides. Many day trips start at 8 a.m. and some last until 10 p.m. Home stays, visits to orphanages, water-filtration plants, universities and government offices are among choices available to everyone. Many students and a dozen adults prefer to explore the countries on their own, staying away from group travel. I may have liked doing that when I was young, but having things planned and paid for in advance suits me just fine now.

Karen, on the far right, helped organise
this outing in Hong Kong

Karen Burns, our field office director, has two people helping her and a dozen work-study students who man the activities desk. "Dealing with different tour operators and customs officers are big challenges," she says. "We never know how long it will take for immigration officers to check everyone's visas and how much time to allot for the U.S.diplomats to give us a briefing upon arrival in various ports."

When she is not working for SAS, Karen runs a "turn around" business in Florida. This was her eighth trip with SAS, the first one was as a residential director in the 1980s. Karen works closely with reputable tour operators to plan and coordinate itineraries.

During the five days in India, we were offered 36 choices. Topy, I and 65 others chose the trip called "Trains, Palaces and Elephants," which included stops in the capital Delhi; Agra, home of the Taj Mahal; and Jaipur, or the "Pink City." This trip involved four flights since India is a huge country. We were divided into two groups of 33 or so in each. Other trips were called "Incredible India," "Imperial Agra & Varanasi" "Explore Cochin on Bicycles," cooking lessons, elephant rides, school visit and shopping, of course.

A liaison from among the faculty and staff keeps track of all the participants and is responsible for the smooth running of the trips. The tour operator plans the itinerary with instructions from the field office and arranges for the guides, some of whom hav been excellent). Since we are in each of these countries only for a few days, a lot is squeezed into our tours, and most of us are exhilarated and exhausted by the time we get back to our home, the Explorer.

Sharing our experiences at post-port discussions in the Union is eagerly anticipated. In the hour allotted to such meetings, two dozen students have a chance to tell their impressions, some eye-opening, many life-changing, always enlightening.  The most touching are personal connections young people make, some only with sign language and others with music and youthful curiosity.