Hood College seeing the world

By Kerri Sheehan

Traveling the world seems to be everyone’s dream these days. The taste of freedom mixed with the exhilarating high of culture shock is irresistible to a college student. Hood College, in an effort to bring unique educational experiences to those interested, offers students the opportunity to travel to more than twenty different countries worldwide.

There are two options for students to choose from, says Kate Emory, the director of study abroad programs at Hood. The long-term study abroad trip allows a student to attend an international college in the country of their choosing for an entire semester or year. The sort-term trip is usually held over summer, spring break or J-term and lasts only a few weeks.

According to Emory, about 50 students have studied abroad on long-term trips in the past three years. Countless others have participated in short-term trips.

Iris Foxx, a senior English major, attended a short term study abroad trip in summer 2013.

“I was research assistant for Dr. Mitchell-Buck,” says Foxx. “She was doing some research on the Chester Cycle Plays because that’s her main field of research. So we went to Chester, England because they were doing another cycle play. It was an interesting mix of history and culture.”

Foxx’s experience was unique considering she was one of three people who attended the trip. She, Dr. Mitchell-Buck and one other student spent two weeks traveling in and around the town of Chester to study this specific form of drama.

“We went to the Royal Shakespeare Company, but that wasn’t even good,” says Foxx. “We saw two plays at the Globe Theatre and they were phenomenal!”

Kelsey Koerner, a senior Spanish and psychology major at Hood, took the plunge to attend a long-term trip in Bueno Aires, Argentina. For five months, Koerner attended University of Belgrano to fulfill her Spanish major requirements.

“Students studying in the Hood foreign language department (French, Spanish, German, Middle Eastern Studies) are required to study in a location where that language is spoken, and take courses in that language,” says Emory. “Nearly all of the students who study in Germany, France and Spain are language majors who go on programs where fluency is required.”

While abroad, Koerner took five Spanish language courses, lived in a nearby apartment and traveled in her free time.

During her time in Argentina, Koerner experienced a few setbacks with her visa which only allowed her to travel within the country. But that didn’t keep her from seeing all that she could.

“I ended up going west to Mendoza which is their wine country and I took a tour of their bodegas which are their vineyards,” explains Koerner. “I also went horseback riding in the Uco Valley which is next to the Andes Mountains. The last place I traveled was to see the Iguazu Falls and that was amazing. It’s one of the natural wonders of the world.”

Dan Wobbleton, a senior environmental biology major, also studied abroad to fulfill a requirement for his major.

“We spent two weeks snorkeling and learning about all of the native life in San Salvador Island, Bahamas,” says Wobbleton.

Wobbleton shared his short-term study abroad experience with 12 other students along with three instructors. In the two weeks spent in the ocean, Wobbleton says his coolest discoveries were sea turtles, squid and a rare form of lobster.

“I would definitely recommend studying abroad,” says Wobbleton. “The top experience I’ve had here at Hood has been my trip abroad.”

Ray Rivera, a senior psychology major, agrees that his experience traveling abroad on his short-term trip a year ago was one of the most memorable events in his college career.

“Two summers ago they had a two week study abroad trip to Berlin,” says Rivera. “I knew I wanted to study abroad, I think it’s a great experience and the fact that it was during the summer was perfect because as much as I would love to commit a whole semester to it, I don’t know if I would survive. So this was a good getting your feet wet experience.”

Rivera, along with eight other students, studied the history and culture of Berlin, Germany. Short term study abroad programs are offered in several different countries including Costa Rica, South Korea, Israel/Palestine, France, Spain, Mexico, Peru, Haiti, and Ireland, says Emory.

“We did a lot,” says Rivera. “We went to the Olympic stadium and we also saw Pfaueninsel, which is called Peacock Island in English. And that was a more rural part of the city. It was nice to see the city but it was also nice to see the other aspects, the rural suburban areas.”

For Rivera, studying abroad was an opportunity to experience a foreign city and its customs without having to commit to a semester-long excursion.

“I think what people should really be aware of is the currency and a foundation of the language,” says Rivera. “You should learn the basic customs and courtesies of the country before going. So from there, the study abroad experience is supposed to help immerse you in the culture and learn more about it.”

Though the study abroad office is fairly new to the Hood College campus (being nonexistent between 2003-2011, according to Emory), they are dedicated to helping students discover the world outside of the close-nit college.

“New programs and opportunities are being added as the program grows,” says Emory. “It is an exciting time for the office and for Hood.”