the Informer

Courtesy of Victoria Williams

For Victoria Williams the long tedious paper trail process of studying abroad was merely a small step towards her adventures at sea; a semester that would take her across the world.

Ghana, Morocco, South Africa, India, Malaysia, Viet Nam, China, Japan, Cuba, and Costa Rica are but merely a few of the countries that will be visited on a semester at sea, but more importantly visiting such places create vast memories, and life experiences that can be looked back upon with great enjoyment.

Preparing to study abroad takes more than just a sign up sheet, there are numerous amounts of paperwork, as well as the time consuming process of receiving your passport and visas, but for Williams, it was worth it.

“After completing all of the paperwork, I had to figure out a budget. I knew going into this program that I would be spending a lot of my savings. To help with the costs, I got a job waitressing and saved all of my paychecks.” Williams said.

She was very eager to embark on such a journey with hopes that by stepping out of her comfort zone, she would be able to handle any kind of situation that was thrown her way.

While at sea, she has been taking classes on the boat itself. This consists of five classes, just as if she was at the University on campus, but she has classes on the weekends as well. The reason for this is that every time the ship ports the students do not have classes, but the immense opportunity to get involved in the daily lives of the citizens of each country as well as tour the bountiful country sides, and sites the cities have to offer.

Williams has been involved in many programs such as Habitat for Humanity in South Africa, sifting grains in India, spending time with the kids in the City of Hope Refuge School, as well as participating in the “street feed,” handing out over 600 meals to underprivileged children in Ghana.

In her blog titled “It’s a Big Blue Watery Road,” Williams said, “The Ghanaians are incredibly friendly and their culture is so strong. I would have loved to be able to help them even more!”

Along with being involved in many different outreach programs as a part of Semester at Sea, Williams does, in some way, get to be a tourist.

She has seen the slave’s castles and African dancing and drumming in Ghana, dine on the finest Moroccan cuisine, hike through the National Forrest and play with baby turtles in Malaysia.

Williams has taken part in many experiences that she may not have been able to had she not been willing to step out of her comfort zone and having her willingness and readiness to explore.

“I just have to go with the flow, get out of my comfort zone, and try new things. It will all be worth it in the end,” Williams said.