Julie's experience on the Fall 2019 MILE to Greece | Global Learning and Engagement

Julie Anne Beltran is a student in the Flight Service: Operations and Cabin Management program. Below she details her experience during her 10-day Mobile Intensive Learning Experience.

Published: October 1, 2021

When I first started the Flight Services: Operations and Cabin Management program at Seneca College, I added Greece in the list of the countries that I would love to visit one day. Who would have thought that I would be able to make this dream of mine come true one year after and while I was still in school? I did not know about the Mobile Intensive Learning Experience (MILE) course being offered as a professional course option at Seneca until my classmate (who I have met on the first day of classes and who was also my roommate during the trip) told me details about it. When I heard about the MILE Course and that it involved a cruise to Italy and Greece, I thought to myself that it would be an awesome opportunity to travel, learn, and earn a course credit all at the same time. I participated in the MILE Course when I was in my third semester.

Months before the date of the cruise, I completed assignments to help me prepare. These assignments included learning about the various food and beverage within the places I would visit during the cruise. I also completed the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) modules prior to the cruise. Within these modules, I learned about industry knowledge, selling skills, and geography. During the trip, there was also an assignment the I had to complete. This assignment helped me become more knowledgeable about the cruise ship I was on. I also had the opportunity to interview a few crew members and ask them about their life on the ship.

The highlight of this trip for me was the day we visited Santorini, Greece. It had been my dream to visit Santorini! Looking around Santorini felt like a dream. For a moment it seemed so unreal because until then, I had only seen Santorini from photos and postcards. Being able to be there physically made my heart really happy. Aside from being able to visit a country of my dreams, this trip also confirmed that I will enjoy my future career as a flight attendant. The cruise gave me a glimpse of what it would be like when I start flying and during the trip, I was with schoolmates that I have never met before. This scenario would be very similar in the airline industry, where I would work with people who I have never met before or who I have only worked with a few times. I have visited six destinations during this ten-day trip and being able to adapt quickly was important. I can also compare this component of learning to a career as a flight attendant where adapting quickly is very important. I have enjoyed this trip and I believe it will be very similar to what I would feel when I start flying.