Undergraduate / Global Perspective Semester At Sea Essay [2]

How will your Semester at Sea voyage create (or enhance) your personal global perspective?
Highlight your discussion by referencing at least one country on your itinerary and by explaining how your time there will further develop your awareness.

My father struck me with awe whenever he shared the tales of his travels around the globe. When most people worried about pimples and prom, he had traversed the distant lands of Europe, South America, and Asia--worlds away from his home of Barcelona. Now, a man loved and respected for his heartfelt communication, tolerance, and air of enthusiasm--he credits a majority of his development to the contrasting cultural immersion of his travels. In my eyes his stories stand as a testament to the importance of travel that creates an understanding of oneself and the development into a well-rounded citizen in the emerging global economy.

I froth with excitement when I imagine being at sea with those whom are like-minded. Every person on the voyage would be an epic tale waiting to be shared; a whole new world I have yet to explore. They're stories offer the rare gem of actual experience of life immersed within another culture. The cruise would be a crash course in world culture--an informal United Nations set before me to discover.

Beyond the people, I'm driven to see first-hand the natives of different lands, especially Cuba. Knowledge from textbooks and media outlets are good for satisfying the normal fast-food mind, but I hunger to devour the layers of life which exist beneath: authentic food, music tethered to their strong heritage from Spain, and daily local life. Living in the United States and especially Miami, I have witnessed animosity between both countries and understand that political climates affect the temperature of media outlets, therefor driving me to formulate my own opinions based on experience rather than hearsay. I've lied in bed many nights imagining the electrifying atmosphere of a fiesta, goose bumps while walking through Ernest Hemingway's home, and evening strolls around the Malecon and Havana Vieja. In my dreams I've rehearsed conversations with natives about their country's current situation and hopes for the future.

Once I heard of Semester At Sea, I knew my dreams had finally presented themselves as an opportunity. This is the place where fulfilling my goal of becoming a global citizen can confidently be achieved. I'll increase my respect and awareness of other people's cultures and realities through firsthand perspectives of each countries atmosphere, the opportunities to interact with the people, and an understanding of life--the life that exists beyond my current world.

Writing Feedback / I am applying Semester at Sea and I just want feedback! [2]

How will your Semester at Sea voyage create (or enhance) your personal global perspective?
Highlight your discussion by referencing at least one country on your itinerary and by explaining how your time there will further develop your awareness.

Since youth, I have been listening to my father tell the stories of adventures he had when he once traveled the globe. At a young age, he had started traveling beyond his native city of Barcelona to countries across Europe, South America, and Asia. The overall lesson my father taught me was that traveling beyond the places you are at most comfortable is essential to expanding your perspective on the world and yourself, hence making you a well-rounded person when dealing with people, places, and situations in everyday life.

Every country on the voyage would offer unique opportunities for me learn and grow, but I would be looking forward to visiting the country of Cuba due to its unique political situation as well as its historical and cultural ties to Spain. Living in the United States and especially Miami, I have witnessed animosity between both countries in result of the Cold War and the triumph of the Cuban revolution led by Fidel Castro in 1959. The view of Cuba in the United States media has been negatively affected because of Castro's Communist regime and its impact on the lives of so many Cuban Exiles in the US. Contrary to the American ideology concerning Cuba, I have always been curious to learn more about the rich Cuban culture in terms of food, music, history, and its people's hospitality and friendliness. I would love to experience a class of authentic salsa dance, visit Ernest Hemingway's house, and take a stroll around the Malecon and Havana Vieja while engaging in casual conversation with the people of Cuba to hear their point of view about the Country's current situation and their hopes for the future. In addition, as a fellow Spaniard, I would like to gain more insight about the close historical ties between Cuba and Spain. Cuba, being the last colony of Spain in Latin America, became the Eldorado for the Spanish people in hopes of a better life and opportunity. It would fascinate me to see the influence of Spain that was left behind from the people of the old country. Overall, I want to be able to visit with an open mind and personally experience the authenticity of the country.

I personally feel that Semester At Sea would be a great opportunity to continue fulfilling my goal of becoming a global citizen that can easily understand and respect other people's cultures and realities. It will provide a firsthand perspective of each countries atmosphere, an opportunity to interact with the people, and an understanding of their way of life that will challenge and impact my overall outlook on the world.