It is now mid-September 2009 and we have been back from the trip for 4 and half months so it is time to wind up this story with some final thoughts. I have delayed writing this piece in order to get a little perspective and distance from the many experiences, sights, sounds and tastes which one carries away from such a trip.
First and foremost, for both Brigitte and me was the joy of being able to travel around the world with our grandson, Emmett. Many times on this trip we realized what a great and unique opportunity we were having of being able to show a 14 year old parts of the world which we already knew. What made it even more fun was the enthousiasm that Emmett showed for discovering new places. Here was no laid back traveller but rather someone who was like a sponge absorbing new places and faces and having a wonderful time doing it. After each of the first 8 or 10 countries his conclusion was that the last country was his most favorite... When you have someone so interested in new things, it adds a real fun dimension to the journey. I am sure that all of these experiences will stay in Emmett's memory but will fade with time. But the overall experience will stay with him and will have a deep effect on how he sees the world. Having been around the world, seen many different countries, seen poverty, seen cultures and met people from different countries has made him aware of the beauty, of the ugliness and of the variety of this world. If that is one of the results of the travel, not only has it been fun but I has allowed Brigitte and me to have given Emmett a tool to better understand this world we live in. Thanks, Emmett for giving us the privilege of seeing the world with and through you. I can only wish every parent and grandparent would get the chance to do something like this at least once in their lives.
As I look back on the second trip with Semester at Sea I see that each voyage is very different from previous ones. Yes the outlines are the same with students, professors, adults and a gaggle of children, but the content is very varied. This voyage attempted to be more focussed on Sciences than past voyages. This voyage had a definite theme with Migration as the leitmotif. This voyage was run by a dean who is a scientist but not the best manager. The prof who ran the daily Global Studies was really not the crowd inspiror we had on the first trip. The profs this time included quite a few who really were not very good at inspiring their students. The places we visited were the same but with 4 or 5 days in each port, there are always new things to see and do. In summary, I would do an other trip in a few years on Semester at Sea and I would recommend anyone with an interest in seeing the world to take a voyage. It is by far the most interesting way to travel and the most comfortable way to see the world. Invest some of your money and some of your time and the return will surprise you. I have met no one who has taken this voyage who has not thouroughly enjoyed themself and who has lived to be thankful for the opportunity.
I intend to pull together the various chapters of this blog and create an illustrated book which will serve as our souvenir of this great trip.
Cheers and I wish you all happy traveling.
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