Late Night Thoughts from Four Years after Semester at Sea

I should be writing my methods material for the study that I am planning on launching this fall for my master’s thesis en pursuit towards my PhD in social psychology. I should probably study for the two finals I have next week. And yet, I have this nagging bit of nostalgia to that summer that I studied abroad with Semester at Sea. As I wear my Summer 2010 SAS voyage shirt (the white one with the flags of all of the countries that we visited while spending 68 days exploring the world). 

FYI. This post is inspired by Anna G., a friend who recently updated her blog to talk about her and her boyfriend’s journey after SAS and where they are at now. If you know her, find her blog and see what she wrote. It is a great read. 

Anyways, a point that I do not think Semester at Sea uses enough to recruit new participants is this: the initial lure of Semester at Sea is the chance to have a comparative study abroad experience. In the relatively short span of 2-3 months, SAS gives you the chance to observe up to 10 different perspectives on how to live and how places are more similar than expected. You can learn from the best professors about some concept relevant to your career or to better your knowledge, and you leave SAS with the idea that the world is smaller than you can ever imagine.

That was what I was sold on when I watched the 18 minute video promoting Semester at Sea in the fall of 2009. That was got me to submit my deposit, followed my tuition, and the travel and life arrangement that come with going off the grid for 70 days. I left for Halifax on June 13^th, 2010 expecting to see the world. 

I came back on August 22^nd, 2010 realizing that I got much more than that. I wish Semester at Sea would have promoted this when I signed up. It would have made the decision to go that much easier, and the roadmap to life after SAS that much more understandable. So, for the benefit of anyone who finds this post, here is what I learned from that summer I decided to go on a boat for a few months.

1.      Life is always a choice between “roots” and “wings.” However, no one ever says just how fast people who choose “wings” tend to form roots. Being in an environment where you are forced to create bonds to survive and thrive has the byproduct of making long-lasting relationships for when you return home. It gets glossed over, but some of the best friends that I made in life came from being in situations that were “adapt or go home” situations. Semester at Sea started that.

2.      Technology is a tool. Not a crutch. We can survive without it. Knowing this changes your approach to how you live in the digital age moving forward. This isn’t to say that we should give up Facebook or Google, or that the information age is bad. But life is worth living through your eyes looking outward. Life should not consist of the reflection of a computer or cell phone screen.

3.      Your environment creates you. Self-determination only goes as far as the context around you lets it. Building communities that allow you to function and grow should be the goal of life, and learning the tools how to do can change the life of you and everyone around you (who lets it).

4.      Crazy dreams seem less crazy. Once you are given a chance to live out a dream, newer dreams seem less far-fetched.

5.      Learning that there are people who are similar to you in that they want to change the world, yet different in how they want to do so, will forever change who you are, what you want to do, and the mark you will leave in your life. It will make you a better person in ways you have to live to believe. No one gets it except for those who have gone through it themselves.

6.      People are weirder and crazier than what you think everyone was like in high school. It turns out that everyone actually is as weird as you are. However, the difference comes from how it is handled and expressed.

7.      You find out real fast what matters and what does not. You end up keeping that perspective forever.

8.      It is pragmatic to be kind. It is pragmatic to help out your friend. It is pragmatic to support someone with the knowledge that they will help you out someday soon. Pragmatism tends to be related to kindness and honesty. You learn that first hand when you need someone to be pragmatic towards you.

9.      Tell your love ones that you love them as often as you can. Nothing lasts forever, and nothing is guaranteed.
P.S. Thanks, mom and dad!

10.  People who were the most important entities in your life today can be out of your life within three months. It is fast and unexpected, and your contact is reduced to an automated “happy birthday” message on Facebook or an obituary notice. It is weird, but you find this balance where you aim to make the world a better place tomorrow while living for today. It is scary and won’t make sense many times. But every now and then, there will be these moments of deafening clarity where life makes sense. Those are the moments worth living for. Those are the moments that come from living. This is what I learned from Semester at Sea.

11.  Life is not worth living in a vacuum. Neither is love. Or friendship. Or business.

12.  Semester at Sea gives you a chance to see the world for what it and the potential for what it could be. That changes how you view others. That changes who you are yourself.

13.  Finally, four years ago, 821 individuals left with the goal of changing the world. Today, many of us are working to do so (via many different paths). Semester at Sea facilitated this. 

This went longer than I planned, but I feel it is worth writing. If you are thinking of following your dream, do your best to make it happen. If you are thinking of doing Semester at Sea, do it. Just do it. And if you find yourself four years later wondering where the time went, take a moment to reflect and give thanks. 

Time to head back to work.

Acapella musings before the end of July

I wish I was able to write this sooner, but this is the only time that I have been able to write since whenever the last post was. I'm too tired to go and look at it, but let's say that it's a week or two. Yeah. Personally, a lot has been done since the last blog was written. Work has been nonstop since Father's Day. Work = meetings, calls, conference calls, recruitment, planning, not planning, napping, early wake up calls, lack of sleeping in, late nights, the best CM Punk promo in the last 6 years (if you haven't watched it, YouTube or Google it NOW), more calls, and food. Oh, and some GRE studying, which is now 6 weeks away.

Perspective is a funny thing. Realizing where you were a year ago makes you appreciate where you are now. Last year, I was in Italy with all of the SAS folks. Now, I am in New Hampshire with all of the OFA folks. Tonight, I saw an Acapella group that reminded me of what it is to relax for a while and just be with the environment that is around us. and it was a good feeling to just be.

I'll keep it short this time. When you wake up happy and go to sleep happy, then you are in the right place in life. At this point, I am at that point. That is how I know that this is right for me right now. That is how you can know that it is right for you right now. Or, that is how you can know that something isn't right for you right now.

I also know that the sunset out here is one of the best things I've seen ever. I do wish though that I would be able to enjoy some of it more, but the work up here is more important than that.

Folks are great up here. Legit. I do miss New York though.

37 Days until this ends. Ask me then how everything is, and yeah…

Lits and Giggles, Training-squared, and “how are we so close to Vermont?”

Hello from Lebanon! There is no way that I can justify condensing 2.5 weeks of this experience into one blog post. However, if I don't do that, I will be writing a week behind for the rest of the time. and I can't do that. Well, I can, but I really don't want to. So here we go.

There were some parallels between the first two weeks of this adventure and that of Semester at Sea (which is accessible if you chose to follow the older posts of this blog). Case and point, as my flight was boarding from JFK, there was a plane from EgyptAir in queue to take off. There's actually a picture of the two planes together on the Facebook feed.

Anyways, after JFK came two days in Portland with Julie L. and her family and friends. We spent it meeting her friends, family, and significant other, and touring/exploring Portland and the surrounding areas. We also saw Amy K's brother and Sister-in-law (Adam and Bethany K), and the cutest kid ever (Daniel). Lots of Seafood. Lots of Chowder. A decant amount of local beer as well. It was a good time with good friends. And good food.

The original plan was to go from Portland to Concord, NH. I thought that it would be possible to bypass Boston and take a bus to Concord Directly. Turns out… that isn't possible. The Friday was spent leaving Portland and heading to Concord thru Boston. Concord Trailways, btw, is the Best bus service in New England. True Fact! J Anyways, When I got to Concord, I met Mike, a fellow New Yorker going to the same internship as me. We then met Taylor, who picked us up, and we went to the NH State Headquarters to meet some of the folks that we were going to work with for the summer. Then, we met Ian, another NYC person, and the 4 of us went to get some dinner.

Then, we stayed at the best supporting housing in Concord, then two days in Training, followed by meals and such, followed by more training, then a farewell dinner, followed by us going to our workplace the Monday. The Sunday Night, myself and a fellow Summer Organizer (Nathan) had our last dinner before we went into the field with our supporter housing. It was some good food.

Then, On Monday, I made it to Lebanon. I met my awesome supporter housing up here, explored the Upper Valley area, and then began work. Fast forward to Friday, and we went to the Drive-in Movie Theater in Vermont. Oh, I forgot to mention. We're right next to the Vermont Border. It's crazy, really. I can drive 10 minutes, and I am in a new state. I've been there at least 3 times since I came (which is impressive because I don't have a car). Anyways, I saw the movies, talked with my supporter housing family, and then, looked up, and saw the big dipper as clearly as I have ever seen it in my life. True fact.

Jump to last Sunday, Fathers Day. I also picked strawberries fresh off the vine. We bought 20 pounds of strawberries! Legit. This week is strawberry week.

Anyways, There is other stuff that I'll get around to talking about, but this week is calling my name. Time to do some work right now. And by work, go to sleep.

Goodnight everyone. Until Sunday,

-Jeff

Here we go again…

If you're reading this for the first time, then allow me to say "Hi." If you're a returning member to the summer adventures of my life, "welcome back." If you are following this through the Facebook and/or Twitter posts promoting my personal ramblings, then "thank you" for clicking on the link to hear what I have to say. And if you're here because you have a few minutes to kill, then I hope what I have to say interests you enough to come back every week (or whenever I get time to post).

Allow me to introduce (or reintroduce) myself. My name is Jeff Ramdass, and I am currently a Summer Organizer for Organizing for America. I am a college student at St. Francis College (Brooklyn), a Speech and Debate Coach at Christ the King RHS (where I also went to high school and competed for), and last summer, I went on the Summer 2010 Voyage of Semester at Sea. All of those things led me to where I am right now, and all of those things lead me to where I am going. I'm a Psych Major looking for Graduate Programs for 2012 as well.

Sidebar: as the disclaimer says on the top of this blog, there is going to be no political affiliation, promotion, or endorsement of any politician, political entity, or political supporter. This blog does not, and will not function to comment, endorse, disclose, opinionate, or support any politician, political group, entity, supporter, or endorser. There are many websites and other ways to read those sorts of things. This is my personal story about my time in New Hampshire, and what follows from it.

So since I have been gone for about a week and a half, This first blog will be two parts. The first part will focus on the time before I got into NH, and the second part will describe my first week in NH.

My journey to New Hampshire began on 8/21/2010. That was the day that I came Back from Semester At Sea. And that was the day that I figured out that I wanted to do something in the world so that it could become a better place for all of us in it. I thought that it would be easy for all of the change to occur, especially after all of the work that has been done by the Summer 2010 SASers. 8/21/2010 was the day that 845 people realized that they either wanted to change the world, or that they weren't alone anymore in wanting to do so.

Then, the fall semester began. Four psychology classes, work, psychology club, friends, an internship as a student counselor at the freshmen studies office, and a hectic schedule made for an interesting semester. The winter in New York City was the first time that I did not have an Intersession class, but it was spent in two ways. First, There was the constant shoveling of snow out of the driveways and sidewalks because NYC had the most snow it has had in years (we called it the SNOWpacalypse because we didn't see our grass in the yard between 12/26/10 and Mid-March). Second, there was an epic 10-day California trip to visit Semester at Sea friends and to explore California from San Francisco to San Diego (and many places in between). The trip ended with me flying from California on a red-eye flight and landing at JFK at 8am. My first class for the spring semester was at 9:30am… the same day. The spring semester was 2 credits less than the fall, but the workload was also pretty strenuous. Between the classes, S&D coaching, psychology club planning, and friends/family, I was really busy during the spring.

And yet, there was an absence throughout the year. I spent 2 full years on Semester at Sea, and about 9-10 months actively planning and coordinating every aspect (logistical and otherwise) so that everything could have been done as close to perfect as possible. Granted, all of the planning served as a base for everything that was to come (because you really couldn't have planned everything during or after SAS). Nonetheless, I spent 10 months actively focused on SAS before I left. I then spent about 10 months AFTER SAS promoting it at home, and having it affect every decision I made.

Going into this summer, I didn't know what to expect. I figured that I wanted to try for something that could help me do something awesome and important (like last summer), but which wasn't related to Semester at Sea. I wanted some internship or job experience as well. So I looked into a few programs to try and get all of these goals accomplished. I found the Summer Organizers Program, and I sent in my application at the end of March (or early April). I also applied to MTV Networks for an internship, Camp Shane for a Camp Counselor position, a local summer debate teaching position, and a few other locales.

Camp Shane gave me an Interview, but they didn't have any more space available. MTV never got in contact with me. The local debate position, however, did. It wasn't what I expected it to be, but it seemed alright. However, at the same time, after waiting for 4 weeks or so to hear from anyone at Organizing for America, I got an email saying to schedule an appointment for an interview.

The next week or so was something. That Wednesday, President Obama released his Birth Certificate. That Saturday, the press correspondents dinner happened. The next day, Osama Bin Laden was brought to justice. That Tuesday, I had my interview for OFA.

I thought the interview went horribly. Or, at least, I thought the first half of the interview went horribly. The second half went better. But in the end, it seemed that the interview and the application process went well because I received an offer to work for OFA in NH! The next month was spent semi-planning my time in NH, and enjoying the time off from school and having fun at work. I had to make plans that I spent 10 months before doing and condense it into about 4 weeks. I went to my 21^st Birthday Party event, judged NCFL Nationals, had a goodbye dinner, packed, and left to go to Portland…

If you're still reading this, then wow. Part 2 will come tomorrow. It'll explain my first 10-11 days in NH.

The Last Post... The Buried List

Starting on April 30th, 2010, I began making a list of all the things that I wanted to do on this trip. Then, I realized that it is not fun or practical to make a list of stuff to do on your own. So sometime on the wee hours of May 1, 2010, with Bullet in a Bible playing in the background, I asked those who I consider close to me about what they wanted to do on this trip if they were to go as well with me.
The list was finalized the day before I boarded the plane to Halifax. Well, knowing me, and knowing that that day is 43 days away from now, it’ll probably be finalized as I’m meeting the people who are on the same flight as I am going on. But I digress.
The following is a list of the 66 things that I hope (or hoped) to do, above all else, while on Semester at Sea. 66 days means 66 items (cheesy, I know, but I don’t care. It’s my list. And my blog). They aren’t in any order, except for the order that I thought of them I guess.
1.      Go on a Zip Line
2.      Bike Tour a major city
3.      Bike Tour a countryside or somewhere that isn’t a major city
4.      Stay up all night talking
5.      Have a conversation about randomness that will probably be one of the most meaningful conversation we have the entire time on SAS (Sandy,
6.      Be awake for and take pictures of us as we arrive in port. (no one cares about Morocco or Egypt; stayed awake for the rest)
7.      Find the European club scene/participate in the European club scene
8.      Absorb as much of the culture as possible (Christina Turcoane)
9.      Be fiscally responsible. (no reason to go poor having the time of your life when you 
        have to go back to real life after)
10.     Spend as much time on the outside of the ship looking out at the ocean as much as possible (Amanda B)
11.     Find someone cute to make out with
12.     Find someone awesome to hook up with
13.     Kayaking in one of the ports (Gracie)
14.     See the Pyramids at sunrise.
15.     See a legitimate musical concert in Europe.
16.     6,000 pictures. (and for anyone reading this, no, that is not an exaggeration) (As of now, it’s close to 10,000 taken and 6,500 kept)
17.     Ride those boats in Italy that’s on that water.
18.     Do something crazy with a local. (Jenn Paciullo)
19.     Surprise Jenn with the post card “Dipped in Italy” (you’ll get this, Jenn, when we get back to the states. True fact. BTW, “Dipped in Italy” turned out to be “Dipped in the Trevi Fountain”)
20.     Capri/Anacapri enough said.
21.     Pick one really large monumental place and visit it (AKA Make sure to see the important places in the world that changed history for Better or Worse) (Chrissy K)
22.     Randomly join in singing a random song with a group of people that I would otherwise not sing if not for the fact that we were all singing the random song together… again (Reference: Club o2, 2007, Backstreet Boys)
23.     Get Mom and Dad their surprise gift
24.     Get Julie and Stephen (who I still think should be spelled Steven) their surprise gifts.
25.     Get Rose and Indra their surprise gifts.
26.     Find the Equivalent of the Enchanted Forest (Club O2 2006) or The Jungle (Club O2 2007) or the E Staircase (Speech 2007) (Classroom 1)
27.     Find a place to “Leave our Mark” forever and ever. (Those on SAS knows where that place is. Those who aren’t on SAS will never know. Hehe)
28.     Play “You and Me and One Spotlight” by Yellowcard on night 64 or 65 (Turned out playing it during a meteor shower is 10000x better). True fact.
29.     Get Mr. Joe Kelly and Dr. Greene something from one of the countries as a thank you gift for dealing with all my crazy throughout the year before SAS
30.     Get a picture of every cruise ship I see from Halifax to Virginia, and then again in NYC.
31.     Find a Park Bench, sit at it, and enjoy and watch and embrace the culture.
32.     Try Mostly foods that are Local in each port (found from online)
33.     Find 3 people in each port to ask what they want to do before they die:
a.      Spain
b.      Italy (Rome)
c.      Italy (Naples)
d.      Croatia
e.      Turkey
f.      Egypt
g.      Morocco
34.     Find 15 people on the boat and ask them “what do they want to do before they die” before the end of the voyage: I found them, but won’t share their responses here
35.     Get the stuff for the Psych Friends
a.      Shot Glasses for Jess F (2 from each port = awesomeness)
b.      Sara = Cool ass Necklace
c.      Postcards from Rome, Naples, Athens, Capri, and Casablanca for Lindsey
d.      Something for Camille (super chic earings)
e.      Jess B (Spice Plate… to crush spices and stuff)
f.      LAG (Olive Oil/Olive Oil Soap)
g.      Angela (other awesomeness)
h.      Alissa (other awesomeness)
36.     Find the second OLP fan and find out what they think about the awesomeness that is OLP.
37.     DON’T GET ARRESTED!
38.     Find someone who has done Forensics or Debate, and run ideas by them as to what to do for the 2010-2011 season. (Found Andy and Lizzie and Carmela, who won VEX in 2006)
39.     See Toy Story 3 when it comes out.
40.     Go to a Sports Bar as the World Cup happens.
41.     Stand on the Bow of the ship and experience a Sunrise (can only occur when going towards Europe!). (Joys of sailing into Turkey especially!!!)
42.     Sit on the Aft of the ship and experience a legitimate sunset (Again, can only happen when going towards Europe) (Joys of Sailing out of Turkey especially/chilling on the Aft)
43.     Legally Buy Recovery by Eminem. That shit’s gonna Be Hot (Turns out it is album of the year good!!!)

Turns out that the last 23 items or so would be decided on the ship. As such, here is the continuation of the list, as determined by lists of things that happened while on the voyage.

44.     Be on the Sea that wins the Sea Olympics (Caribbean Sea: Yah Man)
45.     Meet People I will know for life forever.
46.     Didn’t Get Crabs (inside joke)
47.     Didn’t Lose my Passport at all (big issue if it did happen)…
48.     or get Robbed
49.     Hookah for 4 days straight in Turkey for 3 hours a day
50.     Olympia – Mafia
51.     SPOONS!!!
52.     Host the Auction with Tom
53.     Be a part of the shipboard drive that made the most money any shipboard drive ever made… by $10,000!
54.     Get full use of the Internet on the voyage.
55.     Spend less than 5 hours total on the internet or computer for the entire 2 months.
56.     Bite Size Strong Island and Female Sid-Cros
57.     Litty. True fact.
58.     Somehow meet a Dude I met 9 months before that I randomly gave directions to while going home, and spending the next two months with said dude
59.      Sex and Gender in the Theater = best class ever
60.     Public Performance = other bestest ever
61.      Rode a Horse by myself
62.     Gay clubs and Gay Pride
63.     Straight clubs and alcohol fun times
64.     Taking an hour by myself in each port to appreciate the country we were in
65.      Taking a Cab alone in Cairo
66.      Taking the Barcelona Metro alone.
67.      Public Transportation in every port/country
68.      Finding out how the world is truly connected via globalization,
69.      and how the world imitates each other through graffiti
70.      Remember everything that I did
71.     Appreciate the last two months for what it was, and lastly
72.     Use the last two months to change my life.


That’s all that I have. it’s been a fun two months, and the best two months of my life. Tomorrow, I’m back in the states. Sunday, I’m home. The time for us has passed, but the new and next chapter begins soon enough.

Debaters, your topics are already ready. Congress kids, get your shit together.

SFC Peeps, update angel. You’re slacking majorly there.

Family peeps, you rock.
Friends, I’ll be functioning in about Tuesday or so.

Until then, Bon Voyage.

Second to Last Post

Hello world. and by world, Juliet.

 

this will be my second to last post. this is the part wehre i say thanks. thank you to all of you who read what i wrote, and thank you to those who cared about me when i wasn't there.

 

and thanks to you all who took this journey with me. to quote scrubs, i don't know if i can ever show how much i appreciate you for all of that. i know i will never stop loving you for that.

 

 

anyways, i wrote a buried list for this trip, that will be posted soon. i'll also post it on facebook when i get home. just know that my buried list for life is going to be amended and updated for the time being, and that life's going to be different when we get back.

 

 

love you all. see you in a few days...

 

jeff

RAIN!!!

There was a shower for the first time today since the voyage began.

 

That's right, today was the first inkling of rain in the last 35 days!!!

 

Welcome to Turkey.