Dear Student,

If you are considering applying for and going to sea with the CMA through the Cal Poly at Sea program, I have 2 words for you . . . DO IT! Nothing I can say will fully prepare you for what you will experience during your 2 months at sea, but I will give you a little idea of what my experience was like, and maybe that will help you decide.

First of all, chances are you are attracted to this program because of the ports. This is just one of many reasons to go. I was lucky enough to cruise in the South Pacific. We stopped in Hawaii, both Lahaina and Honolulu; Fiji; New Caledonia; Brisbane and Sydney, Australia; and Palmyra, a coral atoll. All of these places were wonderful in their own ways. Fiji was fairly inexpensive, beautiful, and had a great night life. New Caledonia was probably the most gorgeous place I have ever been. It is a French colony, so it felt very European and was very clean and the people were very friendly. Both ports in Australia were a blast. If you have a chance to go there make sure you visit the zoos and the Koala Park . . . you may even get to see Steve Erwin, the Crocodile Hunter!

Port is an absolute blast and I wouldn’t trade my time in these places for anything, but time in between port is just as much fun. When I first stepped on the TSGB I knew nothing about this or any other ship. I didn’t even know what TSGB stood for! (Training Ship Golden Bear, in case you don’t know either). However, after 2 months aboard her I now can tell my port side from my starboard side and I even have a bit of an idea how a ship like this runs and what life at sea is about. The staff and students from CMA are fabulous! They have some rules you have to follow that you may not like (such as no flip-flops and you have to tuck in your shirt and pull your hair back) but they are willing to talk if you have any problems and they are always willing to answer any questions you have. One thing that surprised me was how excited the CMA students are about being mariners. They truly love being at sea and working on ships. They have tons of fun stories about their adventures at sea aboard the TSGB and other vessels and, although for the most part they are the same as Cal Poly students, they definitely have some experiences that no one at Cal Poly does. After just a few weeks with them I have a new understand of and respect for what the CMA students are learning and what the CMA itself is all about.

Now that I have convinced you how much I loved this program, let me see if I can put some of your doubts to rest. I remember worrying about what I would miss in SLO. I am involved in a few clubs on campus and have an on-campus job. I was afraid to leave all this because I knew things would happen that I would miss during the spring quarter. Now that I know what I have missed in SLO and what I have experienced at sea, I have absolutely no regrets. I have realized that nothing at school could even possibly compare to this experience. Cal Poly, clubs and all, will be there when I return and I am so glad I did not miss this chance because I was afraid to leave my comfort zone.

I was also worried about the classes I was taking on cruise. There was only one course offered that I needed, which means this was basically a 4 unit quarter for me (even though I actually took 12 units). But looking back, it was not a waste at all. I was able to take 2 classes I enjoyed, astronomy and physical oceanography, but not have the pressures that come with taking major courses. Although these classes did not get me any closer to graduation, I learned a lot and was able to experience them in a setting that could never compare to taking them on campus. I was able to learn about the stars and then go out on deck that night and see those constellations without the interruption of city lights or pollution. It was also cool to learn about the ocean while I was on a ship right in the middle of it. Although the classes offered on the ship might not be what you would choose to take on campus, you may still learn some valuable things from them.

Hopefully this letter gives you some idea of what experiences you can expect. I realize it is pretty general, but everyone’s experiences are different on this trip. Not everything about it is good, but the good far outweighs the few bad things. I wholeheartedly recommend this trip for anyone who is interested in seeing a different part of the world, studying abroad, or just getting out of SLO. You will love it! If you have any questions at all (because I know I did!) please free to email me and I will be more than happy to tell you about my experiences on the TSGB. Good luck with your decision!

Sincerely,

Janet Schlosser (jschloss@calpoly.edu)