Student survives oceans storms

Sophomore Nicole Snyder, who is spending her spring semester at sea through the University of Pittsburgh program, never imagined she would experience raging storms and massive waves during her trip, nor a shipwreck that could potentially ruin her voyage.

"As for experiencing a near shipwreck, I knew it was possible but did not really care," Snyder said.
Snyder’s ship, the MV Explorer, which left the United States in mid-January, was headed toward Korea and Japan when the ship got caught between two storms in the Pacific Ocean. Snyder said that waves over 55 feet tall were hitting the ship along with 116 mph winds.

More storms in the Pacific pushed the MV Explorer toward Hawaii, and it successfully arrived there on Jan. 31. No casualties were reported; however, there were some injuries.

The ship itself was not as fortunate. Snyder said the damage included a large amount of shattered glass, uprooted furniture and electronics, and a destroyed library. According to Snyder, damage and repairs were assessed while the passengers were in Hawaii.

As for the MV Explorer and its passengers, they were flown to Shanghai while the ship was being repaired, and soon after the MV Explorer sailed to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The voyage is now back on track, and since the incident, the passengers have traveled to Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, India and will be arriving in Kenya today.

Snyder said the idea of traveling to many countries for college credit is what made the semester at sea idea appealing. The incident that occurred with the MV Explorer also has not changed her mind about choosing to participate in this voyage.

"Not only am I still glad that I went on ‘Semester at Sea,’ I feel incredibly lucky to have been on this particular voyage. It’s been like a buy-one-get-10-free adventure," Snyder said.

"Semester at Sea," which has been at the University of Pittsburgh since 1981, was originally called "The University of the Seven Seas" and founded in California in 1963. Paul Watson, the director of enrollment management of "Semester at Sea," said the program allows up to 650 students, 25 faculty and more than 250 schools have been represented. One trip is taken per semester, which includes trips for 100 days during the fall and spring, and a 65-day regional trip during the summer.

Watson said the program focuses on global issues, but many undergraduate majors are represented by the students. "It’s a way of adding a global dimension to any undergraduate major," Watson said.

JMU does not yet have a semester at sea program, but Felix Wang, the director of study abroad, said in the future the university could consider it. "If the demand is large enough, we would definitely consider it," Wang said.