Road Rules - Semester at Sea (1999)

The missions begin. The Road Rulers receive their first clue from their homes via telephone. They are told to meet at Million Air airport in Nassau, Bahamas. Anticipation is high as the six wonder what's in store for them. The cast arrive at the airport and as is tradition someone has been sent to collect the Road Ruler's cash and credit cards. Larry from Halo Holdings is the man who has been appointed the task. After gathering their valuables he takes them right into their first mission. Larry explains that he must get the cast to a small island called Sandy Cay. The only problem is there is no runway, so the cast must skydive. Everyone screams, but Ayanna freaks. Ayanna drops to her knees, laughing and overwhelmed with emotion. The kids stride onto the runway and climb into the plane. The plane rises into the air. Its time. Pua starts to sing Amazing Grace as Ayanna prays. They make their way to the edge of the plane and one by one they take the plunge. Upon reaching the ground

Now that the roadies are settled on the ship, they are instructed to recruit their fellow classmates for a game of baseball against "Cuba's Best." Meanwhile, Veronica anticipates being reunited with her extended family in Cuba who she has never met.

Shawn is determined to assert himself as an individual rather than a black person. He begins to experience racism and gain further insight into what it means to be a black man in South Africa. By the end of his South African journey, Shawn has experienced first hand that he is indeed an African-American from BMP.com

It's all about Pawel. Everyone in the cast wants to know what's going on with him. Shawn thinks it's time for Pawel to drop his facade and put the masks away. A distraught Pawel finds his overwhelming need to please everyone backfiring on him. The cast isn't interested in hearing his super fluff anymore; they want the real Pawel. Like a trooper, Pawel takes the criticism, questions himself, and lays it out on the table, ""I never really claimed to know who I am, I feel like I'm finally getting a taste, an image of who Pawel, Pavo is."" from BMP.com

Now kiss and make-up. Ayanna and Veronica may not see eye to eye when it comes down to business but at least they understand each other now. After the Rulers meet with their mediator, Prof. Dennis Waring the cast puts their feelings of pain and anger aside to accomplish their next mission, building a power plant to light up a Dalit Village. There is no power, no running water, and worst of all, no air conditioning. When it gets dark the only thing you can see is the stars in the sky. The travail of the cast working in the unsanitary conditions of India finally pays off when they are able to light up not only the village but the faces of all the men, women, and children in the community. A good deed for a good cause from BMP.com

Love is in the air as the Road Rulers drop anchor in the port of Malaysia. After receiving their clue, the kids journey to a lush wildlife preserve, where they spend an exhausting day feeding and caring for the center's numerous animals. Love is in the air as the Road Rulers drop anchor in the port of Malaysia. After receiving their clue, the kids journey to a lush wildlife preserve, where they spend an exhausting day feeding and caring for the center's numerous animals. The comical orangutans are particularly endearing, and warm-hearted Pua is especially smitten. Meanwhile, Yes soul-searches as he finds himself stuck in a sticky love triangle. Two S.A.S. girls are vying for his affection, and he must make a difficult choice. Afraid of being vulnerable, Yes continuously struggles to protect his guarded heart. His predicament becomes even more of a battle when one of the girls proves to be exceptionally intriguing. Eventually, Yes' emotions overwhelm him. He surrenders by making a

Lace up those tennies, because it's race time! After disembarking in Vietnam, the gang scurries to face a challenging three-part mission. During the first leg of the competition, the Roadies must carry baskets of fruit across a countryside course. Easy, you say? Think again. Transporting a twenty-pound load over a flimsy footbridge, across a murky river and through a bustling street is no simple task - especially when you're relying on antiquated bicycles, wobbly canoes and an equally-exhausted teammate to get you there. With some good-natured rivalry, the Road Rulers quickly pair up and speed off. Teamwork spells victory for Yes and Veronica, who are the first duo to cross the finish line. Round two calls for a unique shopping trip through an authentic open-air market. Putting their queasiness at bay, the troopers dutifully check the required chicken heads, pig tails and frog legs off their lists. But the fun's not over yet. The kids soon learn that they must not only fork over

Put away those piggy banks, because the Road Rulers aren't pinching pennies anymore. Following their clue, the group heads to the Christina Noble Children's Center, an orphanage for sick and abandoned Vietnamese kids. Touring the overcrowded nursery and playground, the emotional Road Rulers immediately bond with the many children, sharing smiles and hugs. Noticeably pained, Paul is particularly shaken by a helpless young victim of Agent Orange. Shortly thereafter, the Roadies get their dream-come-true mission: They must use 12 million dong (roughly $864) in twelve hours to earn a comparable monetary gift for the Children's Center. With money in their pockets and charity on their minds, the newly-wealthy gang sets off for a serious shopping spree. But hold on there, big spender. This mission isn't child's play. There are a few restrictions that accompany that wad of cash. The anxious Road Rulers soon learn that they can't buy any items to take home and must only pay the going rate

The penned-up Road Rulers come down with a serious case of sexual frustration when cabin fever hits a boiling point this week. Plagued by their lackluster shipboard love lives, the restless kids finally unleash their yearnings, exchanging suggestive banter and playful embraces. Harmless fun, you say? Indeed it is, except for emotionally-stalted Yes, who is apprehensive about taking his frequent flirtation with Alissa to the next level. But sexual tension isn't the only pressure point for our intrepid travelers. A political crisis is raging in Kosovo, and reports from home inform the students of NATO's accidental bombing of the Chinese Embassy. The news is serious, but being at sea has created a false sense of security with the gang. As the boat slices its way towards China, the apathetic Roadies' biggest worry is getting Coppertone-worthy tans. However, the group becomes much more unsettled once the S.S. Universe Explorer actually docks in Shanghai. A distinctly anti-American atmosp

When we last left the Roadies, a hesitant Pua had asked for a word with her extremely-uncomfortable cast mate, Veronica. With a deeply-drawn breath, Pua reveals that she discovered her missing halter top hidden amongst Veronica's belongings. Holding back her tears, Pua admits that she feels terrible about looking through Veronica's property, but she had an unsettling hunch that her roomie was lying. Veronica, her mouth agape with disbelief, repeatedly denies the allegation, slyly pointing the accusatory finger back at Pua for being a snoop. Her downcast eyes begging for truth, Pua makes one final plea for Veronica to be honest, but her grimacing cast mate won't budge. But Veronica isn't the only Roadie facing an inquisition. Falling prey to another surprise administrative attack, Yes must take the stand against two of the ship's deans. Concerned that he may be slacking in his homework, they firmly encourage him to get out of the social scene and into the books.