Life While Living on a Boat for 2 Months,

When I was trying to decide whether I actually wanted to go through the process of a study abroad program, I was not really sure about what I wanted. I knew that I had been at Poly for almost 3 full years, and school was getting really repetitive. I wanted a change. I figured I would just check out what my options were, and then I could go from there. When I came across the Golden Bear program, it sounded really interesting to me. Sailing the ocean was something that I had dreamed of when I was a kid. I have always lived next to the ocean, so I have this constant need for it. Yet I still wasn't convinced that living in a dorm type setting was worth it, especially since I have had my own room for the past 2 years. I specifically wasn't sure about whether I wanted to be interacting with about 150 other students from this so-called California Maritime Academy, most of whom are guys.

Nevertheless, I decided to do it and I am really glad that I did. Luckily, I had a good friend who also decided that this trip was for him, so we were able to go through it together. The first couple of steps needed to go on the trip are filling out different types of forms confirming your legitimacy. You really don't see why you are doing this because it seems that there is so much work. You slowly start going to meetings, basically just question and answer sessions, where you can meet people who have already been through the program and some of the faculty who will be joining you. The excitement starts to seem a little more real, but still not enough to justify the work. They show you pictures of some of the places that the previous years students went to, which appeal to you. By the time you start filling out forms regarding your tee-shirt size and the name you want on your Merchant Mariner's Card, the real fun begins. You start to recognize that you are actually going to be away from everything that is familiar to you for 2 months. When that feeling of adventure sunk into my head, I could not ignore it until I was already on the ocean. It is a force that is more powerful than you, but one which should be welcomed with open arms.

No one can explain to you what you will be feeling when you venture on this trip. Everyone has different ways of explaining their own emotions, but one thing that is constant is the fun. I have not talked to one person who was sorry for participating. The hardest part about committing to your involvement with the Golden Bear is the commitment itself. After that, everything else is easy and the enjoyment will greatly outweigh all other factors.