Dear future world traveler,

Right about now you are trying to decide whether or not to spend two months of your life on the Training Ship Golden Bear, cruising around the tropical islands of the South Pacific. Let me tell you a little about what you can expect.

The port stops are amazing. You will be immersed in environments and cultures unlike anything you have ever experienced. You will see exotic wildlife. You will have the opportunity to snorkel surrounded by colorful fish, or maybe just lay on the white sand beach. Whatever your taste is, swimming, hiking, shopping, you will surely have a great time.

Life aboard the ship is an experience all it's own. You will meet some amazing people and develop deep friendships, but be prepared for a few changes. You will need to wear a uniform (blue T-shirt, no big deal) and follow a lot of rules. You will need to keep your room clean so your stuff doesn't roll around when the ship rocks, and you will need to stand at quarters and be counted to make sure you didn't fall overboard. The food services are small so you will have limited food options. You only have about six desserts to choose from. No joke. Mom, the ship's baker, makes a wide assortment of desserts from scratch every day.

While in the middle of the ocean be prepared for some amazing sights. The sunsets are spectacular. I don't know why they are so much more beautiful out at sea, but they are. Even when there isn't any land in sight, you will almost always have birds following you riding the air currents kicked up by the ship. Dolphins and whales are common sights along your voyage, and flying fish are fun to watch as they float over the waves.

The classes on board are tailored to fit the cruise. In your biology class you will learn about living creatures that exist in the places you visit. The same with political science. In astronomy you learn about the celestial bodies, and then you stand out on the helo deck in a large group with Dr. Poling pointing out the constellations and planets. Cruise is an excellent opportunity to interact with and get to know your professors.

You might be thinking about the classes you won't be able to take spring quarter. Mark Twain once wrote, ad this is repeated many times aboard the Golden Bear, "Never let your classes get in the way of your education." When in your life will you ever have an opportunity to experience something so amazing?