Devon Prep Alumnus Travels “Around the World in 100 Days”

May 22, 2011 - PRLog -- It may not be exactly like the Jules Verne book, but Devon Prep Class of 2008 Alumnus Wade Wisler, of Phoenixville, PA, could easily write his own exciting version of "Around the World in 100 Days." The University of Scranton junior spent a semester traveling to such places as Dominica, Manaus (1000 miles up the Amazon) Brazil, Ghana, South Africa, India, Singapore, Vietnam, China, and Taiwan, having adventures along the way.

Wisler participated in "Semester at Sea," (http://www.semesteratsea.org/), a shipboard program for study abroad sponsored by the University of Virginia and operated by the nonprofit Institute for Shipboard Education. "Semester at Sea's" worldwide itineraries offer coursework with field assignments and service learning in 8-12 international destinations.

According to Wisler, the ship served as a floating college campus with dorm rooms, dining halls, a gym, library and classrooms.  Over 600 students representing 200 colleges and universities from around the world spent more than three months living and learning together.  In addition, they shared the space with faculty and staff as well as about 100 Life-long Learners, retired adults who ‘come along for the ride.’ The close quarters made for equally close relationships.

“The relationships formed with your faculty and life-long learners are only trumped by the friendships you form with your classmates,” Wisler explained. “You make some incredible friends in the short 100 days you are with them.  And all this happened while sailing around the world.”

The ship left from Nassau, Bahamas in January and returned to San Diego at the end of April. It stopped for about five days in each port.  During their time on land, there were no classes and students were free to travel on their own.  

Taking full advantage of his travel time Wisler explored as many destinations as possible. He hiked to Trafalgar Falls, the largest waterfall in the Caribbean. He backpacked for three days in the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, which represents over half of the earth’s remaining rainforests. He spent two days exploring Busua in Ghana.  Then he volunteered for a few days with the nonprofit organization "Freedom in Creation" working on a collaborative art piece at schools in Accra and Takoradi. He rode a motorcycle to the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Town, The Winelands, and other towns in South Africa where he also hiked up Table Mountain and Lions Head Mountain. He rode overnight trains and buses to the towns of Bangalore, Pondicherry, and Mamallipuram in India. In Vietnam he visited the Chu Chi tunnels, the beaches of Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City. And in China he hiked and slept on the Great Wall.

As an International Business major with a Spanish minor, Wisler knows the importance of global experiences. This journey gave him just that – a wealth of unique and fascinating experiences, in places drastically different from his home, and with people as diverse as he could ever imagine.

“The world is a huge place. When you’re at sea for fourteen days you gain a better understanding about just how large the world is,” he said.  “After travelling around the world and seeing eleven new countries it becomes clear that there is no single right way of living. Everyone is different and depending on where you were born and when you were born your idea of what is luxury, poverty, and normal will change.”

Contrary to what is often reported in the media, Wisler discovered that people are inherently good.  “So often we are told about the abduction of travelers or other horror stories of traveling, but trusting locals is one of the best things I did on the trip,” he declared. “They aren’t out to hurt you or rip you off. A lot of times the locals just want to learn more about you.”

He credits his seven years (6th through 12th grade) at Devon Prep in preparing him for this adventure. “Devon of course has played a role in not just this experience but in almost everything I do,” he said. “Devon has taught me to approach everything and anything I want to do with a mindset that tells me I can do it.  Devon prepares you to meet anyone and fit in anywhere with the ability to adapt and create connections.”

Because of the life skills he learned from his Devon Prep teachers, Wade explained that he felt confident leaving the ship with little more than his wallet and passport and spending weeks travelling around foreign countries. “While the field trips and exchange programs at Devon helped, it was the one on one interaction with the faculty and staff that helped the most in adapting to new places. I know that I can live anywhere in the world. I'm not scared of walking into a room full of strangers.”

In the fall, Wisler plans to return to the University of Scranton as a senior to continue his formal education. However, he knows the education he received during his 100 days around the world will be difficult to top.  “It doesn’t compare. This type of education was above and beyond anything I have been offered at the University,” he acknowledged. “The faculty was some of the most interesting people I have met. They were founders of countries, editors of popular magazines, former Peace Corps volunteers, presidents of nonprofits, and so on.”

“The way you learn is even more incredible,” Wisler continued. “You learn about a country and its problems, history, and politics then you are dropped off and have a week to see it all for yourself. No college education can compare to the one I received the past few months.”

Finally, Wisler enthusiastically encourages college students to consider similar programs. “Study abroad! Study abroad for as long as you can,” he said. “Signing up to leave family and friends for months isn’t easy. The first few days of the trip I was worried I made the wrong choice,” he admitted. “However, we can all adapt to our surroundings and make the changes necessary to live wherever we are. Change is difficult but necessary if you want to make the most incredible memories of your life.”

Devon Prep is a private Catholic college preparatory school for young men in grades six through 12 conducted by the Piarist Fathers. Nearly 300 students are enrolled in Devon Prep which is located on North Valley Forge Road in Devon, Chester County. For more information call 610-688-7337 or visit www.devonprep.com or www.facebook.com/devonprep.