Hi, my name is Melanie Fischer and I am a junior marine biology major studying abroad through Semester at Sea. I chose Semester at Sea because it gave me the best chance to travel and see the most differing cultures in the span of a semester. The unique learning experience and onboard community also drew me in. As for goals I set for my time abroad, I want to experience and see the most of the various countries we are going to visit and I made a plan for what I want to see/do in each country. I also want to meet new people and make new friends with my fellow voyagers. For research ahead of time, I looked into what places I wanted to visit, festivals I wanted to see, foods to try, and experiences worth doing. On board, we have a required Global Studies class that educates us on each port before we visit as well.