Teresa Vargas is a 16 - year - old student at West Island College , she studies many subjects , including history , mathematics , and biology . Teresa is a very good student , and she is also an excellent swimmer . She has to be . Teresa 's college is different from most other colleges . Her classes are on a ship that travels around the world ! Class Afloat is a special program at West Island College in Quebec , Canada . The 48 students in this program come from many different nations . The students must not only have good grades , but must also be good swimmers ! During the year - long program , their ship , the Concordia , will visit more than 20 countries . This year , the Concordia will sail to 22 countries , including Australia South Africa , Indonesia , and Brazil . Last year , the countries included Thailand , Vietnam , Korea , and Japan . In addition to their classes , the students must also learn to sail the ship The purpose of Class Afloat is to help students learn about the world. For example, Teresa and her classmates study about people from different cultures i their history class. Then, they can travel to that country and meet the people that they studied about in their class. Last year, for example, the students of Class Afloat studied Vietnamese culture. Then, the class sailed to Hanoi! Teresa enjoys learning on the Concordia, but it is not always easy to study on a ship. Teresa says "In the beginning I felt seasick a lot. However, l got used to sailing after a few days and began to have more fun." In addition to school work, the students must also help with cleaning the ship. Also, there’s not a lot of privacy. Four students sleep together in a small room. Teresa misses her family and friends, but feels she is really learning a great deal. "I think this is a wonderful opportunity for me” says Teresa. "I live with students from all around the world. It really is an exciting way to get a world-class education!