Makin' My Dreams Come True.... With Semester at Sea!!!

Karine Werdmolder Start Date: Aug 19, 2016 - End Date: Dec 18, 2016
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Volunteer Trip
  • Hawaii, Australia
  • Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
  • Shanghai, China
  • Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
  • Rangoon, Yangon Region
  • Cochin, Kerala, British Indian Ocean Territory
  • Port Louis, Mauritius
  • Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
  • Tema, Greater Accra, Ghana
  • Casablanca, Grand Casablanca, Morocco
  • Hamburg, Germany

My Travel Story

by: Karine Werdmolder Start Date: Aug 19, 2016 - End Date: Dec 18, 2016
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Volunteer Trip
Dear Friends and Family,

April 26th is a day that still gives me butterflies when I think about it. I sat down that morning to open  my emails, when I saw an email from Semester at Sea with the subject: Congratulations Karine! Before even opening the email, a huge grin spread across my face. I knew what this meant, I had been accepted to the Spring 2017 Voyage of Semester at Sea onboard the MV World Odyssey. Semester at Sea is a 104 day journey where about 500 students from Universities all over the world, come together to live and take classes aboard the ship while sailing to 16 different cities in 12 countries and spending about a week in each country.

When I first learned about this program I knew immediately it was the perfect study abroad’ program for me. Anyone who knows me knows I have an immense love for traveling, pushing beyond my comfort zone, and helping others in any way I can. This 104 day journey can fulfill all of that and more. The program gives you the opportunity to learn about each country you visit and immerse in their culture during your time spent there. Each class has what is called a ‘field lab’ in each country which take you into the country to have an experience related to that particular class. These field labs can consist of anything from teaching at elementary schools in Ghana and playing soccer with local youth in Morocco, to cage diving with sharks in South Africa and exploring the untouched coral reefs in Japan.

My parents have agreed to pay two third the cost of my attendance during the voyage with Semester at Sea, however, I am accountable for coming up with the difference. In order to cover the costs of tuition as well as the ability to travel while abroad in the various countries, I worked a paid internship for the majority of Summer 2016, and have been working as a server at a restaurant while at school. I have also applied for scholarships, work studies and federal grants. However I have not quite reached the one third I need to cover the rest of the trip. For this reason, I would like to take this opportunity to ask anyone willing to help, to make an investment into my future and expanding worldview through means of a sponsorship. In return for any amount, no matter the size, I pledge to participate in at least 4 service opportunities in a variety of visited countries, as well as send out a blog post and photos from each country I visit, to anyone who would like to hear, and see, more about my experiences.

As you can see from my resume (attached), community service and the ability to help others, is a huge part of my life and something I love to do. The feelings I have gotten when helping children learn to read, building houses for underemployed families, and rescuing innocent animals from a lives of neglect and abuse, is unlike anything I could ever put into words. Currently, I am studying the area of family, youth and community sciences at the University of Florida to learn more about working with children and families and truly narrow down what it is I really want to do with my life after college. I believe this trip will be extremely eye opening and insightful and I will return to the states with a much clearer view of what I want for my future. I plan on using this opportunity with Semester at Sea to add to my experiences of serving others, and to do as much as I can to make a difference where it matters most.

I thank you all whole heartedly for your support in my dreams and future endeavors.

From the 14 countries I will be visiting,

Thank you, 感謝, 谢谢, cho tôi biết, ကျေးဇူးတင်ပါတယ်, धन्यवाद, mèsi, dankie, me da se, شكرا, danke

Karine Nicole Werdmölder


Resume:
EDUCATION
Hong Kong International School   August 2008 - June 2012
Episcopal School of Jacksonville   August 2012 - May 2014
University Of Amsterdam         December 2014 - March 2015
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL   May 2015 - Expected Graduation: May 2019
Bachelors of Science in Family, Youth and Community Sciences    

WORK EXPERIENCE
Sky Production All Voice Talent - October 2010 – May 2012
Recorded voice for Vtech and Pearson Longman First and Second Edition CD’s
Hong Kong Dog Rescue - August 2011 – June 2012
Assistant head of adoptions
Acrojax Summer Camp - May 2013 - August 2013
Coach
Magellan Transport Logistics - May 2015 - August 2015
Summer internship working in LTL, marketing, sales and distribution
Sweet Mels - March 2016 - Current
Server      
Magellan Transport Logistics - May 2016 - July 2016
Paid summer internship working in operations
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITES
Animal Safety and Protection Club - August 2010 – June 2012
President
Dance Marathon - April 2013
Volunteered and Participated for WHS DM and UF DM
Stood 26.2 hours to raise money for children with cancer
Hong Kong International School Student Government - August 2010- May 2012
Representative
Coordinated events, meetings and fundraisers including pep rally’s and rugby powder puff
Habitat For Humanity - August 2010- May 2012
Secretary
Volunteered at and participated in events that raised money to build homes for families
who can’t afford them
National Honors Society - 2012-2014
Member at the Episcopal School of Jacksonville
National Art Honors Society - 2012-2013
Member at the Episcopal School of Jacksonville
Organized Christmas celebration, Art Action and Senior Art Show
Varsity Cheerleading - 2012-2014
Cheered for Episcopal Football 
Pi Beta Phi - August 2015  - Current
Serving as a Pi Beta Phi delegate on University of Florida’s Panhellenic Council 
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Foshan Orphanage, Foshan China - November 2010
Spent a week at the orphanage working with babies and children ages four to sixteen with mental disabilities
Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand - October 2011
Worked with abused and neglected elephants to rehabilitate them and socialize them with humans and other elephants
Local Chinese School, Hong Kong - 2010-2011
Teacher, Group Leader
Led a class of 15 students
Taught English and played English learning games
Turtle Conservation Project, Zappotillal, Costa Rica - September 2014
Spent a week on site, tracking and measuring turtles and nests, and relocating eggs
Costa Rica Build - September 2014
Built 2 homes - Tasks included digging trenches for the pipes, mixing and laying cement,
sanding walls and laying bricks
Daniel Foundation - August 2012 – May 2013
Club President
Engaged in various activities with children saved from a life of abuse and neglect
Worked with individual children, building relationships to help them move on from their past
Hong Kong Animal Speak - August 2012 – May 2013
Head Volunteer
Helped find many dogs life long homes
Raised awareness for abused and neglected animals
Habitat For Humanity - May 2013
Built houses in Indonesia

SPECIAL SKILLS AND HOBBIES
- Proficient in Dutch since birth, also studied Dutch at the University of Amsterdam in 2015
- Studied 7 years of Mandarin while living in Hong Kong and in Jacksonville
- Competitive gymnast beginning at age 6
- Captain of the Varsity Softball team in 2011-2012 at Hong Kong International School
  • Hawaii, Australia
  • Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
  • Shanghai, China
  • Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
  • Rangoon, Yangon Region
  • Cochin, Kerala, British Indian Ocean Territory
  • Port Louis, Mauritius
  • Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
  • Tema, Greater Accra, Ghana
  • Casablanca, Grand Casablanca, Morocco
  • Hamburg, Germany

More Travel Information