Sailing Through Cultures: My Journey as an Interport Student on Semester at Sea

By: Sonia Karthikeyan, GMD Intern & Interport Student – Semester at Sea Voyage 134, Authentic to the Core!

In 2024, I was selected to represent India as an Interport Student on Semester at Sea’s Voyage 134. (Nov 5–15, 2024)

How I Became an Interport Student

I was selected through the Rotary Club of Madras East, which interviewed over 300 applicants for the Inter Port Student program – and I had applied twice prior to this, and finally got selected in 2024. Along with one other student, I was chosen to represent India aboard Semester at Sea. We were flown to Mauritius to board the ship and stay onboard until it reached Kerala. Our role wasn’t just symbolic — as Interport Students, we were expected to contribute meaningfully to academic and cultural life on the ship, especially by helping others understand India before they arrived.

This was my first fully sponsored international trip, and I stepped onboard not just as a student, but as a storyteller. As someone who grew up in Chennai, being exposed to many forms of Indian culture and trained in art forms like Bharatnatyam and Carnatic Vocals, having big aspirations for my city, and being part of Rotary from when I was 10 years old— this was a big, bright moment in my life. And it wasn’t just about showing others who I was — it was about learning how they saw me too.

I joined the ship for the Mauritius-to-Kerala leg, and while it was just about ten days, it definitely didn’t feel like enough time to take in everything the experience had to offer.

A big part of my role was joining ongoing university classes — not just to observe, but to contribute my perspective as someone from India. I brought my stories, experiences, and questions into their classroom conversations, and in return, I learned a lot about how others view my culture too.

Onboard the MV World Odyssey – Semester at Sea, Voyage 134

My Class Visits (and What I Did There)

One of the most exciting (and exhausting!) parts of being an Interport Student was attending so many class visits. These weren’t just lectures — they were full-semester courses, and I was stepping into them mid-journey. I didn’t have to act like I knew it all. I just had to be myself — and bring my part of the world into the room.

In Intercultural Communication, I spoke about caste — how it shows up today, the subtle ways it affects people, and how we’re still unlearning it. We also talked about arranged marriages, love marriages, and the tension between personal choice and family culture. Religious conversions came up too. It wasn’t always easy to talk about, but everyone was open, curious, and respectful.
Culinary Tourism was all about food, of course! I got to dive into Indian food culture — not just what we eat, but why we eat it the way we do. Family meals, temple offerings, spice myths, eating with our hands — it became a sensory tour through stories.
In Social and Sustainable Business, I opened up about my dream of building shelters for women and children. Talking about my personal mission in an academic space — and being taken seriously for it — was honestly very empowering.
World Music was one of the most magical classes. I’ve been trained in both Carnatic and Western classical vocals, so I explained how ragas and talas work, and then sang a South Indian piece followed by something in Western classical style. Music opened a door words couldn’t — and I saw eyes light up with curiosity.
Global Studies was wild in the best way. We talked about everything from crossing Indian roads to bathroom practices, assertiveness with street vendors, and the tough question — how do you say no to beggars?
Later, in Prof. Sumanth Reddy’s Applied Social Change class, we explored it more deeply. He helped me think through the systems behind poverty and the difference between guilt and compassion. That stuck with me.
In Hospitality Industry, I got to describe how hospitality in India is more than a service — it’s a value. “Atithi Devo Bhava” — the guest is god. Whether in a five-star hotel or a village home, we show love through food and care.
The Life Long Learner Seminar was special. I spoke with older adults who were part of the voyage — retirees, educators, explorers. Their questions came from a place of genuine curiosity. It felt less like a seminar and more like a conversation over tea with wise strangers who wanted to understand India deeply.
A highlight was attending a guest session in Global Studies by Dr. Anu Taranath, a powerful Indian-American educator. She spoke about the concept of “AND” — how we can feel two things at once: pride and pain, privilege and discomfort. I asked her about race — how we use words like “Black” or “White” in the West, which is not how we speak in India. She listened so openly. It gave me a safe space to ask without fear of judgment.

And well, I have to admit, I missed Comparative Economics. I didn’t mean to. I was just having lunch with a new friend — and completely lost track of time. And that’s a given, having such a jam-packed schedule!

Representing India as an Interport Student. Conversations That Stay With You

Outside the classroom, the ship itself was a school. At dinner. On the deck. In quiet moments between sessions. People would come up and ask about India — real questions, funny questions, hard questions. One student asked, “So, parents decide you marry?” Another asked about caste. Some were nervous to offend. Others were just curious.

Instead of correcting them, I chose to connect with them.

And I’ll admit — it was a lot. Emotionally. Mentally. Spiritually. But also… beautiful. I started to see how storytelling is activism. And how representation is more than just showing up — it’s how you show up.

From the Sea to GMD

Coming back to my internship at Global Mindset Development, I now understand even better why our work matters. Whether it’s through training programs, outreach strategies, or European or international projects, GMD is doing what I was doing on that ship: creating spaces where cultures meet, grow, and challenge each other — with kindness.