Seven teachers and students from the first batch of China Ocean University's Global University Special Study Program Study abroad, is one of the most traditional educational methods in the civilizations of countries and ethnic groups around the world. Laozi traveled westward, leaving the "Tao Te Ching" at the Han Guan Pass before disappearing into the desert; Confucius traveled with his disciples around various states for a total of 14 years. Our predecessors used their journeys to leave behind the truth for future generations: "Read ten thousand books, travel ten thousand miles."
In the modern sense of education, study abroad is an international cross-cultural experiential education model. It is neither pure tourism nor purely academic learning; it lies between traveling and studying while blending both elements. The gains from study abroad are not merely practical knowledge of natural landscapes, historical sites, or social appearances but more importantly, life experiences, cultural exchanges, and personal spiritual growth.
The seven teachers and students who participated in the first batch of China Ocean University’s Global University Special Study Program had unique gains during their 106-day global sailing study tour, encountering glaciers, deserts, canyons, foreign topics, and insights on life...
At 22:40 on November 2nd, the seven teachers and students from the first batch of China Ocean University's Global University Special Study Program completed their study abroad and returned home successfully.
On July 19th, they boarded Japan's "Peace" cruise ship, setting sail from Yokohama, passing through Vietnam, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Spain, France, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Finland, Norway, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Panama, Guatemala, Mexico, crossing the Pacific Ocean to return to Yokohama, completing a 360° circumnavigation of the Earth, successfully finishing their global voyage study.
"Study abroad, what a heart-stirring form. I believe this global learning journey is a seed full of vitality, carrying the educational philosophy of China Ocean University and the hope of Chinese higher education, spreading along the path our students walk," said team leader Teacher Ouyang Xia.
It is understood that Global University is an international research institution established on PEACE BOAT, also known as the "Peace Boat," which was founded in 1983 as a non-governmental organization spreading peace, environmental protection, and green volunteer spirit worldwide. It is also a global, world-class university. To spread Chinese culture, represent the country in conveying messages of peace to the world, spread and practice green and environmental concepts, and cultivate marine leadership talents with an international perspective and outstanding innovative talents, China Ocean University has set up the "China Ocean University Zangzi Island Fishery Group Global University Special Study Program."
Seeing a glacial cirque for the first time
"What is gained from books remains shallow; to truly understand something requires personal experience." This saying suggests that knowledge acquired from books is relatively superficial; only through firsthand observation and personal practice can it become one's own understanding. For Pan Guofeng, he deeply experienced the profound meaning of this statement.
"The ship docked late at night, and when I arrived at the deck in the morning, Istanbul was already bathed in soft morning light... The car drove along the coastal road of the Golden Horn, with the ancient Byzantine walls extending for kilometers on the right..."
On this day, Pan Guofeng finally saw Istanbul. He first learned about this city in a reading passage about the "Olympic host city election campaign." "Ten years later, this summer, I am fortunate enough to come to Istanbul, personally seeing its beauty and experiencing its charming atmosphere. Seeing it with my own eyes made me love this city even more." For him, studying earth information science and technology, his luck extended beyond these experiences. He mentioned that when the ship reached Norway, he witnessed glacial valleys and cirques left by glaciers. On the Norwegian sea, he saw oil rigs spewing fire. "I previously only knew that Norway's offshore oil industry was highly developed, but now I have seen it with my own eyes. In the future, if there's an opportunity, I must learn their oil exploration techniques and offshore drilling platform technologies." "We struggled to climb Mont Saint-Michel in France, looking up at the church that took eight centuries to complete, seeking history on the cliffs; we crossed deserts and canyons under the scorching sun, experiencing the grandeur of Petra..." Teacher Ouyang Xia said that in such a journey, we continuously learned, uncovering the beauty and mystery of nature, comprehending truths that cannot be fully explored in the world. This method of learning is completely different from sitting in a classroom, reading textbooks, or listening to teacher lectures about tourist attractions. For the students, it was fresh, deeply memorable, and long-lasting.
Travel also allowed this group of young scholars to gain personal spiritual growth. "In the past, I had the habit of walking with my head down, but now I enjoy walking gracefully and confidently, with no inferiority or arrogance. I've also developed the habit of looking up at the sky. When my gaze meets that of unfamiliar classmates, I instinctively want to smile and nod. In the past, I almost never read newspapers or browsed news online, but now I not only read political news but also intentionally include international media voices in pursuit of truth, starting from the truth." Gao Qing said that in solid travel, she surpassed herself. And this was a spiritual harvest unimaginable in a classroom.
"Thought collision in the 'sea classroom'"
During the days adrift on the vast ocean, there were not only waves following day and night but also the moving 'sea classroom' accompanying the waves.
"The sea classroom, in the form of specialized courses and discussion classes, allows everyone to further digest and compare their observations, feelings, and experiences during the journey through lively intellectual collisions. It makes us think about problems and see the world more meticulously and comprehensively, deeper and more tolerant. Such a teaching method is very attractive." In Hu Jingyi's eyes, the "sea classroom" was exactly the kind of classroom she had long dreamed of.
"September 27, 2011, 9:21 AM (local time), theme: assignment discussion," was an ordinary sea classroom session. Team members were sharing their opinions on Cao Shijia's article about Sweden's welfare system.
Guo Xiaolan: From the details she wrote, you can tell how careful she was. But towards the end, there's a sentence whose logic seems strange to me, specifically regarding the welfare section. Is there a sentence written incorrectly?
Hu Jingyi: This is also where I found it somewhat inappropriate. If all the alienation phenomena in society are attributed solely to high welfare, it seems too subjective.
Ouyang Xia: If conclusions are drawn solely based on what the guide says, then reaching such a significant conclusion like "high welfare leads to cold family ties" would be too hasty. High welfare allows people to live more safely and comfortably, but the social problems brought by high welfare do exist. The cradle-to-grave welfare security system fosters people's laziness and diminishes external vitality. However, this is a major research topic, and its causes cannot be easily concluded. If anyone is interested in this issue, they can continue to study it.
Cao Shijia: If I write it dialectically, it might be better, right?
Ouyang Xia: High welfare is a socio-economic model. Sweden's comprehensive social welfare policy promoted the overall development of the economy and unprecedented social stability. However, egalitarianism often leads to fundamental unfairness. This requires a comprehensive understanding of Nordic history and socio-economic systems. High welfare policies reflect Sweden's pursuit of social equity, freedom, and happiness, but this idealistic pursuit has caused Sweden bitter fruits. Without such a pursuit, Sweden, Northern Europe, and even the entire Western world would face deeper pain. I hope students interested in this issue will continue to study it.
Pan Guofeng: I think this article is good. Without those fancy words, and with very real storytelling, it is easy to accept.
"Guiding students to discuss peace, environmental protection, life, faith, etc., in the sea classroom..." Ouyang Xia said that she precisely used this special classroom to help these growing youths realize their recognition of truth and life, achieving personal growth.
An unforgettable life lesson
"Unforgettable was the extreme discomfort of seasickness amidst the surging waves." Over 106 days and over 50,000 kilometers, for these post-90s young people, seasickness, illness, the loneliness of drifting, and the hardships of bouncing were experiences they had never encountered before. Such a distant and long journey itself was an unforgettable life lesson.
Large red bumps on Guo Xiaolan's hands still itch. At sea, her hands and feet were bitten by many large rashes, extremely itchy, waking her up several times every night. However, she still had to attend class early in the morning because she was the Chinese assistant teacher on the ship.
Diet was also an issue. Most passengers on the cruise ship were Japanese, preferring bland food. The chef was Indonesian, favoring large portions entirely unlike the refined Chinese diet. The preference for creamy and tomato sauce-laden Western cuisine also made them feel uncomfortable. "Sometimes, eating a little in the morning, I couldn't eat lunch or dinner. There was no other food on the ship, so we had to buy instant noodles and bread on shore." Recalling these moments, everyone felt a bit nostalgic.
Sailing is romantic but also brings unforeseen dangers. Cao Shijia recounted an unforgettable moment: flying from the port of Guatemala to Florence Island required a small plane limited to 19 passengers. With many clouds in the sky, at one point, the turbulent plane suddenly went into free fall. She couldn't help but scream, feeling death was so near. However, the hardships of the journey could not stop the joy inside. Everyone helped each other, overcoming those difficulties together. "In this long and complex voyage, we went from being strangers to becoming a united and mutually supportive big family. We overcame many difficulties, surpassing ourselves physically and mentally, learning how to help others and get along harmoniously. For us, this is the best life lesson," Sun Letian said.