Rat's Around-the-World Adventure on Semester at Sea

R.A.T. Your Rodent Around-the-World Traveler (a.k.a. Raz)

Hi, My name is R.A.T., which stands for Rodent Around-the-World Traveler (I like to think it stands for Rodent Adventure Traveler), but everyone here calls me Raz for short. I would love to share my adventures with you. I left my rat family in early January to seek adventure. Everyone said "head west young rat," so that is what I did. I headed west to San Diego, California where I ran out of land and had to hop on a ship to continue my journey. It turns out that the ship I found was going west around the world--a dream come true! The MV Explorer is home to the famous Semester at Sea study abroad program. My shipmates include 629 college students and about 150 faculty, staff, lifelong learners, and family members. Things are really busy here on the ship and even busier when we are in port. Come follow me vicariously as I take this incredible journey. Yours, R.A.T.

P.S. I had such a great time on the voyage that the adventure continues!!!!

Monday, April 21, 2025

RAT in the World: Mauritius

On watch on the ship & with my captain's hat!

A slightly smaller water vessel!

Interesting roots!

Mauritius has beautiful beaches!

Each one slightly different.

This one is sandier.

A few quiet but crazy friends I met on the island.

Sunday, April 20, 2025

RAT in the World: Qatar

Made it to Doha!

Not sure who he is, but I. M. Pei's Islamic Museum is wonderful!

This guy was really friendly and about my size!

Met these guys in the front of Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art. They didn't say much.

Visited the interior of the museum.

The Desert Rose, Jean Nouvel's National Museum of Qatar, during & after construction.

Another cool building: Arata Isozaki's Qatar National Convention Centre

Nearby is Cesar Pelli's Sidra Medical and Research Center

And across the street OMA's National Library.

Also visited Doha's World Horticulture Expo

Met a funny sheep there made of light bulbs.

And a couple of friendly large Teddy Bears.

Thie bear was even larger.

And his doppelgänger at the airport even larger!!!

Stopped and talked to this fellow at the airport.

And his sleeping friend.

Another flight, another country. . .

Saturday, April 19, 2025

RAT in the World: UAE

Made it Dubai. There's the Burj Kalifa.

A view from the top!

The new Museum of the Future.

Another cool building

Made it to Expo 2020!

The expo celebrated the US SDG's

Made it to most of the country pavilions. Here is the entrance to Thailand's.

Great Britain had one of its iconic telephone booths.

Found some friends at the Chile Pavilion.

Legos at the Danish Pavilion!

Here I am in the Sri Lankan Pavilion

Stopped at the Australian Pavilion. Give me a low five Mr. Kangaroo.

Riding an elephant!

Today I love you. I give you the earth and the moon!

Nooo! Runnn!

Hopefully this is not the future!

Nor this.

We (rats) are the future!

Friday, April 18, 2025

RAT in the World: Saudi Arabia

Arrival in AlUla--Dunkin' Donuts in the airport!

Also, a little bit of France in the desert!

Old AlUla

Hegra--tombs of the Nabateans.

This is the largest one!

Big Elephant rock!

What a place to rest--an Airstream!

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