All Travel Programs
Destination by Continent
Africa
Asia
Europe
Latin America
North America
Pacific
AFRICA BOTSWANA AND THE KALAHARI DESERT
(Environmental Field Observations and Conservation Challenges in Botswana)
This Academic Travel is an environmental science field trip with a focus on the flora and fauna of the Kalahari Desert. The studies and observations are directed to the anatomy and physiology of organisms that have adapted to this harsh environment. The group is guided by the Koi-Sem (Kalahari Bushmen) during the trek in the desert. In contrast, the Okavango Delta, with its rich wildlife, offers the students, as they travel through the game parks, the possibility of observing animals in their natural state and permits the investigation and evaluation of conservation and its problems in Africa. (Fall 2006) MALAWI/ZAMBIA
This academic travel program focuses on the ecosystems of these two Southern African countries. Environmental studies are directed towards the geophysical aspects of Malawi, to include the African Rift Valley, as well as observations of local economic enterprise. Particular areas of investigation include the prospects for sustainable agriculture and sustainable development and the impact of copper mining in Zambia and ecotourism. Additional goals of the trip include understanding the history, culture, environmental issues and economies of these two developing African nations. This safari style trip is characterized by overland transportation and tented accommodations. (Program last offered in Fall 2003) MOROCCO
(Listening to Morocco, Music between Tradition and Modernity)
Jazz legend Randy Weston went to Morocco in the 1960s following a tip that jazz originated from Afro-Moroccan Gnawa. He hasn’t returned back home yet. Weston often speaks about preserving traditional music in Africa and shielding it from too many foreign influences. As an expressive form, music is a wonderful way of learning about how cultures negotiate the push and pull of traditions and modernity. In this academic travel, students will learn about how music in Morocco has evolved and survived through conquests, colonization, and globalization. The program will look at various musical traditions from African to Andalusian to Sufi, and see how their commercialization both nationally and internationally has affected them. The point of this travel is to develop an appreciation of Morocco’s cultural heritage through its music. The program will meet musicians (both known and unknown), officials, label company owners, music producers, and will attend wedding ceremonies in different regions. Other activities include meetings with university students, hosting by Moroccan families, hiking in the Atlas mountains and visiting the desert. (Program last offered in Fall 2005) MOZAMBIQUE, SOUTH AFRICA AND SWAZILAND
(Environmental Field Observation and Study)
An environmental science field trip with focus on sustainable development within Mozambique, its game parks and its program for the reintrocution of endemic species. Transportation by Bedford 4x4; accommodation throughout in bungalows and tents. Our visit to Swaziland offers the students the possibility of seeing and becoming familiar with a relatively wealthy and politically stable 3rd world country. Our trip will conclude with a visit to Kruger Park; here we shall evaluate conservation programs, the benefits and disadvantages of ecotourism and the future of Africa’s natural habitats. (Program last offered in Fall 2002) NAMIBIA
(Environmental Field Observation of Characteristic Ecosystems)
This environmental science field trip commences at the Capital of Namibia, Windhoek. Transportation is by means of Bedford 4x4 trucks with camping throughout and accommodation in tented igloos with mattresses. The Program includes travel through desert ecosystems such as Sossusvlei where the highest sand dunes in the world exist and where the flora and fauna have adapted themselves to a unique and harsh environment. At Twyfelfontein students observe rock engravings dating six thousand years, evidence of the presence of the human species, ancestors of the present day bushmen. The Program concludes with observations of wild life at the Etosha Wildlife Reserve. (Fall 2006) TANZANIA
(The impact of trade and caravan routes)
The academic trip to Tanzania will focus on the cultural, economic, religious and environmental impact of the trade and caravan routes along the coast and those connecting Lake Tanganyika with the sea. We shall first visit Bagamoyo, a world heritage site, the oldest town in Tanzania and, in the past, the major slave trading post of eastern Africa. The nearby ruins of Kaole, date back to the 13th century, and comprise mosques and tombs indicative of the past importance of Islam. We shall visit the Sadaani National park that comprises both marine and land ecosystems and then travel to the foothills of Mt. Kilimandjaro where a day of trekking will take place in the company of a local guide. Following a full day excursion to the Ngorongo Crater and game park we shall travel south to the Arab ruins of Kilwa Masoko, once an important trading center. Our last visit will be to Mafia Island, an ancient slave trade post and east African trade route dating back to the 8th century. Here we shall explore the township, visit the protected marine park, and observe the traditional activities of basket weaving, fishing and the cultivation of staple foods. (Program last offered in Fall 2005) Back to top ASIA Australia: Sydney and Brisbane
(Business, Culture, Environmental Policy)
Australia became a British colony a little more than 200 years ago and an independent nation only in 1901. Australia’s relatively high level of population growth by comparison with other developed countries is driven almost entirely by immigration. But this has meant that Australia also has a comparatively youthful population as well as a high level of ethnic diversity. This travel program explores the challenges faced by this young and youthful island culture and economy over the next decade. The course examines the opportunities offered by the country’s resources in terms of manufacturing, tourism and other service industries within a global economy through discussions with economists and government officials. We then focus on the challenges in terms of population/immigration issues and environmental policy. The program begins in Sydney where the group will visit the Stock Exchange, a major bank, and several businesses and will meet with members of the Business Council, journalists and consultants. The group also explores the history and environment of the city with visits to historical landmarks, museums, theatres, wildlife parks, and Aboriginal centers. The group travels up the Gold Coast and visit ecotourism centres. The program then moves to Brisbane where the students are the guests of the Universities for discussions on economic development, international communications and environmental policy in Australia. The students also experience the city of Brisbane and its environment as an attraction for immigrants from around the world. (Program last offered in Spring 2006) CHINA
(Political and economic developments)
China has in recent years been breaking out of a long period of self imposed isolationism and has become more and more involved in international commerce and gradually in international politics as well. China’s colossal territory and population make it potentially a major force in international affairs, yet in the West there is little knowledge or understanding of Chinese history, culture, politics or economics. The purpose of this trip will be to introduce students to various aspects of just these elements of Chinese life. The group will visit historical sites in and near Beijing (the “forbidden city,” the “great wall,” etc., Xian), the emperor’s army in terracotta, Shanghai, etc. The group will also have lectures on the economic reforms introduced by the Communist government and China’s role in the process of world globalization. Wherever possible meetings with local political or business leaders should help the students to comprehend the Chinese perspectives in these areas. If possible, the group will also visit Hong Kong to see how the former British colony has fared in its special position since it returned to Chinese control. (Program last offered in Spring 2003) INDIA
(Development Aid)
This Academic Travel to India will allow students to see for themselves the many contradictions that exist within the largest democracy in the world. They will be visiting historical sights, monuments and memorials in New Delhi. However, the main focus of the trip will be on the system of international development aid. Students will be visiting projects sustained by private Foundations in Switzerland that allow children to be taken out of child labor and put into schools in order to learn trades that will lead to self sufficiency upon graduation. These projects are in remote areas of the country. Staying at the projects will mean students have the opportunity to live as the local people do in primitive situations. Students will have first hand experience of sub-standard living conditions in a developing country. They will see the nature of development aid, how it works, when it is successful and when it is not. They will also see the contrasts of the extreme economic conditions in India. This trip will change their views on the differences between the developed and underdeveloped worlds. It will allow them to experience life with the bare essentials, which will hopefully lead to a better appreciation to living in a materialistic world. (Program last offered in Spring 2005) JAPAN
(Japanese Civilization)
This program introduces students to the culture and the arts of Japanese civilization, with a focus on communication. Starting in Tokyo, students visit various museums, and cultural &religious sites, and observe various facets of Japanese civilization, including an early morning visit to the famous Tsukiji fish market. In Aichi prefecture and in Kyoto, meetings and visits are scheduled with Japanese university students and faculty. Other prefectural visits include factories, museums, and cultural sites. Cultural excursions in Kyoto, Nara and other cities complete an “orientation” to Japanese arts and culture. (Program last offered in Fall 2006) Back to top EUROPE BERLIN AND PARIS
(Voices from the Margin – Testing multicultural Europe)
This academic travel is designed to introduce students to some of the substantive changes taking place in Western Europe in the areas of culture, society and politics. The program looks specifically at how immigration, and immigration policies, highly resonant topics in global politics, are redefining the cultural bounds of European identities. The goal of this Program is to experience multiculturalism and identity politics through visits to immigrant cultural associations, ethnic neighborhoods and markets, individual homes, radio stations and discussions with officials and university professors/students representing both immigrants and the host countries. Students are expected to work on predetermined multimedia projects, using an ethnographic mode of enquiry, to document how this experience of traveling through two of the largest immigrant centers, Berlin and Paris, has changed their impressions of Europe. Other activities include visit to museums, attending ethnic music concerts (raï and hip-hop) and dining on the flavors of Moroccan and Turkish cuisines. This travel best fits students whose interests include international communications, international relations and European studies. (Program last offered in Fall 2004) BERLIN AND VIENNA
(War, Memory and Reinvention of Nation)
We live in an epoch obsessed with memory: its specter haunts of activities – intellectual, creative, and political; its processes shadow our individual and collective lives. And yet, despite this ubiquity, the idea of memory remains elusive and forever mutable, for depending on the context in which it is invoked and the purpose for which it is intended it can take on a range of forms. The contexts in which students will study the workings of memory are Berlin and Vienna, cities representative of national entities that in the course of the 20th century have reconstituted themselves – in part dramatically – under the pressures of the murderous history of the Holocaust. The questions guiding our inquiry into the often conflicted postwar politics of memory in Germany and Austria, and its representation in the fabric of the two cities, are the following: how does a nation deploy memory to create a positive identity; how do public representations work to elide, confirm or undermine historical discourses; and do what extent, finally, are minorities or “the other” included in or excluded from the business of inventing national identity? Students will read, visit and analyze a wide variety of cultural texts such as literary accounts, memorials, historical sites, architectural structures, and films in an attempt to chart the often tortured process by which a nation comes to terms with its past, and projects itself into the future. Using some of the rich scholarly literature on memory that has been produced in the wake of the Holocaust, students will first examine Berlin as a memoryscape, then travel to Vienna for a cultural comparison of how our core questions are inflected by different sets of political circumstances and cultural pressures. (Program last offered in Spring 2006) BERLIN, WARSAW, KRACÓW AND VIENNA
(Contemporary History and Politics of Central Europe)
The focus of this academic travel is on the historical developments of this key area of central Europe over the past two centuries. The past political relations between Germany and Poland, the traditional roles of Berlin, Warsaw, Kraców and Vienna, the recent economic changes in Poland and East Germany and the perspective of bringing the Germans, the Poles, and the Austrians together again in a new, expanded Europe involve the students directly in the main issues of the past and present. Guided visits to the main historical sites bring them into direct contact with the memorable events of modern European history. (Program last offered in Fall 2000) FRENCH-SPEAKING SWITZERLAND AND FRANCE
(Travel Writing/Writing Travel)
From the salons of Mme de Stael to twentieth-century travel writers Alexandra David-Néel and Ella Maillart, France and French-speaking Switzerland have been home to a rich literary tradition. This course will offer an introduction to travel and the travel literature of France and French-speaking Switzerland in English translation. (Students who can will be encouraged to read in the original French). The course will include visits to the Fondation Pierre Gianadda in Martigny, Lausanne and le Musée d’Elysée, Coppet and Geneva in Switzerland as well as excursions to Digne and Grenoble in France. In addition to museum and chateau visits, this class will include several writing workshops and meetings with contemporary Swiss and French writers. (Fall 2006) GENEVA, PARIS, BRUSSELS AND STRASBOURG
(International Organizations and their Role in Today’s World)
This program focuses on international organizations; how they are organized and operate, and how they deal with particular problems. Students are introduced to salient aspects of international politics and economics in Europe and to the political, economic and financial aspects of international integration and interdependence. These themes are underlined with visits to international organizations. Students visit Brussels and Strasbourg where the groups are hosted by the European Union Commission and Parliament and are directly informed about the progress being made towards European economic and political integration. In Brussels, a visit to N.A.T.O brings students up-to-date on the changes in strategy that this security organization is developing to cope with the changes in the international system and to maintain security and stability among the member states. Visits to Geneva and Paris in addition to Brussels and Strasbourg provide the opportunity to get to know a wide range of international organizations and their activities. In Geneva the students visit the United Nations at the Palais des Nations, the World Trade Organization, the UN High Commission for Refugees and in Paris the group visits the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the most important organization for economic analysis and forecasting, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. (Program last offered in Fall 2005) GREECE
(Origins of Western Civilization)
The purpose of this Academic Travel is to introduce students to the birthplace of Western culture. Through visits to Knossos, Santorini, Mycenae, Delphi, Olympia and Athens, the itinerary attempts to retrace the development of Greek civilization from Minoan civilization in Crete to the flowering of democracy in fifth-century Athens. Contemporary Greek culture, including Modern Greek literature and politics, are discussed with students and professors from Greek universities. This travel is designed especially for students whose interests include classical literature, history and art. The travel destinations are integrally linked to the readings in “Introduction to Literature, Part I (LIT 100)”. (Fall 2006) HAMBURG/BALTIC SEA/COPENHAGEN
(Harbor Cities in Transition)
Hamburg prides itself on being Germany's "Gateway to the World". It is Germany's largest harbor and, historically, it connected the Baltic Sea region with North Sea access. In recent years, Hamburg has had to manage the challenge of globalization by developing new economic areas in cooperation with the surrounding communities. Copenhagen has to face the same situation and its answer is similar: building a metropolitan area with a diversified economic structure. We will spend several days in Hamburg, visiting the harbor, wharfs, the Airbus site, a publisher, and an advertising company (Hamburg is Germany’s center of print media and is a leader in the field of advertising). We will also visit Luebeck. Then we will travel to Copenhagen, enjoying the countryside and the Baltic Sea on our way. Students will study how major cities deal with economic changes and will consider the problems harbor cities face as they make the transition to a global market (Fall 2006) IRELAND
(20th Century Irish Literature and its Contexts)
The primary focus of this program is on Irish writing in the 20th century and its relationship to the writers’ artistic, intellectual, social, and geographic backgrounds. It aims to make students aware of the peculiarly intimate connection of Irish writing to the Irish context. The idea and the actuality of the country were equally crucial for the Irish writers of the last century and the travel aims to bring the wealth of issues involved therein to life. Places such as Dublin, Sligo and Belfast are visited and the relationship to city, landscape and history of such writers as W.B.Yeats, James Joyce and Seamus Heaney are explored. Students learn to place a writer’s words in the concrete physical and atmospheric context from which these sprang and to develop thereby a truly living sense of (Irish) literature. This program is oriented toward students interested in literature, history, politics, sociology, and cross-cultural studies. (Program last offered in Spring 2006) ISTANBUL, BELGRADE
The purpose of this interdisciplinary program is twofold. The first part exposes students to the rich historical and cultural dimensions of Belgrade, known as Singidunum under the Roman Empire. Belgrade was captured by the Ottoman Turks in the 16th century, who maintained a strong defense against the Austrian Empire who dominated the region until 1867. Salient aspects of Yugoslavia, its economic, cultural, linguistic, political milieu, and current transitional changes in this post socialistic country are stressed. The second part provides historical and cultural exposure to old Istanbul, also known as Constantinople, the former capital of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires and the only city to span two continents-Europe and Asia. Istanbul also spans the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, two or more cultures and many religions. Students will have a chance to experience modern Istanbul, where cultural and business centers of the modern, westernized Turkey are located. In both countries, meetings with government representatives, business managers and academics are planned. (Fall 2006) LIGURIA AND SOUTHERN FRANCE
(Comparative European Cultures)
The purpose of this Academic Travel is to recognize, compare and contrast aspects of European cultural development in its particular manifestations in the Italian Riviera region of Liguria and in Southern France. In Liguria, students visit sites including the Bay of Lerici, the Cinque Terre, and especially Genoa. Students will also travel by boat from Portofino to the Monastery of San Fruttuoso and on to the fishing village of Camogli. In the regions north of Genoa, students are introduced to developments in the cultivation and marketing of olive oil. The second part of the trip is centered around Nice. The focus of this portion of the course is on mainly 20th century art and artists. Visits are made to most or all of the following museums: the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer, the Matisse Chapel in Vence, the Picasso Museum in Antibes, the Picasso Chapel in Vallauris, the Ferdinand Léger Museum in Biot, the Maeght Foundation in Saint-Paul-de-Vence and the Contemporary Art Museum in Nice. In Grasse, students learn about this perfume capital of the world and visit the Fragonard Museum. Themes of the course include the relationships between visitors, transients and local realities; the rise and fall of the Maritime Republic of Genoa and the tension between regionalism and national identity in these regions. (Fall 2006) LONDON
(Primarily Modern European Art)
This program is focused on Art in London. It is fundamentally a museum and gallery program and concentrates on the following: The Tate Gallery, The Tate Modern, The Courtauld Institute of the University of London, and the National Gallery. The program also includes museums of interest, and especially the British Museum, The British Library, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. For purposes of Twentieth Century historical interest the Imperial War Museum and the Britain at War Museum are also visited. A visit is made to Sotheby’s auction house and to the Beaux Arts Gallery, one of the private dealerships in the Mayfair district of London. An attempt is made to allow time for individual interests (antiques, for example, or photography etc.). A one-day excursion is made to Salisbury Cathedral and Stonehenge, and another to Cambridge (to visit the University generally and King’s College Chapel and the Kettle’s Yard Museum specifically). (Fall 2006) LONDON
(Finance and Culture)
Even in the era of electronic communication and technology-based deal-making, modern London still rather easily qualifies as the world epicenter of banking, finance, insurance, risk and property management, commodity markets, and foreign currency trading. It is no accident that Greenwich Mean Time defines the trading and business day around the globe. One would think that the need to be near by each other to consummate all those deals would have diminished in the new century. But the old financial industries based on continuing physical proximity are flourishing as never before. The new commercial London has catered to the tastes and leisurely desires of that huge and ever-changing ethnic mix of cosmopolitan “bankers” with explosions of both size and creativity in all conceivable ancillary and support activities: software development, publishing, university and continuing education, NGOs, environmental management, public relations, advertising, architecture, graphic design, media, theater, music for every plausible palate of taste, art production, distribution and criticism, commercial and industrial product design, fashion, culinary experimentation. “It’s all too much” to quote a Beatles song. The strategic goal of the trip will be to comprehend the vitality of the key financial institutions themselves – how they function, what the people actually do, and how the individual firms set strategy in the marketplace. But the tactical approach will be to experience on a daily basis many of the diversions and historical attributes that the region offers. So naturally we will be visiting the Stock Exchange, the Bank of England, Lloyds Insurance, The Joint Underwriting Association, Deutsche Bank, Citigroup Smith Barney, etc. But students will also experience the theaters, museums, literary markers, historical sights and just plain diversions that make greater London the place of endless discovery that all knowledgeable visitors return for repeatedly. (Program last offered in Spring 2006) LYON AND SURROUNDINGS
(French culture and Civilization: from antiquity to the present day)
This Academic Travel Program is designed as a journey through several periods of French history and civilization in the second most visited region in France, Rh ône-Alpes. Lyon is the base throughout this program enabling students to thoroughly explore the UNESCO World Heritage site and its surroundings. Beginning with the Antiquity, students have guided tours of two Roman amphitheaters and archeological museums. Next, the medieval villages of Pérouges, Crémieu and the town of Montbrison are visited. Continuing along the time line, students enter the Renaissance through guided visits of “Vieux Lyon”, the largest ensemble of Renaissance architecture in France, and a visit to the “Bastie d'Urfé” in Saint-Etienne le-Molard. They continue to Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century architecture through guided visits of Lyon neighborhoods. Finally, students learn about Lyon, at the center of the French Resistance during World War II, and have the opportunity to visit many museums that cover a wide spectrum of arts, from Fine Arts to Decorative Art to Modern Art and Contemporary Art. (Program last offered in Fall 2004) MADRID, BARCELONA AND ANDALUSIA
(From Antiquity to the Present)
This visit introduces students to the history, culture, politics, and arts of Spanish civilization by contrasting the history of Madrid and the surrounding region with that of Andalusia. Students visit Madrid and the cities of Segovia, and Toledo and then proceed to Estremadura. They visit Trujillo, Casares and Merida where students learn of the heritage of the conquistadores. The students then proceed to Andalusia visiting Seville, Granada, Cordoba, and the surrounding countryside and it is in this region that they are introduced to the classical and medieval heritage of Spain, especially the Islamic, Christian and Jewish dimensions. The visit may proceed to the coast to Malaga and surrounding area. Throughout this entire Program students will be introduced to the modern and traditional aspects of Spanish culture and politics with visits to historical sites and museums. In each city the Program Director, guides, and specialists, will lecture on particular, relevant topics. (Fall 2006) MOSCOW, ST. PETERSBURG AND THE BALTICS
(Economic and Political Transition in the Former Soviet Union)
Russia has been the center of a giant empire that has extended from the Pacific to the heart of Europe for centuries, first under the Czars and then for over 70 years under a Communist regime. The radical changes that have been taking place over the past decade have created tremendous problems for this vast country. The focus of this trip is to try to understand better the recent history of Russia and the changes that are going on today. The group visits Russia’s Western European window, St. Petersburg and the more typically Russian capital, Moscow. Lectures, meetings, and visits to world-renowned museums like the Hermitage provide the basis for an understanding of Russia’s recent history and present difficulties. In addition students visit Tallinn, capital of Estonia, and Helsinki, capital of Finland, for a brief introduction to the Baltic States, some discussion of their history, their relations to Europe and Russia, and their current prospects. (Program last offered in Spring 2004) NICE AND SOUTHERN FRANCE
(Nice and Its Region: From Impressionism to Contemporary Art)
This trip is divided into two parts. The first part is dedicated to art from the end of the Nineteenth century to the present. The artistic focus is on the lives and art of Renoir, Matisse, Chagall, Picasso, Ferdinand Léger, Ben, Yves Klein, César and Arman among others. Visits are made to the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer, the Matisse Chapel in Vence, the Picasso Museum in Antibes, the Picasso Chapel in Vallauris, the Ferdinand Léger Museum in Biot, the Maeght Foundation in Saint-Paul-de-Vence and the Contemporary Art Museum in Nice. The second part is devoted to the discovery of the National Park of Camargue. Students go horseback riding, learn about Camargue horses and bulls in the wild, sample culinary specialties from the region, and spend a day in the World Heritage city of Arles. (Program last offered in Fall 2003) NORTHERN GREECE AND TURKEY
(Alexander the Great/St. Paul/Ataturk)
This Academic Travel Program begins at the home of the Greek Gods. After climbing Mt. Olympus, the students travel to the Greek Orthodox site of Meteora and then to the Hellenistic sites in Northern Greece linked to Alexander the Great, including the newly restored tomb of his father, Philip of Macedon. The students also visit the site where St. Paul was allegedly imprisoned and early Christian sites, including the wonderful new Byzantine Museum in Salonien. After stops in border communities where the Greeks and Turks live in perfect harmony, we enter Turkey to visit a replica of the wooden horse at Troy, the site excavated by Heinrich Schliemann, and they then descend the Anatolian coast to Ephesus, Pergamon and Izmir, site of the calamitous events of 1922, before heading south to Kas in southern Turkey. The trip finishes with a sojourn in Istanbul with visits to Aghia Sophia, The Mosque of Sultan Ahmed, Topkapi and a boat trip up the Bosphorous to the Black Sea. The focus of the program is on the literature, history, sociology and religion of the two regions. The trip is integrally related to the literary texts covered in the Introduction to Literature, Part I course (LIT 100). (Program last offered in Fall 2002) NORTHERN AND CENTRAL ITALY
(From Antiquity to the Present)
This Program will introduce the students to the civilization of North and Central Italy by basing the group in Bologna, Padova and Firenze. We will be visiting the surrounding cities and regions, principally Veneto and Tuscany. Other cities will be visited, including Siena, Ravenna, Vicenza, Pisa and possibly more depending on time and resources. The students will be introduced to the evolution of civilization, culture and politics of Italy. They will also visit businesses and academic institutions. The program is open to all students and is especially suited for students in history, art history, international relations and mass communications. (Program last offered in Fall 2003) NORTHERN ITALY
(From Antiquity to the Present)
This Program introduces students to the history, politics, culture, and present day social and economic life of Northern Italy and includes an introduction to the integration of the border cultures of South Tyrol, Istria and Southern France. Students are based in several parts of Northern Italy from where they visit, among others, the cities of Venice, Padova, Verona, Bologna, Torino, Bolzano and South Tyrol, Trieste and the Istrian Peninsula. In addition to historical and artistic tours (sites and museums) to further the comprehension of the historical traditions of Northern Italian civilization, there are scheduled visits to local industries and international businesses in some selected areas. In each city, the program director, guides and specialists will lecture on particular, relevant topics. Students are expected to integrate the past and the present with an eye toward an understanding of the future developments of the area in a united Europe. (Program last offered in Spring 2001) PARIS
(“Paris was where the twentieth century was” – Gertrude Stein)
After World War I, writers and artists from around the world sought intellectual, artistic and sexual freedom in Paris. Ernest Hemingway, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein and Alice B.Toklas, Henry Miller, Anaïs Nin, William Carlos Williams, James Joyce end their friends turned a few square miles on the Left Bank of the Seine into one of the richest art colonies of the 20th century. The decade put American literature on the map: F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote – and lived – the “jazz age”, Ezra Pound collected funds for writers, composed short operas, and wrote experimental poems, and Ernest Hemingway sat in a garret forging a brand-new American prose. Gertrude Stein held weekly salons throughout the decade. Students will follow in the literary footsteps of previous writers in many neighborhoods. Visits include Gertrude Stein’s salon, Shakespeare &CO., the bookstore founded by young American Sylvia Beach who helped publish James Joyce’s radical novel Ulysses, and Hemingway’s favorite café. Through walks, lectures, discussions and readings, students will identify the literary themes of the era and explore the expatriate world of 1920s Paris. (Fall 2006) PARIS AND NORTHERN FRANCE
(From the Middle Ages to the Renaissance)
This Program offers a tour through French history and civilization from the High Middle Ages to the Renaissance (ca. 1100-1600), a period in which cultural and intellectual developments that influenced all of Europe emanated repeatedly from within the boundaries of modern-day France. Beginning with the major monuments and museums of Paris, continuing through the celebrated chateaux of the Loire valley, and ending with the Mont-Saint-Michel on the Norman coast and continuing through the celebrated chateaux of the Loire valley and the cathedral of Chartres, then ending with a selection of major monuments and museums in Paris, the program offers students the opportunity to examine first-hand the outstanding features and cultural achievements of the period, to become familiar with the major features of architectural and artistic style, and to consider the process of historical change from an onsite perspective. (Program last offered in Spring 2002) PRAGUE AND BUDAPEST
(Political and Economic Transitions in Central Europe)
The Academic Travel Program to Prague and Budapest focuses on political and economic reforms in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. The objective of this Program is to familiarize students with the problems of change and adaptation presently being confronted by Eastern European nations in their attempts to realize their hopes for liberty, democracy and economic prosperity after the radical changes since 1989-1990. The group stays for one week in the Czech Republic and meets with Czech university students. At the university, a Czech historian briefs the students on recent Czech history, and an economist from the Economics University lectures on the present economic situation of the country. The group also visits the Skoda automobile plant outside of Prague. The group then moves on to Budapest after a brief visit to Bratislava, capital of Slovakia. In Budapest students meet with the former head of news programs of the Hungarian state television, as well as with an economist, an historian and Hungarian students, in order to get a picture of the present situation there. (Program last offered in Spring 2005) ROME AND SOUTHERN ITALY
(Roman/Italian Civilization)
The Academic Travel Program to Rome and Southern Italy offers students a unique opportunity to explore and learn about some key periods of Western Civilization. Students will enter into a “time machine” in which they come face to face with the remains of Greco-Roman culture standing alongside the splendors of the Renaissance and Baroque periods as well as the realities of contemporary Italy. In Campania, students first visit the Greek temples at Paestum, and then move on to the world’s best preserved Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, where they are able to examine early and recent archeological findings. An excursion to Mount Vesuvius, which erupted in 79 A.D. and devastated the surrounding area, gives them a bird’s eye view of the territory which hid the two cities for many centuries. The city of Naples, the Amalfi Coast, and Sorrento, are among the other sites visited in this region. In Rome, in addition to the ancient, Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces of art and architecture, students have the opportunity to see the Vatican, have an audience with the Pope, and learn about the role of the Roman Catholic Church in Italy. They are also exposed to some economic aspects of modern Italy, as well as its relationship to more global issues through visits to organizations such as the FAO (the United Nations’ headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization). (Program last offered in Spring 2004) S. SEBASTIAN – PAMPLONA – BIARRITZ (SPAIN)
(The Basque Country: One Nation in two countries)
The purpose of this academic travel project is to familiarize Franklin students with a unique region of Europe that has a dynamic culture (Basque) living inside both Spain and France, major EU countries. The confluence of the politics and culture in the region from food, to music, to architecture, literature and history are among the most unique in Europe and will be a significant contribution to the Franklin student's regional experience. The Basque Country or Euskal Herria (land of the Basque language), as the three million Basques call their nation straddles the French-Spanish border along the western Pyrenees. It is the oldest ethnic group in Europe. Through the centuries, waves of Romans, Visigoths, Arabs, French and Spanish overran their country. But the Basques endured, often taking their traditions to the hills and forests for safekeeping. The same Pyrenees that separate Spain from the rest of Europe united the Basques. In 1980 the three Spanish provinces of Bizkaia, Araba and Gipuzkoa were officially joined as the Basque Autonomous Country, but Basques also predominate in three French provinces. It is their ancient mother tongue, a pre-Latin Language, that truly unites them. A language whose origins are unknown. It was spoken here 5.000 years ago, before the Indo-Europeans arrived and spread out across the continent. And it is spoken today in cities and among the shepherds in the hills. Set in one of the world’s more temperate zones, the Basque Country is a place of natural surprises: the climate and mountains, hills and abundant greenery. (Program last offered in Spring 2004) SCOTLAND
(Words and Images: Literature, Culture, Religion and Revolution)
This program will introduce students to the history and culture of southern and northeastern Scotland. In addition to studying the historical, social, political, cultural and artistic dimensions of the region, students will be engaged in studies with an interdisciplinary focus on literature, religion, military history and revolution. Edinburgh will be the center and the base of this trip, while the most important surrounding cities, and those most relevant to the research, will be visited. They will include Ettrick, St. Andrews, Aberdeenshire, and Inverness. Writings by and about James Hogg, Sir Walter Scott, G.K. Chesterton, George McDonald, Samuel Johnson, Jean Cauvin, and Sir Frederick John Forsyth will be among those utilized to understand Scottish history and culture, and students will be encouraged to participate in primary field research. The trip is especially aimed at academically-oriented students who are interested in a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding history and culture. (Program last offered in Spring 2006) SCOTLAND AND ENGLAND
(Culture and history)
Students take a guided cultural and historical journey through southern Scotland and northern England. The trip begins in Edinburgh, the capitol of Scotland and home to such historical sites as the Royal Mile, the Edinburgh Castle and the National Gallery. We continue on to St Andrews, home of golf and Scotland’s oldest university, and then on to Perth where we visit Scone Palace, the former coronation palace of Scottish Kings. Our journey continues on to Glasgow, Scotland’s style capital. Attractions like the Lighthouse, the Burrell Collection and the Gallery of Modern Art reflects the Glaswegian passion for art. Leaving Scotland, we begin our travels in England by exploring the English Lake District and its many offerings, from Hadrian’s Wall to the environs of Beatrix Potter, William Wordsworth and John Ruskin. From there we go on to London where students will have time to visit museums, galleries, shops and the theatre district. (Program last offered in Spring 2005) SICILY
(Western Civilization/Modern Italy)
“Without seeing Sicily one cannot get a clear idea of what Italy is,” wrote Goethe. Barzini adds, “Sicily is the schoolroom model of Italy for beginners, with every Italian quality and defect magnified, exasperated and brightly colored.” Most of the history of the western world took place around the shores of the Mediterranean, and each phase has passed over Sicily, leaving its mark to a greater or lesser extent. Traces of Magna Grecia can be found in places such as Agrigento, Erice, Taormina, Syracuse, Segesta, and Selinunte. Among the finest Roman monuments are the mosaics of Piazza Armerina and the amphitheater of Syracuse. Examples of cultures which followed–Arab, Norman, Swabian, French, and Spanishcan be found throughout the island, often creating a blend of styles and colors. Students are exposed to the traces of all of these cultures. They also are made aware of the socio-economic realities and contradictions of today’s Sicily by visiting the major cities of Palermo and Catania, as well as some small interior towns, local schools, and by meeting with some of the outstanding people who have dedicated their lives to bringing changes and improvements to the island. (Fall 2006) SCOTLAND, WALES AND ENGLAND
Students take a guided cultural and historical journey through Scotland, England and Wales. The trip begins in Edinburgh and continues through the Scottish moorland to the English Lake District and medieval Wales. Visits include historical sites in Edinburgh, such as the Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile and the National Gallery. Destinations also include Inverness, Loch Lomond and Loch Ness. In the Lake District, the program will visit the environs of Beatrix Potter, William Wordsworth and John Ruskin. Visits to castles and cathedrals in Wales are also planned as well as Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon and to Stonehenge. In London, students will be free to explore museums, galleries and shops. A night at the London theater will be built into one of the evenings. (Program last offered in Fall 2003) SOUTHERN GERMANY
(Industry and Culture)
The program begins in the southern part of Germany, particularly Baden Württemberg and Bayern. Although Germany as a whole has experienced significant economic difficulties, the South has managed to make the transition into a high technology region. The trip begins in Stuttgart and proceeds to Ulm and Munich with visits, among others, to Daimler-Chrysler in Stuttgart, the Science Park, the University, and the Daimler Chrysler research center in Ulm. The trip then visits the “German Silicon Valley” around Munich, Siemens Corporation, and the science and technology museum, Deutsche Museum, in Munich. Also included in this journey are visits to popular tourist destinations, to include castles, museums (Staatsgalerie in Stuttgart) and scenic areas. (Fall 2006) SPAIN AND PORTUGAL
(Iberian History)
The purpose of this academic travel is to introduce students to the history, politics and culture of Spain and Portugal. Participants will be visiting Madrid and then proceed to visit Estremadura, Lisbon and Andalusia. Special focus will be directed towards the connection between Iberian history and Latin America.(Fall 2005) STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
(A Scandinavian experience)
The visit to the Scandinavian city of Stockholm reveals a rich Northern European culture, distinct from those below the so called Olive Line. This travel itinerary provides Franklin students with some political, social and economic perspectives that will expand their understanding of Europe as both a Union of common interests and strategies, yet peopled by culturally diverse and independent societies. The students will be expected to involve themselves with this Scandinavian experience by reading literature from such authors as Strindberg, Undset, Nobel and others. Students will visit museums, including the Wasa Museum and the Modern Art Museum, and corporations, heritage parks and the national parliament. The group will also be the guests of the University of Stockholm and Uppsala University in Uppsala (one hour North of Stockholm), where students from the group will participate in classes. (Fall 2006) SLOVENIA, CROATIA AND SERBIA
(History and Politics)
This trip focuses on how several of the states that had been part of the former Yugoslavia have been coping with the effects of the Civil War and the following conflicts since 1995. Students travel by bus and visit Ljubljana, Zagreb, Belgrade and Dubrovnik. The students have the opportunity to meet with speakers on the various issues of recent history, ethnic conflict, war crimes and how they are seen in the areas involved, the implementation of the Dayton Accords, reconstruction and relations with the European Union. (Program last offered Spring 2006) GERMAN-SPEAKING SWITZERLAND
(History and Culture)
Due to characteristics such as linguistic diversity, local authority, direct democracy, and armed neutrality, Switzerland is commonly regarded as an exception to the rule of national development and of limited importance. The academic travel program within Switzerland focuses on the history and culture of the Swiss-German and Romansch urban and rural communities with emphasis on their relationship to the development of medieval and modern Switzerland. Cities and towns visited include Lucerne, Schwyz, Einsiedeln, Bern, Basel, Zürich, St. Gallen, Appenzell, and Chur. In these are studied historical developments such as the founding of the Swiss Confederation in the thirteenth century, the initiation of the Swiss Reformation by Ulrich Zwingli in the sixteenth century, and the introduction of the federal government in the nineteenth century. In addition to Swiss cultural figures such as Heinrich Pestalozzi, Jacob Burckhardt, Gottfried Keller, Paul Klee, and Alberto Giacometti, students encounter also the legacies of aliens who lived and worked in Switzerland such as Desiderius Erasmus, Friedrich Nietzsche, Albert Einstein, Vladimir Lenin, Thomas Mann, and James Joyce. In so doing, students address questions of the identity and role of Switzerland in Europe today. (Program last offered in Spring 2006) TRIESTE/SLOVENIA
(New Europe, New Identities, New Borders)
The politics of collective identity has become a major issue in today’s Europe. Any understanding of the European political scene must still recognize the crucial role played by nationhood as a focus of collective loyalty. The general theme of this study visit is “New National Identities, New Borders, and New Europe.” We will cover various aspects (political, economic, social, cultural, religious) of changed senses of (national) belonging in Europe, in particular in one of the former Yugoslav states, Slovenia. As we travel to Trieste/Italy and Ljubljana/Slovenia, we will historically explore the creation of a national unity in Slovenia in the light of the current developments towards European integration, the collapse of the former Yugoslav state, and the end of wars in former Yugoslavia. Discovering the negotiated nature of the Slovenian nation-state is intended to reveal the cultural assumptions so profoundly mortgaged to twentieth-century notions of home, nation, state, and people. The point of this travel is to achieve an understanding of the process by which intellectuals, politicians, and artists locate their nation’s territory embody it with meaning, and reassert its importance at various historical ruptures. We will visit the main national institutions that represent and create the Slovenian nation, such as the national newspaper Delo, the national public television, the national theatre, the national historical museum, the Slovenian parliament, the national Plecnik’s library and the Ministry of Education while trying to address the question of how one can understand the continuation and persistence of forms of national identity in contemporary Europe. (Program last offered in Fall 2004) TURKEY
(Turkey: the old and the new)
Clichés about Turkey’s unique cultural and geopolitical status abound. Is it part of Europe or part of Asia? Is it an Islamic republic or a European-style democracy? An original member of NATO, Turkey is today still only reluctantly embraced by the European Union, with full membership far from a certainty. The focus of the trip will be upon developing an understanding of why all the disparate and even paradoxical descriptions contain a kernel of truth. Modern Turkey has evolved from a unique historic blend of Greco-Roman culture, Byzantine dominance, and Ottoman politics, culture and religion, all of which were brought into the modern age by the political will of Ataturk starting in the 1920’s. Destinations include Istanbul’s innumerable historical and cultural shrines along with the modern corporate and university environment; Ankara, selected by Ataturk in the centre of the peninsula to be the heart of the new Turkish politics; and the South Mediterranean coast (Antalya/Alanya) with a focus upon Greco-Roman and medieval history, as well as modern day tourism and agriculture. Readings will include an Ottoman history and a biography of Ataturk. (Fall 2005) UKRAINE AND RUSSIA
(States in Transition)
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the successor states have been undergoing rapid and profound changes. Ukraine is presently on a pro-Western course since the "Orange Revolution." Visiting Lviv (Lvov) in western Ukraine and Kiev, the capital, and then going on to Moscow and St. Petersburg, students will be able to compare Ukraine with Russia. Academic considerations will include the historical development of Ukraine and its relations to Russia and the internal tensions in Ukraine between its pro-Western and pro-Russian constituencies. Additional considerations include how the economies of both countries have been changing during this ongoing period of transition. (Fall 2006) VENICE AND ISTRIA
(From Venetian Civilization to Modern Day Croatia)
This cross-disciplinary academic travel program introduces students to the historical, cultural, and environmental dimensions of Venice and Istria (including Pula, Opatija, Brioni, and Rijeka) from a variety of angles. This includes the origin of Venice as a Byzantine province and its role as a world political and financial power, the symbiotic relationship of Venice with its lagoon, the Roman and Venetian dominations in Istria, today's political and cultural life in Istria, the problems of economic transition in Croatia, the architecture and the arts, as well as the problems related to sustainable tourism. This travel requires students to be genuinely committed to this program that includes interactive discussions, teamwork, homework and presentations. Attendance and active participation is required to all meetings, both on campus and during travel. Each student is responsible for two on-site reports on topics assigned in advanced that will reflect knowledge acquired before travel. The scope is to share with the group the knowledge of a particular aspect of our travel and be the "leader" on a specific subject. This will be summarized in two short papers due after travel (the travel experience and additional sources of information should provide the basis for the written part). (Program last offered in Spring 2006) VENICE AND ITS LAGOONS
(History / Economics / Politics / Art / Literature / Environment)
This Academic Travel explores the historical role of Venice as a political, economic and financial power through the visit of various angles of the Venice dimension including the Adriatic Coast with its historical marks of Venice domination. Students will learn to appreciate the art and history of the region, and in particular will consider why Venice became so powerful, will see the region’s art and architecture in relation with the topography, will experience the special conditions of the lagoon and learn about the origins of banking and international trade after the crusades. (Program last offered in Spring 2003) VIENNA, SALZBURG, WÜRZBURG AND ENVIRONS
This trip will explore the cultural and natural heritage of three important cities in Austria and southern Germany: Salzburg, Vienna and Würzburg. The trip will begin in Salzburg with planned visits to the Dom Cathedral, St. Peter's Abbey, and the Fortress Hohensalzburg, Salzburg's Acropolis. In addition to a classical music concert, the itinerary will include a field studies exploration of the natural surroundings and Lake District of the Salzburg area. The trip will then proceed to Vienna, home to the Hapsburgs and Mozart, where visits include the Stephansdom Cathedral, the Schönbrunn Palace and Kunsthistoriches, Albertina and Belvedere Museums. Academic meetings will likely include sessions with corporate representatives from Red Bull International, the US Embassy and visits to both Austrian and US universities. The final stop of the trip will be Würzburg, a stately city at the head of Germany's Romantic Road. In Würzburg, visits include the World Heritage site, the Würzburger Residenz, and the Marienburg Fortress that watches over the city and the surrounding vineyards. The trip will end with a bike ride down the Main River that will include an exploration of the floodplain ecology of the river’s watershed. Throughout the trip, participants will explore the rivers that pass through these cities (the Salzach, Danube, and Main), how the rivers have shaped the cities, and how the cities have impacted the rivers. (Fall 2006) Back to top LATIN AMERICA CUBA
(Contemporary Cuban Culture)
Academic Travel to Cuba is a hands-on introduction to Cuba’s literature, history, sociology and music. The travel will focus on the cultural uniqueness of Cuba, but also on its links to other nations in the region. Through lectures as well as discussions with experts and Cubans from all walks of life, students will get a feel for the rich Cuban past and the difficult Cuban present. There are planned visits to the pedagogical university in the Cuidad de la Libertad, various Hemingway hangouts, such as Cojímar, and to the ICAIC, the headquarters at Contemporary Cuban cinema. Considerable time will be spent outside of Havana in such regions as tobacco-producing Viñales, the colonial city of Trinidad, and Santiago de Cuba. Informal discussions of the politics and economics of contemporary Cuba will be an added benefit, but not the primary focus of the trip. (Program last offered in Spring 2005) MEXICO
This travel program offers the unique opportunity of experiencing the rich history and culture of Mexico, while learning first hand about its vast and intricate ecosystem. The program will focus on eco-tourism from the perspective of conservation biology, ecosystem integrity, and the management of eco-tourism in Mexico. The program shall visit the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, Mexico’s largest protected area and a UNESCO-designated World Heritage site. There the program participates in a tropical forest expedition led by a bilingual biologist. The program continues on the island of Cozumel, home to the world’s second largest coral reef. The historical, cultural and archeological heritage of Mexico will greatly enrich the travel experience with visits to the museums and archeological sites of Mexico City and those of Yucatan, such as Tulum, Merida, and Chichen-Itza. The program will conclude with visits to Oxaca and Huatulco, the former a beautiful colonial (Spanish) city with a history that extends to the Olmec civilization of the 9th century BC; the latter, once a site of a sea turtle slaughter house, now a research and conservation center. (Program last offered in Spring 2004) PATAGONIA
Patagonia – a wild and sparsely populated land claimed by both Chile and Argentina–offers us the spectacular wonders of a natural and unspoiled environment. Students will have the opportunity to trek through mountain valleys and around glacier lakes, rest in little villages and meet with the Tehuelche, Araucani and Pulech indigenous populations. Students will encounter the Guanaco and the Nandù. The group will fly to the coastal village of Rio Gallenas and observe the penguin colony and, if the gods so grant, the migration of the whales as they plough their way to distant seas. The arrival in Santiago, and departure from Buenos Aires, gives the group the possibility of visiting museums and historical sites of these two beautiful cities of the Southern Hemisphere. Academically, students will cross the boundaries of various disciplines from the geophysical aspects of mountain orogeny, plate tectonics, volcanism, the sculpting capacities of moving glaciers, to the history of Chile and Argentina so closely tied to that of Europe and Europeans. The environmental aspects will be concerned with extinction, a normal phenomenon over geological time spans, but a most abnormal phenomenon when occurring over just a few years. Students will observe undisturbed ecosystems and consider the controversial issue of ecotourism. (Program last offered in Spring 2002) PERU
(Culture, History and Economic Development)
Peru is one of the most fascinating countries of Latin America, with incredibly rich and compelling archaeological heritage and great natural beauty. The program includes visits to Lima, Peru’s cultural and business center; Arequipa, one of the most picturesque cities in the country; and Cusco, known to the Incas as the “navel of the world.” One of the cultural highlights will be a travel along the Inca trail to the mystical citadel of Machu Picchu. The economic/development aspects of the program potentially include a visit to Tecsup (an educational and job training/apprenticeship project) in Lima, a visit to a copper mine in Arequipa (Cyprus Corp.), and possibly a gas exploration site near Cusco. (Program last offered in Fall 2002) VENEZUELA
(History, Anthropology, Art and Politics)
The focus of this Academic Travel will be the history, anthropology, art and politics of Venezuela through extensive travel through it. Historically, students will retrace the peregrinations of Simón Bolívar in his attempt to unify Latin America in the early 19th century. Thus, the course will include visits to both the university town of Merida in the Andes as well as the Ciudad Bolívar on the Orinoco River as both cities figured prominently in Bolívar’s quest for independence and for a constitution. Students will also study the indigenous populations of Venezuela, probably the Pemon living in the vicinity of Roraima. Students will approach art indigenous to South America including the sculpture of Jesús-Rafael Soto, to whose work a large museum in Ciudad Bolívar is dedicated. Throughout this Academic Travel, students will gather information about the institutional changes, the “Bolivarian Revolution,” being introduced by Hugo Chavez. (Program last offered Spring 2006) Back to top NORTH AMERICA BOSTON/NEW YORK
(Exploring the Metropolis: Communication, Culture and Business)
This trip focuses on the history and culture of two major east coast US cities as well as their respective business environments. Boston and New England include corporate meetings as well as visits to major historical sites associated with the American Revolution and the colonial days in the Northeast. Historical sites may include visits to Cape Cod and the offshore islands. The stay in New York City focuses on the global influence of business, culture and communication institutions. Business visits may include the New York or American Stock Exchange, Citibank and Bear Stearns. Cultural visits will include a variety of museums, to include the Metropolitan Museum, the Museum of Modern Art or the Guggenheim. Live events such as a theatre or music performance in Boston or New York are included in the cultural component. Communication visits will include a major television network in New York such as ABC or CBS. Visits to the United Nations and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum are also included in this academic travel. (Fall 2006) THE DEEP SOUTH OF THE USA
In her 1944 essay "Some Notes on River Country" Eudora Welty wrote that, "A place that ever was lived in is like a fire that never goes out." This academic travel will explore the music, literature, history and contemporary culture of the Deep South. The South’s literature is famed for its sense of place, and yet the place has given birth to cataclysmic changes in the social fabric and history of the U.S. nation. Change and continuity will be central themes of the travel experience. We’ll explore the place that has given rise to jazz, rock n roll and country music. We’ll read short stories by some of the South’s greatest authors and visit the National Civil Rights Museum. We’ll witness the New South – the culture and economy of the South has changed extensively as multinational corporations recruit and retain talent from across the globe. (Program last offered Spring 2006) NEW YORK AND TORONTO
(Exploring the Metropolis: Communication, culture and business)
This Program includes the history and culture of two major east coast US cities and the most important city in Canada, as well as their respective business scenes. Boston and New England include visits to major historical sites associated with the American Revolution and the colonial days in the Northeast. Corporate visits are also be made in Boston and the surrounding areas. The stays in Toronto and New York City focus on the global influence of business, culture, and communication institutions in these important cities. Business visits include the Royal Bank of Canada, the Toronto Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, and FX Concepts of New York. Cultural visits include a variety of museums, to include the Royal Ontario Museum or Royal Ontario Art Gallery in Toronto and the Metropolitan, the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) or the Guggenheim in New York. Live events such as Stratford-on-Avon in Canada or a Broadway show in New York City are included in the cultural component. Communication visits in both cities include a major television network (CNN and CTV) as well as a special tour of Rogers Cable Network, the largest cable provider in Canada. Other optional site visits include the Ontario Science Center, the United Nations and the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Immigration Museum in New York. (Program last offered in Fall 2004) SAN DIEGO
(The Politics, Economics and Culture of Southern California)
Participants learn about historical and contemporary aspects of California politics, economics and culture with a particular focus on immigration from Mexico and Latin America and its impact on the American South West. The itinerary includes a visit to Old Town and Cabrillo National Park, which introduces the students to the Spanish heritage of California, lectures at San Diego Sate University regarding California politics, an introduction to California economic trends at Morgan Stanley, a visit to the Maritime Museum in San Diego with an introduction to the history of the China trade, visits to local businesses and corporations and a visit across the border to Tijuana, Mexico and the surrounding area. (Fall 2004) TEXAS: DALLAS, AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO
Texas: a whole other country. Like its positioning implies, Texas offers a “world” of experiences. It will primarily serve as the backdrop for travel participants’ study of the business and marketing environments, as well as pop culture, that is so closely associated with the US-the granddaddy of “globalization”. Students will experience first-hand the consumer and service mentality that has been the driving force behind American business for quite some time. The Dallas-Fort Worth Mega-Plex offers a glimpse at a truly cosmopolitan US business center. Here students will have the opportunity to experience the inside workings of an international advertising agency, the hustle of the Dallas Trade Mart, a large corporate headquarters, the Southern Methodist Cox School of Business, as well as local museums, entertainment and shopping venues. As Texas’ Silicon Valley, Austin is a city known for its energy and excitement. It offers the opportunity to visit both large and medium size Texas advertising agencies, a number of corporate headquarters, such as Dell Computers and numerous cultural and performing arts activities. And last, but not least, we will visit San Antonio, the heart and soul of Texas. Along with a strong multi-cultural experience, this Southwestern city gives students the opportunity to visit a number of Fortune 500 companies, local museums, like the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Latin American Arts and take time to enjoy the beauty of the world famous Paseo del Rio. And of course, all the Mexican food and Texas barbeque they can eat. (Program last offered in Spring 2003) Back to top PACIFIC FRENCH POLYNESIA
(The myth and present-day reality)
Louis-Antoine de Bougainville, James Cook, Paul Gauguin and Henri Matisse are but a few who have contributed to the myth of French Polynesia. This trip aims at deconstructing the myth to learn about the historical, sociological, geographical and ethnological reality of French Polynesia. In order to achieve this goal, the trip is divided into two parts. On the one hand, students will meet with different professors from the University of French Polynesia to discuss Polynesian civilization, language, literature, art, culture, geological formations, archeological sites etc. On the other, students will experience these professors’ contributions by visiting 3 different islands: Tahiti, Moorea and Rangiroa. In Tahiti, they will be able to confront traditional and western art (Gauguin), take a jeep safari inland to discover its archeological sites and learn about its luscious vegetation. In Moorea, they will discover sea fauna and attend a traditional dance show. In Rangiroa, they will visit the largest black pearl farm on the island, black pearls being the first source of exports. Other activities include meetings with the Minister of Tourism, the Minister of Commerce and students from the University of French Polynesia. (Program last offered in Fall 2002) Back to top
|
