Dear Future Golden Bear Cadet,

If you think you might be crazy considering taking your next Spring Quarter at Sea, then find comfort in knowing that you are. Anyone who goes on the Quarter at Sea has to be a little crazy, but that's what makes the trip so much fun and so worth while. Without a little craziness and adventure the trip would not be worth the two month span braving the high seas in a 500 foot metal box. There are lots of sacrifices that you may have to make and plenty of new adjustments that you have to make but I have to say, in the end it's all worth it. The memories and friendships that I will take away at the end of this trip will be everlasting.

To make your trip more enjoyable you need to start off in the right mind set. Be careful that your idea of what life on the ship will be like and that your expectations of a 5 star cruise liner are nowhere near realistic. But the Golden Bear has a fantastic rustic feeling that gives you a real feel for what a life at sea would be like. The rooms are a bit small and the beds aren't like home, but the food is not too bad and you can't beat getting up in the morning to see out your window a beautiful crystal blue sea. Having class out on deck in the afternoons and then sun bathing on the Helo deck, with the sun and wind combination keeping it pleasant, are definite pluses to the trip. Are there sacrifices of comfort that have to be made; yes. Are they worth it; yes, but only if you're willing to go into it with the right perspective.

The people who will join you from Cal Poly and CMA are an eclectic group. At the end of the trip you will have those people who you have become very close to and there will be those who will make the "off-my-island" list. But it's not hard to just avoid those who you are not as fond of, and the two months really go by much faster than you would imagine. Even without internet access and phones I never felt like I was without a support group. The camaraderie of my fellow Cal Poly cadets was incredible. They really served as my stand-in support group for the ones I couldn't talk with at home. In most cases I consider my fellow Poly cadets as extended family. This trip is one of the best opportunities to meet people that you may have never become friends with back at Poly. It brings together people from all different groups. At first it seemed like we were being pushed together all the time, but by the end we were all trying to spend as much time together as possible. Even classes are enjoyable because you get to bond so well with everyone, and with the professors. The relationships are very special in the uniqueness of their closeness.

I have to say that I never enjoyed going to class as much as I do on the ship. The professors really go out of their way to make what they present as relevant and interesting as possible. Since class sizes are small, I got to know my professors and be comfortable with them as we traveled together. Because the professors are living in the same environment as you are they understand when you get sea sick, and if you're having problems they go out of their way to help accommodate you. I think getting to know all my professors so well that I'm comfortable talking and partaking in casual interaction with them is a unique privilege that I was allowed by coming on the trip.

I experienced a lot of personal growth on my two month trip at sea. If you're looking to stretch yourself and open yourself to a glimpse at an entirely different experience than anything you can find at Poly, this trip should be a definite yes for you. I hope you decide to take the leap of faith and go on a voyage that will be unforgettable.