Dear Prospective Cruise 2002 Cal Poly Cadet,

Wow. Life traveling on the Golden Bear is a lot different from life at Poly. I originally did not want to go on cruise. Well, I wanted to go, but I didn't want to skip a quarter of social activities at Poly: graduations, parties, club activities, Open House, Wildflower, etc. I debated a long time over whether I would go on cruise or not and even after I signed up and paid bunches of money, I was still a bit uncertain. I was excited about visiting the ports and experiencing the transoceanic journey on a ship, but I was also uncertain as to how it would play out, not knowing any other Poly students who were going (can you relate?).

All I heard about cruise was that it was a blast . . . "the best time of my life", but no real specifics. They were right. Cruise has been an awesome experience. Visiting foreign ports, meeting new people, making strong friendships, learning about everything, sunsets, stars, tropical storms, deep blue waves, BBQs on the fantail. I would strongly suggest coming on board.

What do you need? Packing information will come later, if you decide to join. In order to make that decision, and to see if cruise if for you, here are some things I think are vital.

1. A sense of adventure. Who knows where your cruise will actually end up going. We skipped over an entire port, and were uncertain about where we were going until we were a third through the cruise. It's all an adventure.

2. An open mind. New people, new cultures, new experiences. . . The opportunities are endless, literally. Anything can happen. Go for it!

3. Time managing skills or the ability to function on little sleep. There are always people to talk with and other distractions on the ship. Always. Be cautious with your time. Don't completely disregard your schoolwork, but don't be anti-social either, and don't forget to enjoy your surroundings even if it's just an endless horizon of ocean.

4. Patience with ship-mates, especially in such close quarters. Tensions run high after weeks at sea. Most people aren't used to living with so many people in such a confined environment. If you're able to "keep your cool" in interactions with roommates, professors, staff, and anyone else you run into you will have a much better time. Don't sweat the small stuff, and it's all small stuff.

5. Self-confidence. Don't be shy around strangers. Start talking with people from the very beginning. Big egos are horrible, but don't be a wall-flower either. We were told that all the CMA guys would try to hook up with CP girls, as a warning that they don't get enough female attention at school. While some hooking-up did happen, I have met some awesome friends. Just don't write anyone off - everyone has something to offer.

6. Positive attitude. This is probably the biggest one. Always be positive. Reality checks when you're bummin' are a good way to bring a smile back. How many people are ever offered this experience? You're half-way across the world from your "normal life", visiting foreign ports, free to see what you want with a bunch of teenagers . . . it's really amazing. Don't waste your time being upset or pessimistic.

7. Follow the rules. There will be more rules than you are normally accustomed to - everything is structured. Clothing, eating, even hair styles. Most of it makes sense, but some seem kind of random. Keep in mind the consequences of breaking the rules. You may be punished for breaking a rule you didn't even know existed, but remember advice #6.

I hope this helps you make your decision about attending Quarter at Sea. If you have any other questions, concerns, etc. don't hesitate to ask. Dr. Poling and Dr. Richards are really friendly and open, and they are experienced with the program. If you would like to contact me, my email is ksheehan@calpoly.edu and I would love to talk with you. Also remember that everyone's experiences are different, and everyone will tell your something different about cruise. It is hard to put my feelings about cruise into words . . . it's an experience I think you should live for yourself.