When it comes to traveling, some students forget that there are other parts of the world besides Europe.
Barry Barker, associate professor in the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences said that Europe is not always the best choice.
“Trips to Europe are a waste because they are nothing more than an extension of the American culture,” said Barker. “Students who are in the United States, despite their ethnicity or background, need to travel to understand what’s going on in the world.”
Peru, the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador are three of the countries that NSU’s travel study program has offered students to travel. This correlates recent statistics that the number of travel study programs going to more remote and developing countries is rising. According to the Institute of International Education, travel study programs are up 19 percent in China, 14 percent in Japan and Argentina, and 20 percent in India.
Todd VanIderstine, senior environmental science major, participated in Barker’s travel study program to Ecuador as part of the Amazonia Cloud Forest Biogeography course, which gives students the opportunity to experience biodiversity and ecology up close.
“You learn a lot about yourself on the trip and how much you respect nature and how truly beautiful it is. Some of these animals may be extremely dangerous but it was really an honor to observe these creatures in such close proximity,” said VanIderstine.
“Students are looking to do something outside of their comfort zone,” said Joel Nemes, director of student development and retention at NSU. “They’ll experience something that a lot of others haven’t. Going to Japan or China is more of a unique experience. The place that they go becomes a part of the learning experience and it’s a completely different experience to read about something and then go there and smell the food, hear the language and touch the places.”
Maria Callejas, freshman communication studies major, is planning a travel study trip to Colombia through a program offered by a Colombian university.
“My career in the future is to be an ambassador of the United States in Colombia. Even though I’m Colombian, I haven’t been there for ten years. I don’t know how the life is now or the basic history of the country so I want to put myself in the situation where I can learn these things and become a part of their society,” said Callejas.
NSU offers three different travel study options. Students can participate in a program offered at NSU, create an independent study program with the assistance of a faculty member or participate in a program offered at another U.S. university or a university in the host country.
