The PandemoniumThe Pandemonium

Jade’s Educational Experiences Abroad

2004-2005

Where Did I Go?

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• Aruba• Panama Canal• Costa Rica (x3)• Mexico• Alaska• Puerto Rico• St Thomas• St. Maarten• Funchal,

Maderia• Lisbon, Portugal• Le Harve,

France• Dover, England• Stockholm,

Sweden• West Coast,

USA

•St. Petersbourg, Russia•Copenhagen, Denmark•Helsinki, Finland• Gydansk, Poland•Riga, Latvia•Kalpieda, Lithuania•Germany•Ireland•Northern Ireland•Norwegian Fijords•Scotland• St. George, Barbados

A lot of places:

How did I do it…

Work, school, and always a bit of play.

The 2 Cruise ships I worked on side-by-side in St. Thomas, Summit and Constellation, Celebrity Cruises

Class work in Costa Rica

Play?? Chilling with 4/5 housemates in Cost Rica >>

Costa Rica“Living la Pura Vida”

• Sept. Dec 2004• Classes at University of

Costa Rica, in San Jose, CR

• All classes in English, plus Spanish Language classes.

• Homestay

World Class Adventures in Education: Tropical Ecology Field School

The Program Experiences

Negatives:• Not very strict with

course work• Sometimes unorganized • San Jose• Spanish Language

Learning• Cost• Homestay

Positives:• Lots of FIELD TRIPS!!• Integration with Tico

Students (small program)• Exposure to Masters’

students projects– generates ideas, and

field experience• Visit many places unable

to visit on your own as a tourist

• Profs. Experts in field (with privileges :)

• Homestay

Cultural & Personal Experience

• Tico Time …• Eye contact• Rice +++• Rainy Season• Pollution, Basura• Security• Music, dancing, and Futbol!• Aid

– Taiwan Bridge– Rice and tied aid

Just Cruising’…

• Celebrity Cruises, of Royal Caribbean• Ships: GTS Summit (2004), GTS Constellation (2005)• 91,000 tons, 964.6 feet long, 105.6 feet wide• 11 decks (there are more…)• Made in France (2003)• Guest Capacity -2000• Crew population - 1000

– very international• Officers: Greek!• Total of 9 months

onboard

Ecologically?

• Completely Unsustainable!• Entire attraction to industry is

based on large consumption habits• But, making improvements: public

pressure and economic reasons, “Above and Beyond”

• Cash incentives for more environmentally, cost-saving and safety practices for the company

• Lots of recycling (self-contained system)

• No dumping (Save our Seas)• But… do feed the fishes, and grey

water (although treated), different for Caribbean & Alaska

• Surprisingly Cruise ships actually have higher environmental standards than of similar caliber hotels on land

Consumptive Habits of Cruises:• 24, 236 pounds of beef• 2,100 pounds of lobster•600 gallons of ice cream•20,003 pounds of fruit•13, 156 pounds of fish•3, 800 pounds of rice•5,750 pounds of sugar•3,400 bottle of assorted wines•290 bottle of vodka•10,100 bottle/cans of beerBased on a 7-day cruise

Food very important, unfortunately most from USA, although while in Europe 40% (produce) came from Europe, and there are some organic options available for guests.

Socially & Economically

• Culture Shock!• Small, close-knitted community• Isolated world- but very

International– People from Nepal -Israel, Bali -

Botswana– Over 50 nations on board!

• Hierarchical, based on position• Recognizes diversity

– Get to celebrate every national holiday!

In My Restaurant: • 1 Poland• 1 Lithuanian• 4 Bulgarians• 3 Romanians• 1 Germans• 2 Portuguese•1 South African•1 Honduran• 1 Peruvian• 3 Turks• 1 Pilipino• 1 Indonesian•1 Indian•1 Brazilian• 1 Canadian

Continued… Why do people work on Cruise Ships?• Money (usually to support family)

• Work Experience - for better opportunities when they return home• Escape from Home (family, politics, corruption, etc.)*• To dodge Army drafts (i.e.. Turkey)• Improve English skills• To get into USA, immigration (marriage, bribery and

legal methods…)• To escape the Mafia!

Other Benefits & Spinoffs:• allows for travel opportunity (i.e.. Poles, South Africans, Columbians - is normally very hard for other nations)•Increase global and cultural understanding•Build international trust and relationships• Health care, ethical treatment and more… (although hard work - so much better than at home)*• Benefits the Ports economies •Assists during disasters - donates to local causes, such as Hurricanes, etc.• They enjoy it!

General Advantages/Disadvantages of Ship Life!Advantages• TRAVEL (so many different areas of

the world, - Caribbean, North America, Nordic Countries, Previous USSR, etc.)!

• Musical Performance• Salary• Corporate/Professional Experience

– Networking opportunities• People Skills

– Communication– Multicultural setting– confidence

• My Restaurant• Good wines, good food :)• Lifestyle• Parties!!• Relationships• Guests

Disadvantages• Only a taste/sampling of places• Travel on ships schedule• Sometimes clique• Can become jaded with places • A lot of places are tourist traps• No privacy, space• Away form “real”/land life

– Difficult to maintain regular contact with home.

• No concept of day/time• Good wine/food• Too much alcohol• Relationships• Guests

The end

• You are always in charge of your own experience

• Enjoy every moment (no matter how horrible at the time)… its all a learning experience

• Pursue your interests while aboard

• Perspective• Seize opportunities