Terra Nostra Fal 2011

Terra Nostra* FALL 2011

*Latin for “Our World”

Published each semester by the International Education Center of Georgia College Available online at gcsu.edu/international

International Symposia and Visiting Ceramicists from Anadolu University Sandra Trujillo, Associate Professor of Art Last July I had the opportunity to participate in an international symposium for the ceramic arts at Anadolu University in Eskişehir, Turkey.

Anadolu is one of Turkey’s largest academic research institutions with many programs that serve as models for other universities within the country. What impressed me the most in the visual arts at Anadolu was the level of commitment to develop, support and realize international symposia. This support is part of the university’s philosophy and aim to be a leader in international education. The art symposium, which occurs every other year, sponsors 20 ceramic artists from 12 countries.

During the two weeks the artists experience Turkish culture, exchange ideas, methodologies and commonalities both personally and academically. Anadolu University students and faculty were also in attendance throughout the program. I found their students to be both curious and at ease with international guests. I sensed that the students knew the programs were developed to help them become better artists and to create relationships with artists outside of their own country.

Two of the key organizers of this particular art symposium are artists and professors Sibel Sevim and Cemal Sevim. Sibel Sevim is the head of

the ceramics faculty at Anadolu. The main push to create international symposia comes from the dean of Art at Anadolu, Professor Zehra Cobanli, who is a leading figure and art advocate within Turkey. Cobanli established the ceramics program at Anadolu Interim President Stas Preczewski welcomes University in 1985 and visiting ceramicists Sibel Sevim and Cemal continues to support Sevim from Anadolu University in Turkey. and work to improve the international components of their curriculum.

In response to my question, “How did your school begin to develop these international symposia?” Cobanli stated that “First you see that your students and faculty need it! But then you need to involve the whole (See “International Symposia” on page 3)

Nursing Students Study in Sweden Reagan Cumbie and Callie Denmark, Nursing students on exchange at Linnaeus University This fall, two Georgia College nursing students – juniors Callie Denmark and Reagan Cumbie –are studying on exchange at the Växjö, Sweden Campus of Georgia College’s partner Linnaeus University, where they are completing required nursing credits toward their degrees. At the same time, Helena Lindhult from Linnaeus University is studying at Georgia College, the second Linnaeus nursing student to study at GC for a full semester.

This exchange is the result of the 2006 University System of Georgia faculty development seminar, Denmark and Nursing students Callie Denmark Sweden: The Public Welfare State, led and Reagan Cumbie in front of

by Dr. Dwight Call, assistant vice presithe castle in Kalmar, Sweden dent for International Education. Dr. Barbara Funke, professor and coordinator of Community Health & Human Services, and Dr. Jim Winchester, professor of philosophy, participated in the seminar.

In March 2011, Dr. Björn Albin, associate professor, School of Health and Caring Sciences at the Växjö Campus, visited Georgia College and met with various Health Sciences faculty and administrators, including Dr. Sallie Coke, assistant professor of nursing and international coordinator for the School of Nursing, and the two worked out the details of the first semester-long nursing exchange.

(See “Nursing Students Study in Sweden” on page 3)

INDEX International Symposia and Visiting Ceramicists ......................... 1 Nursing Students in Sweden........... 1 Joie de vivre: Milledgeville .............. 2 Connecting International and U.S. Students .............................. 4 Theatre Students Finalists at Cannes Film Festival....................4 GC at Model United Nations............. 5

Liberal Arts MBA ..............................8 Never Stop Studying Abroad ..............8 Travel to Athens (Greece)................9 My Immersion in Belize....................9 Visiting ISA in Peru and Chile.......10 Student Teaching in London..........11 Papers on Halimeda.......................11 Campus Notes................................. 12

Healthcare in India........................... 5

News from Our Alumni .................. 13

International Picnic and Open House ................................7

International Day ............................16 Global Scholars Pledge Form.........16

GEORGIA COLLEGE

Joie de vivre: Milledgeville Jason Wynn, International Admissions Counselor

Stas Preczewski Interim President Sandra Jordan Provost Tom Ormond Associate Provost

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION CENTER STAFF: Dwight Call Assistant Vice President for International Education

If you’ve noticed more melodic, sophisticated language on campus, you’re not imagining it. Georgia College has been infused with more than a handful of European students over the past year – several of whom come from France. In 2010 and 2011 seven very talented degree-seeking French students entered the university. Lucine Colignon, Thomas Vity and Anne-Béatrice Lopez Ratouis are three of Lucine Colignon, international mass communications major from Noyon, France.

Libby Davis Associate Director and International Student Adviser Leah Barber Study Abroad Adviser Liz Havey Study Abroad Adviser Jason Wynn International Admissions Counselor Mary Anderson Secretary Lucine Colignon, Callie Heisner Interns Sarah Crile, Ciara Evans Student Workers

Location: 223 Lanier Hall Phone: 478-445-4789 Fax: 478-445-2623 Campus Box 49

Georgia College, Georgia's designated Public Liberal Arts University, combines the educational experience expected at esteemed private liberal arts colleges with the affordability of public higher education.

Its four colleges - arts and sciences, business, education and health sciences provide 6,600 undergraduate and graduate students with an exceptional learning environment that extends beyond the classroom, with hands-on involvement in faculty research, community service, residential learning communities, study abroad and myriad internships.

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them. All were referred by Go Campus/ASSE International Student Exchange Program, a nonprofit organization that assists in recruiting, placing and preparing international students for study in the United States.

ates. Lucine has several possibilities in mind for the long-term, but right now she enjoys being as active as she can in the Georgia College community as an intern in the International Center and a member of the Model United Nations.

Thomas comes to Georgia College from the Norman commune of Marcilly-sur-Eure, just west of Paris.

Thomas came here for many reasons, but most importantly he chose Georgia College because he could easily improve his English skills in this intimate environment, and he knew that he would need a quality education to secure a job in a competitive global market.

Thomas is a management major who plans on working for a business and perhaps opening his own business one day. He’s enthused about being active on campus as he plans to join a fraternity and form a martial arts organization. He hopes that his business education and his past and present experience in the martial arts will allow him to open some type of business related to the martial arts.

Lucine comes to our campus from the Gallo-Roman city of Noyon, France, just northeast of Paris.

Although she could have gone to a number of U.S. schools, including those in the Northeast, she chose Georgia College because of the good reputation, warm weather and “southern hospitality.”

Thomas Vity, international management major from Marcilly-sur-Eure, France.

In response to how she knew she would come to the United States, Lucine said “After an exchange program in Germany I knew I wanted, and most of all, needed foreign languages around me.” She explored the “Au pair” and “guest worker” options, and she also thought about studying in her home country.

However, she didn’t want to give up the chance to truly improve her foreign language skills. Georgia College came as a natural fit as she observed that we have small classes and plenty of opportunities to be involved on campus. She knew that coming here would definitely be a language immersion.

Lucine plans to study mass communication and possibly pursue a second major in French. She said that having a second major in French would allow her to teach if she needs an alternative when she gradu-

Anne-Béatrice Lopez Ratouis, international mass communication major from Gilly-sur-Isère, France.

And finally, Anne-Béatrice, who was born in Spain, came to us directly from the commune of Gilly-surIsère, in the Alps region of eastern France. She knew that she wanted to come to Georgia College over other universities because she is accustomed to small towns, and “…the college itself is very pretty and represents what [she] pictures an American university to be.” Anne-Béatrice is working on a mass communication degree with a minor in Spanish, and hopes to work one day for a luxury hotel or restaurant, many of which she can find right back home in the Alps region of France. She says that she’d like to visit Asia, but possibly move back to Europe in the end. She is currently a member of the Kappa Delta sorority and the Spanish Honors Society. She also uses her language skills by tutoring in the language lab.

All three students say that they enjoy Milledgeville tremendously. Some students would be apprehensive about coming to a small town, but Lucine, Thomas and Anne-Béatrice have found Milledgeville and the Georgia College community both welcoming and friendly. They both admit that life here would be easier with a car, but they still always have something to do.

International Symposia continued from page 1 cipline. “A program of this size necessitates international exchange,” said Sibel. She continued, “Students need to know their own culture and influences, and also need to know that the world is much, much larger.”

This September, our Art Department invited Professor Sibel Sevim and Assistant Professor Cemal Sevim to Georgia College as part of the Visiting Artist program. While they were here, they not only worked for two weeks with art students, but they were also busy meeting with artists within the community, administrators and faculty. They met with Dr. Dwight Call and his staff in the International Education Center to discuss the potential partnership and exchange between students and faculty. They met with Dean of Arts and Sciences Ken Procter and Interim President Stas Preczewski to discuss the importance of developing international exchanges and support of visual art to inspire knowledge of other cultures.

Art students pose with visiting ceramicists Cemal Sevim and Sibel Sevim (second and third from the right in the second row). Professors Valerie Aranda and Sandra Trujillo are first and second from the right in the first row.

faculty, outside sponsors, and administrators – otherwise it won’t work.”

Sibel added, “It is also important to know your faculty well, so that they can contribute using their own special skills.” These are welcome words of wisdom from colleagues and advocates for art as a vehicle for student development.

Their ceramic art program is one of the largest that I know that bridges art and industry within the curriculum. They operate with 11 full-time tenure track professors of ceramic art and eight lecturers with laboratory technicians in each specialized area. In addition to their Bachelor of Arts program, they also offer master’s and doctorate programs within the dis-

Their visit, demonstrations, discussions and exhibition of ceramic art inspired many young artists within the Art Department and sparked their interest in Turkey. Students were directly involved in their two-week long visit to the art department and fully participated in art process workshops in the Grassman Ceramic Studio. Both artists demonstrated traditional and innovative techniques in form and surface development of ceramic objects. “Ceramics tells a people’s history,” said Sibel. “To practice and share these techniques inspires passion in the students and it is our responsibility to do this.”

As an educator, I enjoyed hearing this from another artist and educator.

It felt good to see the students and other participants welcome and connect to our artists from Turkey in a way that mirrored the generosity that I had experienced at Anadolu University. Our future hope is to offer student and faculty international exchange opportunities in all disciplines between Georgia College and Anadolu University in order to build stronger international relationships.

Nursing Students Study in Sweden “Callie and Reagan will study the same areas as their GC cohort, so they will not miss anything,” says Dr. Coke. “They will also do their clinical rotations there, taking care of Swedish patients in Swedish hospitals.” The nursing students were chosen competitively from among 16 applicants seeking the study abroad opportunity.

Callie and Reagan report that they love Sweden: “This has been an experience that has absolutely changed us in all the best ways. We have learned so much about ourselves; there are so many challenges to overcome and we have been able to figure out how to overcome so many difficulties. When we first arrived, we felt like we were thrown into a crazy adventure. We had to learn everything – how to figure out public transportation (and we learned this by getting lost a few times), which foods we like, where everything is and the people that we want as friends. There are around 300 exchange students at Linnaeus with us, so we were all in the same boat. We had interesting experiences with those from different countries – not many exchange students are native English speakers. We have learned how to play guessing games and use sign language to convey what we want or guess what someone else wants to say to us. In our city, Växjö, we have a small town, a castle and several lakes. It's a beautiful city, very small and quiet. We often walk around the lake to get some fresh air – however, it’s very rainy here. A few years ago they only had 23 minutes of sunlight during the month of December.”

Classes here are going well. All classes are taught from an intercultural perspective; we have a diverse group of people in each class. Our assignments all include investigation of health topics prominent in countries other than our own. On top of classes, we are spending time working in the hospital on a geri-

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atric floor, and we are following a community care nurse around while she works. Most of those we care for do not speak English, but we have learned to overcome this boundary by learning words and using sign language in order to care for our patients. We have also gotten to visit many Swedish homes – they are usually small on the outside, but beautifully decorated. Our welcome has been very warm, especially by our patients. We are thankful that they have let us treat them, and we have learned so much more here than we might have the opportunity to learn at a hospital back home. During our clinical at GC we are assigned to one patient and usually do only the things that we know. Here in Sweden, we shadow a nurse. We typically have six to eight patients and we provide almost all of the care to the patients under the guidance of the RN. Two key factors have made the study abroad exchange possible: the practice of nursing in Sweden is almost identical to the United States, and English is spoken extensively in Sweden. The students are experiencing health care practice in a nationalized medical system in Sweden.

Denmark and Cumbie will rejoin their GC cohort for the spring semester. Both plan to complete their bachelor’s degrees in fall 2012, and believe their international experience will aid in pursuing advanced degrees. Georgia College’s School of Nursing hopes to make the study abroad component a regular occurrence, Coke said, and in fact, two nursing students will study in Sweden for spring 2012: Caroline Kilday and Kimberly Nix. “We are committed to making international study a focus area for our students,” said Dr. Coke. “International study will enable our students to benefit from learning about other health care systems and practices as well as from experiencing other cultures. It adds substantially to their education.”

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Connecting International and U.S. Students Lucine Colignon, Intern, International Education Center, and Coordinator, Connections Program Interest in the International Education Center’s Connections program continues to grow as Georgia College students seek to learn more about the world and other cultures. This fall more than 25 U.S. students applied to this volunteer cross-cultural friendship program. U.S. students are paired with new international students to help them transition into their new environment and to foster cross-cultural learning.

For the 2011 fall semester, 15 new international students were matched with 15 returning U.S. students. The participants met for the first time to share lunch during the “meet and greet” time organized by the International Center. They had the opportunity to learn more about one another and were able to measure their knowledge on a quiz over geography, food and other cultural topics.

“The goal is for the new relationship to be mutually beneficial so that both parties can share and learn from each other,” said Libby Davis, associate director of International Education and international student adviser.

International students are encouraged to apply to the program in their first semester as it aims to help them connect and adapt to their new environment. Joining the program provides wonderful opportunities for international students to learn about U.S. culture, but it is also an excellent way for U.S. students to get ready for or expand a study abroad experience.

Amy Theobald, a senior at GC who studied abroad during the summer “wanted to learn more about other cultures and build international relationships.”

The pairing process starts with an application and is followed by a very short interview in order for the International Center to learn more about each applicant's interests. The Center aims to match participants with similar interests, but applicants are encouraged to be openminded toward other interests and backgrounds.

“I applied to the program,” said Elizabeth Clayton, a U.S. participant minoring in French “because I wanted to meet an international student, and that was the easiest way for me to do so while in college.”

Denica Yotova, an exchange student from Bulgaria, indicated the same reason to participate. Meeting American students in class is not always easy, but the Connections program was a great opportunity for her to find a new friendship during her year-long exchange program in Georgia.

She was matched with a U.S. student who studied in the Czech Republic and Greece through the programs offered by the International Center.

Ciara Evans, who traveled to the Czech Republic with the Jazz Band in May 2011 and is a student worker in the International Education Center, and Paz Juanes Arnal, exchange student from Valencia University in Spain, have been matched in the Connections program.

The individual Connections participants can decide what activities they would like to share as part of the program. The partners arrange to meet as they have time to share a range of social activities. A few of the pairs mentioned meeting for a meal or spending a few hours sipping coffee. Others have enjoyed a movie night with some cookies and a glass of milk to make it a perfect American experience.

Amy Theobald and her Japanese connection, Yuki Kawakita, decided to share a homemade dinner followed by a gathering around board games and a movie. “I would recommend the program because it gives you an opportunity to understand other ways of life and you learn more about yourself too,” Theobald said.

Theatre Students Finalists at Cannes Film Festival Short films produced by Georgia College theatre students for a Maymester course became finalists for an international competition.

The 58th annual Cannes Lions Film Festival held in Cannes, France, in June selected three of six Georgia College commercials for the Cannes Lions 2011: Make an Ad Competition.

Georgia College students submitted their films in the competition’s advertising category, competing against thousands of professional cinematographers. The students worked with guest artist and local cinematographer Tom Wise to produce one- to three-minute videos promoting a new perspective for name brand slogans.

Joe Dumford, senior theatre major, in wings from Troy Hencely’s “The Tooth Fairy ... Only Better.” Eric Griffis, Department of Theatre costume designer, is standing to the side.

The finalists’ films included: • AT&T’s “Rethink Possible” campaign by Gabrielle Byndloss and Erin Borain • Glacéau VitaminWater’s “Hydration Only Better” by Troy Hencely • Chevrolet’s “How far would you go to seize an opportunity?” by Joseph Dumford (See “Cannes Film Festival” on Page 6)

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Georgia College at the National Model United Nations Competition Sarah Crile, Student Worker in the International Education Center and President, Georgia College’s Model UN Team When I came to Georgia College in the fall of 2009, I sought involvement on campus. I attempted various clubs and organizations and all were great, but one in particular stuck with me: Model United Nations (MUN). I joined that same semester and soon found myself immersed in such diverse international topics from food insecurity to nuclear nonproliferation. For those who are unaware of how MUN operates, it is a merging of debate and international affairs. You represent a nation and its views on a topic and seek to come to a consensus with other nations (i.e. your fellow students) on how to solve that issue. The point of Model United Nations is to act like the actual United Nations and attempt to find solutions to the world’s biggest issues.

As one can guess, it can get pretty tricky trying to get Iran and the United States to agree on arms treaties. That being said, Model UN is a great way to increase your understanding of global politics and international affairs.

represented at a few competitions and conferences, the most notable being the National Model United Nations Conference held annually in the fall in Washington, D.C. Last year I had the great joy of attending our club’s first National Model United Nations (NMUN) conference. This year (Oct. 21-23) Georgia College returned and represented France. I had the pleasure of leading nine students to our nation’s capitol. Conferences are always the highlight for any MUN club or team. I love dressing in suits and meeting students from all over the nation and the world. I love walking around a big city like Washington and exploring the history, the food and the people. Outside of the conference, which consists of nearly three full days of sessions, we had the chance to explore the seat of our nation’s government.

One of the great things about Model UN is that it heightens skills that you already possess. Researching, public speaking, debate, writing and conflict resolution are all areas that most people have some experience in. When I first joined MUN, I was terrified of public speaking and now I have no qualms about giving impromptu speeches to crowds of people. These skills I have mentioned are crucial during a simulation or at a conference to convey your country’s agenda and opinions.

As president of Georgia College’s MUN team, I had arranged a tour of the U.S. Capitol and got passes into the Senate and House of Representative chambers. After our tour, we sat in on a Senate session and got to see legislation being debated and discussed. Then the next morning, as I was watching the news and eating breakfast, the legislation that I had just heard the day before in the Senate was being discussed on the morning news. I had literally seen history happen. That kind of experience is something I will always remember.

After putting all that hard work into researching and learning about your country, the greatest reward is participating in a conference. The role playing nature of simulations takes on a realistic tone when every school represents a different nation. You may think that role playing a nation can get dry but I can assure you that it is the complete opposite. Our school has been

Every time I go to a conference, I become more confident in my abilities as both a delegate and as a leader. Model UN has fostered growth in multiple areas of my life and I am so grateful for the opportunities that have been afforded me through my participation in MUN.

Healthcare in India Dr. Susan Steele, Assistant Professor of Nursing In July, I was privileged to travel to New Delhi, India, to represent Georgia College at an international convention hosted by one of our new academic partners, the International Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR). This institution offers graduate programs in healthcare administration and research, and the conference theme was, “Green, Safe and Smart Practices in Health Care.” I spoke about global aging and the impact that it is having on international health systems, particularly in terms of human capital for the provision of care. I shared the safe patient handling movement that is currently transforming many of the ways that nurses in the United States provide hands-on care. I listened to sessions about sanitation, hospital construction and the use of technology in health care institutions in India. It was exciting to meet health care professionals with very different skills and contributions to health. Since I was the lone nurse presenter at the conference, I felt especially proud to represent the perspective of my profession.

IIHMR was gracious enough to allow me to stay in one of the guest rooms at the school. During my stay I was provided meals in the student dining hall, and I enjoyed a modest but comfortable private room with a view of the campus gardens. On my last evening at the institute, I was able to talk with a small group of students, all eager to learn more about the educational opportunities available in the United States. Many of them hope to study in American universities after completing their current studies, and public health seemed to be the most prevailing interest. One of these students had just completed his baccalaureate degree

Dr. Susan Steele, assistant professor of nursing, with Georgia College’s green towel at India Gate in Delhi, built in memory of the 90,000 Indian soldiers who died in World War I. (See “Healthcare in India” on Page 6)

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Healthcare in India

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in Nursing and shared his dream of contributing to international health. I was impressed by the organization and enthusiasm of these students not only to the health care system in their own nation, but also to global health.

The climate and flora of India appeared very familiar to me, as a result of living in the similar climate of Florida for 26 years of my adult life. I had been briefed and was therefore prepared to see the extreme poverty and slums of both Delhi and New Delhi. What I did not anticipate was the incredible sensory experience of India. Clothing worn by most women was brightly colored, and the textiles were striking in appearance, including the Conference on Green, Safe and Smart Practices in Healthcare sponsored by the International Institute of Health Management Research: Dr. Susan Steele, assistant professor of nursing is on the right. beautiful sari worn by a construction worker who allowed me to photograph and tolerance for persons of different beliefs. I visited a Muslim her. Fresh fruits and vegetables are sold in tiny roadside markets, and mosque, a Sikh temple and a Bahá’í temple, and each was an architecthey appeared fresh and wholesome. While walking through residential turally beautiful space for connecting with the divine. The highlight of areas, the fragrance of outdoor meal preparation stimulated my my sightseeing was a visit to the home of Mohandas Gandhi. His home appetite, and the foods I consumed were richly spiced. The traffic is teris preserved as it was when he was assassinated in 1948, complete with rifying in Delhi. It was not unusual to be traveling with four cars abreast austere white walls, the weaving loom he used to make his own clothing in a lane large enough for two vehicles, with motorbikes weaving in and and his simple cot and floor level desk. out of the traffic. I quickly learned to look out the side window of a vehicle while riding so that I might be spared the site of my own impending All travel enriches an individual, and international travel provides spedemise. cial challenges to the way in which one views the world. I would love to During my stay, I had the opportunity to visit some of the famous Delhi sites, including the Red Fort, the presidential palace and several houses of worship. India is home to persons of many religions in addition to the predominant Hindu, and I sensed that most Indians have great respect

travel again to India, and am excited about the possibility of partnering with my new colleagues at IIHMR to offer educational opportunities to students from both schools.

Cannes Film Festival continued from page 4 “This competition was a first-time experience for us, so when we found out we made it to the final round, we celebrated,” said junior Erin Borain. “It was amazing to know our videos were in the top 40 or 50 of our individual campaign categories with so many entries worldwide.”

Dr. Amy Pinney, assistant professor of theatre in the Georgia College Theatre Department, taught the Acting for Film course.

Within three weeks students learned about their brand, acted on camera, shot video segments around campus and the community, and edited the work. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to teach a class through engaged and experiential learning that reflects our university’s mission,” said Pinney. “With the film industry growing in Atlanta, this course is important so our students have the necessary skill set. Students leave the class with individual reels of their film and monologue work.”

Troy Hencely, senior Theatre major, with a prosthetic nose, from his own “The Tooth Fairy … Only Better.”

The course was freshman Troy Hencely’s third acting class at Georgia College. “It’s a pretty amazing feeling to become a finalist of such a prestigious festival after three theatre courses,” said

Hencely. “Dr. Pinney helped me really get through the process with her advice. Reaching Cannes showed the quality of this class and our theatre program.”

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International Picnic and Open House

At the annual International Student Picnic new international students gathered at the home of Dr. Bruce and Debbie Harshbarger on Lake Sinclair.

At the International Education Center’s Open House in August, Hillary Davis (on the left), junior English literature major, talked about her experience studying abroad in spring 2011 at Thammasat University in Thailand.

The boats skippered by Dr. Lee Gillis, chair of the Psychology Department (pictured second from left in boat), Dr. Mark Pelton, associate vice president for Extended University, and Greg Brown, director of operations for Auxiliary Services, were popular attractions at the annual International Student Picnic. (foreground) At the International Student Picnic, MAcc student from Cameroon John Maimo chats with Dr. Sunita Manian, professor of Political Economy and coordinator of Interdisciplinary Studie. (background) Study Abroad adviser Leah Barber (on the left) talks with Dr. Larbi Oukada, chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures.

Nigel Sanyangore, Liberal Arts MBA student from Zimbabwe, gets ready to take off at the International Student Picnic.

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Liberal Arts MBA: International Business Experience Dr. Catherine Whelan, Chair, Accounting Department Two years ago the J. Whitney Bunting College of Business redesigned its full-time Master of Business Administration program and introduced the Liberal Arts MBA. The new program of study is tailored specifically for students with an earned baccalaureate degree in a non-business discipline. It blends the technical skills and knowledge of a traditional MBA with the competencies inherent in a liberal arts education: communication skills, critical thinking, social responsibility and leadership. The intersection of business and the liberal arts provides Georgia College graduates with the unique opportunity to differentiate themselves from the typical MBA student.

Entrepreneurship, social responsibility and global awareness are the foundations of the Liberal Arts MBA. Rather than simply addressing these issues in a classroom setting, the program emphasizes experiential learning. As students progress through the program, they develop a business plan to support their entrepreneurial endeavors. Social responsibility is practiced through community service activities undertaken by the cohort. The required international study tour allows students to experience firsthand the impact of different cultures on business.

The current worldview of business is one that extends beyond national borders. International business is now the norm rather than a special case. Students need to understand the complexities of globalization if they wish to be successful in the business world.

While international issues are discussed throughout the curriculum, the faculty believes that true global awareness cannot be achieved without personal international experience. Consequently, the international study tour is required of all students in the Liberal Arts MBA program. The goal of the study tour is to immerse students in another culture so that they may develop an apprecia-

tion of the institutional and cultural differences that may impact international business transactions.

The academic component of the study tour is a course which explores different economic, political, governmental, social and cultural systems and their impact on global business. The aim is to enhance the students' understanding of the major facets of international business operations.

In May 2011, the first cohort had its international experience in Germany. Designed around geographic “clusters,” the students visited businesses, economic development offices and Georgia College partner universities in four areas of Germany. Students visited the Rhine Valley to focus on the wine industry. This region also gave the students an opportunity to visit the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. They visited southern Germany and the Lake Constance region to connect with Georgia College’s “sister” university, Zeppelin University. A trip to Berlin focused on learning about reunification issues between East and West Germany and included a visit to the German Bundestag, the seat of government in Germany. The trip ended in Frankfurt with a visit to the German Stock Exchange. Overall, students gained an appreciation for the country, for business in Germany and for the German people.

Next May, the cohort will be traveling to India. The tour has been carefully planned in partnership with educational institutions of higher learning and local companies of interest. Students will visit a variety of businesses, financial institutions and tourist destinations in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.

For more information about the Liberal Arts MBA program, visit mba.gcsu.edu or contact Lynn Hanson at 478-445-5115.

Never Stop Studying Abroad Leah Barber, Study Abroad Adviser Studying abroad gives students the chance to develop academically and personally as they discover the world and discover who they are. This fall, I had the opportunity to relive my own study abroad discoveries visiting some of Georgia College’s partners: the University of Hradec Králové, the University of Pécs and Eszterházy Károly College.

Even in the planning stages, I was reminded of my experiences abroad and how much I learned through those experiences. I have developed some pretty solid travel planning skills in the years since study abroad and I was thrilled to be able to put them to use. But the moment I arrived in Prague, I was reminded of the advice I give to students every day – no matter how well you plan, something will go wrong and you must be flexible.

Students just like me learn how to navigate through unfamiliar transportation systems just as I did that first night in the Czech Republic.

The next morning I visited the University of Hradec Králové and enjoyed meeting colleagues and wandering the city. I had fun practicing the few words of Czech I learned thanks to YouTube. Again, just as I tell students, communication is about more than the words, but a few key words can make a big difference.

(See “Studying Abroad” on page 15) 8

A Hungarian lunch at Eszterházy Károly College in Eger with (left to right) Dr. Judit Kádár, professor of literature, Dr. András Tarnóc, director of the Center for International Relations, Leah Barber, GC Study Abroad adviser, and Anita Molnar, international coordinator for the Center for International Relations. Leah was able to sample pálinka, a traditional Hungarian fruit brandy.

Travel to Athens (Greece) Dr. Bradley Koch, Assistant Professor of Sociology Last summer, I had the privilege of travelling to Athens, Greece, to tag along for the first week of the Greece Study Abroad Program on a fellowship from the International Education Center. It is no hyperbole when I write that it was life changing. As junior faculty, my primary concern up until that point had been to keep my head above water, learning to balance the competing demands of teaching, service, and scholarship, but when I got a not-so-subtle nudge from a few folks involved with International Education to apply for the Greece fellowship, I started to consider some of the unique opportunities available to us here at a public liberal arts college.

As a teenager and again as a graduate student, I had a few chances to visit our neighbors to the north, and before that as a young child, I travelled with my family to Scandinavia to visit relatives, although I only retain scattered memories of the latter. Until last summer, that was the extent of my international experience. As a scholar of religion, I had studied some Koine Greek and Ancient History but knew little about contemporary Greece other than what I had gathered from the evening news and Rick Steves. I certainly had an academic curiosity about Greece, both current and historic, but was less sure about where my expertise as a sociologist could fit in.

Having not travelled abroad in over 20 years and having to make the trip to Greece solo last summer, my first bit of education came from the international travel itself. After arriving in Greece, however, my real education began. The (literal) two-dimensional images I had of Greece were thrown out the window as I stared at the unexpectedly mountainous landscape riding the light rail from the airport to downtown Athens. I observed Greek nationals and panhan-

Dr. Rob Viau, emeritus professor of English, gives students a demonstration of the acoustics at the theatre in Thorikos, Greece.

dlers moving past me on the train. Walking from the Metro station to our apartments, I felt the pace of a living city while, in the distance, I could see the frozen remains of a once great civilization atop the Acropolis. Over that week, I started to become accustomed to the program, the country and the culture.

I am happy to write that I will be joining the group this coming summer as a co-director, teaching two courses. Through the fellowship, I was able to recognize the overlap between my expertise and Greece, a feat that I could not have accomplished otherwise.

It is fair to say that had it not been for the opportunity to get my feet wet with the fellowship, I would still be standing firmly on the Georgia red clay, fretting about what a pre-tenure review committee wants to see. Instead, I am now excited about travelling with a new bunch of students to Greece in just seven short months and watching their eyes open to all of the cultural delights that can only be experienced in situ over the entire month of the program.

My Immersion in Belize Dr. Kirk Armstrong, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology and Program Director of Athletic Training Education My experience on a Study Abroad Fellowship in Belize was more than I ever could have imagined! As a study abroad fellow, my role was to accompany a current study abroad course to understand the process of leading my own trip. Having not completed a study abroad as a student myself, this was my first opportunity to immerse myself fully in the culture of a study abroad. Being in Belize, a medically underserved country, allowed me to learn several key teaching points that helped not only throughout the international experience, but also back in the classroom here at Georgia College. Stepping off the plane and switching from tourist mode to teacher mode was somewhat difficult, since this was my first time in Belize. While I was in awe at most everything I took in, I had to contain my own excitement to maintain the educational value of the trip for the students. Reading through guide books, browsing websites and print materials cannot do justice in the way that being immersed in a new culture can, one that is strikingly different from your own.

Health Sciences students at the Log Cabin Resort in San Ignacio, Belize with Dr. Kirk Armstrong, director of Athletic Training Education.

One of the most important things that I gleaned from this trip was the importance of daily reflection and debriefing that needs to occur while abroad. The structure of the study abroad is so intense, that the students (as well as myself), needed to debrief (See “Belize� on page 10) 9

Visiting International Studies Abroad (ISA) in Peru and Chile Liz Havey, Study Abroad Adviser At the international airport in Lima on Oct. 8 I met six other study abroad faculty and staff from around the United States, who became travel partners over an intense eight-day site visit with the third-party study abroad program provider, International Studies Abroad (ISA). We began in Lima, Peru and ended in Santiago, Chile, touring the cities, learning a little about the history and culture, visiting the ISA staff offices, universities and internship sites, meeting students and host families and, in general, getting an idea how the ISA programs are run.

Our group of seven was led by Lisette from the ISA Austin Office and hosted by the ISA Resident Directors, Michelle in Lima, Peru, and Lizette in Valparaiso and Viña del Mar, Chile. Having never been to Latin America, I had no idea what was in store for me. We had a day of sightseeing in both Lima and Santiago, as well as an afternoon in Valparaiso and Viña del Mar. We visited the five institutions with which ISA works: Universidad del Pacifico (UP), University of San Ignacio de Loyola (USIL) and Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP) in Lima and Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso (PUCV) in Valparaiso and University of Adolfo Ibañez (UAI) in Viña del Mar. The facilities at all institutions are quite good. While visiting UP, I was able to connect with GC student Erin Gant, currently studying there as part of the multi-country Latin America program, which had her spend the first half of the semester in Argentina and the second half in Peru.

All three Peruvian and both Chilean institutions offer language courses for non-native speakers and courses with local students instructed in Spanish. PUCP is prepared only to cater to advanced level speakers, while UP, USIL, PUCV and UAI can accommodate lower levels. At USIL, students can even take courses instructed in English with other Peruvian students.

Currently, Chilean students are on strike and many public institutions are non-operational. This affected one of ISA’s institutions. At the time of my visit, the university had not been in operation all semester.

However, ISA has set up a temporary campus at a local high school so that the students would not lose credit and time. The students seemed

International Studies Abroad study abroad faculty and staff at the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso, Chile: Liz Havey, GC Study Abroad adviser is on the left.

marginally distraught over not getting a “true” Chilean university experience, but fully recognized and appreciated that they were experiencing a pivotal moment in Chilean history. The students lauded the ISA staff for providing them with up to date information and guidance for managing the strikes. And, at both sites, the students spoke of the staff with highest praise, referring to a few as mothers away from home.

All of the ISA programs include a variety of cultural excursions – in addition to the housing – in the cost of the program fee. The default housing program is to set the students up with host families. In my conversation with Erin as well as our group conversations with other students, the host families seem to be the highlight of the program. Having (See “Visiting International Studies Abroad” on page 15)

Belize continued from page 9 and reflect on the day’s adventures. Personally, I found comfort in daily blog entry. This was my own way of reflecting on the culture, people and sites all while being able to better articulate my own experiences with those of the students.

As I look back on my blog, I remember one entry I made at the end of the first evening: The people, the landscape... everything almost seemed surreal.

The homes that I spotted from the plane were just as I pictured.

Most were one-story homes, flat roof, with some ornate decorations or architectural style. The one difference was that most of the homes had concrete block walls on the second level, nothing more than a rough-in of what was to come. In learning about why so much “construction” was occurring, I learned that it was nothing more than adding on to the house. The Belizean culture does not fancy the mortgage that is so prominent in the US, so houses are much more modest and only added on when money allows.

Two of my favorite experiences from the study abroad trip included a guided tour of a medicinal trail and Xunantunich. The medicinal trail was a one kilometer trail that included more than 400 native species of vegetation continued to be used today to cure everything from headaches to more serious illnesses. Xunantunich claims to be the epicenter of the Mayan Civilization here in the heart of Belize.

10

These ruins display the culture once existed. The most prominent and well known of these ruins is El Castillo (The Castle), which stands more than 130 feet tall and towers over the area of Xunantunich. El Castillo served as the most important area for the Maya, where the royal family would address the rest of the community. Today, this monument remains as a vivid remembrance of the thriving Mayan culture.

My experience in Belize was monumental, not only personally but professionally. For years, the slogan “knowledge is power” has aired countless times on television and in print media. As an educator, this is something that I have tried to buy into; however, they are missing the boat somewhat. What they should have advertized is that “knowledge is empowering.” An individual must act on that knowledge to be an agent of change. My experiences as a study abroad fellow illustrated just how empowering knowledge is, and can be. By providing students an opportunity to immerse themselves in a society outside of Georgia, the students can become more empowered to make a change in the world as professionals.

Without these opportunities to become global citizens, students cannot truly understand that problems we ignore here at home, they are forced to recognize while immersed in another culture.

Student Teaching in London College of Education students at Queensmill School in London: on the left in front is Judith Ragan, head teacher, and on the right in back is Nicky Wills, assistant head.

Since 2006, Georgia College students majoring in education have had a unique opportunity to experience the cultures of London and Paris while earning credit in their major by working alongside British teachers involved in special education in London schools. The John H. Lounsbury College of Education has a long history of involvement with international education, but experiences directly related to special needs populations in other countries were lacking.

Dr. Craig Smith, chair of the Department of Special Education and Educational Leadership saw this need and responded by designing a Maymester trip that combined cultural experiences in London and Paris along with school-based training with the Queensmill School in London. Queensmill School is recognized in the United Kingdom as a national center for excellence in the education of children with autism and is located in central London’s Fulham borough. Every year Dr. Smith takes 10 students who partner with Queensmill teachers working with children ages four to 18 in classrooms designed to facilitate life skills, academic growth and social development of children with autism along the continuum of severity known as Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Over the past seven years this partnership between Queensmill School and Georgia College has developed to the point that, for the first time, four students majoring in special education will travel to London with Dr. Smith in January 2012 to complete an intensive full-time internship that will be credited towards their student teaching required for teacher certification and graduation. The participants are advanced senior year students – Amanda Slack, Spenser Norris, Sara Taylor and

Sara Landers – that have already completed the Maymester study abroad trip and were chosen to participate in this new internship based on their classroom expertise in the junior year placements as well as their desire to broaden their teaching skills in a unique setting that serves children with autism.

Amanda Slack, a senior in the special education program, observed that, “by going to Queensmill in London, I am able to experience an educational culture that is different from here in the United States. I can then bring back the practices that I've learned in London and incorporate them into American schools. The knowledge that I receive (See “London” on page 12)

Student-Faculty Papers and Presentations on Halimeda and Others Dr. Melanie DeVore, Georgia Power Endowed Professor of Environmental Science Five million people pack their bags each year and converge upon the white, powdery sands blanketing the shorelines of the Bahamas. Those beaches are the lifeblood of the Bahamian tourist industry. Every handful of sand that sifts through the hands of a tourist is loaded with particles contributed by one of the least noticed, but highly significant, marine organisms: Halimeda.

For the last 11 years, Georgia College students, along with students and faculty from Berry College, New Jersey City University and the University of St. Thomas-Houston, have all become very familiar with Halimeda. These green algae coat their stringy green cells with a thick crust of calcium carbonate. They also pull quite a bit of carbon dioxide out of sea water and play a role in the way carbon cycles through our planet. Armed with dye, inflatable buoys, syringes, tape measures, tanks, tubing, weights and sporting scuba and snorkeling gear, the study abroad students invade the shallow water of San Salvador Island to monitor and calculate just how much calcium carbonate Halimeda generates.

Science is the ultimate team sport and contributions are rarely, if ever, made by individuals working in solitude. Science is also the one endeavor that the entire world participates in together and generates a truly global product.

San Salvador Island provides the perfect backdrop for a variety of ecologically themed student-faculty research products. Since 2000, there have been a string of student-faculty papers and presentations not only on Halimeda, but also covering investigations of wetland habitats and aquatic insects. The island may be small (63 square miles), but the Gerace Research Centre, home to the Georgia College program, has provided a gateway for researchers and student groups from throughout the world.

Halimeda: 13-16 crops a year generate lots of sand in the Bahamas.

Each year the Gerace sponsors a symposium either on the natural history of the Bahamas or on the geology of tropical islands. Participants of the geology conference, where our joint Georgia College-New Jersey City University projects are presented, may include a keynote speaker from the University of Geneva, a German cave diving microbiologist, a faculty member from the University of Guam, researchers from the United Kingdom and a strong representation from various Bahamian environmental and governmental agencies along with faculty from the College of the Bahamas. The tangible products from these symposia are volumes of published papers. And, those volumes go not only to attendees and participants, but are purchased and used throughout the world and are posted as pdfs on the Gerace Research Centre website.

(See “Halimeda” on page 13) 11

Notes CAMPUS

Just a few of the growing number of Georgia College international connections

Mai Tsutsui, registered nurse and nurse midwife from Kurobi, Japan, was a guest lecturer in the Nursing 3560 “Community as Client” course taught by Dr. Carol Sapp and Sheryl Winn on Oct. 12. Her presentation to Georgia College nursing students was on the disastrous earthquake and tsunami that Japan experienced. Ms. Tsutsui is in Georgia as a member of the International Medical Exchange Program between the Medical Center of Central Georgia and Kurobe City Hospital. Macon, Ga. and Kurobe, Japan are sister cities. Vickey Vaughan, registered nurse certified and family nurse clinician, GC adjunct faculty member and obstetrical nurse at the Medical Center of Central Georgia, facilitated Ms. Tsutsui’s visit to the Milledgeville campus. Ms. Vaughan was one of two MCCG nurses selected to visit Kurobe City Hospital in Japan in 2010 as part of the International Medical Exchange Program that year. Yuki Kawakita and Yuko Murata, GC exchange students from Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan, assisted with interpretation during the presentation.

The Georgia College Jazz Band travelled to the Czech Republic in May, led by interim director Chris Probst. As always, Dr. Standa Bohadlo, professor of musicology at the University of Hradec Králové, organized the logistics, and Dr. Bob Wilson, professor of history, traveled with the group. Highlights for the group were: • their time in Kuks – particularly the opportunity to hear and play with the Čilágos, a Roma music group at the Zlata Slunce Inn • an evening listening to the Bohemian Big Band at the famous Jazz Club Reduta in Prague – where Bill Clinton played sax in 1994 • a tour of the beautiful 10th century Přemyslid fortication at the Vyšehrad Castle, high above the Vltava River in Prague, which is also the site of graves of Czech composers Dvořák and Smetana • a Standa (surprise) visit to the Cerveny Brass Instrument Factory in Hradec Králové • hearing wonderful young people's choirs at the Philharmonic Hall in Hradec Králové • a visit to St. Nicholas Church on the Lesser Square, the early 18th century Baroque masterpiece in Prague • the tiny Theatre on the Balustrade in Prague where plays were put on over the years that were anti-Nazi and later on anti-Communist – where Vaclav Havel got his start 40 years ago, basically as a stage technician • and the old favorite of previous trips: the Sedlec Bone Ossuary Chapel in Kutná Hora.

Again this year a group of students is participating in the Southeast Model of the African Union, to be hosted by Savannah State University in Savannah Nov. 9 – 12. Drs. Eustace Palmer, Funke Fontenot and Charles Ubah are advising the students, who are representing Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

London

The Czech Jazz Band met Jiri Stivin (front right) in the Old Town of Prague, Czech. Jiri is a Czech musician/composer who plays flute (and just about any wind instrument), both in the classical and jazz tradition. On the left in front is Professor Standa Bohadlo from the University of Hradec Králové, who coordinated logistics for the study program, and directly behind Jiri is Interim Jazz Band Conductor Chris Probst. In the back (left to right) are Spencer Gobbel, Dr. Bob Wilson, professor of history, and Andrew Shiver.

At the far end of the table Dr. Eustace Palmer, professor of English, is preparing the Georgia College delegation that will represent Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo at the 2011 Southeast Model of the African Union.

continued from page 11

in London allows me to have a broader perspective on education and better serve the students I will teach after graduation.”

According to Dr. Smith, “the cooperative effort and partnership, formal and informal, that has developed between Queensmill and Georgia College will enable our students to observe, train and grow in a manner 12

Mai Tsutsui, registered nurse and nurse midwife from Kurobi, Japan, was a guest lecturer in the “Community as Client” Nursing course taught by Professor Carol Sapp and Assistant Professor Sheryl Winn. Left to right, Mai Tsutsui, exchange students from Ritsumeikan University Yuko Murata and Yuki Kawakita, Ms. Winn, Dr. Sapp, and Dr. Flor Culpa-Bondal, RN-BSN Coordinator

that truly is enhancing to their future careers as educators.” In addition, Queensmill School participated in the student selection process as well as the program design and will provide support, placement and guidance for the students during the three-week internship time in London.

NEWS

from our alumni around the world

We look forward to hearing from former international and study abroad students and always welcome emails letting us know what you’re doing. We value and need your assistance in recruiting good students from around the world to study at Georgia College.

Despite being separated by vast distances and time, alumni from all corners of the globe stay connected by the strong bonds they formed at Georgia College. Find out what your Georgia College international friends are doing by joining our Facebook group at GCSU International Education Alumni. All former international and study abroad students and members of the International Club and their friends are welcome!

As a member of the IT Advisory Board for Information Systems and Computer Tech, Arnold Arnold Basinsa on his recent visit Basinsa was on campus and to the International Education dropped by recently. Last year Center.

he was working as a consultant and traveled to various countries in Africa. This year he’s back at South Dakota State University continuing his work on a Ph.D. in Information Security. In October Anup Bhattarai and Elizabeth Brett were married in Chicago.

Anup and Elizabeth Brett.

Tiho Depov and Libby Davis, associate director of the International Education Center on Tiho’s recent visit to Milledgeville.

Jeff Boedeker is now working as a staff documentary writer/director with National Geographic. Recently Tiho Depov, who’s currently living and working in Canada, visited the International Education Center.

Congratulations to (Continued on page 14)

Halimeda continued from page 11 San Salvador Island provides students an opportunity to investigate ecology and environmental science using the island’s unique history and environments. All that we talk about with science is worthless unless you put it into a cultural context. What is always interesting is the intersection of the two. However, with our partnership with the Gerace Research Centre, we can illustrate how the boundaries of science extend beyond the boundaries of both the Bahamas and the United States.

Sometimes culture delivers the facts better than the scientists.

Casuarina trees (native to Australia) have created major beach erosion throughout the Bahamas. The Nature Conservancy in Nassau has been promoting removing casuarina and replacing them with native trees such as buttonwood. In 2011, the Georgia College Bahamas Ecology Program teamed up with the Nature Conservancy and obtained over fifty saplings for a workshop on San Salvador Island. Having the workshop at the Gerace Research Centre is always an option, but because San Salvadorians are people of strong faith, the group teamed up with the San Salvador Island Living Jewels Foundation, and the Cockburn Town Seventh-day Adventist Church hosted the workshop.

Reverend Green preached on the need to keep San Salvador Island “green, clean and pristine” during the workshop and stressed that islanders are held accountable for tending God’s creation. In the past, the Living Jewels group used the Rake and Scrap musical stylings of

Reverend Larry Green promotes keeping San Salvador Island green, clean and pristine by planting native trees along the island’s shoreline.

the Outer Islands to cut a conservation themed song describing the need to manage natural resources on the islands. The recording got air play throughout the Bahamas. No published paper or datadriven presentation can yield equivalent results. Ironically, that song was written by Ron Shaklee, a geographer at Youngstown State University. You can view the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dgx0TjIVbeQ. 13

News

continued from page 13

Julia Roudkovskaya Dimitrov who is now working at Emory University as Senior Applications Developer/Analyst. She, her husband, Nikolay Dimitrov, and daughter Sasha are doing well.

Julia Roudkovskaya Dimitrov and daughter Sasha.

Dorit Kruse (left) and Moroccan friend in Ourika, Morocco.

Marrakech, Morocco, to celebrate his birthday. Victor is teaching marketing and market research at Universidad de Valladolid. En route home again, Maik, Dorit and Dwight stopped in Madrid to catch up with Vanesa Ortega and Simón Valderrábano.

Fernando Bellod Valle finished a master’s program in International Commerce and is now working with Brazilian importers in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. He loves Sao Paulo, but says “It’s nothing if I compare it with my year in Millegeville.” Together with his girlfriend, Enrique Fulquet García, he spent the summer in Berlin while he finished his final project for his master’s. He says that he loved his first encounter with German language and culture, which is good because they plan to move to Berlin in 2012 or 2013.

Dinner on the roof of the riad in Marrakech: Victor Temprano García (right) and his family (left to right) mother Irene, father Tano, sister Ana and girlfriend María de Haro González: A riad is a traditional Moroccan home with an interior garden.

Professor Victor Temprano García teaches at the Universidad de Valladolid in Spain.

Maik Henneberg (right) in Marrakech, Morocco.

In late July, Maik Henneberg, Dorit Kruse and Victor Temprano García and his girlfriend and family got together with Dwight Call and other friends in Casablanca and 14

Asuka Okuno writes from Atlanta that she’s working as a translator for a Japanese company and is thinking about going back to school for a graduate degree in international relations or linguistics and bilingual education. Her son Kaili is now three

years old. Also in Atlanta, Tilek and Nazira Sodanbek Sydykov report that their children, Aidan (2 ½) and Adel (9 months) keep them busy.

Asuka Okuno and her son Kaili.

Things in Oklahoma are progressing nicely for Tilek Sydykov and son Aidan.

Michael Rifenburg. He’s finishing his last semester of course work, plans on taking exams in the spring, and then will launch into his dissertation.

His wife, Amy Bergman Rifenburg, and their two-year old son are doing well. After he finishes his dissertation in spring 2013, he hopes to find a job back in the Southeast.

While still a student at Georgia College, Claudia Wagner, a

Studying Abroad

graduate in early childhood education, spent a summer at the Ashraya Initiative for Children in Pune, India, a small orphanage and school that tries to recreate a family atmosphere for children who have no family.

Claudia fell in love with India and the concept of the school, so when she learned that the center was looking for a director of curriculum for pre-k and kindergarten children, she applied and is now working as director of the Nazira Sodanbek Sydykov and son Educational Outreach Aidan and daughter Adel.

Center for Ashraya Initiative for Children.

When Yu (Johnny) Wang was back in the U.S. recently, he dropped by the International Education Center. Currently, he works as Operation Analyst for Mohawk Industries in its Shanghai, China, office.

continued from page 8

I also had the opportunity to have some great conversations with Karel Kouba, vice dean for International Affairs at UHk and Zuzana Řezníčková of the Research and Development Office. I learned that they send many of their exchange students to South America and Africa to study political science. I also got a brief lesson in politics as I spoke to one of the faculty members at UHK about how excited I was to be in Eastern Europe for the first time. We had a great conversation about the Czech Republic and UHK as well as ideas for potential collaboration. After a few more of my references to Eastern Europe, he noted very politely that perhaps most Czech people would prefer to call their region Central Europe.

After the Czech Republic, I continued my travels to Hungary. My first visit was to Pécs where I was amazed at how much there is to discover about history and art in the 2010 European capital of culture. I only had a short time there to explore, but I saw a medieval barbican, a Turkish mosque, and the famous Saint Peter Basilica among other things. While wandering around the town, I also heard the familiar sound of American English and realized how vast and varied the student population is.

Exchange students at the University of Pécs have so many options available to them including business, humanities, health sciences, law, art and many other disciplines as well. The members of the International Office including Gyöngyi Pozsgai and Gabor Czéh help all the faculties

organize many different opportunities for students and faculty.

My final stop in Central Europe was in Eger, Hungary, where I visited our partner university Eszterházy Károly College. My very gracious host Dr. András Tarnóc, executive director of the Center for International Relations, had a wealth of knowledge to share about the history of the city and the school. I also had the opportunity to meet many others at the college and reconnect with Dr. Judit Kádár who spent some time teaching at Georgia College on faculty exchange in fall 2009. I also met Dr. Ádám Novotny, who will be teaching economics at Georgia College on faculty exchange this spring. Having the chance to spend time with colleagues and students reminded me what a great opportunity our students have to build relationships while studying abroad. In fact, these relationships are often one of the most important aspects of a study abroad experience.

My trip to Central Europe more than reminded me of my own travels as a student; it reminded me why it’s so important to study abroad.

Students just like me learn to navigate new systems, communicate in new ways and how to better understand history, art and politics while forging new friendships with people from different cultures. And all these discoveries can lead us to better understanding our world and our place in it.

Visiting International Studies Abroad a family to help them learn to navigate public transportation, someone to call on for help and to confide in and to cook delicious, traditional cuisines, was the most frequently mentioned high point of living with a host family. In one of the larger student groups in Valparaiso some of the students lived in pensions (which are more like group homes not coordinated by ISA and with a “host mom” who does not live on site, but rather manages the house). Those students often remarked that their friends living with host families had it so much better.

continued from page 10

Although I returned exhausted, the memories of my first experience in South America will never be replaced. I can now speak with confidence to our students about the realities of working with universities in Chile and Peru. Next I have to go back on my time, however, as I was reminded daily of all the amazing activities like hiking and mountain biking that this region has available!

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International Day Nicole Moyo, management major, performs a traditional dance from her home country of Zimbabwe during International Day. Yuko Murata, exchange student from Ritsumeikan University, teaches children how to do origami (paper folding) at a Japan table on International Day.

Parade of flags at International Day.

✁ PLEDGE FORM THE GLOBAL SCHOLARS FUND FOR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION Assisting outstanding and financially needy international and study abroad students at GC

❑ ENCLOSED IS MY CHECK in the amount of $ __________, payable to the GC Foundation to Global Scholars Fund. ❑ PLEASE CHARGE MY GIFT OF $ ___________ to my : ❑ Visa ❑ MasterCard Card #: ________________________________________ Expiration Date: __________ Name: _________________________________________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone: _______________________________ Email: ___________________________________________________ Return Pledge Form to: International Education Center, Campus Box 049, GC, Milledgeville, GA 31061 NOTE: GC employees may give through payroll deduction.

Contact University Advancement to request a payroll deduction form and designate Fund #296.

All gifts to the GC Foundation are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

International Education Center Campus Box 49 Milledgeville, GA 31061-0490 Phone 478-445-4789 Fax 478-445-2623

T E R R A N O S T R A