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CGCC International Association
The CGCC International Association promotes international awareness and travel for studying and teaching abroad. The Association membership is open to students, faculty, and staff, and the community is invited to participate in all meetings and activities.
Next International Association meeting will be Tuesday, February 19, 12:15-1:15, in the Science Lecture Hall. Light lunch provided.
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Students and Faculty Travel to Costa Rica
“I have my moments when I close my eyes and take myself back to Costa Rica, the dew of the clouds touching my face, the sight of lush green plants everywhere, and the beautiful noises of the wild all around. I found something deep inside me.” Nakita Roman, CGCC Study Abroad Student
In May of 2007 twelve students participated in the CGCC Costa Rica Study Abroad Program. Two Coastal Georgia faculty members and three adjunct instructors from the University of Georgia taught courses in Biology, Intercultural Communication, Spanish, and World Literature. Student Shayna Poppell remarked, “Overall, I would say that in all of my twenty years in America I have never learned so much in the classroom or about myself as I did while I was in Costa Rica. I grew and changed as a person…I have never had such a life changing experience like this.”
Courses typically met on a daily basis and the instructors gave homework and other assignments that required students to interact with others in the culture. Spanish students practiced the language with native speakers and biology students studied and researched the local plants. While World Literature students focused on prose from Central America, Intercultural Communication students learned from first hand interaction about the similarities and differences between the communication practices of Costa Rica and the United States.
The group flew to San Jose, Costa Rica on May 10th and traveled by chartered bus to the University of Georgia’s San Luis Research Station. The station was located in the mountains and included lodging, classroom facilities, and daily meals. Kyle Nichols, a study abroad student, reminisced, “It was extremely peaceful and our meals were included so everyone was happy even though we got served Gallo Pinto (a traditional dish in Costa Rica consisting of rice and beans) for all three meals, everyday. Here, we got to see the second largest waterfall in Costa Rica and it was amazing.”
On May 16th the group left the UGA Research Station and went by chartered bus to a hotel located near an active volcano in the town of La Fortuna. Student Nakita Roman elucidated, “The Hotel Lavas Tacotal was amazing because we had the perfect view of Volcan Arenal. I remember standing in the dark a mile from the volcano and watching it erupt, thinking to myself that is unbelievable!” Classes were conducted under an open-air canopy building and the students had numerous tables and picnic areas to choose from for their study and homework.
The next area explored, on May 18th, was the west coast town Playa Samara. The group spent five days at a hotel overlooking the beach taking classes, studying, and sightseeing. Josh Proctor, a study abroad student, declared, “I had never seen the Pacific Ocean before going to Samara. We also did the canopy tour, which is a series of zip lines from tree to tree. I got to ride upside down and backwards. It was freaking crazy! Playa Samara was great.”
The trip returned on May 23rd to the country’s capital San Jose where the National History Museum, the Gold Museum, and National Theatre were toured. Student Shayna Poppell asserted, “So when we left Samara and went to San Jose, I was a little depressed because it was like leaving paradise to go to the ghetto of New York City, but it was a good experience because I learned a lot about the history and culture of Costa Rica. We went to the museums and my favorite was the theatre…it was absolutely beautiful”
Shayna Poppell continued, “Then we traveled [on May 25th] to Turrialba, which was a nice break from the city. The scenery was amazing the greenest hills and mountains I have ever seen in my life! It was like sensory overload for me because I have never seen so many beautiful things at one time.” While in Turrialba students studied at CATIE, a biology and forestry graduate school, and had the opportunity to go white water rafting on the Pecuare River. The hotel offered several rooms for the faculty to use as classrooms and Internet access was readily available to the students.
On May 29th the group traveled to the Caribbean Sea town of Puerto Viejo and toured the Bri Bri Indigenous Reservation. Student Amber Back recalled, “Puerto Viejo, the beach of all beaches! Puerto Viejo was the best to me because we got to jump from waterfalls and swim in crystal blue water…A lot of memories were made there, and we all hated to leave and wished we could have stayed longer.” Classes met under an open-air canopy building and the restaurant staff graciously allowed the students between meals use of the dining room tables for study and homework.
The study abroad excursion concluded with the group’s return to San Jose and departure on May 31st to the United States. Penny Santoro, a study abroad student, stated, “I definitely have seen a change in myself. I know now that I can do whatever I set my mind to and not to give up even if there are obstacles put in my way. This trip was definitely an experience of a life time and if asked if I would do it again the answer would be a definite, YES!”
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Students and Faculty Travel to Argentina
Study Abroad Argentina Program (click here)
CGCC faculty, Shirley Oakley, Assistant Professor of Speech Communication and International Program Coordinator, and Dr. Ntgungwa Maasha, Professor of Geology, took six studets to Argentina and Chile this May. Students studied Intercultural Communication and International Perspectives, both taught by Ms. Oakley, and Physical Geology, taught by Dr. Maasha. Recently retired professor of Biology, Dr. Eugene Keferl, also assisted with the group. Students included William Austin, Nick Reiter, Jeanette Ruiz, and Jayme Temple, all from CGCC, and Samuel Harper, who will be a student at Georgia Southwestern this fall, and Ericka Stewart, a student at the University of Montana.
The host institution for the new study abroad program was the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, the largest university in the Cuyo region, in Mendoza, Argentina. Assisting the group was Alejandrina Alba, the University's International Program Coordinator. Mendoza, which means "joyful land" is located at the foot of the Andes Mountains in Western Argentina. On May 15, the group flew from Atlanta to Santiago, Chile, then crossed the Andes Mountains by bus to reach Mendoza. Students attended classes given by CGCC faculty and lectures, given by UNCuyo faculty. They were also taken on numerous daily excursions, which included a trip to San Rafael, Los Limpios desert region, Lavelle, Uspallata Valley, all to the north of Mendoza. They also visited San Rafael, which is south of Mendoza, and Malargue, which is in Northern Patagonia. Students also visited several museums in Mendoza, the university´s college of argriculture production unit, tango shows, a winery, and other places of interest pertinent to Mendoza and the study of the courses. Four of the students also took Spanish classes at the university. The group crossed the Andes Mountains to return to Santiago and spent three days and nights in Santiago, Chile, and one day in Valpraiso and Vina Del Mar. They returned to the U.S. on June 7.
Oakley and Maasha are planning to offer this program again May 2008, which will include an additional course offering of Macroeconomics, taught by Dr. Phil Szmedra, Associate Professor of Economics, at Georgia Southwestern State University.
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Students and Faculty Travel to Italy!
SUCCESSFUL SUMMER STUDY PROGRAM IN MONTEPULCIANO, ITALY.
This summer, forty college students from the whole University System of Georgia went to Italy for a summer study based in Tuscany accompanied by four faculty members and a program director. Four students from Coastal Georgia Community College participated in the program: Tomas Burki (Camden Center), Jessica Massey (CGCC transient), (Karina Horan (Brunswick campus), and Emily Fraser (CGCC transient). Also a CGCC Professor, Letitia Searcy, who always wanted to go to Italy, signed up as a student. Students who participated in the program were interested in learning about the Italian culture and language, as well as the history and art of Italy. The program was extremely successful in spite of all the worries concerning terrorism during these difficult times.
Accompanying faculty member from Coastal Georgia Community College was Patrizia Stahle, Assistant Professor of History at CGCC. Stahle taught two classes Beginning Italian and World Civilizations II. A native of Italy, Stahle was also extremely useful as interpreter for students and other faculty members. Knowing the language came handy when making reservations for museums in order to avoid long lines or accompanying students to the pharmacy or to the doctor. It was a wonderful experience, Stahle maintains. According to Stahle, teaching and studying abroad represents a unique experience for faculty and students alike. It is an opportunity to learn, study and explore together while immersed in a foreign culture. It is teaching “the way it should be, the way it used to be.” A summer study abroad is also an opportunity to see old friends and school mates. Before leaving for Italy, Stahle contacted a fellow student who is now an expert in art restoration at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Architect Antonio Godoli gave the Georgia students the VIP tour and allowed them to visit the Vasari Corridor that is usually closed to the public. The students felt very special on that day.
The students wrote in their travel journals that this summer study in Italy was a life-changing experience. They now feel more confident about themselves, more cultured and more open-minded. They enjoyed meeting with different people, learning a foreign language, visiting a considerable number of monuments otherwise seen in pictures and film. The students also loved the host town, Montepulciano, a charming hill town that stands in a very attractive setting between two valleys in Tuscany. The students were pleased with staying in apartments rather than a dormitory, and really enjoyed the meals served at the restaurant in town. According to the students the food was excellent, Most students spent their free time for independent travel. They learned a lot about how to travel smart and look out for themselves.
Moreover, the students learned about the European Union, the euro, and the new European Constitution. Talking with the local youth, they found out that the Italians are experiencing an economic recession. The European Union is extremely popular as it offers a long-term political direction and also fiscal sanity. However, strict fiscal rules laid down by the EU are making it difficult for Italy to come out of a recession while the introduction of the euro led to such dramatic price rises in some sectors that the currency is now becoming unpopular.
The students also noticed that the Italians are friendly with the Americans even though the war in Iraq is unpopular in Italy and one can see peace flags displayed everywhere. Although Italy has been a faithful ally of the United States, there is a general impression that the government’s policy might lead to terrorist attacks. Since Italy has always been a favorite tourist destination, the Italian authorities have increased security and protective measures everywhere in airports, train stations, and museum. There were new security check points in popular public places such as St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome.
In the last few years, the Italy program has been among the most successful ones in the USG. The program is based in Montepulciano, a Renaissance hill town in Tuscany. The town is centrally located between Rome and Florence, with easy access to bus and rail transportation. Students reside in apartments located around the heart of Montepulciano. Meals are served in a local restaurant downtown. Classes are held in a medieval fortress that has been transformed in a school. Students attend classes on Mondays and Wednesdays and take field trips accompanied by faculty on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Each professor is responsible for his/her field trips. In fact, excursions are an integral part of the curriculum. Weekends are free for independent travel and study. A great variety of courses are offered every summer—world literature, history, art appreciation, business, political sciences, and foreign languages. All courses are transferable and already in existence in the University System of Georgia. The program aims to promote international awareness, transcend borders, and especially expand minds.
Eligible students who are interested in participating in the various study abroad programs offered by the USG must be current students enrolled in the USG, must be 18 years of age, must have a GPA of at least 2.0 and must have a passport. Financial aid, and federal aid in the form of PELL grants and HOPE scholarships are available. Anyone interested in studying abroad can visit the USG International Education website at www.usg.edu/oie/study_abroad
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