The Good Life Gap Semester in Maine

The time I had, and the people I met during this course, I will not soon forget. The life experience and kindness of everyone involved in the Good Life course is inspiring. If you want to read philosophy next to the ocean, do yoga on a platform in the trees, and learn from amazing people, you should look no further. This course was always exciting and always provided new experiences. It gave me the chance to get away for a moment and think about what it means to have a "good life". The course provided me with experiences to draw from to help me build a good life for myself.

Through UMaine Farmington, I spent a week before the semester started in Georgetown, ME with 11 other students. We were introduced to different ideas, themes, and readings about the good life. We also focused on the importance of connecting with nature, whether it be walking barefoot or kayaking. In a place as beautiful as Georgetown, it was easy to pause and reflect at any given moment or connect with the environment around us. Unlike other courses I've taken, this program has shown me the importance of an open mind, provided meaningful information, and has given me a new mindset on various aspects of my life. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to take this course, as it is clear it has proven to be life-changing.

The Good Life program with Professor Francis and his staff was one of the most impactful and memorable experiences I have ever participated in. The location and accommodations are breathtaking; the program promotes new ways of thinking and seeing the world; the staff are brilliant, supportive, positive and fun individuals; And you’ll make new friends and participate in fun, educational and engaging experiences! I wish I could go back every year! If you are someone who enjoys the outdoors, loves the water, looks forward to new experiences, enjoys intellectually stimulating conversations and would appreciate spending time in beautiful Maine, this is the program for you!

It’s been years since I first took this class. So many things in my life has changed, but the things I got out of this class are stable. It is more than just a class. Life lessons, experiences, and friends. I still talk about this class to almost everyone I know, and try to get people to read the books we studied. I still go back to what I learned here when I’m in distress. The professor and his family are some of the greatest people I’ve ever met, and the lessons that you learn here are ones that they all live by. It’s one thing to learn about something by reading it, but seeing how it can actually be applied to life really helped it sink in. Do yourself a favor and take part in this.

Taking the Maine Course with the Francis family was one of the most unforgettable experiences. As someone who is well-traveled, I would easily say Maine beat any other location I have gone. From stepping foot in Georgetown I became one of the newest members of the Francis family. Staying in the cabins (or even a YURT) with strangers (who became family) was the first thing to push me from my comfort zone. Throughout the two weeks following, I was constantly encouraged to go out of my comfort zone, explore new places, and expand on thoughts I never had. My favorites memories range from: kayaking to group meetings on abandoned islands, ZIPLINGIN to yoga class, swimming in FREEZING water, clamming, and of course the famous lobster bake. Also, not to mention that everywhere you go you will be blown away by the BEAUTY that Maine has to offer!!

I attended the Good Life in 2015, during its debut year. The experience I gained there made a great impact on me, and I continue to learn from the lessons I gained there. If you are looking for a great time to enjoy the outdoors and to enjoy learning about philosophy, I recommend this program. As for the food, there is nothing as satisfying as having a lobster from Maine, in Maine. As part of the program in 2015, our group got to try the lobsters that had been caught the same day. In addition to eating great food, we explored the waters and visited various islands around Bath, Maine. Again, I would recommend anyone to take this course.

This program is life-changing. I've participated in the Good Life course for two summers, truly some of the best experiences I've ever had. The first time I was there, I learned to reflect on the beauty of the good life. Two years later, I returned to learn what it means to shower the world with gifts of beauty in the good life.
This will be a trip where you will have the opportunity to explore the wild, the beauty, the wonder, the solitude, the silence, the self-reliance, and the simplicity in the Good Life. To read wonderful works by Henry David Thoreau and Annie Dillard, sitting in the garden, by the sea, on a tree. Doing all that, while bonding with a beautiful group of classmates and friends. Grateful for all the life-long friends that I have met over this trip, grateful for the Good Life.

Doing the Good Life Gap Term was such an amazing experience and something I will never forget. During my time in Maine, I made so many friends that I still keep in touch with today and we will forever have a bond of sharing great memories from our time in Maine. I learned so many life lessons while also learning a lot about myself. This trip not only impacted my life while I was in Maine, but it impacted my life once I came home as well. I carry all of the things that I learned with me throughout my day to day life. I came home having a new outlook on life and am forever grateful for my time spent here.