My experience on the Golden Bear has been something I could have never imagined it to be. Before going on this trip, I had never been outside of the U.S. so being able to travel to not one, but three countries, was really exciting. Taking classes on the ship is nothing like taking classes at school, because when you are on the ship your classes are all you really have to worry about. It has been so freeing not to have to worry about food or gas or anything else that you would normally have to deal with. Going on this trip, I am sure, has saved me a lot of money, because for a majority of the time while we are at sea there is nothing to buy.

While at sea you do have some responsibilities. For example, you have to work in the kitchen maybe three or four days out of the whole time you are on the trip. Also, each day your group is assigned an area of the ship that they are responsible for cleaning, and each day your room must be clean . All of these things are not a big deal, and once you get in the routine of doing them they seem more like fun than work. When you are on kitchen duty you get to see pretty much everybody on the ship, which is definitely cool.

One thing that bothered me at first was the amount of gossip that goes around. Unlike Cal Poly, California Maritime Academy is a very small school, which means that everybody knows about everybody else's business. It will be strange because people will know about things that have happened to you way before you even have a chance to talk to them about it. Really, the best thing is to not let it get to you. People are going to think whatever they want to think about you, no matter what. Also, don't believe everything you hear. Go with what your own personal experience tells you rather than what other people tell you. Be very careful of who you trust because there will most likely be some (a few) untrustworthy people.

The people I have met are probably the best thing about this trip. You will become very close very fast with people on this ship. It is so much easier developing relationships with people here because, unlike at Cal Poly, you see the same people every day, all day long. Also, you will be bonded by the amazing experiences that you will share with them and no one else. By the time you leave I can guarantee that you will have made many great friendships that will hopefully last a lifetime.

It's hard to describe what it is like being constantly surrounded by the ocean. The sunrises and sunsets are spectacular. You will see whales and dolphins, sea turtles, seals, flying fish, and much, much more. Once you get used to the rocking back and forth it becomes a very soothing thing. There is nothing like being rocked to sleep, and looking out your window in the morning and seeing nothing but water and the sky. A lot of time will be spent on the top deck laying out in the sun and watching the ocean.

Being in port is crazy. Everybody is going nuts by the time we reach land again. You will be so happy to be off the ship that you will want to see and do everything you can with your time. I can't believe how much I have done with my time in port. Horseback riding in the rainforest, swimming in waterfalls, snorkeling, zip lining through the jungle, kayaking, shopping, going to the beach, the Booz cruise, and much more. During your three or four days in port you will learn a lot about different cultures and customs. It helps a lot if you, or at least one of the other people in your group, speak the language. I had a good time talking to some of the locals in Spanish.

As Dr. Hanson would say, I had a "fantabulous" time on the Golden Bear. This trip has been one of the best experiences of my life. I would recommend taking this trip to anybody, and I promise that you will not regret it. Any bad experiences I have had on the ship have been far outweighed by the good ones. You will have a blast on this trip! It will be something that you remember for the rest of your life, so go for it and have a great time.