While many students will be spending their winter break in Southern California, a few will be enjoying the bright rays and warm summer breezes of New Zealand and Australia as part of the college’s study abroad program from Jan. 9-30.
“There is nothing like getting off the plane and feeling that light breeze of warm air, seeing the palm trees, and being met by the immigration authorities who wear a beautiful, nice shirt and shorts,” professor Dr. Arthur Verge said.
Verge and fellow professor Dr. William Doyle will be leading the 22-day trip to explore the history and culture of New Zealand and Australia.
Students will spend the first leg of the trip in Auckland, New Zealand learning of not only the modern history of the city, but the history of the region’s native people, the Moari.
“We can look at the history of the colonial development from England as well history of World War II because much of the war was fought down there in the Pacific,” Verge said.
From there, students will travel to Sydney, Australia where they will delve into the region’s rich history and culture and explore some of the area’s natural environments including the Blue Mountains.
“It’s a perfect setting,” Doyle said. “Not every city works for study abroad, but because it’s such a rich arts center and history center, it’s a natural place to base a program like ours that’s based on music and history.”
Four courses will be offered on the trip taught by Verge and Doyle, including History 4, History of Modern Civilization; Political Science 2, Comparative Politics; Music 11, Music Appreciation Survey and Music 12, Music Cultures of the World.
“The Sydney Opera Orchestra is one of the best orchestras in the world,” Doyle said. “Plus, you have the contact with the aboriginal culture and the aboriginal music.”
Both Doyle and Verge feel strongly about how beneficial and positive of an experience the study abroad program can be for a student.
“The thing I tell students is that the best investment you can make is in yourself, when you do a study abroad program it just gives you that leg up when you are applying to colleges,” Verge said.
The mixture of instruction and group activities and the students’ freedom to explore makes it easy for the students to better understand the people and their lifestyles.
“Seeing other people and other cultures helps make you that well rounded, well-educated person that college is all about,” Verge said. “Students can immerse themselves immediately in somebody else’s culture,” Doyle said. “They can really step into their footsteps.”
Another positive factor is that there are only 40 spots available on the trip which makes for a very small, closely knit group where students will get to know other students very quickly.
“When they are first on the trip, most students don’t know anybody,” Verge said. “They are kind of shy but then they get to know each other and become best friends.”
Interested students may contact Doyle by calling (310) 660 3717 ext. 1 or via E-mail at [email protected]. There will also be an information meeting Tuesday at 1 p.m. in Music 125.
“We are also offering a seven. day extension to Fiji,” Doyle said.
Jorge Estrada, who went on EC’s study abroad trip to Europe during the summer of 2004, is looking forward to this winter’s trip during the winter break.
“It’s a good experience to know other people in other countries and other cultures…it’s a big change from here to there,” he said.
