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UPT Faculty Part of Semester at SeaRecount their experiences
Written by Rebecca Zeigler, UPT Summer Intern
TITUSVILLE, August 18 – Semester at Sea (SAS) is a unique experience that combines education, visiting other countries and traveling by ship. From January to April of 2005, Joseph Croskey, Coordinator of Retention and Dr. Linda Winkler, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Biology, both from the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville, had the opportunity to participate in SAS. Winkler taught three classes, Primate Behavior, Patients and Healing, and Cultural Anthropology, while Croskey served as an Assistant Field Officer in charge of planning field trips in each country they visited. They boarded the Semester at Sea ship, MV Explorer, on January 18 in Vancouver, Canada, with 750 other people, including students and other professors, and set out for the adventure of a lifetime. Winkler and Croskey described the MV Explorer as a modified cruise ship with accommodations for every aspect of the tour. The living facilities include a cafeteria, dorms, health services and a store, as well as recreational facilities and an on-board campus. Students can work out, surf the internet, conduct research in the library, and go to class all on the ship. The tours usually consist of stops at ten different places with a multitude of field trips offered at each stop. Native college students from each area board the ship for a short period of time to help students learn about their customs and traditions. Shortly after Winkler and Croskey began their voyage, the ship was hit with a number of storms. “It was like looking through one of those front-loading washing machines,” Winkler says. Heavy rain and oversized waves eventually damaged the ship, and the crew had to make an emergency stop in Hawaii to make repairs and prepare for their next trip. While in Hawaii, the entire group made the best of the situation and continued learning, as well as taking field trips. SAS threw a luau for the 750 people on the ship and bought airline tickets for everyone so they could continue their travels while the ship was being repaired. The storm damage and the ensuing repair work eventually made it necessary to cancel scheduled stops in Japan and Korea. Once they were on their way again, the SAS group flew into Shanghai, China, in time to experience a Chinese New Year celebration. They saw many Chinese traditions and were able to witness a huge firework display. After China, they visited Hong Kong and Cambodia. In Cambodia, they toured several temples, including “Angkor Watt,” which is about the size of Manhattan. They also visited floating fishing villages and a Cambodian prison that was run under the Khmer Rouge. The 750 passengers on SAS also flew to Vietnam, where they noticed that most people drove mopeds. “They were like schools of fish,” says Croskey. They were amazed by how many vendors lined the street on a regular basis. The students had an opportunity to explore Cu Chi Tunnels, which is a three story underground maze of tunnels that were used by the Vietcong for combat against American soldiers. The tunnels were built so small that only a few people were small enough to fit through their narrow openings. The group also visited India. Winkler says, “India represents the best and the worst in the world.” She had the opportunity to take a yoga class taught by an Indian woman who was also a retired high school teacher. They visited many of the sites affected by the recent Tsunami, as well as many great temples and world heritage sites. Their next stop was Africa. Winkler commented that one of her favorite memories was watching the South African penguins at play in the wild. Of 750 passengers on board, 700 of them went on safaris while in Africa. They visited a small company that puts together affordable wheelchairs for people who suffer from polio and other debilitating diseases and handicaps. In addition, they went to the Cape of Good Hope and visited some of the townships located outside cities in South Africa. With their trip coming to an end, they made one last stop in Brazil. According to Winkler, there is a strong African influence in Salvador where a large former slave population provides a wealth of information on the historic slave trade. While in Brazil, SAS acquired 400 tickets for a huge soccer event being held in the area. Because so many people from the ship wanted to go, a lottery was held to select those who would attend. In addition, they visited a German village isolated high in the mountains in Venezuela. On April 28, the ship returned safely to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The passengers brought back more than souvenirs. The brought with them stories to tell, experiences to share, new things to teach, and memories forever etched in their minds. # # #
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