Study Abroad is not just for fun; its importance is much greater than most people realize.
Fullerton College English Professor and District Program Director Doug Eisner held a study abroad information session at Cypress College Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m.
The participation requirements are, student must have at time of application: completed 12 units of college credits, completed English 100 or the equivalent with a grade of “C” or better, a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5, and must be at least 18 years of age by the start of the program.
There will be two Cypress College instructors on the trip, Art Professor Ed Giardina and English Professor Kathryn Sonne. Available courses include, Introduction to Art, Museum Survey, Basic Design, and Contemporary Art Studio, as well as, Introduction to Literature, Critical Thinking & Writing, Introduction to film studies, and Interdisciplinary Studies.
Students participating in the program will depart from Los Angeles on March 5, 2015 and depart from Rome on May 16, 2015. If the student wishes to extend their time and leave on their own terms they will have the opportunity to do so.
The approximate cost of the trip is $8,170.00, not including personal expenses. A minimum of $2,500.00 is recommended for the student’s personal use. (Editor’s Note: See “Study Abroad Talks Euros: How Much?” by Jazzlyn Molina for more on the cost.)
Once in Rome there are two housing options: apartments and homestays. Students who choose apartments will be in twin rooms with four to six NOCCCD students sharing a two or three bedroom apartment in the center of Rome. Homestays allow students to live with a local family and daily continental breakfast and 5 dinners per week are included.
Students will attend an orientation meeting were they will get an information packet, a half–day guided walking tour of Rome, workshops conducted by local staff about life in Italy and the differences the students will encounter, and a welcome reception. A travel pass for use on the metro, buses and trams for the duration of the program will be provided. There will be weekly programs of subsidized cultural activities such as walking tours, cooking classes, museum visits, soccer matches, day tips, concerts, and film nights. Also included are guided visits to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Coloseum and Forum. A day trip to Tivoli is included with transportation and entrance to Hadrian’s Villa. Free wireless Internet access will be available in the Study Center during class hours Monday through Friday and in the Accommodations where possible.
There will be a four-day/three-night excursion to Florence including round-trip transportation, guided visits to the Uffizi and Accademia, a half-day guided walking tour of Florence, one group dinner and the services of an AIFS representative throughout the excursion. An optional three-day, two-night execution to Sorrento and Pompeii will be offered as well. The excursion includes round trip transportation, guided tour of Pompeii, a day-trip to Capri, free time to visit Amalfi coast of Vesuvius, one group dinner and the services of an AIFS representative through the excursion.
“Best thing [that] I have ever done, literally makes for the memories of a lifetime,” said Ryan Allen who was attending Cypress College at the time he joined the program in the Spring 2013.
From his experience, he shared that by the end of the trip he had grown as a person because of the environment and how different it was from his everyday life. Allen chose to stay in the apartments which he shared with two roommates and says that he liked the apartments better based on experiences some of the other students shared with him and because it offers more freedom to do as you please.
Matt Worthington, who was also a Cypress College student at the time, attended the same trip to Rome in the Spring of 2013. When sharing about his experience, Worthington explained that after having gone through such a culture shock he now has more respect for people from other countries that come to America. He has been on the other end and now understands how hard it is to not even understand the language. Worthington chose a homestay, and he said, “I loved it, it was probably one of the best decisions I made besides going abroad, just [be]cause you got fully emerged in the culture.”
Eisner explained that all international companies want international experience, such as, big auto companies or banks. Some banks have funds for students or the children of their clients to help them to have international experience and most community college students are not aware of this until they have transferred to the university.
International education is an important part of the United States government goal. Many students do not realize that the state department wants, and budgets for 10 percent of all college students to go abroad. However, only 3 percent of all college students actually study abroad.
Applications should be delivered to Dani Wilson at Fullerton College Library, room 823, no later than Nov. 1. For more information visit http://studyabroad.fullcoll.edu or contact Study Abroad Coordinator Doug Eisner at 714-992-7308 or deisner@fullcoll.edu.
Featured image courtesy littlemisspurps via Flickr. (CC BY 2.0)
Who is Brent Weber? He did NOT write this article! This is my work!