In Summer of 2003 I embarked on the three month long Semester At Sea with the Institute for Shipboard Education accompanied by my wonderful parents. My father had applied to be a professor in the program and it was too good an opportunity for me to pass up. Our voyage took us around the Ring of Fire, hitting exotic stops around the Pacific ocean.
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Vancouver, Canada
Origination Our circuit around the Pacific on Semester at Sea began in Vancouver Canada. We flew to the city on June 12, 2003 with giant duffle bags packed with all…
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Sitka, Alaska
Small Town Sitka We arrived in Sitka early on June 19th with was a misty reception. Many of us were present above decks to witness the ship drop anchor. There…
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Kodiak, Alaska
Soaked In Sunlight Kodiak seemed diametrically opposed to our experience in Sitka. We woke with the ship nestled at a dock practically downtown with beautiful sunlight bathing the steep green…
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Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Not an International Incident Our visit to Russia was not without drama in terms of State travel restrictions. Immediately upon dropping anchor in the harbor waters out site Petropavlovsk we…
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Osaka, Japan
Some of us on board woke up very early to watch the ship come into Osaka harbor. I was one of them and got a few shots of looming islands…
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Hiroshima, Japan
Early the next morning I boarded a bus in Osaka and we headed to the Shin-Osaka bullet train terminal. The city was pretty empty still compared to the bustle I’d…
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Himeji, Japan
On my third day in Japan we took a bus back to Osaka from Hiroshima and on the way we stopped in a town called Himeji to see the beautiful…
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Kyoto, Japan
My final day in Japan, I took a train up to the historic city of Kyoto with a friend from the ship. We arrived with little fuss, and got tickets…
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Brisbane, Australia
After 10 days at sea, we were very ready to get off the ship and see some sights south of the Equator in Australia. We docked in Brisbane, at the…
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Cairns, Australia
Early the next morning we headed off to the Airport because I had booked my most extravagant excursion yet. I remember agonizing over the expense, but in the end my…
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Auckland, New Zealand
New Zealand was billed as an exciting thrill-seeking destination. Many people were exited to partake in extreme sports, Bungee Jumping or Zorbing, venture off to see the dramatic landscapes from…
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Suva, Fiji
When you think of Fiji you might imagine the crystal clear light-blue water and white-sand beaches that proliferate on the internet. Well, that’s not all of Fiji. We docked in…
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Honolulu, Hawaii
Day One We docked in downtown Honolulu at pier II right next to the Aloha Tower. (by now we were experts at noting landmarks for locating the ship!) After more…
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Seattle, Washington
The voyage ends, as all things must. The staff pulled no punches in the final days of our semester to make memorable moments. The formal Captain’s dinner and sea Fear…