Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Hello, my name is Rachel Soudakoff.
I know I don't usually make vlogs, but
I feel compelled to make one this time.
I'm sure most of you have noticed that I've been
in New Zealand. What am I doing? Traveling?
Well, yes, now I am. But, not originally.
I originally came here to Study Abroad,
I studied under SEA Semester, Sea Education Association.
SEA Semester is a 12-week 17 unit program,
based in Woods Hole, Massachusetts (in Cape Cod).
I went there on January 4th and spent six weeks in a
in a classroom with my fellow 21 shipmates.
We took a total of five classes - about various topics,
Maritime History & Culture, Oceanography, Climate Change,
and the New Zealand indigenous population, Maori,
their culture and how European colonization destroyed
their traditions and their land as well.
I studied all that for six weeks, and then after that,
all of us flew to New Zealand and met in Auckland,
the largest city in New Zealand, located in the North Island.
We arrived, met our home for the next six weeks,
a ship named SSV Robert C. Seamans,
a gorgeous 134 foot brigantine.
When I first saw it, I was overwhelmed,
I had never been on a such a big sailboat, and
and most of the others hadn't either.
We literally learned the ropes, what they're for, and how to use them.
We also learned about safety equipment, and what our schedules would be like.
After three days, we were off to the Bay of Islands, in a
a city named Russell. It took us around three days of sailing.
After we finally arrived, we were feeling good, but
but we had to prepare for a long 12-day voyage
to the capital of New Zealand, Wellington.
We sailed all the way there, and after we arrived,
we were land-sick, and most of us weren't used to it,
especially after 12 days without a sight of land.
After that, we sailed south to Dunedin,
which is south of the South Island.
Here, the weather rapidly became cold, rainy, and windy.
The weather dramatically changed between the North and South Islands,
despite the fact that New Zealand is such a small country!
After Dunedin, we embarked on our final leg,
to Christchurch, where we concluded our six-week journey.
At the five ports I visited, I went to museums,
I met local people, I visited a marae, which is a
Maori sacred community center, and because we were invited, we were permitted inside.
We visited science institutions, went to marine reserves,
and got to meet some penguins, albatross, and various marine life.
We also gave a presentation on our individual projects
at a science institution in Wellington.
Altogether, these composed of around 15% of my journey.
The other 85%? At sea!
What did I do at sea? Sit back, relax, and motor sail?
No! We sailed!
The ship is divided into two components, with
three "watch" groups - A, B, and C.
Each watch group is on duty for six hours, and then
we're on break for 12 hours, and then back on for six, and so on.
During our 12 hours off, we sleep, eat,
shower, do homework, and any other personal stuff.
During on watch, for six hours, we're responsible for
running two important things on our ship -
on-deck operations, and the lab, which is a pivotal
part of our program - making it academic.
We didn't sail for fun! I wish.
So, each watch group has around 8 people, split
into two groups of four.
On deck, we drive the ship, maintain lookout,
navigate, and do constant hourly weather checks.
In the lab, we also do constant hourly checks, but
instead of the weather, we keep track of the water,
We keep track of salinity, Chl-A, currents,
and other various properties of the ocean water.
We have a constant flow-through system that flows
water through our ship but there's so much data!
So we do hourly checks, and we record the number that we see at that moment,
and then we can calculate average numbers.
In the lab, we also conduct net tows,
we have different sizes, but the most common one
is the Neuston -which is the layer where air meets water.
There, there is a high productivity due to the high
concentration of sunlight.
So, we tow the Neuston net for 30 minutes, and
after that, we dump it through a filter, and after a rinse,
we can see what's in there. We measure biovolume,
and various other things.
We also have a CTD - Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth,
there are 12 Niskin bottles around a carousel, and
each of them are programmed to close at different pressure levels.
When we send it down, on its way back, when the bottle
senses its own programmed pressure level, it will close.
As a result, when we retrieve the CTD, each bottle will
contain water from different depths of the ocean.
We use it to measure various things, but usually,
Cha-A, nutrients, pH level, and alkalinity.
Thats about it for the lab. So, everything I just told you
is constant - it's happening 24/7. Someone is always
awake on the ship.
It was really such a good experience.
Honestly, I've been to leadership camps, summer camps,
but they're all incomparable to this experience.
You know, at most of them, you'll be asked "What if that happens?",
or be presented with a simulated "crisis" and be asked how you'd handle it.
On the ship, everything is a reality. If the weather changes, what are you going to do?
Safety is at a risk. Everything is dynamic. Everything is real.
Every thing you do is a learning experience.
There's "no room for error," a minor one could be okay, but
anything major could be life-threatening.
Everyone is always vigilant, always on watch.
Every thing is always real.
Another thing that was a good experience -
I was the only Deaf person - I'm the first Deaf student
to be admitted into SEA Semester.
It was a good experience, a positive one.
Most of them learned ASL, and how to communicate with me.
They learned more about Deaf culture in general, and
I can say that every person who left the ship,
went home and thought, "Deaf can."
They will never see a Deaf person and pity them.
They know that Deaf people are capable.
I mean, I sailed with them for 6 weeks plus spent 6 in Massachusetts.
They learned ASL and have a positive outlook on Deaf people.
So, being the only Deaf person onboard, was I oppressed?
Not really. Most of the time, they were welcoming and open.
I wish I wasn't the first one. But, just because I'm the first
it doesn't mean I should be the last too.
I see a bright future for more Deaf students joining SEA Semester
now that I've tore down barriers,
and established interpreting services.
So, I had such a great experience that I want other
Deaf people to experience it too
and especially I want hearing people to be constantly
exposed to Deaf people who are intelligent and capable
of doing unique things. I don't mean, you know,
most of the time, when people study abroad, they go
to a new country, but they're still at university,
still in a classroom.
I was in a completely new environment, on a boat,
I had a classroom on a boat - not really - we just
went out on deck and had class even if water is spraying all over us
- lectures go on, no matter the weather.
It was really.... an amazing experience.
I want to encourage other Deaf students who
are up for a challenge and want something new,
and most of all, who want to inspire others (like me),
to apply for SEA Semester.
If anyone has any questions, or is curious about any
in-depth information, I'd be glad to answer any questions.
Really, it was a great experience for me. I loved it.
I'm happy I did it. I have no regrets.
Before I conclude this video, I want to
express gratitude to those who've supported me all the way,
people who helped me with my application, people
who helped me through the program - being the only Deaf person,
it was hard in the beginning. Thank you for your support.
And, of course, a big thank you to my mother,
without you, I wouldn't have been able to do this.
Thank you for watching.