For
students interested in studying abroad next summer, there is no better time
than now to be researching and weighing all your international travel options.
The University of Oklahoma’s College
of International Studies hosts study abroad opportunities for students in over
100 cities across more than 50 countries for a spring break, summer, semester,
or year, according to OU’s education abroad website.
Among the many study abroad programs
offered by the College of International Studies are the Journey programs.
Journey programs are summer travel seminars designed to introduce OU students
to world affairs through the lens of a particular country or region, according
to Alice Kloker, director of education abroad for the College of International
Studies at OU.
“The Journey programs are taught in
English by OU faculty for OU students, and include cultural excursions and
experiential learning components in the local country or region where
programming is taking place,” Kloker said.
Journey to China was the first
Journey program, launched in 1997 as an initiative of President Boren to
introduce OU students to Chinese civilization, economics and politics,
according to Kloker. Journey to Italy was formally established in 2006. In
2009, Journey to Latin America was introduced, which took place in Chile and
Peru that year. It went to Peru every year thereafter, and this year will take
place in Brazil. This summer, the College of International Studies will be
introducing two new Journey programs: Journey to Africa (Tanzania) and Journey
to Turkey, according to Kloker.
Student participation in Journey
programs has continued to grow over the years.
“Between 2010 and 2012, a total of
175 students participated in one of our Journey programs,” Kloker said.
Steven Dixon, a senior at OU,
participated in the 2012 Journey to Latin America: Peru and spent four weeks
emersing himself in Peruvian culture.
“I had done some cultural events for
Peru the semester before the trip, so I was already somewhat oriented with
Peruvian culture. I’ve always wanted to go to Latin America, so I took the
first opportunity I had once I found out about the Journey program to Peru, and
it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in my life,” Dixon said.
Most students become involved in a
Journey program, unsure of what to expect, since they are generally unfamiliar
with the foreign country they are visiting.
“I was expecting to expand my
competency and comprehension in Spanish, which I definitely did. But I also
learned to be independent and gained confidence by being able to do things in a
country that wasn’t my own,” Dixon said.
The Journey to Italy is the most
popular summer study abroad program at OU. The Italian Center of the University
of Oklahoma is located in Arezzo, Italy, and works in conjunction with this program.
Lauren Byrd, an engineering major at OU, participated in the 2012 Journey to
Italy program last summer.
“One of my friends in high school
actually told me that if I ever got the chance to go to Italy, I have to go. So
when the opportunity to study abroad came up, I was really interested in the
Journey program to Italy,” Byrd said.
The month-long Journey takes
students through the cities of Rome, Florence, Venice and Arezzo. Art history is taught on this journey, and
gives students a first-hand learning experience in Italian art.
“Being able to see works of art that
I only saw in textbooks before I actually went to Italy was just so incredible
to me. I really took on an appreciation and interest for things that I never
really had thought about before my Journey to Italy,” Byrd said.
Travel and program prices for 2013
have not yet been determined. Last year, the program costs for Journeys varied
between $3,200 and $4,000, according to Kloker. Generous fundings have been
allocated each year to help offset the cost for students wanting to study
abroad.
Students that are interested in
participating in the 2013 summer Journey programs are encouraged to attend a Study
Abroad 101 session to learn more about the study abroad application process.
The next Study Abroad 101 session
will be held this Thursday, Sept. 27 at 4 p.m. in Zarrow Hall, room 120. To
learn more about the 2013 Journey programs, visit the study abroad website at
studyabroad.ou.edu.
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Lauren Byrd, Journey to Italy 2012 participant,
describes the significance of the Weekend of the Jousts flag she took home from Arezzo, Italy last summer. |
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